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.

I wouldn’t use the collet die for AR. I would get a Lee FCD instead.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016833587?pid=998408

You could use it on the 40 rounds you already have loaded with no issue at all.

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.

+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.

I’ve ordered one for the 223 and one for the Grendel. Thanks fellows.

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.

I'll be interested to hear if the groups open up once you crimp.

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.

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.