I have been reloading for a little while now for my. 40 and have had no problems started reloading .380 acp and I am having issues I can't get the bullet to stay solid in the case I have tried the lee factory crimp die at different amounts of crimp the bullet stops sliding back into the case but it still spins in the case. I'm loading jacketed round nose bullets
.380 reloading problem
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FROGO207
Member
You will have a lot more problems with the thinner brands of brass like RP as stated above. You are not getting the case sized enough in the first place or the expander is too large. Try hand seating a bullet in the sized brass. If it will not go in and turn it is probably your expander die. If it is (measure it with your calipers) you can chuck the expander stem in a drill and use sand paper or a file to make it smaller. If your die is too large you will have to send your die back and get them to provide a smaller diameter one.
I use Lee dies and had to turn my expander button down so I got good neck tension on my RP brass.
I use Lee dies and had to turn my expander button down so I got good neck tension on my RP brass.
Certaindeaf
member
It sounds like you are flaring too much and or your expander is too large. The crimp really does nothing to increase tension/grip of the case to the bullet.. just iron out the flare (if any) so it'll chamber.
ReloaderFred
Member
You'll also run into a problem if you start loading any of the newer Federal and Speer .380 brass. They changed their brass so there is a small step inside the case to prevent bullet setback, which works great for the factory bullet, but if you load a longer bullet, it becomes a problem. Some expanders also reach too far inside the case and will produce a bulge where the step is.
I know you said you were using Winchester brass at this time, but thought a heads up might be in order if you pick up range brass.
Hope this helps.
Fred
I know you said you were using Winchester brass at this time, but thought a heads up might be in order if you pick up range brass.
Hope this helps.
Fred
777TRUTH
Member
I'm having the same issue. You might find this thread interesting.
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1392548
Lee's stand on this is the .380 die sizes to SAMMI specs, buy a U-Die.
I purchased an RCBS .380 sizer and only did a couple of test rounds without flaring the case and so far so good on the neck tension. When I get around to loading .380 I'll know for sure if RCBS gets it right.
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1392548
Lee's stand on this is the .380 die sizes to SAMMI specs, buy a U-Die.
I purchased an RCBS .380 sizer and only did a couple of test rounds without flaring the case and so far so good on the neck tension. When I get around to loading .380 I'll know for sure if RCBS gets it right.
sourdough44
Member
I recently finished up a 380 batch with 500 new Starline cases, they worked great. My next session is with some mixed 'range brass' I recently bought. This mix is mostly Speer, Remington, & Hornady, with a few others. I'd try another brass/ bullet combo to get a better fit.
Chances are your problem will go away with another type of brass, as long as your bullet size is correct. I use my Lee dies & they have been fine.
Chances are your problem will go away with another type of brass, as long as your bullet size is correct. I use my Lee dies & they have been fine.
If thin brass is not the problem, and Winchester is usually fine, your sizer is too big, or your expander is too big. Try loading a couple of rounds without using the expander and see if neck tension is adequate. If it is, the expander is too big. If it isn't, the sizer is too big. This is all assuming correct diameter bullets.
No amount of crimp can make up for lack of neck tension.
No amount of crimp can make up for lack of neck tension.
I was trying to here more info before posting. I'll take a shoot at it.
Is the case going past the ring at the bottom of the die body & into the crimp. The ring at the bottom can fell like the crimp. You may be over expanding also. Do you fell a pop from the expanding die?
Is the case going past the ring at the bottom of the die body & into the crimp. The ring at the bottom can fell like the crimp. You may be over expanding also. Do you fell a pop from the expanding die?
NeuseRvrRat
Member
i started loading .380 not too long ago and had the same problem. i scrapped my R-P brass and skipped expanding. now my bullets stay put.
Samari Jack
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Had this problem with Federal brass. Drove me nuts till someone here pointed me in the right direction.
altitude_19
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Have you used anything other than a FCD? My understanding is it comes with a carbide sizing ring. It may be swaging the bullet down to a smaller size. The brass will rebound more than the bullet, leaving it loose in the casing.
loneviking
Member
No problem here either with the RCBS dies and mixed headstamps.
altitude_19
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Why are we concentrating on brand? Howzabout concentrating on configuration. FCD might be the issue, where the regular lee crimp/seating die would work fine.
Thanks all for the help I finally had achance to sit down at the bench and look at some of the things brought up first checked to see if the bullet would slid in the case after resizing I could get it to start but not slid into the case so as suggested I checked the expanding die and it flared the case exsessivly I backed the die out far enough where it would still activate the powder drop with out flaring the case. Then seated a bullet added a light crimp and the bullet is now solid in the case. Thanks everyone for great advice.
Crimp is not what hold the bullet in thecase.
case (or neck) tension is.
The bullet is an interference fit in the case, and when forced in stretches the brass.
The brass has enough tension left ('spring-back) to have a tight grip on the bullet.
It sounds like your sizing die is not reducing the brass enough.
The ID of the case should be at least a few thousandths UNDER the bullet diameter.
Take a micrometer to your bullets to insure that they are no smaller then .355
I'm using Lee dies and have no problem with any .380 case. I only have problems with .38 Special R-P cases, and that's when I use the .380 sizer die to size those cases
I'm using Lee dies and have no problem with any .380 case. I only have problems with .38 Special R-P cases, and that's when I use the .380 sizer die to size those cases
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