45 acp case bulge when seating

A picture would be nice

“Every single time” indicates an easy fix...stop doing this or start doing that and the problem goes away. Now, all you have to do is figure out what this or that is.

Sounds flippant but it’s also true.

Yeah pics are essential as well as some other info like, what’s your success or failure rate with some other cartridges? Anything like this?

You never, ever, seat and taper crimp with the same die as one step. Two steps, two dies, seat, then taper crimp only, no contact to the bullet. You taper crimp only to the case mouth is straight.
A taper crimp or profile crimp die should be used as a separate step, always, because trying to force the bullet when crimped will bulge the case, every single time.

How are you expanding/flaring the case? With an FMJ you won’t need much, but is it the Hornady die? As asked above, a picture would be nice. I get slight bulges on my .45’s but they still gauge ok. You have to really back off the seat/crimp die to not get any crimp. Make sure it’s really backed off or it’s likely to still bulge the brass. Good luck.

Armorer 101 said:

A taper crimp or profile crimp die should be used as a separate step, always, because trying to force the bullet when crimped will bulge the case, every single time.

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Not necessarily, but I agree... I prefer... any crimp be applied in a separate step. Most times seating and crimping in the same step is a problem is because you are trying to add too much crimp, or something like a heavy roll crimp into a bullet with no cannelure.

lordpaxman said:

How are you expanding/flaring the case? With an FMJ you won’t need much, but is it the Hornady die?

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That's kind of my thought... or he just has the wrong bullet. The Hornady seating die has a bullet alignment sleeve that actually does a good job straightening the bullet while seating. I'm thinking he's not putting enough flare in, or he's got the seat die misconfigured.

OP, have you measured one of the bullets to see if they are the correct size... box label not withstanding?

cardinalorange said:

loading to 1.21 COL and both the base and neck show .46.

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1. Need pics
2. What data source? 1.21 seems a little short for a 230gr RMR FMJ—possibly
3. As noted—bell the case as little as possible
4. Seating and crimping as separate steps might help, but if the COAL is too short, might not
5. Sounds like a seating/crimping die setup issue. Pull the die and start over with setting it up. Follow die manufacturer’s instructions. If the die is set for too much crimp, it will always bulge the case because crimp will start too early in the stroke and the bullet will still push down on an already tight crimp as it continues to seat. Result=bulged case. This is usually not a problem with a taper crimp die, but it could be.

drband said:

2. What data source? 1.21 seems a little short for a 230gr RMR FMJ—possibly
3. As noted—bell the case as little as possible

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I wonder if the OP is seating them so deep, they are hitting the inside case taper? I still wonder, also, if he has oversized bullets, too.

drband said:

1. Need pics
2. What data source? 1.21 seems a little short for a 230gr RMR FMJ—possibly
3. As noted—bell the case as little as possible
4. Seating and crimping as separate steps might help, but if the COAL is too short, might not
5. Sounds like a seating/crimping die setup issue. Pull the die and start over with setting it up. Follow die manufacturer’s instructions. If the die is set for too much crimp, it will always bulge the case because crimp will start too early in the stroke and the bullet will still push down on an already tight crimp as it continues to seat. Result=bulged case. This is usually not a problem with a taper crimp die, but it could be.

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Does seem short for a 230...1.215” is my shortest with a 200SWC and my 1911s don’t like it that short. 1.237 is my shortest with 230RN. But that length doesn’t bulge a case by itself, does it? Nope.
OP says he has tried no crimp. So, that should’ve eliminated an adjustment problem.
His cartridges measure .46 at both base and neck...mine measure about .47.
What grain load are you using?
“Every single time” still bugs me. A double charge with too short COAL?

Charlie98 said:

I wonder if the OP is seating them so deep, they are hitting the inside case taper? I still wonder, also, if he has oversized bullets, too.

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He said he measured at .46...

Hodgdon data has showed 1.200 COL for as long as I can remember. Never have I loaded anything that short.

But until the OP provides some information there is no reason to keep speculating on who, what, where or when.
Heck he doesn't even have the "gun"?

Walkalong said:

That was for their old 230 Gr TrFP which the they listed as FMJ, which folks assumed was RN, and has caused a lot of confusion over the years.

I still have some of those somewhere

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Hornady 230 gr FMJ FP and 230 gr Lrn.

https://shop.hodgdon.com/reloading-data-center

Without a photo I wouldn't even speculate. I've been loading .45 ACP for over 35 years with lee dies and press. On rare occasions I have been known to not expand the case mouth enough. As I said, rarely does that happen.

Hi Walkalong. Love your range.

. . . Some very strange answers here.

A couple things . . .

You can determine exactly why they don't fit by using a magic marker and doing the plunk test, as described at the following link:
https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/reloading-tips-the-plunk-test/99389

Ultimately, the critical question is whether or not they fit in the barrel. If they fit in the barrel, you can ignore whether or not they fit in the case gauge.

Right, first thing I would do is plunk the barrel.
Your gauge might be off, they are not expensive and the maker may have whipped that one out too hastily.

I have a couple of gauges like yours that work well, but I have another brand, four calibers in one block, that is of no value because it is so small and will not pass my usual loads.

I had a rather peculiar gun and to avoid having to disassemble it to inspect its dedicated ammo, I had FLG ream a gauge with the same reamer he used on the barrel.

Any time there is a fit issue, measure. Measure the OD of a finished round in a few places, to determine where the round is too big. Also make sure there is no flare left on the case mouth. Measure case length, to make sure rounds aren't too long. When you determine where round is too big you will know when it happens and correct the problem. Also you can measure after each step.

I have a Wilson case gauge somewhere in my shop, but it hasn't been used for at least 15 years, I plunk test which works quite well in my 2, 45 ACP pistols and my HP 45 ACP carbine.

Have you tried a plunk test? Do your handloads fit the barrel (s) of your guns?

Something weird with the crimp. It looks like the flare isn't being removed with that edge hanging out.

Englishmn said:

Something weird with the crimp. It looks like the flare isn't being removed with that edge hanging out.

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Looks odd to me also.

But I am of the use your barrel to check camp, not some gauge. The gauge is not a functioning gun.

I suggest getting a tool that (reliably) can measure to the thousandth of an inch. Your hundredths of an inch caliper isn't precise enough for this work. Then measure the diameter of the bullets. Maybe they are mis sized or sized for old 45 Colt barrels? And as others suggested, use the barrel to see if it's looser than the gauge.

Definitely something wrong with the crimp...
I would start over with the dies... reset the sizing die, charging die, seating/crimp die following manufacturer's directions. It may not be getting sized completely, or too much flare, or seating/crimp die turned in too far. The only real way to troubleshoot is to start over and inspect each die result before going to the next die. You did not indicate if you load on a SS or a turret press... or a progressive... curious what you use. Seating die should give you a uniformly straight wall with no bulge, charging should give just a bit of flare to let the bullet sit on top, then set the seating die per Hornady's instructions to seat with NO crimp--when that's good, gradually adjust the crimp to remove the flare (but make sure you don't change the seating). Hornady's instructions should cover the process.

According to the pic you posted, the crimp looks like it did not remove the flare-- or it crimped below the flare?? Not sure but that pic sure is strange.

Wonder if the OP has a factory round. To measure and compare, and see if that fits the gauge. Has not tried the gun as he does not have it yet. Does sound short. I seat and crimp my 45 ACP in one step with no problems. Done it for years that way.