The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

JSC wrote:

Spoonrest wrote:@Tony and JSC.
I'm shooting a Colt AR15 HBAR so I need to stick to 2.25". I'm not so concerned with compressed charges but the deformation of the bullet having to seat so deeply into the case. I have some S&B cases which I will try reloading soon - maybe they will have a greater capacity..

I'm loading 77gn Sierras to the same OAL as you most of the time (for mag feeding) and have also tried real heavies too.

When I first started reloading .223 Rem, I had a few concerns myself regarding neck tension, OAL, compressed loads etc. but quickly realised it's not as critical as you might think.

I don't know what you mean by "deformation of the bullet", maybe you can explain? A compressed load is fine as long as you monitor the pressures. All the .223 loads I use are compressed to an extent. They all work fine. I don't think you'll see enough variation in capacity between brass brands to make much difference.

Just shoot them and look at the results. That's always the acid test.

In the OP's case, he is trying to seat his bullet to produce an overall length of 2.25." If the case is full of powder the bullet "meets" the powder before it's been seated at the final overall length (i.e. when the bullet meets the powder the overall length may be 2.30"). You would then start pushing harder to seat the bullet to 2.25" as the die is set up for (and compressing the powder) and you may cause indentation in the bullet where the seating stem contacts the bullet due to the extra force required for the compression. From what I've read it is also possible to damage the seating stem by doing this too excessively although I've not experienced this myself although I have experienced indentation on the bullets due to compressed loads.

I've seen that happen when pointing bullets if you go too far and over point them, but not with the compressed loads I've used in .308 or .223 and I would say if they're so compressed you actually see the bullet deforming when seating the bullet, then something needs looking at.

In Lapua or Winchester .223 brass, I use 24.6gn of N140 with a 77gn SMK and I can hear the crunch as the bullet is seated, but I don't have to use undue force.

When I load 77gr SMKs to mag lengths using N140 or IMR4895 it compresses with no ill effects on loading kit or pressure, its for CSR so I would notice pressure problems with extraction (had they not shown themselves to start with).

No such issues with wildboar, shoots nice and flows like water, sort the funnel and you should be fine.

Spoonrest wrote: I'm not so concerned with compressed charges but the deformation of the bullet having to seat so deeply into the case.

I found this with Hornady bullets, both AMax and HPBTM. When I reverted back to Sierra 77SMKs this problem disappeared.

Ah, seems it may have something to do with the bullet type then?

I never bothered to find out if it was Sierra bullets had a better shape to fit my seating die (or should that be the other way round? ) or a stronger jacket as the problem went away.

Mattnall wrote:

Spoonrest wrote: I'm not so concerned with compressed charges but the deformation of the bullet having to seat so deeply into the case.

I found this with Hornady bullets, both AMax and HPBTM. When I reverted back to Sierra 77SMKs this problem disappeared.

+1 yep I found exactly the same thing. I don't bother with Hornady these days for the heavier bullets

Mattnall wrote:

Spoonrest wrote: I'm not so concerned with compressed charges but the deformation of the bullet having to seat so deeply into the case.

I found this with Hornady bullets, both AMax and HPBTM. When I reverted back to Sierra 77SMKs this problem disappeared.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your load recipe? Having had some 'shotgun' style groups at the weekend burning off the last of the 55gr Barnaul rounds I've come to the conclusion that I must start reloading for my VZ58 and its cursed 1:7 twist barrel. Looking for heavy loads to get going with which will suit the twist rate

I use 24.2gn R15 with a 77SMK, FL sized and it works a treat in several 223s I have, twists from 1:9" to 1:7".
Winchester brass (on their 13th loading - I have new cases here but the old ones keep going so I'll stick with them for now) and just changed from Rem7.5 primers to MagTech7.5 with no change in POI/POA.

These are all loaded to mag length. The SMK bullets seems to handle a jump to the rifling just fine.