Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Need HELP with 223 BLEMISHED bullets...

I have loaded about 250 rounds of 223 ammo with "blemished" bullets. I noticed on about 4 or 5 of the bullets the diameter wasn't large enough causing weak neck tension. I was able to push in on the bullet and it pushed right through the neck of the case after seating. What would you do to ensure ALL the rounds are safe for an AR:

1) Check neck tension on ALL already made ammo 1 by 1?
2) Put a crimp on each round even though these bullets don't have a cannelure?

I still have 1000 more of these bullets to use and just want to be safe and not have issues

Are you sure it's the bullets and not the neck?

Ditto w/ Steelhead...especially if the brass is range pick up, unknown quality type.

I've loaded blems in larger calibers and never saw that issue. You would have some with pull marks you'd had to clean up so that it wasn't over the diameter, but never ran into any that were under.

What they said, tho I'll add that a crimp can't hurt; a Lee factory crimp die will do the job beautifully canelure or not.

I've run into this with Winchester 55 soft points. The base was the only thing that was big enough to hold them in. The only way I can get them to run is using thicker brass with no expander ball and seating them out farther than an AR mag allows. I still have a few drop through and would never shoot them in an auto. I bought a few thousand and sent a couple hundred back to Winchester. They are "in spec". I figure if those bullets are an indicator of tolerances held at the Winchester plant, you won't see any Winchester in my reloading room or near my guns.

I don't think it is the brass. The bullets were measuring .221 and .222.

Interesting...do you know what brand, or who made the blems?

CopperHead 223 Remington 55gr BT. I have a Lee Crimp die and could add a slight crimp for peace of mind

I would load a slightly compressed load of Varget so that the bullet cannot setback, and then put a good hard Lee Factory Crimp Die to them.

If you set one back in an AR and fire it, you'll be sorry though probably have no physical harm to yourself.

Just crimp and shoot they will be fine

Probably won't be very accurate if there as small as you say......I'd put them in the round file!

Are you using a bushing die? Can you tighten up neck tension that way? I also crimp my AR loads since I use TAC and do not have a compressed load. I don't remember what bushing I use off hand, but I did have to step down in size since I was loading for my AR.