Seating bullets causes the necks to bulge

[Kanttori]

Hello,

I'm fairly new to realoding...and a complete amateur when it comes to bottle neck rifle cases. I practised doing the Whisper ammo by doing dummies today....The neck sizing was easy...I just ran the cases thru the the F.L. die with 7mm and .30cal tapered size buttons...then I proceeded seating the bullets and experienced collapsed shoulders and a "micro bulge ring" just below the bullet. I used the 5.56 OAL. What did I do wrong?? The brass was brand new. Help me!!!!!

[jripper]

You might try chamfering the inside of the case neck. All the major reloading companies make tools for this. It puts a slight bevel on the inside of the case neck, and should allow the bullet to seat easier.

[Kanttori]

What is the maximum overall cartridge lenght for ARs??? Dunno what's wrong but I put one of the dummies in a mag, with the bolt at the back and I released the bolt, it feeded the dummy round ok, bolt closed and I was able to fire...but when I tried to extract the round it was STUCK...it took both hands on the charging handle to get the round out, I noticed some scrathes on the tip of the bullet...I suspect the feeding did those...(?) Anyway, I think I should be able to extract the rounds manually without any more force than with 5.56...This is really odd.

[Kanttori]

I just don't know amymore...So far I have done 15 or so dummies...all fail to feed or extract...or both. I'm using brand new brass, new redding dies..I seat the bullets at correct height. Still I get some sort of bulging with each case...which probably causes the rounds stick to the chamber. I thought reloading .300Whisper would not be any harder than reloading some other caliber but obviously it is. I don't know whatta F is wrong with this caliber.

[jripper]

What bullet weight are you using?

I had a similar problem at first when loading 125's. I loaded them too long, and found that the bullets were hitting the rifling, and sticking in the chamber. I actually ended up pulling a couple of bullets out of the case, with spilled powder down in the action (this makes a very big mess).

With 168s, 220s, and 240s, I seat them as far out as they will still fit in the chamber, but with 125s, they need to be considerably shorter. Keep seating them deeper until they feed and extract right.

Be sure to lower your load a little, and work back up as you are doing this, as it will increase the pressure.

Joel

[jripper]

I meant to say that I can load the heavier bullets as far out as they will still fit in the AR magazine, as that if I keep them at this length, they still go in the chamber.

[jripper]

I have another question. What kind of press are you loading on? I load on a Dillon 550, and in the powder die, if I adust it too far, it will bulge the neck.

Joel

[Kanttori]

I'm using an RCBS Partner press.....BTW, I have adjusted the seater die so that it touches the shellholder and and gave it another 1/4 turn for that little resistance. Is it correctly adjusted this way? I'm using Redding 3 die set. Thanks.

[jripper]

If you are adjusting your Bullet Seater die that way, I don't think it is necessary to adjust the die all the way down. I don't know if the redding die has a crimp function in it, but if it does, you may be crimping the case a lot. I think I just adjusted mine down with the case in the shell holder, until it just starts to show resistance, and then just use the bullet seater stem for the final seating depth.

I don't know if that would cause your problems, however.

[Kanttori]

THAT WAS IT!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

BUT...now the rounds fail to extract!!! But when I turn the gun upside down they fall from the chamber!?!? Is the extractor busted??? It didn't seem like busted...