How many relaods with 223 brass?

[dmoran]

How does the case head that is not sized smaller by the shell holder squeeze primer pockets smaller?

Dusty didn't say anything about the case head. But like he did say, keeping the base/webbing sized small keeps the primer pocket tight. Allowing expansion of the base/webbing directly correlates to loose primer pockets.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Exactly. Its the new style.
A ring die takes it to the next level

 

[Bart B.]

But like he did say, keeping the base/webbing sized small keeps the primer pocket tight.

I don't think that's possible because no die I know of sizes the case down back from the red arrow points. Primer pockets are in the case head.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A ring die pushes all the way to the groove and a GOOD small base die gets so close its hard to tell it didnt. You can feel them go into the extractor groove and see the shiny brass too

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Heres one pbike makes. Hammonds made mine but i have a pbike one for ppc also

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...nches-barrel-vises-dies-etc-for-sale.3923651/

 

[Kracken McGraw]

If you are using Remington primers, this can happen when the primer pockets are loose (never had it happen with any other brand primer).

View attachment 1045434 View attachment 1045435

This concerns me a little. I just bought 2000 7 1/2s for my new .223 bolt. Any other opinions on these primers, or just watch out for loose pockets?

 

[Bart B.]

Heres one pbike makes. Hammonds made mine but i have a pbike one for ppc also

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...nches-barrel-vises-dies-etc-for-sale.3923651/

Well shucky darn. Thanks for enlightening me.

I know a couple people used an RCBS bullet puller with a .470 caliber collet to squeeze down 308 Win case heads squeezing their primer pockets down. Or a .375 caliber collet for 222 and 223 Rem cases.

 

[dmoran]

I don't think that's possible because no die I know of sizes the case down back from the red arrow points. Primer pockets are in the case head.

The floor of the primer pocket is the key to pocket life, which is the base/webbing of the case. If a sizing die makes contact with the shell holder, and the shell holder has a standard deck height of 0.125" or less, sizing at the pocket floor can take place. Small base dies, ring dies, custom dies, all compliment sizing of the base (as Dusty replied).

With many of the high pressure cartridges being used these days, sizing of the base/webbing is the difference between having case life or not having case life. For example:
- with the pressures I run my 6Dasher's, if I was not able to size at the base/webbing, I'd be lucky to get 5-firings.
But because I do size the base/webbing, primer pockets live and +25-firings is not uncommon for me.

 

[dmoran]

... squeeze down 308 Win case heads squeezing their primer pockets down.

While squeezing the case head does work, its a band-aid solution compared to squeezing/sizing the base/webbing.
The key is to maintain the base/webbing from expansion, by sizing there.
Tight chambers greatly aid in this, as well for the ability to run higher pressures.

 

[Bart B.]

With many of the high pressure cartridges being used these days,.....

What cartridges are now spec'd over 65,000 psi max average these days?

Some cartridges have been handloaded to 75,000 psi for decades.

 

[Bart B.]

While squeezing the case head does work, its a band-aid solution compared to squeezing/sizing the base/webbing.

Those cases mentioned were put in collets enough to squeeze the webbing and often past the pressure ring down.

 

[dmoran]

Those cases mentioned were put in collets enough to squeeze the webbing and often past the pressure ring down.

Was it done as a fix to already loose primer pockets (band-aid), or done every cycle to maintain the pockets?

Sizing the base/webbing in a normal F/L sizing operation, is what I'm referring to, with complimentary dies (or chambers) that allow to get down that far.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Heres one pbike makes. Hammonds made mine but i have a pbike one for ppc also

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...nches-barrel-vises-dies-etc-for-sale.3923651/

In your opinion, would you consider brass "squeezed" down with one of these dies in order to tighten back up the primer pockets suitable for match level precision? Or merely a way to get a couple more firings out of plinking brass prior to retiring it?

I run 90 VLDs over H4895 in a .223 Rem F-TR load at about 2850 fps from a 30" barrel. It kills the primer pockets in Lapua .223 Rem brass in about 50% of the cases after 3 firings or so. It would be really nice to get a few more firings out of the [expensive] Lapua brass using this tool if its use doesn't degrade the precision of the load in any way.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Like donovan stated we use them on every firing to maintain and keep consistency. It may help repair somewhat (i know it will help) but the trick is like carbon is to stay ahead of it

 

[Prose]

50 grain loads @3300 I have gotten 10-15 loads on rem brass with rem 7.5

 

[Ned Ludd]

Like donovan stated we use them on every firing to maintain and keep consistency. It may help repair somewhat (i know it will help) but the trick is like carbon is to stay ahead of it

Staying ahead of it won't be a problem LOL. It starts on the very first firing. The ring die may well be worth its weight in gold considering how many pieces of Lapua .223 match brass I've tossed out after 2 or 3 firings over the last few years. It certainly can't hurt to try it out, considering a new case of brass runs over $700 a pop. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Bart B.]

Was it done as a fix to already loose primer pockets, or done every cycle to maintain the pockets?

Yes, short of loose. Held primers but not very tight. Done every 20 to 25 shoot-reload cycle.

What measured pressure levels are you folks using to enlarge pocket diameters in a few reloads?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yes, short of loose. Held primers but not very tight. Done every 20 to 25 shoot-reload cycle.

What measured pressure levels are you folks using to enlarge pocket diameters in a few reloads?

How would i measure the pressure?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ive had to shoot ppc cases so hot i could seat primers by hand after a few loads. Gotta go with what shoots- brass is a component to a br shooter not a treasure. We dont even get to know its name

 

[grovey]

Aren't CCI 400's a no no for use in an AR anyway?