so i loaded up some 223 with hornady 55g fmj 23.5g accurate 2230 the manual says maximum oal is 2.260 i originally set them back to 2.250 and the canelure was not close to the case mouth. i decided to set them back till the canelure was even with the mouth wich ended up being 2.238 is this to much? ive not shot any yet since i set them back that far. i test fired them at 2.250 and they were fine but the first round kinda hung up when i racked the chamber.

The OAL published in any manual has very little to do with YOUR rifle. Seat them for your particular rifle bullet combo.


SPECIAL NOTE ON CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH “COL”
It is important to note that the SAAMI “COL” values are for the firearms and ammunition manufacturers industry and must
be seen as a guideline only.
The individual reloader is free to adjust this dimension to suit their particular firearm-component-weapon combination.
This parameter is determined by various dimensions such as 1) magazine length (space), 2) freebore-lead dimensions of
the barrel, 3) ogive or profile of the projectile and 4) position of cannelure or crimp groove.

As you point out the MAXIMUM recomended length is 2.260, and this is predominately for magazine fed weapons.

Many posters on AR15.com believe that this bullet is at it's most accurate when seated to 2.235" COL. I shoot them at 2.245" only to be different...

thanks guys i figured i should be fine but i figured i would run it past the more expierenced people here. i am shooting them from an ar and when i loaded the first couple to 2.255 the first one was a little sticky chambering when i pushed them back to 2.250 that little difference seemed to be just what i needed. the main thing i was worried about was increased pressure im new to all this reloading and didn't want to seat them to deap and cause pressure issues but obviously ive not gone that far.