Can I lube a bullet?

EhlerDave

Okay here is a question that has me wondering. I would like some input before I try.

I am relaoding some .223 rem ... I am having a problem with the shoulders folding when the bullet is almost seated. About 1 of 3 are doing this.

What I was wondering is this ... can I put some lube on the bullets so they dont bind up so tight? They are going in a single shot so feeding wont be a problem. Any ideas as to weather or not I will contaminate the powder? Or should I keep the bottom of the bullet clean, I could do this easy enough by wiping the bottom of the bullet on a paper towle.

Should I try this or not?

Tailgunner1954

Dave
The most likely cause is that your crimping shoulder is hitting the case mouth, raise your seating die 1 turn and re-adjust the seating stem depth.
The second most likely cause is that the case mouth needs to be chamfered (more).

Your report of "when almost seated" makes me lean toward cause # 1, if it was happening more when you were starting to seat the bullet, than I'd lean toward #2

EhlerDave

Tailgunner1954: I have backed the die out. When the bullet gets about 3/4 of the way into the neck it just pushes the neck down.

The base of the bullet starts into the neck okay just does not make it to the bottom. I have chamfered the cases, unless I am loading a boattail they all get it.

Pearyw

You might try coating the base of the bullet with liquid Alox. I tumble lube lead bullets with this. Lee makes the brand I use. Your problem makes me wonder if the bullet seater is slightly bent. I have never had your problem after the bullet has started into the case neck. I have seen them shave a little of the copper off of the side when neck is too narrow. Is this military or commercial brass. military cases tend to be a little thicker.

jonk

Could be a batch of over soft brass- perhaps annealed too much.

You might try a Lee universal expander die to slightly bell the case mouths; the bell is removed in the seater die anyhow, but lets the bullet get off to an easy start. Lyman M dies are similar, but caliber specific.

perry shooter

They used to sell a unit that had 3 different bore brushes in a stand with MOTOR MIKCA this would coat the case mouth with a dry white powder that would not harm the powder charge You also might want to try a different inside sizeing ball on you decapping pin It should not be loose on the bullet but not too tight either.

B17-P51

Could be an undersize sizing ball or too fat bullets. Mic both and there should ony be 3-4 thousandth" difference. If you have another die set that uses the same sizer ball, say 22-250 .222, 220 Swift or something, switchtm and try.

bpost

QUOTE I am relaoding some .223 rem ... I am having a problem with the shoulders folding when the bullet is almost seated. About 1 of 3 are doing this.

1) cases not all of the same length.
2) Expander ball is under size for the bullets.
3) case wall/neck thickness too great.
4) Crimp is still engaging on the case a the bottom of the stroke; back die out 1/2 turn more.
5) too little chamfer on inside of case mouth.

That would be my list to try.
I would NOT lube until you absolutely eliminate a mechanical problem.