38 Special OAL Issues

[razorback2003]

I am loading 38 special for the first time. HSM 125 grain cast lead SWC bullets and 3.8 grains of Bullseye with an OAL 1.460. I am using Lee Dies with the factory crimp die.

Why would my OAL vary from down to 1.44 up to 1.465? Is that an issue as far as pressure? Is it safe to shoot my loads that have an OAL down to even 1.435?

I tried to use my once fired Winchester brass and did measure the brass after resizing. They were all fairly close. I did not trim the brass.

 

[243winxb]

Enter "Seating depth variation" here http://leeprecision.net/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/List/Index/13/product-support

 

[Steve C]

Why would my OAL vary from down to 1.44 up to 1.465?

Why would you care? The .38 spl is a large case with plenty of room for lots of powder and a such little variation in seating depth is inconsequential unless the bullet starts sticking out beyond the cylinder face when loaded. Toss the calipers when loading .38 spl and seat to the crimping groove. Check to make sure the bullet doesn't extend beyond the cylinder face, if it does shorten it up a bit and you're good to go.

People make too much issue regarding OAL and pressure. For it to be much of an issue you must be dealing with a small capacity case and a powder that is sensitive to load density. Many powders can be loaded compressed without any higher pressure.

 

[Walkalong]

It's OK, but you should be able to do better. I would look at the seater stem. The better the seater stem fits the bullet the better to spread.

 

[floydster]

I never measure OAL when loading for 38 Spl.wether it be SWC or WC, I seat to the first crimp groove and a slight roll crimp.
And as Steve stated, as long as the round, (bullet) doesn't protrude beyond the cyl.
The slight variance in OAL you are experiencing for me would be a non issue.

 

[smovlov]

The seating stem on the die set that I have from LEE is for a round nose bullet. It could be that the flat surface of the bullet is contacting the rounded portion of the stem at different points giving you inconsistent results. You could file the seating stem flat or add some hot glue to flatten it out and see if that changes the result. LEE also sells custom seating stems for something like 7$. Good luck!

 

[razorback2003]

I appreciate all the helpful information.

 

[steveno]

since you are using cast bullets make sure you clean the seater plug as crap can accumulate there. as mentioned the oal should be controlled by the crimp groove

 

[sexybeast]

That is quite a bit of difference even with "lots" of wax in the seating stem. I think something else is going on here. What press and dies are you using?

 

[Moreno]

^^ I agree.
We can expect a small variation on OAL due the the slight differences in bullets at the point the seating punch hits them on the ogive. 0.25 is way too much.

Set up so that the press cams over. Adjust the die for crimp and the bullet seating punch for OAL.

Seating bullets is light work, the press should not flex much. By camming over the ram will always go to full up and your variation should be reduced to an acceptable amount.

Brass length will have no bearing on OAL, but differences in brass length will give slightly different looking crimps. Best to have all the brass close in length for good uniform crimps.

 

[steveno]

it doesn't take a lot of wax and other crud to make up .020 in difference. since the wax and crud isn't as hard as steel it will vary.