Bad 223 brass???

Came across a 5 gallon bucket of WCC 11 and 12 headstamped brass a few months ago and finally got around to sizing it prepping it and so on. Loaded some rounds and came to find out many of them wont even go into battery fully and lock up my BCG enough for me to have to do the slam remedy. Ive used RCBS small base dies to size them and still no luck. They were acquired from my local military base here in NC and I'm guessing they were fired out of a 249 with horrible headspace and timing to not function correctly. Anyone else ever ran into this problem?

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I have run across brass that was near impossible to feed into the sizing die but never had brass come back out of the sizing die and not be able to gauge it.

Might sound stupid but are you sure your die is set up correctly?



Reloading...it’s like knitting for men.

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Originally Posted by Jay Andrew

I have run across brass that was near impossible to feed into the sizing die but never had brass come back out of the sizing die and not be able to gauge it.

Might sound stupid but are you sure your die is set up correctly?



Reloading...it’s like knitting for men.

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I've reset my sizing dies multiple times, used 3 sizing dies, tried chambering in different ARs and majority of them still wont go into battery all the way. Prepped some LC brass I had laying around with the exact same sizing dies and loads and they cycled flawlessly. Im stumped.

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I’ve had this happen before. Where certain brass wouldn’t chamber but others would. I was crushing them ever so slightly during the seat/crimp stage. It was bulging at the bottom of the shoulder. If this is the case just back your die out a touch(less crimp).


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I've got a pile of them, same thing. Bought two thousand. 308 from everglades(before i started using wes's)several years ago and just got to them and I can almost push primers in with hand. Wondering if they're safe like that.

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Originally Posted by Kbeaton

I’ve had this happen before. Where certain brass wouldn’t chamber but others would. I was crushing them ever so slightly during the seat/crimp stage. It was bulging at the bottom of the shoulder. If this is the case just back your die out a touch(less crimp).


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I'll definitely give that a try tomorrow! I've battled this all day lol I put just enough crimp to where you see only a small nearly invisible faded crimp line.

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Are you trimming the brass after you resize them? Never had an issue with any brand brass for 223.

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Originally Posted by Andyt2

Are you trimming the brass after you resize them? Never had an issue with any brand brass for 223.

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I sure am. I even ran a batch through the sizing die again to test out.

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Originally Posted by Flannyjack

I'll definitely give that a try tomorrow! I've battled this all day lol I put just enough crimp to where you see only a small nearly invisible faded crimp line.

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Make sure post any results. I’ve loaded tens of thousands of 223 and haven’t ran into a certain type that couldn’t be sized.


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Originally Posted by Kbeaton

Make sure post any results. I’ve loaded tens of thousands of 223 and haven’t ran into a certain type that couldn’t be sized.


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Well woke up early and made a few test loads and still ran into the same problem. Even took the crimp die completely out. This has completely stumped me. I reckon I'll put the lid on the bucket and stick with lake city brass lol

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Do you have a case gauge?
What kind of press are you running?
I would guess it may be a head space issue
I process tons of them every year, and never an issue with them

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Originally Posted by Flannyjack

Well woke up early and made a few test loads and still ran into the same problem. Even took the crimp die completely out. This has completely stumped me. I reckon I'll put the lid on the bucket and stick with lake city brass lol

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Originally Posted by Wes Sage

Do you have a case gauge?
What kind of press are you running?
I would guess it may be a head space issue
I process tons of them every year, and never an issue with them

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I'm running a Rock chucker with RCBS small base 223 dies. Some rounds will chamber flawless and others wont go fully into battery. I've heard great things about this brass. I ended up getting these in a package deal from a guy stationed at Ft.Bragg here. If you have any advice brother wes I sure will listen.

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I don’t think the problem is in your sizing. As long as your handle “cams” over the die is putting the brass back to factory size. Then it more than likely has to be trimmed, chamfered and de burred. Does your handle cam over on sizing?


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What is the OAL of the loaded bullets that do not work?

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Originally Posted by Andyt2

What is the OAL of the loaded bullets that do not work?

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2.215 is what they measure out to.

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Originally Posted by Kbeaton

I don’t think the problem is in your sizing. As long as your handle “cams” over the die is putting the brass back to factory size. Then it more than likely has to be trimmed, chamfered and de burred. Does your handle cam over on sizing?


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It does cam over, I'm going to try and debur and chamfer more off.

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Originally Posted by Flannyjack

It does cam over, I'm going to try and debur and chamfer more off.

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Well. It sounds like you’re doing everything right. Might want to check your headspace.


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Do you have a case gauge?
Sounds like the head space is the issue to me brother.
Got time for a quick phone call?
PM me

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Originally Posted by Flannyjack

I'm running a Rock chucker with RCBS small base 223 dies. Some rounds will chamber flawless and others wont go fully into battery. I've heard great things about this brass. I ended up getting these in a package deal from a guy stationed at Ft.Bragg here. If you have any advice brother wes I sure will listen.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wes Sage

Do you have a case gauge?
Sounds like the head space is the issue to me brother.
Got time for a quick phone call?
PM me

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Just sent you a PM!

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2.215 is on the short side

**** Update ****

After talking to Wes he helped me solve the problem. Turning my sizing die down another 1/4 turn fixed everything. So 1/2 a turn after setting my sizing die is what solved it. I can now thankfully use this 5 gal bucket of WCC brass I acquired! Thank you Wes and all members who helped put in some advice!

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Glad you are back up and running buddy :)

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Originally Posted by Flannyjack

**** Update ****

After talking to Wes he helped me solve the problem. Turning my sizing die down another 1/4 turn fixed everything. So 1/2 a turn after setting my sizing die is what solved it. I can now thankfully use this 5 gal bucket of WCC brass I acquired! Thank you Wes and all members who helped put in some advice!

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[emoji106]Wes saving the day again!!


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This right here is part of what sets Wes head and shoulder above the rest. Taking time to help out a guy. Great job, my friend!


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Thanks guys!!
Reloading is just in my blood, and I am always glad to help out!!

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Originally Posted by Rocky31

This right here is part of what sets Wes head and shoulder above the rest. Taking time to help out a guy. Great job, my friend!


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This is why the forum will always be better than Facebook.....


This would have been buried and might have never been seen by the man with the plan!!!!




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Glad Wes got you set up. What I’ve found with the mil surp brass is the machine gun headspace is quite a bit longer. I have gauged brass at .010-.012 over SAAMI headspace before sizing. Therefore you can’t setup your dies as you typically would with “usual” brass. This is where a micrometer case gauge setup is invaluable - you can measure the datum and keep adjusting until to SAAMI spec.


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Will an empty case chamber after you run it through the sizing die only? What does an empty case do in a case gauge?

If sized correctly yes but you have to hand feed it carefully. The case gauge setup I refer to is like this. https://www.hornady.com/reloading/pr...il-base-kit#!/ I machined my own but not sure if the Hornady has enough relief to measure the shoulder with a bullet seated. Checking after charging and seating is too late in the process unless you’re trying to sort lots of reloads out.


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In the case the moral of the story wasn't clear to anyone: Buy a case gauge, and use it. :smashfreakB: