OT-Some more Rookie reloading questions??

[Dastook]

I have been reloading pistol cartridges for years but have not done any rifle cartridges. All of my brass bullets etc. will arrive today from Midway to start reloading for my .223 and I have a couple questions.

Do I need to expand the case necks on the new unfired brass?

How much crimp should I put on .223?

[Idiot]

You will not need to expand the necks on the .223 brass. You will, however, need to size all of the new brass to make sure the necks are round and ready for bullet placement.

If you are using the .223 ammo in a bolt action or similar manual action, crimping is a matter of choice and not necessary. However, if you are using it in a semi-auto, crimping is desired to keep the bullet from sliding back in the case as its slammed forward by the bolt and while its banged around in the hi-cap magazine.

You will get a lot of advise here and elsewhere, but nothing beats buying a reloading manual and reading it BEFORE you begin to reload.

[Dastook]

I have read both the Spear and Hornady manuals front to back and they always talk about resizing and expanding in general but I didn't see where they addressed this specific question in either manual. Maybe I just missed it.

[Idiot]

I have read both the Spear and Hornady manuals front to back and they always talk about resizing and expanding in general but I didn't see where they addressed this specific question in either manual. Maybe I just missed it.

You probably missed nothing. If they didn't mention it, then I guess they didn't mention it.

Anyway, I've reloaded bottle neck cartridges for a long time and I think my advise on this one is pretty good. Have fun.

[RSY]

Yep, you're on the right track for sure, being an old pistol reloader.

The thing about bottleneck cartridges is that the sizing die has a button on the stem that does the appropriate neck expansion for you on the upstroke of the ram. No flaring die required, as with straight cases.

All the best,
Scott

ps: I see no real reason to crimp .223, ever. You're either going to be using a bolt action where it is definitely not necessary, or you're going to run them through a semi-auto where recoil will very likely be nowhere near enough to move that bullet in the neck.

[Griff]

Good answers above. However, on the crimping of a .223, generally not needed if you have good neck tension. I don't have a collet puller, just a kinetic one, if it takes 3 whacks to drop a bullet, I feel I have good neck tension, if it drops out on the first whack, I'd want more neck tension unless it's going in a single shot.

[Charles]

It is always a good idea to run new unfired brass though your full length sizing die before you load it. Often new brass comes with dented, dinged, out of round necks or otherwise out spec. The FL die will make certain the case mouth, neck and everything else will be round and to spec. The case necks will be expanded as they come out of the die.

As others said, I see no need for a crimp

[Dastook]

Thanks for all the info guys, the UPS man just dropped it off. Here we go!!!

[runfiverun]

the thing you do have to look out for with bottle-neck brass
is case length.
if it is too long it will crimp the case for you when you close the bolt then it will raise pressures alot.
make sure they are under the max case length.

[morgan in nm]

I have reloaded quite a bit of 223 and I have yet to crimp them out of necessity. Maybe the bullet is so light weight that it doesn't become a problem. Also, like others have said, full-length size your new brass because a few times, I have bought new winchester brass that were dented at the mouth. Depending on what type of bullet your using, you may want to run your deburring tool lightly on the inside so you don't peel some of the jacket. I had a real problem with this using hornady 55grn and new brass.

Almost forgot, if you are reloading for a semi-auto, you may want to invest in small-base dies.

Have fun. 223 ammo has gotten so expensive lately that it is now cheaper to reload and you can make one heck of a good load for it.

[RSY]

Almost forgot, if you are reloading for a semi-auto, you may want to invest in small-base dies.

A good point.

[Chuck 100 yd]

What Charles said +1