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AR - good news/bad news
#8602894
05/22/22 04:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
OP
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OP
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As I’ve been doing lately, I took the AR (223) to the bench for one cold bore shot at my 100 yard target. The good news is that the bullet went exactly (+/- 1/4”) where I hoped it would. I’m now satisfied with my load for the 64 gr Nosler BSB for pig hunting.
The bad news: I had loaded the AR with a 10 round mag that I keep with the gun. I only fired the one shot, so I ejected the mag and cycled the action to retrieve the chambered round. That’s where the bad news was. The ejected round had a beat up lead point and the bullet had been forced into the case. I don’t crimp the loaded rounds, or at least never have. The brass is Lapua and has been fired maybe twice and possibly 3 times. It has not been annealed prior to this loading. I will anneal the brass prior to reuse.
I have about 40 rounds left of this batch of reloads. I cycled each and every one through the action after the problem and none were changed in COAL and none had a battered lead point. One thing that might be of some importance is that prior to my using this rather unstreamlined bullet, I had used more pointed bullets like the 40 gr Ballistic Tip and the 63 and 65 gr Sierras.
What am I missing? What do you long term AR guys suggest? I’m an old shooter and reloader for bolt guns, but have had this AR for just a couple of years. Prior to that, I had one in the Corps, but just used Uncle Sam’s ammo.
The next batch of reloads will be as normal, after annealing, but I’ll add the Lee Collet Die to the process for possibly more consistent neck tension.
Suggestions requested.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8602907
05/22/22 04:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,637
DStroud
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,637 |
I wouldn’t use the collet die for AR. I would get a Lee FCD instead. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016833587?pid=998408You could use it on the 40 rounds you already have loaded with no issue at all.
Last edited by DStroud; 05/22/22 04:53 PM.
"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."
Jack O'Connor 1963
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8602912
05/22/22 05:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
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I’ll order one. Can’t hurt to have a consistent crimp. I assume this is a taper crimp. My loads for this bullet do not have the case mouth at the cannelure.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: DStroud]
#8602920
05/22/22 05:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,022
pertnear
"Demolition Man"
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"Demolition Man"
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,022 |
+1 I had a similar problem with my AR. I didn't crimp my reloads either. I noticed that my POI was climbing with each shot. I finally traced it back to bullets in the magazine being seated deeper with each shot & thus increasing the pressure. I was under the impression that you could not crimp unless the bullet had a cannelure. I ordered a FCD & problem solved.
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” - George Orwell
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8602929
05/22/22 05:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
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OP
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I’ve ordered one for the 223 and one for the Grendel. Thanks fellows.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8602951
05/22/22 06:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,548
JCB
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I would look at your feed ramps and see if the barrel and receiver ramps are mated correctly. You may need to have them blended if there is a pretty rough seam between the two. Sure sounds like your rounds are hitting those ramps pretty hard.
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8603008
05/22/22 08:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,455
Big Fitz
THF Trophy Hunter
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I'll be interested to hear if the groups open up once you crimp.
I was wrong...on anything technical. Fitz............. is right, ya know............
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8603013
05/22/22 08:50 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
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That is of interest to me, for sure. Now that I have it shooting where I want, I don’t want worse accuracy. I’ll report on the results. Might be a week or two though.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, I’ll take it to the guy that installed the barrel.
Last edited by 603Country; 05/22/22 08:52 PM.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: 603Country]
#8603328
05/23/22 12:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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That is of interest to me, for sure. Now that I have it shooting where I want, I don’t want worse accuracy. I’ll report on the results. Might be a week or two though.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, I’ll take it to the guy that installed the barrel. Another option is a bushing sizing die. Typically I size bolt action ammo with a .002" neck tension. For my LR-308, I size with a .005" neck tension in place of crimping.
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Re: AR - good news/bad news
[Re: J.G.]
#8603368
05/23/22 01:22 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,701
603Country
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I do have a bushing sizing die already, though not the desired bushing (I think). Since I have the FCD die enroute, I’ll see if that works, then maybe will try the bushing die. Thanks for that suggestion.
Last edited by 603Country; 05/23/22 01:23 PM.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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