jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Hi all, I've been reloading for a short time with the Lee Loader and have now upgraded to a single stage press. I just wanted to make sure I'd got the right steps in the correct order for reloading a 223 round: Here's my plan: Case prep Inspect brass Trim to length Clean in tumbler Lubricate cases Resize and De-prime Loading Re-prime Load powder Load bullet Crimp Is that about right? Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Case Prep, Clean first Inspect Lubricate Re-size and de-prime Trim to length Chamfer and de-burr Loading PrimeLoad powderLoad bullet Check your OAL on the first complete round before doing any more Crimp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Thanks mate, nearly had it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 If you can get the correct tension without the crimp go for it. One less procedure and less hammer for the brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Is there a way of telling if you have the correct tension? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 If it shoots well. If you walk with loose rounds in your pocket it may be and advantage Or if your loading is a little rough it can produce a more consistent bullet. But in affect the only real way of making a crimp truly constant is with a torque handle for your press. Bit of a marmite operation crimping I have in the past but found it to be a waste of time and brass life. Experiment with your loads and see what you think Best bet is to take a bit of what info is about and find your feel for it. All the best Karl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Cheers Karl, my rounds are either in a bullet wallet or in a magazine so no problems there. Happy to remove a stage out of the process and get longer life out of the brass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Personally I always crimp with hunting ammo, don't over do it though, must say I have never found it shortens brass life and how long does it take, apart from changing dies, seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 If you're going to crimp then use a Lee Factory crimp don't use a roll or taper crimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Have got a lee pacesetter crimp die, so will have a play about. Thanks chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 That's the Factory Crimp die Adjust it so the gaps in the collar close about half way, not fully closed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Thanks bud, have got all the other dies set up now, so just need to play with the crimp die and it's all sorted! I'm having to lubricate the cases, do they need cleaning off before shooting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 glad you're sorted ... refund for l.loader? yes wipe cases clean ... lube stops them getting a good grip on the chamber walls. I use one of these synthetic kitchen / car cloths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Thanks bud, have got all the other dies set up now, so just need to play with the crimp die and it's all sorted! I'm having to lubricate the cases, do they need cleaning off before shooting? yes the lube acts hydraulically and can increase pressure in the chamber as can wet ammo / chambers during rain. remember vary sparing with the lube as too much and the cases will be over sized in the die also and uneven, you can certainly over do things. The crimp if correctly applied can true up a bullet, other than that it is of little use on a deer / fox rifle. Crimps however are often applied to large calibre rifle rounds for dangerous / big game as it can prevent damage during heavy recoil to the spare rounds held in the magazine (this should never normally occur in rifles up to 30-06 class and the like). Very little grab on the neck is however a bad thing in the field but the standards achieved by a standard factory neck or FLS die are more than adequate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted June 23, 2014 Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 yes the lube acts hydraulically and can increase pressure in the chamber as can wet ammo / chambers during rain. remember vary sparing with the lube as too much and the cases will be over sized in the die also and uneven, you can certainly over do things. The crimp if correctly applied can true up a bullet, other than that it is of little use on a deer / fox rifle. Crimps however are often applied to large calibre rifle rounds for dangerous / big game as it can prevent damage during heavy recoil to the spare rounds held in the magazine (this should never normally occur in rifles up to 30-06 class and the like). Very little grab on the neck is however a bad thing in the field but the standards achieved by a standard factory neck or FLS die are more than adequate. As above to much lube around the neck will cause dinks, I think a crimp is very useful when a round is being chambered a few times then put back in pouch etc. through a days deer stalking but each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Have just crimped the twenty rounds I made yesterday, the way I go about my fox shooting my rounds get plenty of clambering without being fired! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2014 Well, after an hour or two testing rounds on paper, I took my 50gr nosler ballistic tip 223 rounds out last night to try and bag a fox or two. Sadly the only thing that showed itself was a magpie at 150yds. Happy to say that my effort at reloading worked very well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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