38 special cases tight in cylinder

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ChefJeff1

ChefJeff1

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I recently loaded up some 38 special rounds. 158gr lead swc bullets, 4.7 gr hp-38 powder. Some of the rounds are a little tight going into the cylinder, not the length but the girth, I think. Some fit fine, and some i can't really get in. The very first rounds I didn't measure oal, just seated compared to a factory round. The new ones got seated with a caliper to correct oal and are still tight. What's my problem? Is is because they're not crimped and the case mouth is "edgy" and catching? I'm using Lee carbide pistol dies. the ones that fit in easily shoot accurately. I haven't tried to shoot any tight ones. thanks, Jeff

Maybe it's 3.4gr hp-38. I can't remember, I'm at work right now.
 
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If you are not crimping at all, it could be remaining case mouth bell from the expander plug.

If you are not belling at all with the expander plug, then you are very likely shaving lead off the sides of the bullets.
Slivers of lead then get caught between the bullet & the case when you seat them, and make the case too big to fit the chambers.

Could be over-size lead bullets.
Have you measured them to make sure they are sized .358" or so?

Could be your bullet seating stem doesn't match the shape of the bullets you are using and some of them are getting seated a little crooked which bulges the case slightly.

Could be a number of things.

Now, someone is going to post about running them through a LEE FCD and all your problems will be history!
It shouldn't be necessary at all if everything else is done right.

rc
 
I had this problem for one batch of .38's. So, I put a just a very light crimp on them and they fit fine after that. So, I would recommend a light crimp, it might just do the trick.
 
Now, someone is going to post about running them through a LEE FCD and all your problems will be history!
It shouldn't be necessary at all if everything else is done right.
Click to expand...

:D Right on as always RC!
 
i belled "just enough to start the bullet". i think. How deep should I be able to start the bullet? when i belled, the bullet would barely sit in the case mouth. It was able to sit cocked to any side and as I pushed it up into the seater I kind of held it straight. the bullets measure ok, I didn't measure all of them.
 
usually you can tell if you are shaving lead because you can see it. Try belling them more and see if that helps?
 
Yeah...rc's becoming a fortune teller...

Make sure each chamber in the cylinder is clean the full length...No carbon, not lead and no fouling...
 
With lead bullets, I bell enough to start the bullet in the case straight and insert it maybe 1/8" by finger pressure.

I want to be able to pick them up by the bullets out of my loading block without the case falling off and spilling the powder in the other charged cases.

That also insures no lead shaving, and a straight seated bullet every time.

rc
 
probably more on the crimping step.
if your crimping purty good then get a little longer case it`ll bulge the case & cause the problem your describing .
i trim my revolver brass to get a consistent crimp ,the lee factory crimp swages lead boolits down a.001 or 2

GP100man
 
It is a gadget and it is a useful die. Depending what and how you use it. If you use it to insure your rounds are concentric and will fit your chamber, it is a gadget. If it is resizing your cases after you have crimped the bullet you have a problem in your loading procedures and should endever to correct it. If you are using it to just crimp, it is a very good tool to have. I use it extensively for .30-30 Winchester for the uniform and positive crimp it applies.

We have several that are pro for the resizing feature and crimp. We have another group (me included) that are con to the resizing feature and pro for the crimping feature. It has become a joke between us...
 
Just remember, the FCD for pistol rounds is a whole critter than the FCD for rifle.

I don't know many folks who have issues with the rifle FCD, although some do. They say it squashes their expensive match bullets....I have no doubt they are right when talking match bullets and rifles. No one crimps match ammo for the most serious target shooting. On the other hand, for some calibers and uses, it probably does a fine job. I know The Bushmaster would agree.

Many folks have issues with the Lee FCD for pistols, myself included, and many think they are the best thing since sliced bread. Just remember this, reloaders blissfully loaded millions of rounds of quality ammo without issues for many, many years before the FCD die was invented. How did they ever get by without it. :rolleyes:
 
I'm not going to enter into this discussion other than to say listen to the 3 people giving advice here, they know whereof they speak.

If you need to know who they are check the post count. They sure helped me with a problem I had.
 
I recently loaded up some 38 special rounds. 158gr lead swc bullets, 4.7 gr hp-38 powder.
Click to expand...
I'm a little worried about that charge you reported in your first post. You said at the bottom of your post it might be 3,4gr HP-38 and I truly hope so because Hodgdon recommends a Min/Max charge of 3.1gr/.3.7gr HP-38 under a 158gr LSWC bullet. Even a Jacketed 158gr bullet in a .38 Special +P round calls for a charge of 4.6gr and that's usually much lower for a lead bullet.

Just thought I would mention that and I hope you meant to say the charge was 3.4gr instead of 4.7gr HP-38.
 
"Some of the rounds are a little tight going into the cylinder, not the length but the girth, I think. Some fit fine, and some i can't really get in."

If they go most of the way into the cylinder it may be a resizing issue. I shoot mixed brands of 357 mag cases and had a problem with one brand of case that wouldn't go in the last 1/4 inch until I really cranked down my carbide resizing die.
 
I too had this problem. I had bought 1200 mixed HS 38spl. All of the culprit cases were some form of military brass!! Thicker maybe?
Might look there.
Jeff
 
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