223 Remington - 40gr V-Max with N133

Published on July 25, 2022
Duration: 49:10

This video details the process of reloading .223 Remington ammunition using Vihtavuori N133 powder and Hornady 40gr V-Max bullets. It extensively covers the comparison between a Lee Collet neck sizing die and a Mighty Armory full-length sizing die, including the intricacies of setting up the Lee Collet die and the surprising discovery of incompletely fire-formed brass. The instructor also discusses load development, velocity testing, and the impact of brass fire-forming on accuracy.

Quick Summary

Reloading .223 Remington with 40gr Hornady V-Max and Vihtavuori N133, this video explores the impact of neck sizing vs. full-length sizing. Inconsistent brass fire-forming was observed, highlighting the importance of sufficient pressure for case expansion. The best group of 0.38 inches was achieved with neck sizing and 25.4 grains of N133.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: .223 Rem Load Development
  2. 00:11Load Data: 40gr V-Max with N133
  3. 01:06Sizing Die Testing: Lee Collet vs. Mighty Armory
  4. 01:26Brass Fire-Forming Issues Discovered
  5. 03:03Headspace Measurements Analysis
  6. 04:28Chamber Comparison: Bolt Action vs. AR-15
  7. 05:14Lee Collet Neck Sizing Die Explained
  8. 06:11Mighty Armory Full Length Sizing Die Review
  9. 07:30Assigning Brass to Sizing Dies
  10. 09:10Lee Collet Die Adjustment Demonstration
  11. 13:54Neck Gauge Testing for Sizing
  12. 18:04Sizing Die Adjustment Summary
  13. 19:36Second Sizing Pass for Optimal Fit
  14. 20:09Preparing Brass for Shooting
  15. 21:54Setting Up Full Length Sizing Die for Shoulder Bump
  16. 25:31Brass Trimming Options and Decision
  17. 28:09Bullet Seating and Neck Tension Measurement
  18. 30:49Range Setup and Rifle Details
  19. 32:05Range Trip Nightmare: Bullet Stuck in Barrel
  20. 33:02Shooting: Full Length Die Group 1 (24.5gr)
  21. 34:05Shooting: Neck Sizing Die Group 1 (24.5gr)
  22. 34:53Shooting: Neck Sizing Die Group 2 (25.2gr)
  23. 35:57Shooting: Full Length Die Group 2 (25.2gr)
  24. 36:45Shooting: Full Length Die Group 3 (25.4gr)
  25. 37:30Shooting: Neck Sizing Die Group 3 (25.4gr)
  26. 38:16Shooting: Neck Sizing Die Group 4 (25.6gr)
  27. 39:06Shooting: Full Length Die Group 4 (25.6gr)
  28. 40:26Shooting: Full Length Die Group 5 (25.8gr)
  29. 41:19Shooting: Neck Sizing Die Group 5 (25.8gr)
  30. 42:08Post-Shooting Brass Inspection
  31. 42:56Die Shootout Results: Full Length vs. Neck Sizing
  32. 44:14Standard Deviation Analysis
  33. 44:28Firing Pin Spring Replacement Discussion
  34. 45:40Scope Mount Observation
  35. 46:14Main Takeaway: Incompletely Fire-Formed Brass
  36. 47:04Future Testing Ideas
  37. 48:27Incomplete Fire-Forming as a Pressure Sign
  38. 49:01Conclusion and Range Day Recap

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key components for the .223 Remington load tested in this video?

The tested load uses 40-grain Hornady V-Max bullets and Vihtavuori N133 powder. Brass is Lake City, and primers are Federal GM 205M. Overall length is set to 2.3 inches.

What is the difference between a Lee Collet neck sizing die and a full-length sizing die?

A Lee Collet die sizes only the neck of the case using a collet and mandrel. A full-length die resizes the entire case body and shoulder, which can be beneficial for feeding in semi-autos but may reduce accuracy in bolt actions compared to neck sizing.

Why might .223 Remington brass not fully fire-form even with seemingly adequate loads?

Incomplete fire-forming can occur if the powder charge is too light or the powder is too fast for the bullet weight and barrel twist rate, resulting in insufficient pressure to expand the case fully against the chamber walls. This can lead to inconsistent headspace.

What was the best performing load and die combination for .223 Remington in this test?

The best group of the day, measuring 0.38 inches, was achieved with the neck sizing die using 25.4 grains of Vihtavuori N133. This combination also yielded a low standard deviation of 4.7.

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