Max size of 223 chamber

[maxpower]

The 2nd hand 223 I brought seems to have a fairly large chamber and I know my dies size it down about .010' at the shoulder each resize and about .007' at the base. Are there any maximum chamber specs for the 223 so I know if it is my chamber, my dies or a combination of the two which are out of sync?

 

[Fred Bohl]

You might find these helpful:

 

[maxpower]

Good one Fred, Thanks a lot for this, I will take some measurements now.
Thanks

 

[richadams]

=the next time you are at the range,or wherever you shoot) take along a roll of scotch tape. put a piece of tape across your primer on an unfired new round, trim the excess and see if it will chamber. If it does your head space is quite questionable. if it doesn't then look to your reloading practices.
had a good friend get a 223 set of dies that were miss machined every time he full length resized he set the shoulder back .050',yes 50 thousandths). he thought it was his rifle till we tried my ammo in his gun and fixed his problem.

the tape trick adds .004' to the cartridge length

 

[maxpower]

It isnt the length which is the problem, but it is squeezing the shoulder diameter and base in too much. I dont think brass life or accuraccy will be that good with a mismatch like this. How big is Maximum Saami spec? I am probably at that. Are there any dies which are known to be slightly larger in diameter than others??

 

[alf]

Are you shooting it in a semi-auto? If not, why not just neck size. I don't full length size any of the brass for my 223 bolt guns.