Using FC 223 REM leads to stuck bolt on AXIS ?

While zeroing the newly purchased Savage AXIS XP 223, when I shot 4 rounds of factory ammo (?) with head stamp of FC 223 REM with blue seal around the primers ( Federal ammo? - see here for the possible makers ), I found that for all 4 rounds were VERY hard to chamber and even harder to pull them out . I had to use a rubber mallet on the bolt handle. :o The ammo shoots fine on my AR15.

Has anyone had a similar experience ?

This was the only ammo that wasn't friendly with the Axis. I think I tried Wolf Gold, PMX, Federal American Eagle, and Remington UMC without any issues. Unfortunately, this FC 223 REM stamped ammo wasn't given to me in a new box but in a Glad plastic ware - from a friend - and he said they were new factory ammo but didn't remember from which manufacturer.

The sealant around the primers indicates "it could/might" be 5.56 ammo which you're not supposed to shoot in a 223. If you've got more of this ammo, I would not shoot it until you know for sure whether it's 223 or 5.56. The primer sealant is not a 100% indicator it's 5.56, but an indicator. Different makers put their ammo together different and call it different things.

Is there any type of sealant around the bullet/neck area? Indications of a crimp on the bullet/neck area?

What is the bullet weight?

This may sound like a silly question, but -- did you by any chance clean the bore before shooting this ammo? If so, did you inspect to be sure the chamber was free of any bits and pieces, like a piece of cleaning patch, or a wire that broke off of a brush? I ask because twice in the past two weeks I have had friends complain of the same problem, only to find, when I asked, that one of those things had happened to each of them, creating exactly the symptoms you note. Probably pure coincidence, but it never hurts to check...

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Originally Posted by pisgah

did you by any chance clean the bore before shooting this ammo?

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Yes. cleaned. All other ammo brands were chambering and ejecting fine.

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Originally Posted by Robinhood

What is the bullet weight?

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Sorry. don't know. I can't tell from the stamped letters. The stamped letters on the casing were: FC 16 223 REM.

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Originally Posted by jpx2rk

The sealant around the primers indicates "it could/might" be 5.56 ammo which you're not supposed to shoot in a 223. ..Is there any type of sealant around the bullet/neck area? Indications of a crimp on the bullet/neck area?

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The stamp on the case was FC 223 REM. There was no sealant around the bullet, but only around the primers. I shot the rest of FC stuff in my AR15.

Does other ammo shoot fine in this gun?

As a general rule, you shouldn't shoot ammo in a gun if the only thing you know about the ammo is "it fits the chamber". The headstamp info will not tell you the bullet weight/load data, just who made the brass case.

Do you have any more of this ammo? Post a pic if you do.

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Originally Posted by jpx2rk

Does other ammo shoot fine in this gun? ...Do you have any more of this ammo? Post a pic if you do...

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Other ammos (Wolf Gold, Federal Eagle, Remington, PMX ) shoot fine. I don't have the ammo as I shot all of them in AR15. I did keep couple shells. I think the brass was not re-loaded as the primer still has the blue sealant. Does anyone know what brand of this ammo is? I sure won't buy these.

https://c3.staticflickr.com/1/542/31...ff9313b5_c.jpg

The blue sealant says "reload" to me. Never seen that on factory Federal .223, and if it were I doubt it'd be so sloppily applied. Additionally, it may be just the quality of the photo but the letters of the headstamp look "multiple-times-loaded" blurred.

Also just a guess but I would say reloads using factory primed brass seconds. If i don't buy it in the original package I consider every thing as reloads. I am also like Mulder, the truth is out there but trust no one.

Doubt it's reloads. How old is the wolf ammo? Some old wolf ammo had a lacquer on them that would gum up the rifle when it got hot.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.ph...primer.676651/

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=569580

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Originally Posted by 30-06shooter

...How old is the wolf ammo? Some old wolf ammo had a lacquer on them...

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https://c3.staticflickr.com/1/521/30...322c5294_m.jpg
It's actually newly bought Wolf Gold brass ammo. Thank you all for providing input... I will watch out for any ammo I get from "friends" that is not new in the box...

Anyway, I enjoy shooting the Axis 223 - almost no recoil - but may need to stiffen the stock around the forearm, the "wrist area", and the buttstock area (with Rockite?)...I get about 3 - 4 MOA at 100 yards now with the Wolf Gold... I am not too picky, but want something less than 2 MOA without having to reload. With my other bolt action rifle (CZ) shooting steel case 7.62x39, I get about 1.75 MOA

Federal Fusion .233 Rem ammo is loaded in brass with same head stamp: FC 16 over 223 REM, white primer with blue primer sealant. The "16 " is the last two digits of the year it was manufactured 2016. I have some Fusion loaded in FC 11 and FC 16 brass.

Michael

My axis does not like some of the .223 ammo out there. Fuicci(I'm sure I spelled that wrong) ammo got stuck almost every time. I had to beat on the bolt to get it out. Wolf ammo did the same. I have shot 5.56 ammo without a problem. I'm not sure what the problem was so I just stick to what works. Mostly PMC and federal


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