[Dad_Wil]

I’m using a standard RCBS seating die and a Lee Factory Crimp die.

[Dad_Wil]

4 a friend
I’ve done them with and without lube

I size bullets as part of my reloading process because I believe I found a slight variance in the bearing surface diameter when I sized a box of bullets as an experiment

I only size jacketed bullets to reduce any size variance in the rounds. (usually less than .001″ if it exists)
I prefer to just run them without (no lube to wash off)
I will lube if greater force is needed to size them

I haven’t done any cast bullets so I cannot speak to that (Lee does recommend their liquid Alox for cast rounds)
RMR, Speer, Hornady, and Sierra make bullets better than anything I would or could cast

[Dad_Wil]

I agree that it probably is not necessary to run new bullets through a sizing die.

I got the Lee bullet sizing dies as an experiment to possibly salvage some pulled rounds
I was surprised by the variance in the amount of force needed to size the rounds…

Just for kicks I ran a box of new bullets through the sizing die and found that some slipped right through while others required a fair amount of force to go through… (a variance in the production process?)

I use the Lee bullet sizing dies to try to remove some of that variance… (not so sure if it helps I do not separate the bullets by the force needed to size them)

Jeff Siewert’s book “Ammunition Demystified” addresses this a bit … when he covers the initial engraving force of the rifling on a fired round.

I’m still learning and adapting my reloading processes …

[Dad_Wil]

George B
so what you call a “Fire Ring” I would call a “Gas Check”

I am also using Lake City brass
I have not run into the issue you are having

my brass prep routine is to…
decap
anneal
wash
resize case bumping the shoulders back ~.002″
wash again
neck size (Lee collet die)

I also run my projectiles thru a Lee bullet sizing die prior to seating

[Dad_Wil]

I think that your over all case length depends on your rifle…
I would make sure that the bullet is not being jammed into the lands on the rifle…
Erik Cortina did a you-tube interview with Speedy on determining length to lands…

[Dad_Wil]

George B
I am also curious… “fire ring” is not a term that I’ve heard in reloading…

are you referring to the point where the boat-tail meets the bearing surface of the bullet?

[Dad_Wil]

these bullets are great.. ..
Just starting load development for the .224 75gr 3gh…
I have shot 2 velocity tests that grouped all shots with in 1.5moa…
20 rounds total… 10 rounds each test… each round with a different powder charge..
for me getting a 1.5moa group on a velocity test is awsome
My velocity tests usually look like they were put on paper by a shotgun…

I consider myself to be a mediocre to fair shot…
rifle is a Savage Axis with a Shaw 26″ magnum barrel 1:8 twist 223 Wylde chamber …(cheap)….
it wears a Leupold® side focus VX®-Freedom® 6-18x40mm scope…

Velocities are faster then expected from 2882 fps – 3053 fps at the muzzle…

Has anyone tested the terminal performance (expansion and retained weight) of these bullets?

[Dad_Wil]

these bullets are great.. ..
Just starting load development for the .224 75gr 3gh…
I have shot 2 velocity tests that grouped all shots with in 1.5moa…
20 rounds total… 10 rounds each test… each round with a different powder charge..
for me getting a 1.5moa group on a velocity test is awsome
My velocity tests usually look like they were put on paper by a shotgun…

I consider myself to be a mediocre to fair shot…
rifle is a Savage Axis with a Shaw 26″ magnum barrel 1:8 twist 223 Wylde chamber …(cheap)….
it wears a Leupold® side focus VX®-Freedom® 6-18x40mm scope…

Velocities are faster then expected from 2882 fps – 3053 fps at the muzzle…

Has anyone tested the terminal performance (expansion and retained weight) of these bullets?

[Author]

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