Case deforming. Need help

[hotheadkat]

Can anyone tell me why this is happening?
I'm using Winchester brass, RCBS dies set, and Sierra 77 MKHP ammo. This is my first load attempt with 223.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

My first question would be are full length sizing or are you just neck sizing the brass? If you are full length sizing, are you lubing your cases prior to sizing them! Correct me if I'm wrong but, it looks to me like your trying to full length size the case and you are pushing the shoulder back way too far or, you are not lubing the cases and they are sticking in the die as you work the ram to size the case! More info is needed here to figure out what is going wrong.

Mike

 

[hotheadkat]

I'm full length resizing and the cases are properly lubed before sizing. They are not deforming during the resizing they are deforming when i try to seat the bullet. It almost seems like the Sierra 77 MKHP are too big and not seating so the case gives and gets smooshed under the shoulder. the deformities are around the whole circumference. I successfully reload .308, .243, and .270 but this is my first time loading .223

 

[gme]

what happens when you run an empty case into the seating die?
Gary Eliseo

 

[LRPV]

Looks like your seating die is set too far down and the mouth of the case is contacting the die and smashing your brass.

 

[hotheadkat]

I set my dies up with an empty case in them so i know its not set too low. I always start with the die set very high and work my way down to the seating depth i want. There is no change in the case when an empty case is ran through. It only becomes deformed when I try to seat the bullet.

 

[camac]

Can you please take another photo of before and after side by side. The neck looks a little long for 223 to me but hard to tell. Also shoulder doesn't look deformed so looks like die is trying to press shoulder down.
Side by side comparison would help though.

6mmbr.com 223 page

 

[Steve Blair]

What is the neck I.D. after sizing?

 

[Cort]

Mic your bullets. Are they .224??

Mic your expander button. Is it .221 or bigger?

Did you chamfer the inside of the case neck?

You appear to be using a flat based bullet that is hanging on the case neck but there are lots of other opportunities for this problem to occur.

 

[hotheadkat]

the last case that is fully pushed in made that dent around the bullet.

 

[camac]

Thanks, Much better photos - Now we need the measurements on bullet od and if possible as the guys suggested id of shell. the shell looks like it is getting nowhere near the bullet diameter - ie projectile is wrong caliber or shells necked in way too much or possibly shell necks too long so going up inside bullet seating guide instead of neck recess and not allowing them to expand.

 

[camac]

It looks like a small crimp on top of shell after trying to seat???

 

[gme]

you aren't running an expander ball die without the expander ball are you?
Gary Eliseo

 

[deadlyswift]

Mic your bullets. Are they .224??

Mic your expander button. Is it .221 or bigger?

Did you chamfer the inside of the case neck?

You appear to be using a flat based bullet that is hanging on the case neck but there are lots of other opportunities for this problem to occur.

+1 I had this problem with some 220 swift win brass. Chamfer the neck and problem went away. Check the simple things first. A boatail isn't to bad, but a flat base will surely do this.

 

[hotheadkat]

yeah there is a small crimp around the base of the bullet after I tried to seat it.

 

[camac]

That crimp is the giveaway - as randy said you have the body down too far and need to wind up body and seating stem down.

 

[hotheadkat]

issue solved. that worked. thanks guy.