Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading
First .223 reloads - Sucess and Major FAIL
Oleshome:
So, I finally got all the necessary equipment AND components to attempt my first reloads. I wanted to start with hand gun loads but no bullets. Anyhow, Started slow with my new Hornady LNL and after endless tinkering finally got the process to function as expected albeit slowly. After consulting 3 books, the mfg websites and a bunch of forums I settle on two different loads for two powders I have. On one load I did just 10 rounds of H322 - 22.5gr, Winchester primers (SR) and Nosler Ballistic ST. I was kinda dubious about this one since there were so many conflicting points of load data and commentary with .223. The second I felt better about and did 20 rounds of BL-C(2) - 25gr, Winchester primers(SR) and Nosler Ballistic ST. Went to Big Shots and sighted in the weapon with factory rounds first. Then grabbed my magazine of 20rds and bang bang. Good groups all within and inch or two, not FtF, no FtE. So happy happy. Go to the first batch of 10, get through the first 6 with no issue and am feeling good. Round 7 - click. Ejected the cartridge and the bullet is pushed into the case nearly to the point of falling inside. I'm thinking a seating issue. Chamber the next round - click. Same problem. Ok, so I put in a magazine with factory ammo - Click. Same thing. Oh uh. So i'm looking at the rounds and the range master say that I probably need to do some polishing just before the lans and grooves start. So I leave the range go home, strip the weapon and HOLY Crap. There's a bullet stuck in the barrel about 3 inches. SQUIB. I put 3, that's right 3 other rounds in behind it. Now, not only am I dumb but apparently very lucky today. Btw, I went thru the powder drops like 20 times before I started the press I was so worried about squibs... Long story shorter I tapped the bullet out with a cleaning rod and rubber mallet. I think I'll stick with the BL-C(2) until I can get some Varget or H335. Ole
RobertH:
wow. that could have been bad.
unfy:
oh so lucky and glad it didn't turn out like it normally does :(
Dan W:
The bullet stuck in your barrel has to be a squib that you did not recognize (H322 round #6?) so I reckon the one squib (#6) had insufficient powder.
Did it extract #6 and load a new round from the mag (#7)
If it did, the bullet had to travel down the barrel far enough to expose the gas feed hole to provide pressure to the bolt carrier. Then the bullet would have been stuck in the muzzle end and would not have damaged the freshly loaded rounds by pushing the bullet back into the case
If the bullet was stuck 3 inches in from the chamber, then there would not have been any gas pressure at the feed hole to operate the action, and therefore a new round would not have been chambered.
So the question is...how did the 3 damaged rounds get into the chamber?
gigabelly:
As someone who is just gathering components and equipment for the first time, this frightens me.
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