223 case head swag

[Steve]

The small stem of the Lee bulge buster works great to reduce the size of 223 case head to factory diameter.
I push the cases through an old RCBS 357 carbide sizing die. I just drilled out the end they had the decapping pin screwed in, this lets the cases go through so the carbide reduces the head diameter. I am betting that a Lee 38 special sizing die with the decapping pin and nut removed will do the same thing.

I don't have factory ammo very often, was at a friends house, miched some new Federal 223 hunting rounds. They were 1 thousandth larger diameter than the rounds I ran through the die decribed above. I could not detect any change in the primer pockets.

Because I had ocasional tight fit camming the bolt, I ran about 3,000 of my loaded rounds through that die. Chambering problems went away. I should mention that those rounds started out as range brass so I don't know what they were fired in. I treat this like primer pocket prep, just do it once.

[Missionary]

Greetings
Thanks for posting that info. Always good to know these little tidbits. I personally cringe to have to toss anything in the scrap bucket.
Mike in Peru till June

[RBHarter]

That's cool . Its cheaper than buying another bulge buster to do the same thing that'll be handy for 380 an 9mm too .

[Steve]

That's cool . Its cheaper than buying another bulge buster to do the same thing that'll be handy for 380 an 9mm too .

I will push a few 380 acp through and see what I get. I will post the results.

[Steve]

That's cool . Its cheaper than buying another bulge buster to do the same thing that'll be handy for 380 an 9mm too .

I will push a few 380 acp through and see what I get. I will post the results.

I pushed a few reloaded 380 Auto through the 357 die. Some of them just slipped through with zero force. A few did have light force going through, they mesured 0.373 afteer passing through.

Always have a 380 on me. Just measured a Hornady Critical Defense round.
at top of extractor grove: 0.371"
across rim 0.374

This could salvage some 380 brass.

Tried a 9mm case in it.... Couldn't even push it through the die.