Quote Originally Posted by Texas10 View Post
I have been mostly using Federal brass from the American Eagle AE223GTV ammo discussed here in another thread, but I also have Hornaday and Winchester brass also once fired in my model 12 in .223.

Like you, I've used my Hornaday guage to measure the base to shoulder height on all my new ammo both before firing and after, and have only seen it grow .001 maximum even after repeated loading. Speaks volumes about Savage head spacing being close as I never need to shoulder bump, just neck size.
I also have been trying to fill, as much as possible the cartridge case when reloading, having read that detonation can occur if too little power, especially ball type powder is used which may result in overpressure conditions. But I'm no expert on this, quite the opposite in fact.
What powder are you using, and how much of the case is filled?
Not sure why I wasn't getting email notifications of this thread, especially since I'm the one who started it?
Anyway, I'm currently using IMR8208XBR, most of the case is filled, but not compressed.