Seating non-boat tail bullets?

[tele_mark]

I ordered 1K Winchester 55 grain soft points for my next run of .223 for my stash. But, when I went to load some tonite, I found that they are non-boat tail, unlike the last 2500 Winchester FMJBT's I loaded. They're just about impossible to load without holding the bullet to the case neck until the bullet is well into the seating die.

Is there an expanding die available for .223? I couldn't fins one on Midway at least, ir is there another solution? I'm pretty sure I'm overlooking something, still being new to bottleneck reloadng.

 

[center442]

Midway lists them as in stock; price is $15.49 plus shipping.

Try here.

You might want to get this. It is cheaper and will do a variety of calibers.

 

[tele_mark]

Ahhh, that's what I did wrong -- I searched for .223 expander instead of .22! The Lee has more reviews, all positive, so I'll go with that one. Thanks!

 

[center442]

Ahhh, that's what I did wrong -- I searched for .223 expander instead of .22! The Lee has more reviews, all positive, so I'll go with that one. Thanks!

My pleasure, and thanks for the rep!

 

[BIG GUN]

If you chamfer the inside of the necks they will seat just fine.
I only use neck expanders for loading lead bullets.

 

[Mike-Mike]

If you chamfer the inside of the necks they will seat just fine.
I only use neck expanders for loading lead bullets.

+1 I had to do this as well. I also used a loaded cartridge as a tool and just droped it into the empty shell point first to give it a tiny bevel.

 

[tele_mark]

20-20 hindsight. Unfortunately, I have about 5K +- prepared cases that I don't want to go through and chamfer. I'll definitely pay better attention to every aspect of the bullets I order from now on though.

 

[Gammon]

I tried some flat based bullets when I first started reloading .223. Never again; there are too many great boat tailed bullets on the market.

 

[tele_mark]

I just tried the die, which came this weekend. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=140461&t=22164010

It works GREAT!! This die should be in every reloader's kit.