32acp R-P help

[clone]

I worked up some loads and settled into a load of 2.7gr of Unique with Hornady 71gr .311 FMJ. The brass is 100 brand new Magtec, ("CBC" head stamp) with about 100 or so, other brand range pick ups. Now to the problem.

I have noticed I can press the bullet into the Remington brass with my fingers, light neck tension, very light on some. Now only the rem brass seems to do this, all other brands (FC, CBC, GFL, MRP) have good neck tension and don't set back any. Is there a known problem with Remington 32acp brass or is it the lee dies? Not all rem brass does this, but most, id say 90%

The seating die is set to just take out the very light bell of the case, as I do with 9mm and 45acp dies. After I found the problem brass I pulled them and resized and tried again with a bit more crimp. It took a heavy crimp to keep the bullets from setting back. It actually rings the bullets it's so heavy, and the bullets spin in place. I learned long ago that is to heavy. So whats the deal?

 

[Walkalong]

Your sizer is too big for some of the thinner walled brass, and RP tends to be thin. Either pick out the heavy walled stuff, like CBC etc, or get a tighter sizer. It is also possible your expander is too large. I solved this same problem by buying an RCBS .32 ACP die set.

As you have found out, no amount of crimp can make up for poor neck tension.

 

[clone]

The sizer seems good on all other brass. So for now I will pick out the rem brass and continue on. Might keep it and use it if I find some cheap used dies.

I just now tested neck tension by not belling at all and seating the bullet. I crumpled a few different brands before I quit that. With the Remington brass the bullets where easy.
I'm betting this is more of a Remington problem than a Lee problem. Am I wrong?

 

[Walkalong]

For those dies, yes, the Remington brass is too thin. If you pick it out it sounds like you will be fine. I use a horrid mix of OF .32 ACP brass and simply wanted a set that would work with it all. If I wanted to shoot .32 ACP for pure accuracy, I am sure matched brass would be better, but the .32 ACP was never known for great accuracy. I do enjoy plinking with it though.

 

[clone]

I had planned to use it as a back up gun and occasional plinker but just got started, so not much brass yet. Though the wife has noticed how "fun" and "cute" it is so I will likely need another die set in the future, and another 32acp pistol. Did you contact Lee about the problem?

 

[NCsmitty]

You can spin the expander in a drill using some fine grit emery cloth to reduce the main diameter by a half thousandth or so, and it will work with everything. Lee dies are good dies and are made to tight tolerances like the other brand names. It's about all I buy anymore unless I can get an auction price on other brands.

I use 2.5gr of Unique with my as cast 77gr RN and alox lube in my 32ACP.


NCsmitty

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Can't help with the Remington brass as I only have used Winchester, Sellier and Bellot, and Fiocchi brass with CH4D dies and have no problems. I'm loading 2.8 gr. of Unique behind 75 gr. Flat nosed lead for general shooting.

Just wanted to say I thought it was cool there are so manyy loading/shooting .32 these days.

VooDoo

 

[Walkalong]

I never made mention of the brand dies that I had a problem with.

If the sizer is too big, which is what it seems like going by the first post, then polishing the expander will not help. If polishing the expander down works, then that's great.

Size two RP cases, use the expander on one and not the other, then seat a bullet in each. If the one where you did not use the expander is OK, then the expander can be polished down to eliminate the problem.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't load that cartridge, but I have had the same exact problem with RP brass before. It's soft brass, and as such it thins out very rapidly in my experience.

I would try Walkalong's suggestions, as that should positively identify the root cause and get you going in the right direction. But from the sound of it, your sizing die is out of spec..

Also, crimping, regardless of how much is applied, isn't going to solve lacking neck tension and will only make things worse, as you already know.

GS

 

[clone]

I tried without using the expander die at all and had the same problem with the rem brass. I could seat the bullets with my fingers its that light on tension.


Walkalong,
If you don't mind me asking what other dies did you have problems with?

Vodoun da Vinci,
I like the little 32acp. Just enough punch to have fun with but not overly so. Wife lays claim to my Keltec p32 and that is fine. I might buy me a pink one just to make her jealous.

 

[Steve C]

I've never had any problem with Remington brass though it is a bit thinner and doesn't give as much grasp on the bullet with neck tension. I always crimp my bullets, taper crimp on semi auto calibers and roll crimp on revolver cartridges. The bullets are held tight and have no setback issues.

Not sure what you mean when saying the crimp "rings the bullets it's so heavy". Below is a picture of 2 R-P 9mm reloads I found that show you what my taper crimp looks like. If you look carefully you can see the slightly brighter ring around the case mouth left by the crimp. I usually crimp with a Lee FC die for semi auto cartridges.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have all of my RP brass separated out for this same reason. I save it for shooting lead which is 0.001" over size. The extra 0.001" gives it the necessary neck tension. Another thing I have run into is primers piercing on RP 45acp brass. Some the primer pockets are beveled too much and where pierce even on light loads. Destroyed a brand new BE gun slide breach face.

Steve, the brass on the right originally had a small indention to prevent bullet set back. What what the knurling is/was used for. After the first firing it's gone though so it does not come into play.

 

[NCsmitty]

If you have brass that will not size down properly while omitting the expander, indicates a problem for sure. I've not had that issue with any of the brass in 32 ACP myself, including Remington, but anything is possible, and sizing down the expander won't work here.


NCsmitty

 

[rondog]

Remington seems to be getting a poor reputation for their ammo these days, especially brass and their .22lr "Thunderduds". Maybe somebody there needs to pay attention.

 

[clone]

I contacted Lee about this and they replaced the die with what they said was an "undersized" die. I loaded 100 tonight that are good and tight. All seems good.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't load 32 acp, but I've had the same issues from time to time with 9mm, 38 spl, ect., and it's always with RP brass. RP seems to be thinner than most other head stamps.

GS

 

[lturford]

I don't load 32 but had the same issue with 38. I set the RP brass to the side when I load berry bullets and once I have a good amount I load them up with Missouri bullets which are larger.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I load a lot of Rem 9mm and .38 Special brass and never had a neck tension problem and I'm using Lee dies. I load for the 32 Auto but I don't think I have any Rem brass right now.

 

[clone]

I have only used Lee dies. Never had a problem with 9mm or any other sets. In fact the 32acp set is the only problem I've had, and I'm still not convinced it was the die's fault.