.223 flat base

[4rdwhln]

Hey there, I have a new problem. And it has to do with .224 dia brass jacketed hollow points. I have loaded a bunch of bevel base hornady 55 grain. However the decap rod has a sizing section on it. it is only opening the case to .220 and when I go to seat the flat based hollow points I crush the case.. what kind of set up are you guys using to open the case to .224. I suspect that when I start playing with my Bator mold and gas check this will also need the same remedy. Its been quite a while since I loaded anything that wasn't cast. I hope to be ready for the upcoming gopher season.

[Winger Ed.]

I've had expander balls wear out, and become too small.
One of them, way before I thought it should.
I've started running a bore brush in the case neck as part of the initial wash/cleaning, and they seem to last longer now.

[rockrat]

Have you inside chamfered the case necks yet?

[243winxb]

Get a new expander from the die company. Should measure .2225"

inside chamfered the case necks, as said above.

To load cast bullets, get a Lyman M Die. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011246697

[4rdwhln]

I never thought about the wear on the expander ball. It just dawned on me I used to have problems with the tumbling media sticking in the little cases. I have changed cleaning habits and now the problem seems gone . But the media would act like sand paper.. Makes sense to me..And it looks like the case prep machine needs to come out from under the bench. I haven't loaded any .223 in ten years or so. I am just getting back into Brass I sized back then. Thanks guys!!

[243winxb]

Auto loaders need more neck tension then a bolt gun. http://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/gasgunreload.cfm

Edit. Link not working or website is down , now?

[gnoahhh]

Have you inside chamfered the case necks yet?

This, primarily. I would put a fairly heavy chamfer on the case mouths before I started fretting about worn expander balls and stuff. I have followed that protocol for about a half century now and I honestly can't recall collapsing a case mouth with a flat based bullet.

[4rdwhln]

Thanks guys, I have measured the expander balls? one is .2235 and they aren't the problem. I have been loading straight wall pistol and lead for my 30-06s. I can get by on those without the neck reaming. I forgot an important step. I have three coffee cans full of clean,sized and deprimed brass. And I was whining about 1 crushed case mouth. Hate loosing cases..

[dkf]

I put some flare on the case, especially for flat base bullets. I use a Lee universal expander die usually but sometimes a custom plug. Flare is removed with a Lee collet crimp die. I find with a little flare I tend to have less runnout, especially with flat based bullets.

[beltfed]

The lyman M die works for jacketed as well as for cast bullets:
My "22R" M die expanding plug is : 0.2216/ 0.2253. Works just
fine when I load flat base bullets for my AR or bolt guns
beltfed/arnie

[4rdwhln]

I am thinking about another M die. I have 4 already. they are the best for pistol. You can just flare the mouth to where the bullet fits like a cork in a bottle.

[Texas by God]

I have yet to need a M die, I just chamfer the necks. No problems jacketed or cast.

[tomme boy]

Get the RCBS neck expander die and thank me later.

[4rdwhln]

The rcbs neck expander will do many calibers by changing the button? That looks like a smarter way to go than the m die. And the threaded rod and body makes it super adjustable as far as shell height.