17-223 case forming

BoomSplat

BoomSplat

New member
17 Shooters,

Anybody got any first hand experience with a 17-223? How hard is it to form cases, what do you need to do it? Reason I am asking is I'm planning on getting or building an upper in 17 caliber for my AR-15. Seems the biggest drawback would be the loss of a little velocity versus doing it in 17 Remington. The cost savings of .223 brass versus 17 Remington brass should make up for cost of dies that would be needed pretty quickly I would think. I would appreciate any help on this.
 
I have no first hand experience with the 17-223 but I do have experience with the 19-223 and case forming is a breeze.Just reduce the neck and load and fireform.If you don't have a load yet-start at the bottom of the load tables for that cartridge,bulet,powder combination and have at it
 
I have an AR in 17/223 and case forming is just a matter of lubing and running it in the sizing die. Lots easier than making 300 Whisper cases from 221 Fireball cases. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I use Imperial sizing wax and have no problems.
I'm doing some testing with some annealed cases but haven't shot any yet. Some of the cases seemed to have excessive neck tension so I'm trying the annealing to see if it helps/changes things.
 
tcusparky,

What type dies are you using? I was just wondering if you could use a bushing type 223 full length resizing die to form case. Tried to call Redding on this but they were closed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I'm glad bea175 chimed in---I was going to say, like "tcusparky" and "White Eagle", that the actual resizing is a breeze. I've done 250 Savage into 22-250 plenty of times.

But I had forgot that dies for the 22-250 are so common in 2006 that their "cheap", whereas 17-223 dies are still uncommon enough that the price of dies is still a fair amount of money ($125+). I wonder what a set of 22-250 dies would have cost years ago when it first came out relative to today's dollar? Thanks for the thought bea175.
 
I was just checking Lock, Stock, and Barrel and they list a set of Hornady 17/223 Specialty Die Set with zip spindle for $ 49.95, will these work to resize the 223 case to 17/223?
 
I got the barrel for my AR and the dies from a PM member a couple of years ago. I just use the RCBS full size die to form the 223 brass.
You could check with CH4D to see what they have, my 300 Whisper dies are from them, along with a Redding set. Maybe the Small Caliber News might have some insight too for some used stuff.
 
tcusparky,

Is the increased neck tension caused by the wall thickness in the neck increasing or have you noticed this in forming the cases. If this is in fact happening do you have to ream the inside of the neck? It just seems to me that in order to reduce the neck diameter from .224 to .172 the brass has to go somewhere.
 
Last edited:
I just picked up an AR barrel in 17-223, and a used RCBS FL die set. Lube the 223 brass (Imperial), and one pass through the FL die. Ditto on the neck wall tension. Brass has to go somewhere. I neck turned a few dozen--wish I had a reamer. Now to load and shoot!!!
 
I have an XP 100 in 7 BR that has a tight neck so I got a neck turning set from Sinclair Int. I ordered the mandrels from them for the 17 and turn them now, which has helped. I would like to do a chamber cast to see just what the barrel is to be sure, I've done my TC's but not an AR barrel yet. They still seemed tight after turning so that is why I annealed some.
 
Ratman, tcusparky,

Thanks for the help so far, hope you you keep me in mind and let me know the results on your testing. As stated in original post I want to do this in my AR, and was just hoping it wouldn't turn out to be a really work intensive situation in prepping the brass. I did get hold of engineer at Redding and was told that you could use the bushing type full length sizing die (223) and the 17 bushing and or bushings to provide the correct sizing and neck tension. Anyway please keep me informed.

Thanks,
Gary
 
Have you seen the Plate it is made by Blaine Eddy and it is ideal for case forming the video that shows you how to use it is wildcatting made easy.
 
joeby,
I checked out your reference about the plate by Blaine Eddy, all I got on it was offer to buy video which I guess tells you how to make one and use it. The video was like $30.00, I just don't have much equipment or tooling to probably make one. Have you seen one (plate) or seen the video? I would appreciate it if you could provide some insight on it.
Thanks
Gary
 
Back
Top