I learned a lesson in neck tension and case lube.
Been using Hornady One Shot for case lube and never had a problem until this past week I loaded a test ladder of 223 Rem and noticed a loose bullet after seating. Checking things out... I was able to wiggle several bullets after some minor effort. WTH.
Cleaned my seating die, test, same results but actually worse... very loose bullet.
Baffled. Stumped.... I did not get to the range last weekend, everything went on hold.
After sleeping on it and letting my imagination recharge I let my over analytical brain go to town... Tested tonight a few sample cases with no case lube left inside the neck and huge difference...
But here's where the "Nosler pt3" beings. Some here might recall my saga with using Nosler 223 brass and it cracking. Stubborn and frugal I continued testing the second lot I purchased, a sealed bag of 100pcs purchased after the first one. I had ran 2 different initial ladder tests testing 2 different powders in the "new" bag of Nosler brass and no brass failures. I'm guessing that the brass cracking issue now is limited to the first purchase and was a bad lot number of brass (this saga goes back into last summer). Well that mystery solved I was somewhat excited to be able to continue to use Nosler brass for my project which brings me to this weeks neck tension failure.....
So back to this weeks dilemma the next question was how to fix the weak neck tension. I was getting about .002" neck tension with the Nosler brass and the Hammer Hunter bullets I'm using but even with assuring a dry inside neck with zero case lube I could still get movement from cycling in the AR, the inertia would move the bullet forward, and thus loosen the tension I could after a few cycles wiggle the bullet again.
This problem comes down to two things, the greatly reduced bearing surface of the Hammer bullets. This is not a defect but actually a design intent of Hammers and so while this is a factor to consider its not a gamestopper. So then what to do..., I removed the expander from my sizing die, this gave me about .009" neck tension. Made a noticeable difference but after a few cycles thru the action, loose bullets. At this point I'm in disbelief again how the greatly increased tension could still fail.
I decide to test the supply of used Federal brass I have. Normal sizing (with expander) I get about .002" neck tension but seating the Hammer bullet is very noticeably more resistance with a normal sized Federal neck than even the modified Nosler sized neck. Cycling tests showed inertia movement and sore fingers trying to get the bullet to wiggle. Inertia movement was small. This is an improvement worth pursuing instead of the Nosler brass.
I broke out the Lee FCD and made another dummy round with Federal brass, normal sized, + light crimp. Zero movement after 5 cycles thru the AR. No inertia drift and no movement by hand. I think this is my new method, though it means I have to start over with my previous pressure ladders.
Nosler brass "strike 3". Im contemplating if using a crimp to hold the Nosler neck tension will be effective but its late and Im tired of testing. Im wondering if Redding makes different size expanders....
So if you've made it this far my question is if its ok to size brass without case lube in the neck area? Whats your process for assuring a clean inside neck surface?
(fed brass, 60gHammer Hunter, light crimp)
Been using Hornady One Shot for case lube and never had a problem until this past week I loaded a test ladder of 223 Rem and noticed a loose bullet after seating. Checking things out... I was able to wiggle several bullets after some minor effort. WTH.
Cleaned my seating die, test, same results but actually worse... very loose bullet.
Baffled. Stumped.... I did not get to the range last weekend, everything went on hold.
After sleeping on it and letting my imagination recharge I let my over analytical brain go to town... Tested tonight a few sample cases with no case lube left inside the neck and huge difference...
But here's where the "Nosler pt3" beings. Some here might recall my saga with using Nosler 223 brass and it cracking. Stubborn and frugal I continued testing the second lot I purchased, a sealed bag of 100pcs purchased after the first one. I had ran 2 different initial ladder tests testing 2 different powders in the "new" bag of Nosler brass and no brass failures. I'm guessing that the brass cracking issue now is limited to the first purchase and was a bad lot number of brass (this saga goes back into last summer). Well that mystery solved I was somewhat excited to be able to continue to use Nosler brass for my project which brings me to this weeks neck tension failure.....
So back to this weeks dilemma the next question was how to fix the weak neck tension. I was getting about .002" neck tension with the Nosler brass and the Hammer Hunter bullets I'm using but even with assuring a dry inside neck with zero case lube I could still get movement from cycling in the AR, the inertia would move the bullet forward, and thus loosen the tension I could after a few cycles wiggle the bullet again.
This problem comes down to two things, the greatly reduced bearing surface of the Hammer bullets. This is not a defect but actually a design intent of Hammers and so while this is a factor to consider its not a gamestopper. So then what to do..., I removed the expander from my sizing die, this gave me about .009" neck tension. Made a noticeable difference but after a few cycles thru the action, loose bullets. At this point I'm in disbelief again how the greatly increased tension could still fail.
I decide to test the supply of used Federal brass I have. Normal sizing (with expander) I get about .002" neck tension but seating the Hammer bullet is very noticeably more resistance with a normal sized Federal neck than even the modified Nosler sized neck. Cycling tests showed inertia movement and sore fingers trying to get the bullet to wiggle. Inertia movement was small. This is an improvement worth pursuing instead of the Nosler brass.
I broke out the Lee FCD and made another dummy round with Federal brass, normal sized, + light crimp. Zero movement after 5 cycles thru the AR. No inertia drift and no movement by hand. I think this is my new method, though it means I have to start over with my previous pressure ladders.
Nosler brass "strike 3". Im contemplating if using a crimp to hold the Nosler neck tension will be effective but its late and Im tired of testing. Im wondering if Redding makes different size expanders....
So if you've made it this far my question is if its ok to size brass without case lube in the neck area? Whats your process for assuring a clean inside neck surface?
(fed brass, 60gHammer Hunter, light crimp)
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