I loaded 15 cartridges today for .30-.30. It was once fired brass that I full length sized. I tested each cartridge in a Hornady cartridge gauge and they all fit easily. I then primed, loaded powder, pushed in bullets, and did the Lee factory crimp. I then tried each completed cartridge again in the Hornady Cartridge gauge and four did not fit this time. Well, I could push them in with moderate pressure if I wanted to, just not drop in like the others. Is this something to be concerned about? I will be firing these cartridges in a Marlin 336 lever action rifle.
Hornady Cartridge Gauge
- Thread starter Alan W
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
I would not be too concerned. If they chamber I would just shoot them. Normally following full length resizing I trim my brass to a uniform length. I also do not crimp bottle neck cases unless I see a need but here nor there. Anyway I would just shoot them.
Ron
Many years Lyman said crimping bottle neck cases could be a bad habit. Later Dillon suggested seating and crimping should not be done in one operation.
The bad habit and crimping and seating on one operation is caused by the same problem. Crimping while the bullet is moving down causes the case to bulge at the shoulder/case body junction. The seating die does not have case body support meaning if the case chambers with resistance after seating the bullet the case budged at the shoulder/case by juncture.
Measure before and again after: Most case gages can be used to measure fired and sized cases, I would suggest measuring the diameter of the case below the case body/shoulder juncture when determining if the crimp bulged the case.
F. Guffey
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