22-250 neck tension seating issues

D

Dallas21

New member
Recently got into reloading and have loaded .223, .204, and .243 without issue. However when I try to load 22-250 I run into trouble. I’m loading on a Hornady lock n load ap press running it as a single stage. The brass for 22-250 is once fired Hornady and once fired Winchester, the problem I’m having is when I seat the bullet (50 Nosler BT) to the OAL of 2.350 the bullet is easily pushed into the case by hand. Have tried seating them out longer but didn’t make much of a difference. I have tried rcbs dies with and without the decapping rod and Hornady custom grade dies with and without decapping rod. Same issue either way I try to size them. Both are FL sizing dies. Have tried running the sizing die barely touching the shell holder to 1 full turn past so that the press cams over. Any ideas?
 
I am not sure what the exact problem would be but if by chance you accidentally have "Bushing" style 22-250 dies and never put the bushing in, that would be a way your dies aren't sizing your necks.
If you accidentally grabbed a 20 cal bullet, that would give you a similar feel of not having neck tension but I suspect that wasn't the issue.
 
I've had a similar issue with Remington Brass in 22-250. My weren't able to be easily pushed in by hand, but didn't have much resistance at all, in fact as I was seating them, the weight from the press handle was enough to push the bullet the final 1/3 of the way on many of them.
I'm assuming my brass needs annealed or just plain scrapped. But you are saying your brass is once fired...
 
Will have to measure to measure neck size tomorrow. They don’t just fall in to the case but can be pushed into it without much effort. I loaded some .223 with the same bullets and had no problem
 
Try measuring your expander ball. I just had the same issue with a new set of dies and found the expander ball to be .2235 I'm not sure why they would make an expander that gives you 5/10000 neck tension but a few minutes in a drill with some 400 grit sandpaper had it sorted out.
 
Originally Posted By: Dirty HippieTry measuring your expander ball. I just had the same issue with a new set of dies and found the expander ball to be .2235 I'm not sure why they would make an expander that gives you 5/10000 neck tension but a few minutes in a drill with some 400 grit sandpaper had it sorted out.
What diameter were you able to turn it down to?
 
Originally Posted By: reloader326
What diameter were you able to turn it down to?

I got it down to .221 so I have .003 neck tension. The bullets seated perfectly after sanding down the expander.
 
When I read the OP I took it as the decapping pin only, not the stem and expander also. Sorry for the confusion. If you tried resizing in a full length die without an expander and the bullet still pushes easily into the case that is a problem indeed, and sanding down the expander won't help a bit.
 
Two different brands of die, without the decapping rod/expander. With two different brands of brass, no less.

Something very basic is very screwed up but I don't know what. But the odds are heavily stacked against both brands of brass and both brands of dies being the source of the problem. I'm not sure how operator error could be either, but it almost has to be, as the only common thread.

- DAA
 

Measurements are as follows: new unfired brass is 1.909 long, neck O.D. 0.247 and neck I.D. Is 0.219
sized dimensions are, 1.911 long, neck O.D. 0.245 and neck I.D. Is 0.217
Seated to an OAL of 2.350 O.D. Neck diameter is 0.251
 
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When seated out further at 2.400 the seem tighter but same issue at 2.350. Maybe I’m overthinking how tight they should be? I know there’s are considerably looser than any other loads I’ve done or any factory ammo.
 
Originally Posted By: Dallas21
Measurements are as follows: new unfired brass is 1.909 long, neck O.D. 0.247 and neck I.D. Is 0.219
sized dimensions are, 1.911 long, neck O.D. 0.245 and neck I.D. Is 0.217
Seated to an OAL of 2.350 O.D. Neck diameter is 0.251

if i am reading that correctly, the neck is measuring .006 larger after seating a bullet in the resized brass?

if that is correct, you should not be able to push the bullet into the case with your fingers. no way.
 
Yeah, I read those numbers as plenty of neck tension. A lot more than I like to use, in fact. Even the edited numbers, show .004 neck tension, which is still a lot more than I and many others like to use and should be plenty.

But I would not be thrilled with being able to push bullets in with my fingers either.

- DAA
 
Dallas21, Did you get ahold of some .223" bullets instead of .224"?
If I take your sized diameter (.251")minus your wall thickness X2 (.028"), I get .223".
 
I know .223 diameter bullets are still available, they are typically a round nose, short bullet and would have a bearing surface that when seated to 2.350 would be "lose".
 
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