Author Topic: Brass collapsing need help (Read 1378 times)

DonT · « **on:** January 29, 2007, 03:51:00 AM »

I am reloading for a 17-223 for my AR. When I size the .223 brass (tried RP/Win/LC) it gets some funny dimpling on the sides right below the angle of shoulder (where the angle breaks and turns in to th straight wall of the case). it is like the brass is buckling from the shoulder being pushed back.

I have tried backing the sizing die off a bit (so it is does not seat on the shell holder) and then the rounds will not allow the bolt to go into full battery, it is an AR15.

I am using On Shot spray lube and lubing the case individually (and well) before sizing.

The rounds cycle fine (haven't fired any yet) when they are like this and my first thought was to shoot them and let them fire form the dimples out. But I thought I would check here and see if anyone else had run into this and if there was something else I could use or do to keep it from happening???

I have loaded a number of wildcats over the years and this is the first time I have run into this particular issue...

Thanks.
DonT

HL · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2007, 01:50:20 AM »

If it is doing that after fireforming, then I would say that those are lube dents.

DonT · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2007, 02:41:50 AM »

Nope it is before fire forming...

GregP42 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:22:14 AM »

Don,

It sounds like lube dents to me too, if you can find it get some imperial sizing wax, just a little bit will do wonders. And if your collapsing the neck, go from 223 to 204 then 17. I am not sure how log a 204 is but if the 223 will fit in the die and it doesn't touch anywhere but the neck then I would use it as a step in sizing them down.

Greg

PA-Joe · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:41:39 AM »

Check the dies to make certain that they are clean and it can vent. Sometimes excess lube can stop the air flow.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:54:03 AM »

It does sound like lube dents, but.

22 to 17 is quite a ways down, so i'd be checking neck thickness. All that brass has to go someplace... Also, i MUCH prefer Imperial Sizeing Die Wax for case lube "especially" when i'm case forming!

DM

Reed1911 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2007, 12:44:30 PM »

I'd suggest two things, #1 turn your necks a bit first then #2 size them to 20 cal first.

Gavinator · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2007, 07:46:36 PM »

If you think you're colapsing the shoulder, you probably are. I bet you've never reformed cases for a wildcat with one-shot lube before, and as it gets colder one-shot doesn't work very well.
Imperial sizing die wax will work much better.
The other thing to remember is that the walls of the case below the shoulder need support from the die, so if you are forming from "once fired brass" do not size the cases to .223 first.

DonT · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:09:19 AM »

Thanks for all the advice... I have some imperial sizing was coming from Midway and will give that a try.

Neck thickness is fine and I have reloaded for other wildcat cartridges without running into this issue. I have, at times, in the past had cases collapse due to taking to big a jump in one pass but never anything like this. Necks seem to be fine as they hold the bullets with no problems and don't save copper when seating the bullet and rounds seat fine.

I have tried more lube, less lube and still problems. Hopefully the Imperial wiill solve the problem.

DonT

Drilling Man · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2007, 10:36:30 AM »

Will a bullet fall through the neck of a "fired" case?

If there's any resistance at all, you have issues with neck thickness...

DM

DonT · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2007, 04:43:59 PM »

SUCCESS.... I am proud as a Peacock!

Yup that Imperial Sizing Was did the trick. Thirty rounds and all came out perrrrrrrrrfect!

Thanks to all who responded and I would highly recommend this stuff to anyone that hasn't tried it and use it like they say, sparingly...............................

Now if one of you guys would warm it up a bit (headed into the deep freeze for the next 10 days here in Minnesota with highs around ZERO and lows in the double digit below zero)... Global Warming has officially ended in Minnesota!!!!

DonT