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Posted: 4/15/2010 2:54:06 PM EDT
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Started loading .38 special rounds this week and ran into some issues (maybe a die issue??)
(Hornady 125 gr HP / COAL = 1.450 / Unique 5.6 gr / Trim = 1.145")(S&W 686 6" barrel revolver) I loaded .357 Magnum last week and had no issues, so since the Lee Carbide Die set does both .357 Mag and .38 Special I picked up another Lee die set just for .38 SPL, rather then monkey with spacers or adjust the die between two different rounds. Issue #1: Made 5 rds with rem brass. I noticed the bullet on some spin in the cannelure. I originally set the crimp to 1/2 turn then bumped it to a full turn for a heavy crimp. Even though the bullet spins it's COAL does not change. (see #2) Issue #2: Even though I've run them through the FL sizer, the mouth is very loose, even before I get to the expander die. The bullet goes in the neck with really no friction. (Loose as in I can push the bullet down with my finger) Issue #3: The seating die(#3) is all but useless now, because even if I measure the COAL @ 1.450" when I goto crimp (die #4) the COAL is now 1.436" The Remington brass is once fired from store bought ammo. I made 5 rds with some Federal brass (also once fired) and had no issues. Anything I can try to tighten up the mouth? Z |
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I think you have a defective sizing die. If you have calipers measure the size of the case after it's been resized. Try to slip a bullet into the case w/o belling it. Tell has what you find out.
Run a .38 Special case into your .357 Magnum die and see what that measures after resizing. I bet it's smaller. Both dies should be identical. The portion that resizes the case is suppose to be the same size. It's impossible to reload ammo if the dies won't reform the brass to original or smaller dimensions (as you have found out). Send it back the Lee for a look see. |
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Quoted: I think you have a defective sizing die. If you have calipers measure the size of the case after it's been resized. Try to slip a bullet into the case w/o belling it. Tell has what you find out. Run a .38 Special case into your .357 Magnum die and see what that measures after resizing. I bet it's smaller. Both dies should be identical. The portion that resizes the case is suppose to be the same size. It's impossible to reload ammo if the dies won't reform the brass to original or smaller dimensions (as you have found out). Send it back the Lee for a look see. Rather than the sizing die, I'm guessing that the belling die is too large, thereby expanding the case neck too much. I'd check the dia of both belling dies and see what you find. If the set you have set up for 38spl's belling die is larger in dia, then it is expanding the neck too much, thereby reducing the neck tension. |
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I think you have a defective sizing die. If you have calipers measure the size of the case after it's been resized.
.3580" to .3575" (ID) on .38 SPL die (new) .3560" (ID) on .357 die (original) Try to slip a bullet into the case w/o belling it. Tell has what you find out. Run a .38 Special case into your .357 Magnum die and see what that measures after resizing. I bet it's smaller.
I switched turrets and ran the .38 SPL cases in the .357 FL sizing die. New die - bullet easily slips in with little effort. Old die - no way it's going in unless I jam it in. Both dies should be identical. The portion that resizes the case is suppose to be the same size.
It's impossible to reload ammo if the dies won't reform the brass to original or smaller dimensions (as you have found out). Send it back the Lee for a look see. Guess the FL sizer needs to take a trip to Lee :( Z |
| I also just started reloading .38 special and had the same problem. I isolated the problem to Remington once fired brass as well. PMC, Federal and Winchester once fired brass all loaded fine with no problems, however the Remington brass allowed the bullet to "Fall" right in, even before belling the mouth. |
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Quoted:
I also just started reloading .38 special and had the same problem. I isolated the problem to Remington once fired brass as well. PMC, Federal and Winchester once fired brass all loaded fine with no problems, however the Remington brass allowed the bullet to "Fall" right in, even before belling the mouth. +1, I just started 38 special a few weeks ago as well. Nice to know about Rem brass. I have used mostly Win, Fed and PMC so far in the 100 or so rounds I've loaded. I can't handle shooting too much with my 10 oz Ruger LCR. If it weren't for the low velocity load I've worked up with HP38 I wouldn't use more than 10-15 rounds per range trip. |
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Quoted:
Started loading .38 special rounds this week and ran into some issues (maybe a die issue??) (Hornady 125 gr HP / COAL = 1.450 / Unique 5.6 gr / Trim = 1.145")(S&W 686 6" barrel revolver) I loaded .357 Magnum last week and had no issues, so since the Lee Carbide Die set does both .357 Mag and .38 Special I picked up another Lee die set just for .38 SPL, rather then monkey with spacers or adjust the die between two different rounds. Issue #1: Made 5 rds with rem brass. I noticed the bullet on some spin in the cannelure. I originally set the crimp to 1/2 turn then bumped it to a full turn for a heavy crimp. Even though the bullet spins it's COAL does not change. (see #2) Issue #2: Even though I've run them through the FL sizer, the mouth is very loose, even before I get to the expander die. The bullet goes in the neck with really no friction. (Loose as in I can push the bullet down with my finger) Issue #3: The seating die(#3) is all but useless now, because even if I measure the COAL @ 1.450" when I goto crimp (die #4) the COAL is now 1.436" The Remington brass is once fired from store bought ammo. I made 5 rds with some Federal brass (also once fired) and had no issues. Anything I can try to tighten up the mouth? Z I've had similar problems with nickel plated Remington brass and jacketed bullets. The stuff seems pretty thin to me, like .009". |
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