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Rick W. · 03-02-2019, 10:23 PM

I tried a piece of Privi 223 brass tonight cut off with a tubing cutter to about 0.9" figuring I would lose some length going down to 22. I have used this brass in 22 hornet for a 22 squirrel Smith Wesson revolver, sure worked nice; so tried the brand again for this.

I used the old Lee bushing die again, but with more common sense. I could mimic the original angle of the 30 Luger more closely if I paid attention for once. I used the basic Lee bushing die without bushing first to knock the front down just a little. Then went to 308, 276, 255. The reworked 223 Privi brass did ok, looked more it shoulda. Always have to relearn something..........

As expected in going down to 22 caliber, the neck walls are super thick. After the 255 bushing, I tried seating a 224 bullet, and stopped before I killed it. So I ran a 224 inside expander on it, and the case with a loaded bullet ballooned to 266.

So one could always inside neck ream, but that puts variables on the brand/lot of brass. One could consider inside expanding and then neck turn, which of course, would be consistent without the brass thickness variables.

The 266 is pretty big for a 22, but guess custom reamer is a custom reamer, no extra cost for a unique neck size bore. neck/lead reamers are out there too, but probably be custom? not knowem right now.

I don't have any practical experience with a cut off 222 die set, especially that much cut off. The 222 has some angle to its sides, so the tighter it gets as you cut off. Of course, you know all of this stuff, just thinking out loud here. The super or Largo brass is thnner fwiw.

The 223 brass for a 22/30 Luger wildcat will work, but the resultant neck walls are there to be handled somehow, one way or another.
My trial case with 223 looks much nicer with the better technique tonight, feeds in a Luger magazine ok. So tis a start.

I only have a 223 A.I. reamer in the drawer..........oh, a 222 reamer as well, so might give that a go in a old barrel stub run in short just to learn more. Would be nice not to have to buy a reamer.................yeah, I said that before........but sometimes it works out huh?........

...theoretical analysis can always be done to see the dimensions once modified things are cut/sized, but sometimes just working the metal is good therapy.

In the past, a long barrel has always been my choice, maybe if the 22 Luger project comes to life, a 4 3/4 Swiss might be the ticket. Less mass to move etc etc...........and looks like a Luger to me.......but so many options when metal is in front of you....................fun stuff huh?

03-02-2019, 10:23 PM	#6
Rick W. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 339 Thanks: 81 Thanked 359 Times in 198 Posts	I tried a piece of Privi 223 brass tonight cut off with a tubing cutter to about 0.9" figuring I would lose some length going down to 22. I have used this brass in 22 hornet for a 22 squirrel Smith Wesson revolver, sure worked nice; so tried the brand again for this. I used the old Lee bushing die again, but with more common sense. I could mimic the original angle of the 30 Luger more closely if I paid attention for once. I used the basic Lee bushing die without bushing first to knock the front down just a little. Then went to 308, 276, 255. The reworked 223 Privi brass did ok, looked more it shoulda. Always have to relearn something.......... As expected in going down to 22 caliber, the neck walls are super thick. After the 255 bushing, I tried seating a 224 bullet, and stopped before I killed it. So I ran a 224 inside expander on it, and the case with a loaded bullet ballooned to 266. So one could always inside neck ream, but that puts variables on the brand/lot of brass. One could consider inside expanding and then neck turn, which of course, would be consistent without the brass thickness variables. The 266 is pretty big for a 22, but guess custom reamer is a custom reamer, no extra cost for a unique neck size bore. neck/lead reamers are out there too, but probably be custom? not knowem right now. I don't have any practical experience with a cut off 222 die set, especially that much cut off. The 222 has some angle to its sides, so the tighter it gets as you cut off. Of course, you know all of this stuff, just thinking out loud here. The super or Largo brass is thnner fwiw. The 223 brass for a 22/30 Luger wildcat will work, but the resultant neck walls are there to be handled somehow, one way or another. My trial case with 223 looks much nicer with the better technique tonight, feeds in a Luger magazine ok. So tis a start. I only have a 223 A.I. reamer in the drawer..........oh, a 222 reamer as well, so might give that a go in a old barrel stub run in short just to learn more. Would be nice not to have to buy a reamer.................yeah, I said that before........but sometimes it works out huh?...........theoretical analysis can always be done to see the dimensions once modified things are cut/sized, but sometimes just working the metal is good therapy. In the past, a long barrel has always been my choice, maybe if the 22 Luger project comes to life, a 4 3/4 Swiss might be the ticket. Less mass to move etc etc...........and looks like a Luger to me.......but so many options when metal is in front of you....................fun stuff huh?