Newbie - Ran into something new...

[Pietro Beretta]

Basically, I had one case in a batch I was running that the mouth was expanded too much, no other cases before or after had this issue.. The bullet didn't catch on the case, it simply dropped down right onto the powder.

I removed the bullet and powder; I ran the case through the Lee Factory Crimp Die to size down the case, at this point the case was able to be put back through the process of expanding and the bullet seated as it should this time.

My question is, did I do the right thing or should I have thrown that case out as a precaution?


TL;DR

It was a random case out of a batch of 100 I was working on, I ran a batch of 100 cleaned and decapped, once fired, 9mm brass through my lee re-sizing die. I also primed the cases at this time No problems here.

Next, I ran the brass through the Lee expander die. I checked to be sure there was enough flare to seat a bullet but not too much. No problems here.

Next, I charged the cases with powder.

As I was seating bullets, I discovered this one case in the middle of my batch with the issue and no other cases before or after had the same issue.

Visually the case looked fine, my calipers showed that the case length was correct, the mouth was just too wide.

 

[119er]

I honestly found that a little laborious to read through, but I'll tell you what I do in this case. I use the Lee dies currently, but I have given up on the Factory Crimp die as it caused problems with coated bullets and I believe it hurt accuracy otherwise. My opinion.

When I am loading 9mm and a bullet falls into the case, which is a rare occurrence, it is usually due to a split case mouth. Every now and then when something feels different, it will be a .380 case that made it through. I load progressively and sometimes that just happens.

The easy answer is just toss it in the recycle bucket. A single 9mm case isn't worth much at all and is not worth potential problems it could cause.

OP:
Try to give more pertinent info early on in your initial post such as: Caliber, components being used, equipment, and pictures if needed. Please don't take offense, it just helps to be clear so people can understand quickly. I wrote lengthy posts when I started reloading and got much help here. It seems the longer I made my post, the longer it took to get a response.

 

[kcofohio]

I'd file a slight mark on the case head of the offending case. Might be a fluke. Or you could have a thin case wall to one side. Next time you process it, take calipers and measure the wall thickness. See how much variance you get.

Also, is the resize die touching the shell holder when the ram is fully extended?

 

[Pietro Beretta]

119er:
OP:
Try to give more pertinent info early on in your initial post such as: Caliber, components being used, equipment, and pictures if needed. Please don't take offense, it just helps to be clear so people can understand quickly. I wrote lengthy posts when I started reloading and got much help here. It seems the longer I made my post, the longer it took to get a response.

No offense taken. I notice on the reloading forum everyone wants every minute detail.

kcofohio:
Also, is the resize die touching the shell holder when the ram is fully extended?

Yes sir, the re-sizing die is touching the shell holder when the ram is fully extended. I also have my dies on their own breech lock ring.

kcofohio:
I'd file a slight mark on the case head of the offending case. Or you could have a thin case wall to one side. Next time you process it, take calipers and measure the wall thickness. See how much variance you get.

This is what I was looking for, good info, thank you!

 

[mdi]

For one case, I would note the headstamp (maker) for further info and discard it...

 

[Drail]

Probably stamped RP.

 

[snakeye]

I'm willing to bet that case never saw a sizing die and slipped by somehow into the powder die without being sized....has happened to me several times in the past

 

[Pietro Beretta]

I'm willing to bet that case never saw a sizing die and slipped by somehow into the powder die without being sized.

Would be a loosing bet, I thought the same thing.

I put it through the resizing die fist thinking that would fix the problem - same result.

Probably stamped RP.

Stamped ".FC." (dot FC dot)


Thanks for all the responses everyone, I appreciate your input and help!

 

[Dudedog]

Mark bottom with sharpie, easy way.
I use different colors for different loads, black for brass I don't want to save.
Got a pack of wide tips with about 8 colors from Wally World for lee than $10.

 

[mstreddy]

I put it through the resizing die fist thinking that would fix the problem - same result.

If you sized it again will a bullet drop in BEFORE you flare it? If before, then something wrong with the case - if no others have an issue. Or something with the sizer.
If the bullet doesn't drop in until after you flare, then may be something wrong in the flare.
Is it only one bullet or one case?
Might be an undersize bullet.

 

[fireman 9731]

An over length case will also flare more than a case that is in spec. Its rare that straight wall cases are over length but it can happen. Either way, its just one case and if it keep presenting problems, toss it.

 

[Pietro Beretta]

Might be an undersize bullet.

Why the hell didn't I think of that..:banghead:

Could have been as simple as that and I blamed the case... I keep my reloads separated in "lots" of 100, so I know what lot its in just not which specific round it is in the lot

 

[Dudedog]

Ran into about 20 like that when I was first setting up my new Hornady LNL press.
I was going how hard can it be to adjust these dies....

Hours later.....how hard can it be to adjust this seating crimp die....
what's wrong with me it shouldn't be this hard...
walked away came back later.

Measured bullet, bullets were fine and traced it to bad brass.
Don't remember the headstamp. (range pickups)
Filed it in the recycle bin.
Had I been loading on my old press and dies I would have figured it out sooner.

It's kind of funny now that I think back on it. (had choice words for new press and dies at the time)