First time reloader, normal?

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MrGiggles

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I bought a Lee 50th anniversary kit last week, and pacesetter dies for .223.

Using once fired Monarch brass, 25 grains of Varget, and a 55 grain V-max projectile, I made up my first 10 rounds a couple days ago. This is what the case looked like after firing. There is some black residue around the case neck after firing. I've only shot two of them. Both fired normally and landed on target. Maybe just burned up case lube?

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IMG_20160731_162859920_zpsgsmvu9ln.jpg

None of the cases needed trimming, but I did notice that I could not start the bullets by hand after running through the FL resize die. Is this normal as well? I held them with my fingers until the bullet would stay upright in the die.
 
Normal. The black on the end of the case neck is normal, it's when it crawls past the shoulder you have reason for concern. Seating the bullets as you mentioned is also normal especially with flat base bullets. :) Everything you mentioned is normal.

I will add I generally trim my cases but only because I want them all uniform. For a case within specifications that is not really necessary.

Ron
 
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That's exactly what you should see, the carbon is burned powder residue. When you have enough pressure and the case expands properly you will only see carbon on the neck because the shoulder has expanded and sealed the chamber.
 
Thanks guys, good to know. I was just a little concerned since there was less buildup from the factory load.
 
Your loads are probably just a little lower in pressure and the commercial ammo probably uses a different powder.
 
Yep, looks perfectly fine. The reason for the sooting is lack of case obturation. If the pressure isn't quite high enough the case neck does not fully seal in the chamber which causes some gas to flow around the outside of the neck and ends up as carbon, per your picture. You can reduce this by further increasing your load weight (but keeping it at or below maximum) which will seal the chamber a bit more.

On the other hand, if you're getting the accuracy/velocity you need then there's no need to increase the load. Welcome to handloading!
 
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