I am trying to reload 223 Remington for the first time. I have made it to the bullet seating step-I am using the Lee Bullet Seating Die (see pictures). The brass is Frontier 223 REM, the bullet is a Hornady 55 grain FMJBT. The Hodgdon Basic Reloading Manual says that for a 55 GR SPR SP (no info for my bullet - see picture) the COL is 2.200 inches. The Hodgon's 2013 Annual Reloading Manual(see picture) shows for the 55 GR HDY FMJ a COL of 2.200 inches. When I seated the bullet to the cannelure and measured the overall length with my calipers (see picture) it measured 2.259 inches which is much longer than 2.200 inches. The brass measured 1.754 inches, the bullet measure 0.747 inches. If I seat the bullet much deeper it will bulge the shoulders of the brass. This has already happened to me.
What am I doing wrong? And why does the Hodgdon Annual Manual show almost no informaton for the 55 GR HDY FMJ bullet?
What am I doing wrong? And why does the Hodgdon Annual Manual show almost no informaton for the 55 GR HDY FMJ bullet?
Last edited: