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Some issue loading Hornady V-Max in .223 Rem ?

brccd

I've loaded lots of 223 using FMJ Boat tail bullets and wanted to try hornady V-Max tipped 55gr which is flat bottom and am having an issue...

I checked the shell casing in gauges prior and they were fine...

Upon loading the bullet, after rechecking the load in the gauge, the cartridge does not fit completely...on a number of loads...50% get messed up. Luckily I spotted this after a handful of loads.

It looks like the neck on the casing is minutely distorted and kind of like the bullet did not go straight in.

I even tried chamferring the neck a bit extra, and getting similar results...did not expect this.

I am using a Lee seater (Lee press), and just ordered a Hornady seater, which has a better guide for the bullet. Maybe that'll work!

So, is there a trick about loading flat base bullets that I am missing? Special die conifguration? What are dies you have used for these cases with success?

Thanks.
 
I've used them a lot in the past and currently using the 60 Vmax, similar design, secant ogive and flat base.

I use a standard RCBS seating die. Chamfering is important especially with flat base bullet but in my experience, there is no need to overdo it.

The method I use is I hold the bullet with my finger and seat it about a quarter of the way then rotate the case and slowly complete the seating operation. I've never had a problem (i.e. shaved bullets / seating / alignment) using this method with chamfered cases and case that were properly sized in the neck area.

How are you sizing your cases?
 
K22 said:
I've used them a lot in the past and currently using the 60 Vmax, similar design, secant ogive and flat base.

I use a standard RCBS seating die. Chamfering is important especially with flat base bullet but in my experience, there is no need to overdo it.

The method I use is I hold the bullet with my finger and seat it about a quarter of the way then rotate the case and slowly complete the seating operation. I've never had a problem (i.e. shaved bullets / seating / alignment) using this method with chamfered cases and case that were properly sized in the neck area.

How are you sizing your cases?
Click to expand...
This ^^^ ..... as I was typing a similar reply.....

These cost very little:
leeprecision.com

Chamfer Tool

Lee Chamfer tool chamfers and deburs inside and outside of case necks. Also used to remove the crimp from primer pockets
leeprecision.com leeprecision.com
 
brccd said:
I've loaded lots of 223 using FMJ Boat tail bullets and wanted to try hornady V-Max tipped 55gr which is flat bottom and am having an issue...

I checked the shell casing in gauges prior and they were fine...

Upon loading the bullet, after rechecking the load in the gauge, the cartridge does not fit completely...on a number of loads...50% get messed up. Luckily I spotted this after a handful of loads.

It looks like the neck on the casing is minutely distorted and kind of like the bullet did not go straight in.

I even tried chamferring the neck a bit extra, and getting similar results...did not expect this.

I am using a Lee seater (Lee press), and just ordered a Hornady seater, which has a better guide for the bullet. Maybe that'll work!

So, is there a trick about loading flat base bullets that I am missing? Special die conifguration? What are dies you have used for these cases with success?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I’ve had these issues in the past with the same bullets, a chamfer helps, rotating the case as previously mentioned helps but ultimately I ended up expanding the neck like you would on a straight wall case then set the seating die to almost crimp to bring the neck back in. That worked great for me
Wayne
 
Suggest looking at the Lee factory crimp die as a final step. Have loaded thousands of the V-Max bullets in everything from 40-60 grain sizes. Factory crimp die smoothes out case and even minimal crimp addresses any neck/mouth issues.

Chamfering is good idea as it eases entry of bullet and minimizes shaving of copper jacket by the case. Chamfering may not address physical distortion of case mouth if bullet enters slightly out of true. Best practice is probably both (chamfering and factory crimp die finishing) and for different reasons.
 
Last edited:
K22 said:
I've used them a lot in the past and currently using the 60 Vmax, similar design, secant ogive and flat base.

I use a standard RCBS seating die. Chamfering is important especially with flat base bullet but in my experience, there is no need to overdo it.

The method I use is I hold the bullet with my finger and seat it about a quarter of the way then rotate the case and slowly complete the seating operation. I've never had a problem (i.e. shaved bullets / seating / alignment) using this method with chamfered cases and case that were properly sized in the neck area.

How are you sizing your cases?
Click to expand...
these cases were bulk, I purchased like 8 years ago, and were pre primed! I checked and the appeard sized as well. The turning the case things is interesting. I am hoping the Hornady seater will work better, with THEIR bullet! I spoke with Hornady Tech, and felt it should, and also mentioned the chamferring need. One other note they mentioned was to slight lube of the neck prior to loading the bullet? I will have the Hornady seater die next week. I have other Lake City cases, that I sized and might give those a try. But would like to use theses preprimed cases...got like 1500 of them! 8 years ago, price was like half of now! and don't need ot get primers...oh well..we shall see.
 
bozo699 said:
I’ve had these issues in the past with the same bullets, a chamfer helps, rotating the case as previously mentioned helps but ultimately I ended up expanding the neck like you would on a straight wall case then set the seating die to almost crimp to bring the neck back in. That worked great for me
Wayne
Click to expand...
will need to give that a try, thx
 
Rank Amateur said:
Suggest looking at the Lee factory crimp die as a final step. Have loaded thousands of the V-Max bullets in everything from 40-60 grain sizes. Factory crimp die smoothes out case and even minimal crimp addresses any neck/mouth issues.
Click to expand...
you mean add a slight crimp after the load...that might help....i have the lee crimper
 
Rank Amateur said:
Suggest looking at the Lee factory crimp die as a final step. Have loaded thousands of the V-Max bullets in everything from 40-60 grain sizes. Factory crimp die smoothes out case and even minimal crimp addresses any neck/mouth issues.
Click to expand...
Brccd,
This is also very good advice. I have never used them on rifle cases but on pistol cases sometimes there a necessity in my experience
Wayne
 
brccd said:
you mean add a slight crimp after the load...that might help....i have the lee crimper
Click to expand...
They have a carbide ring that sizes the base and it’s a tapered not a roll crimp so it won’t hurt ya to use it. It’s adjustable to no crimp to heavy crimp
Wayne
 
It sounds like this processed brass just has too much neck tension. I've loaded countless thousands of V-max on my Dillon 1050 without ever chamfering necks on fired brass, often times miscellaneous range pick-up brass. Usually new, un-chamfered brass shaves some jacket material off the bullet. If that isn't happening, you probably have enough chamfer. What does the processed brass neck diameter measure before and after seating a bullet?
Scott
 
ALSO -- something you might check out is the top punch in your seater die to make sure it's not a design that simply doesn't fit your VMax tip, or allows things to get all wonky up there. Some bullets have a long slender ogive, and some punches allow for the tip to bottom out instead of centering the bullet with the ogive.
Good luck, those little flat based VMax's are often the most accurate for short range use for me - out to 200. jd
 
effendude said:
It sounds like this processed brass just has too much neck tension. I've loaded countless thousands of V-max on my Dillon 1050 without ever chamfering necks on fired brass, often times miscellaneous range pick-up brass. Usually new, un-chamfered brass shaves some jacket material off the bullet. If that isn't happening, you probably have enough chamfer. What does the processed brass neck diameter measure before and after seating a bullet?
Scott
Click to expand...

I will measure the neck...
But I tried some more testing, doing a bit more chamferring, and that seems to solve this issue, at least with another test of 10 loads!

You mention dillon, assuming press, and dies are dillon? I was using LEE...waiting for the Hornady die to give that a try on the rest of the batches.

As you mention, it might be worth trying to resize the neck.

The brass is clean and shiny, and uniform...testing in the gauges before doing anything, they all fit smoothly. Its after seating the vmax, there were some issues.

The last 10, I chamferred a bit more, did a quick light swipe with rcbs lube on a cue tip. The bullet almost sat straight on the case, in the press...and loaded smoothly. Then fit nicely in the gauge.

Also tried this with some other cases I resized (but with no primer or powder), and followed the same technique of chamfer and very light neck lub...and it worked well, then fit gauges....

Seems chamfering is the key at least here to make things work right!

I will update results with the Hornady die once I get that in place (next week?)

It seems these flat bottom bullets simply need more attension....

Thx
 
tommeboy said:
223 lee crimp die is a collet crimp not a roll or taper and does not have a carbide ring. THAT is a pistol crimp die that has that. Don't crimp the bullet, you will ruin it. All that is needed is proper neck tension.

And you need the VLD type of chamfer tool.
Click to expand...
so you are saying I need the VLD seating stem, for the v-max? I ran into this with 6.5 creedmoores and got VLD seating stems...which there I had a hornady seater. I was wonder about that since the Vmax has the tip like some of the creedmoores, and needs something to fit that outline better....yeesch.,...sound like i have another order to place! haha
 
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