I recently aquired a T/C Super 14" .223 Barrel. I've never loaded this cal. before and I think I might be have a little problem. I'm using new never fired Rem. brass and Speer 50 TNT bullets. The cases, after being resized and ready to go, fit in the barrel really nice. After seating one of the bullets, the case neck seems to be lightly larger diameter and has to be pushed into the barrel to get it all the way in. Is this normal for a T/C .223 barrel or is something else going on here?

Have you chamfered the inside and outside of the case mouths? Is this plain brass or nickle plated? I have a .223 and a 7x30 Waters that are very picky about having extremely clean case mouths on nickle plated brass to keep from dragging on the neck area of the chamber. Sometimes I even stick the case mouth into a socket filled with 4 00 steel wool chucked up in a cordless drill and polish the case mouth. If it is nickle, try some brass and see if you still have the same problem.

This may not solve your problem, but it may be a place to start.

Dennis

[ 12-30-2002, 19:30: Message edited by: DennisF ]

Have you considered the fact that the extractor is spring loaded and will scrape the side of the round as it enters the chamber, thus not allowing the round to move freely? This is just normal operation of Contenders chambered for a rimless round.

mranch said that before seating the bullet, the case fed without being tight. That was why I asked about the necks.

That is true...I guess that I didn't read closely enough. Also, just wanted to make sure the obvious didn't slip by. Oh well, I guess that I shot my load!

Howdy, The Case is brass and not nickel plated. I did chamfer the inside and outside of the case. Possible not enough though?

I have the extractor removed from the barrel now, so that is not an issue.

I'm at work now so can't do anything until this evening.

Bob

mranch,
Have you tried factory rounds to see how they chamber? If they slide in with no problems, mic the O.D. of a factory round and one of your reloads. Did the person that you got the barrel from shoot reloads or only factory rounds. If he shot reloads, find out what brass and bullets were used. If you have only tried one round, load a few more and see if there is any difference, you can pull them apart afterwards if you want. I know this sounds obvious, but there has to be a difference somewhere. If all else fails, you may need to take a mould of your chamber and neck turn to get get a round that will work, or contact Thompson about the problem. I load for about 12 T/C barrles and haven't ever run into this in a factory T/C barrel, but I guess it could happen.

B_Koes,
If none of these work, I am out of suggestions on this one also.

Good Luck

Dennis

[ 12-30-2002, 23:36: Message edited by: DennisF ]

Well I think I got it figured out! It was a combination on 2 things. First, my case trimmer is getting really dull and it was kind of rolling over the cases instead of cutting them and Second, I wasn't chamfering the cases enough.
I sharpened the trimmer chamfered the cases alittle more and now the cases slip in the barrel like they should.
Thanks for all the suggestions!!!

Bob

Let us know how it shoots, I saw the pictures of the forend that you made and it really looks nice. I love my .223, I have read several things about the .223 Contender only giving fair accuracy, but I guess I must have gotten a good one because it is one of my most accurate barrels. What load are you going to use in it?

Dennis

Dennis, I was going to start with some Speer 50gr. TNT Bullets and I have several powders on hand I was going to try. I have Varget, H335,H322 H4895 and also some Accurate 2015. I have other bullets also; Sierra, Nosler, and Hornady's 35gr. thur I believe 55grs.
Any suggestions on a load to start with?
Thanks,

Bob

Bob
I have a good load for the 223 with 50 grain moly vmax over AA2015 with Fed small rifle primer. I will email you with the load if you are interested in it. I will do that as soon as I get home since I can't remember the amount of powder without my notes.
Rich Jake

Good luck with your .223...you're gonna love it. Over at "the pond" it was always badmouthed as TC's worst barrel. I've had two and they both shot extremely well...always sub-moa. I'm getting three shot groups .5-.6" FWIW I did have a .223 barrel that had machining marks in the bore. I had purchased it used($100)but TC replaced it with a brand new barrel. Best $100 I ever spent!

Mranch, Congrats on your new barrel! I have two, 14" Contender barrels in 223 Rem and both have proven to be real good shooters! I did extensive load development w/ the first barrel. Of the powders you mentioned, my first choice would be H322 or AA2015 (BTW, these two powders look VERY similar and behave quite similar.... Are they possibly the same powders? I realize some of the powders sold by different companies under different names are actually the same powder, e.g. WW296 and H110, but have never heard this for sure about H322 and AA2015. Does anyone here have any reliable information one way or another?) In my barrel, H4895 and H335 had a great deal more muzzle blast than the other aforementioned powders, w/o improved performance. Later bought some VarGet when it became available and it's velocity was REALLY SLOW... Of course, my main use w/ the 223 is prairie dog hunts so muzzle blast is a legitimate concern for me. So what load(s) do I use? Initially (both Rem brass, Rem 7 1/2 primers, and H322), Speer 50 gr TNT/24.7 gr powder/OAL 2.330"; Nosler 50 BT/24.5 gr powder/2.335" OAL. Both loads generate about 2950-3000 fps w/ sub-MOA accuracy. But, the 40 gr "plastic tipped" bullets were NOT available when I first got my 223 barrel. Since the 40's are now available, looks like I'll change to 40 gr Hornady V-Max/25.5 gr Vihtavuori 130/2.350" OAL/3300 fps (also sub-MOA). I particularly like the VV powder as it's muzzle blast is even less than H322. Gary T.

[ 01-08-2003, 08:38: Message edited by: Gary T ]

Gary T,
I just got done loading some .223's and my H322 and AA2015 look totally different! I don't think the 2 powders I have could be the same!
Looking in the Speers Manual there is a big difference in loading data!

Anyway, I still haven't shot any .223's. It is raining agian here on the Oregon Coast!! I'll let everyone know how the testing goes!!

Bob

Mranch, I watched a video a few years ago where the main character kept repeating the phrase, "things change..." Looks like that may be the case here. I'll admit to having not loaded any AA2015 in probably 6-7 years. Even then. In my 6.5 JDJ and 223 Rem barrels, the load data for the two barrels was nearly identical, as was the velocity. When I went on the HHI Antelope hunt in '94, there were 2 guys from WA who had similar experiences w/ these two powders. In fact, they referred to AA2015BR as "Chinese H322!!" Thanks for reminding me "things change"; it's always good to research the load data, as you've done. Gary T.

Gary T , you know, Come to think of it, AA2015 used to be called 2015BR and now it's called XMR2015. Anyway, I can hardly wait to shoot it!!

Bob

Bob,

I'd like to put in a word for XMR 2015 powder. It is an excellent powder for about any of the medium capacity cases. When I was developing a load for my 22PPC Bullberry rifle, Fred smith recommended 2015 and it proved to be the best powder by a long shot. I also use it in a Bullberry 223 Match 14" Contender with 14" twist. I shoot 25.0 grains with a Nosler 40 grain BT and get right at 3100 f/s. At the range it will shoot 3/8" 5-shot groups all day and the best one was 0.251". In the quest for prairie dogs it just plain wipes 'em out at ranges out to 250 yds. In a Remington 700 Varmint Special 223 rifle with 26" barrel and 12" twist, I shoot 26.0 grains with the same Nosler 40 grain BT at 3600 f/s and also get excellent on-target results out to 350 to 375 yds.

Don Shearer