.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

I've probably had 7 or 8 223ai's over the last 20 years. All have been on r700's. Ive had adl, bdl, and m5 w/aics mags. The aics fed the smoothest but I can't recall ever having issues with any of them off hand. Adl and bdl mag boxes need the spacer cut out and another put in to run longer coal. Never done one on a tikka though.
Any tips or tricks on removing/replacing the spacer?
 
Any tips or tricks on removing/replacing the spacer?

Just use a dremel and cut it out. I've drilled a couple holes in the back of the mag box and pored a spacer with bedding compound. Epoxied a thin piece of aluminum, and glued a piece of delrin in there also. Just make it as thick as you need it for coal. The factory follower will have a little room to move forwards and back but won't be a problem.
 
Had anyone reloaded the AAC 556 head stamp brass? It doesn't look sealed or crimped... I haven't tried decapping it yet.

I'm wondering if it is worth reloading since I have a pile of it.
 
Had anyone reloaded the AAC 556 head stamp brass? It doesn't look sealed or crimped... I haven't tried decapping it yet.

I'm wondering if it is worth reloading since I have a pile of it.
I reloaded a pile of it for a while. I thought there was a slight crimp on them and I lightly used a crimp remover. Got three reloads out of the brass before I started popping primer pockets. I would reload the aac brass again. This photo is after the third firing.
 

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I reloaded a pile of it for a while. I thought there was a slight crimp on them and I lightly used a crimp remover. Got three reloads out of the brass before I started popping primer pockets. I would reload the aac brass again. This photo is after the third firing.
I don't have a crimp remover. You think it would work without using one?
 
I don't have a crimp remover. You think it would work without using one?
If I were going to load aac brass again, I would try to seat the primers before using a crimp remover.
The remover I used was a cheap hand tool, so if you do need one, they are just a few bucks. I don’t think I should have used one in the first place.
 
If I were going to load aac brass again, I would try to seat the primers before using a crimp remover.
The remover I used was a cheap hand tool, so if you do need one, they are just a few bucks. I don’t think I should have used one in the first place.
One of those primer pocket uniformers? I have one but never used it. I'm thinking that would do it if I need to
 
One of those primer pocket uniformers? I have one but never used it. I'm thinking that would do it if I need to
“Primer pocket reamer”

I don’t know if your uniformer will remove a crimp. As far as I know, a reamer and a swage tool, are the only ones for removing crimps. The swage tool being the better option according to others that have one. The uniformer is for cutting the depth of the pocket if I’m not mistaken and is one of the rabbit holes that I do not participate in. Someone else should probably educate us both if I am wrong haha
 
To my eyes, I don't see an obvious crimp on the AAC brass. I have a pile of it, but haven't tried loading it yet. Trying to seat a primer would definitely let you know if it's crimped or not.
 
Not the best at capturing with the phone, but you can see a very obvious crimp with LC brass. The AAC looks completely normal to me.

LC
View attachment 853757

AAC
View attachment 853758
Iirc, I saw some half circles around the primers on the aac brass and assumed they did a crap job of crimping. Looking back, probably just flaws in the brass and not actual crimps. Hence why I said what I said before.
 
Thank you guys for the info. I'd check myself on my fired brass at home, but I'm not home at the moment and was trying to decide if I wanted to buy some bullets that are on sale at the store to reload those cases
 
One (one only!) quick twist of a VLD chamfer tool will handle any crimp issues mosrikkytik without long term affects on primer fit. Sit down with a couple 1 gal buckets (one empty, one full) and your favorite TV show (currently Mysteries of the Abandoned) and knock out a couple thousand rounds.

Caveat emptor: Chamfering can be overdone leading to sloppy primer fit... hence the "one only" warning. If so desired, the primer pocket swager route does a better job although possibly taking a few extra second per case.

Best regards,
John
 
One (one only!) quick twist of a VLD chamfer tool will handle any crimp issues mosrikkytik without long term affects on primer fit. Sit down with a couple 1 gal buckets (one empty, one full) and your favorite TV show (currently Mysteries of the Abandoned) and knock out a couple thousand rounds.

Caveat emptor: Chamfering can be overdone leading to sloppy primer fit... hence the "one only" warning. If so desired, the primer pocket swager route does a better job although possibly taking a few extra second per case.

Best regards,
John
I cheat and run brass on a dillon 1050 to remove crimp and trim to length and full length sizer. That way if I want to run a few test rounds I can throw a primer in a case and charge of powder and seat with rock chucker.
 
New howa 223 doesn't like any elds so far so the 77 TMK got a test out this week. Mature Red Stag at 240m broadside behind the shoulder shot. Bullet exited. Approx 2100fps impact.
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Entry
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Under entry skin
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First layer removed
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Lungs
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Exit out ribs
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Exit
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Nice stag. What country is/was this in?
 
This was a big solid girl. 200 yards. Berger jacketed custom 80grn. Hit 1/3 way up from heart. Pretty much dropped on the spot.
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Projectile passed right through and broke into 3 parts found just under the off side skin.
Pic of off side shoulder peeled back showing exit through rib cage and hole through shoulder.
IMG_2271.jpeg
 
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