got problems! Push test...

[Axis II]

I started loading 223 55gr hornady v max tonight using once fired hornady brass that was FL sized with rcbs die.

I made a dummy round and forgot to chamfer the mouth so it shaved the bullet a bit. I did the push test and it seated from 2.250 to 2.248, I then pushed again and it seated to 2.242 and so on. I figured it was cause the bullet shaved so I chamfered a case and seated it to 2.250 and same thing. I tried this with several other cases and they all get smaller and all I'm doing is pushing lightly on the press.

I noticed the plastic tip was deformed so I pushed it into wood and the same thing. the tip is somewhat mushrooming as I can feel it with my finger but I want to make sure its just the tip that smashing and not the bullet seating deeper.

please help.

 

[243winxb]

If you measure overall length from the tip of the bullet to the base of the case, remember to subtract the variation due to bullet length tolerance. The bullets will vary in length due to manufacturing tolerances (bullets with exposed lead noses are the worst in this regard) and this will add to the overall cartridge length variation. Remember that the bullet seater plug does not (or shouldn't) contact the tip of the bullet when seating, but contacts farther down the ogive. For a more accurate seating depth measurement, take the seater plug out of the bullet seating die, place it on top of the cartridge and measure from the base of the case to the top of the seater plug. http://leeprecision.net/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/143/88/seating-depth-variation Neck tension, bullet pull. Read at link http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=796810&highlight=neck+tension+bullet+pull

 

[AnselHazen]

The tip is mushrooming? What bullet are you using?

 

[ants]

AnselHazen: The tip is mushrooming? What bullet are you using?

He said "55gr Hornady v max". It has the polymer tip.



We hope we get no setback, but in many instances it is inevitable. 0.002" to .008" is very small.



I'm just a little confused about

...all I'm doing is pushing lightly on the press.

We usually don't use a press to check bullet setback. Unless you mean you're holding the cartridge in your hand, putting the tip of the bullet on the press, and pushing it by hand.

 

[FROGO207]

If the bullet is actually seating deeper then you might have to make the expander ball/button a bit smaller with fine sand paper while turning it in a drill. If you do, go slow and measure often. What size is your expander ball/button now? Mine measures .223. I always chamfer inside the brass necks on 223/5.56 brass casings when I process them the first time or after I trim them.

 

[Axis II]

yes I held it in my hand and pushed onto the press.

I resized them with the rcbs die, these didn't need trimmed so I didn't trim. I did 2 turns with the hand chamfer and loaded.

my other question is since they are loaded into a bolt gun should I really worry about this?

I'm a little worried that it did this.

 

[Axis II]

If the bullet is actually seating deeper then you might have to make the expander ball/button a bit smaller with fine sand paper while turning it in a drill. If you do, go slow and measure often. What size is your expander ball/button now? Mine measures .223. I always chamfer inside the brass necks on 223/5.56 brass casings when I process them the first time or after I trim them.

not sure on the size. its just a standard rcbs FL die.

 

[Reefinmike]

I did the push test and it seated from 2.250 to 2.248, I then pushed again and it seated to 2.242 and so on.

I noticed the plastic tip was deformed so I pushed it into wood and the same thing. the tip is somewhat mushrooming as I can feel it with my finger

Looks to me like you knew the answer to your problem all along . deforming the bullet tip will give you a shorter oal, even if the bullet isnt actually pushed in the case anymore. Do the push test with something that is not contacting the bullet tip. Pull the seater stem out of your die to use if you cannot find anything.

 

[Axis II]

deforming the tip that much? Not arguing just trying to learn and be safe. I did it in wood and it moved a little but not as much as the other. to go from 2.250 to 2.230-ish.

wood test was around 2.240-2.247. I wasn't trying to smash it in just a little weight maybe pushing a tack into dry wall pressure.

 

[Reefinmike]

dont let the tip contact anything as you are doing the push test and you will have your answer.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

To do the push test, take a block of wood and drill a hole that is large enough to clear the tip, but smaller than the bullet diameter. Measure to the base of the plastic tip, avoiding the compression of the tip.

As for using a bolt action, you probably are using a magazine, the recoil action on the rounds in the magazine can cause setback.

 

[thomas15]

I have been handloading hand gun ammo for a while but only doing rifle since the fall and then only about 500 rounds of .223. Here are a few things I have noticed.

As far as chamfer and deburring, I have three different makes of hand tools, Lee, RCBS and Lyman. Of the three, the Lee simply doesn't work, the RCBS is OK and the Lyman kicks butt. Now, it is possible that mine are duds so take this with a grain of salt. My point is just because they are new doesn't mean they are sharp. I put the Lyman cutters in an RCBS Trim Mate and this is the ticket.

After you de-burr and chamfer run a brush through the case mouth. This does in fact make a difference.

Consider for now using a bullet with a cannelure.

And that's my two cents.