.223 question on MOA

[tmckay2]

im loading some 62 grain full metal jackets with reloader 15. the max load is 25 grains, so i used 23.5 grains. i noticed though that some of my rounds were coming out as 2.237 or 2.24 overall length and it lists MOA as 2.255. is this going to be a problem since im loading below max? its odd too because i trimmer the cases to the proper length and only sat the bullets to where they could be properly crimped. so im not sure how they got so low.

[tmckay2]

also, slightly different topic but anyone ever had brass that won't even remotely seat the primer? i tried with diff brass and its fine, but some of the ones i have must have a smaller primer pocket. any remedies to this?

[Mista Bukit]

also, slightly different topic but anyone ever had brass that won't even remotely seat the primer? i tried with diff brass and its fine, but some of the ones i have must have a smaller primer pocket. any remedies to this?

You might be trying to load military brass -- there is a crimp that has to be removed. Midway has several tools for the job.

[esaabye]

also, slightly different topic but anyone ever had brass that won't even remotely seat the primer? i tried with diff brass and its fine, but some of the ones i have must have a smaller primer pocket. any remedies to this?


I know the answer to this one you will need to get a swagging die. RCBS makes one, picked up one last week for 27 at Sportsmans.

The pimmer pocket has been crimped per military specs and you need to expand the pocket back out and into round. It can be hard to see on the 223 but shows up easily on 308.

I do not know the answer on the first question, just learning to reload now.

[tmckay2]

you guys are right, its crimped. kinda odd though, its just federal 55 grain from walmart. in my opinion it is very hard to see in 223. i held it up to ammo not crimped and its not much different.

an answer to the first question would be much appreciated though so i don't blow my hand off!

[Tim K]

Are you asking about overall length? If so, I've never heard it called "MOA". What the heck does that stand for?

[tmckay2]

Minimum Overall Length. many reloading manuals refer to it as this.

[SA Friday]

Ok (sigh). You are obviously a beginning reloader. There's nothing wrong with that. We were all there at one time. First and foremost, buy a really good reloading manual and read the front of it. I recommend the Lyman reloading manual. I've found the information/directions to reloading to be very well written.

As for your first question, the cartridges overall length (OAL) is determined by the seating depth of the bullet. You can seat the bullet to the crimping grove and have an OAL shorter than what the manual specifies. As long as it doesn't cause an overpressure problem, accuracy problems, or feeding problems it doesn't matter. One hundreds of an inch is very minor, and typically within the margin of flex for the reloading machine anyway.

You have to look for crimped primer pockets in .223 and .308 as many producted cartridges for these calibers are specifically made to be used in machine guns. All military brass is crimped.

Federal 223 brass is as worthless as Wolf steel cases IMO. I won't reload them. Fed military brass, on the other hand, is just fine. There is a difference and the headstamp markings are the key to knowing the difference between the two.

MOA = Minute of angle and is a measurement of distance in reference to a circle more commonly used when relating accuracy. 1 MOA is roughly 1" at 100 yds.

[tmckay2]

Ok (sigh). You are obviously a beginning reloader. There's nothing wrong with that. We were all there at one time. First and foremost, buy a really good reloading manual and read the front of it. I recommend the Lyman reloading manual. I've found the information/directions to reloading to be very well written.

As for your first question, the cartridges overall length (OAL) is determined by the seating depth of the bullet. You can seat the bullet to the crimping grove and have an OAL shorter than what the manual specifies. As long as it doesn't cause an overpressure problem, accuracy problems, or feeding problems it doesn't matter. One hundreds of an inch is very minor, and typically within the margin of flex for the reloading machine anyway.

You have to look for crimped primer pockets in .223 and .308 as many producted cartridges for these calibers are specifically made to be used in machine guns. All military brass is crimped.

Federal 223 brass is as worthless as Wolf steel cases IMO. I won't reload them. Fed military brass, on the other hand, is just fine. There is a difference and the headstamp markings are the key to knowing the difference between the two.

MOA = Minute of angle and is a measurement of distance in reference to a circle more commonly used when relating accuracy. 1 MOA is roughly 1" at 100 yds.


you are correct i am a beginning reloader, but not as much as you may think. i have read the whole lee reloading manual. i simply couldn't find any info on whether seating it farther down in order to crimp would cause pressure problems in THIS specific case. if a hundredths of a inch isn't a big deal, or there abouts, then i should be ok. i just didn't realize it was that short until after i had reloaded several. i have used federal brass in the past for reloading and it seemed just fine. it does appear my federal brass that i have now is crimped, which is odd because ive bought the same exact federal ammo in the past and it wasn't crimped. however, the crimping is very hard to pick up on these unless you look really closely. its not as obvious as some of the other crimped brass i have seen. i understand what MOA is in terms of accuracy and using scopes, but i have seen minimum overall length abbreviated MOA on several occasions, including online load data by powder manufacturers. and it sure beats typing the whole phrase out.

anyways, thanks for the help. i have reloaded a few hundred rifle and handgun rounds with no issues, but i wanted to be sure this would not cause an overpressure problem (considering only 10% below max load and given the amount shorter it was compared to the listed minimum) before i went out and shot. again, thanks for the help, i guess i will try them out and see what happens.