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Posted: 11/8/2007 7:10:09 AM EDT
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Just started reloading for my Bushmaster AR. Although I have been reloading for over 30 yrs, this is my first time to load for an autoloading rifle. I just loaded up a few rounds using my new Lee dies. As always, I chamber check loaded rounds. Rather than drop the bolt while chambering, I rode the bolt home. When I try to extract the chambered rounds it's impossible to do by hand. I ended up standing a 2x4 on end and pressing the charging handle against the end of the 2x4 to extract the round. Even then, it takes a lot of force. I am using mixed commerical brass that has been full length resized. Do I need to get a small base resizing die or what? Appreciate any help here! a04039 |
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Check to make sure that the sizing die touches the shell holder under ram tension (when sizing a case). Also, check to make sure that you are not over crimping the bullet, hence buckling the shoulder of the case. Since I’m guessing that you are loading from a mag, your OAL should be fine, unless you have a match chamber (short throat leade really, with the bullet embedding the rifling on loading). As for removing a struck case, With muzzle control since we are talking about a live round, pull down on the charging handle while giving the butt stock a good hard blow off the ground. |
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Dano523, Thanks for the response. I did indeed have the sizing die bottomed out. Case length was 1.75. I am using the Lee FCD, so there is no apparent buckling going on there. Don't know if it's possible to overcrimp with that die. If I am mistaken about that, I would appreciate any input you might have. I plan to get a chamber gauge next trip to town. Maybe that will shed some light on the problem. Thanks again, a04039 |
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Quick question, Check the crimping grooves on the case and tell me if they are annular/in line with each other around the case neck, or are some area's high and the other low around the neck of the case. Lee has been having problems with their FCD dies not crimping true (straight around in a clean circle), and could be penning the case brass longer than the needed trim length (read rim mouth material being penned past the last of chamber cut and wedging between the bullet and throat wall area on loading). |
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Dano523, You may have put your finger on something there! It's only a small amount, but I can see a small irregulalarity in the crimp groove with some possible brass extrusion in the case mouth. I'm going to pull a bullet and check CL to check it out. Thanks again for your help! a04039 |
| I suggest selling your Lee dies and buying RCBS or Redding. They cost a little more but they actually work. I've had WAY too much trouble with Lee stuff. They probably cut your sizing die wrong. You could try sending it back to them but they'll expect you to pay shipping and they'll be rude jerks when you call them about it. This post assumes that since you just started loading for .223 your brass isn't too long. |
Negative Dano. the sized case chambers and extracts normally. Think I'll load another round with a lighter crimp and see what happens! Any other ideas? Thanks!! |
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Thanks Dano for all your help! I loaded five of the cases I had previously sized, and reduced the crimp. They chambered and extracted normally. Apparently the problem was overcrimping causing the case mouth to flare out slightly above the crimp groove formed by the LFCD. Lesson learned!! Thanks again! a04039 |
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