Alex G
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2020
- Messages
- 242
Hello All,
I know this question may have been asked before in past threads (and I spent the last hour reading them) but nothing seems to have addressed my issue. I’ve also been loading for 6+ years without any issue like this.
A bit of background specs before I begin:
Press-LNL AP
Sizing die-Mighty Armory TNT Match (screwed all the way down to contact the shellholder for maximum neck tension, located on a Lee APP press)
Flaring Die-Lyman M-Die for 9mm
Powder measure-Hornady with no expander installed
Seater die-Lee (set to seat and crimp in one step. Yes, my crimp is correct, I’ve pulled bullets to check)
Projectiles being used-124 gr. X-treme RN, all sized to .3555 or .3560.
For background context, I recently loaded 1k cast lead 9mm rounds, as well as 500+ hi-tek coated and close to 1000 Berry’s plated rn and FP, all with zero issues.
I began my loading session with this projectile as normal-adjusting the seating depth to be correct, and adjusting the flare to be just enough to allow the bullet to sit into the case mouth without tipping when the shellplate rotates. I verified powder charge, and loaded the case feeder and began loading. About 10 cases in, I noticed a projectile had dropped into the case after being placed by the Mr. bulletfeeder die. I stopped, cleared the shellplate and shut off case feed. Checking the 15 loaded rounds at that point by pushing the bullet nose against the press frame lead to 3 other bullets seating back into the case as a lack of neck tension. This is when I measured the bullets to ensure they weren’t undersize. My second thought was that the 3 cases didn’t size properly or had not been sized. I pulled the bullets, and ran the cases through the sizing die with decapping pin removed. Inside case diameter was 3 thousandths under bullet diameter of .355, or actually .352 This is correct and has worked properly for 1500+ previous rounds. (Oh, and I also ran .3550 sized JHP’s with no setback issues)
I noticed on the cases that fail, that the case passes easily on the expander with very little effort most of the time, and the same with seating, even though it’s sized properly. As an added measure, I sprayed the expander mandrel with brake-kleen to ensure no oil residue was contaminating the case walls, but to no avail.
What is causing this issue? Are the cases just trash at this point/only good for oversized .356 projectiles? Any help/advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I know this question may have been asked before in past threads (and I spent the last hour reading them) but nothing seems to have addressed my issue. I’ve also been loading for 6+ years without any issue like this.
A bit of background specs before I begin:
Press-LNL AP
Sizing die-Mighty Armory TNT Match (screwed all the way down to contact the shellholder for maximum neck tension, located on a Lee APP press)
Flaring Die-Lyman M-Die for 9mm
Powder measure-Hornady with no expander installed
Seater die-Lee (set to seat and crimp in one step. Yes, my crimp is correct, I’ve pulled bullets to check)
Projectiles being used-124 gr. X-treme RN, all sized to .3555 or .3560.
For background context, I recently loaded 1k cast lead 9mm rounds, as well as 500+ hi-tek coated and close to 1000 Berry’s plated rn and FP, all with zero issues.
I began my loading session with this projectile as normal-adjusting the seating depth to be correct, and adjusting the flare to be just enough to allow the bullet to sit into the case mouth without tipping when the shellplate rotates. I verified powder charge, and loaded the case feeder and began loading. About 10 cases in, I noticed a projectile had dropped into the case after being placed by the Mr. bulletfeeder die. I stopped, cleared the shellplate and shut off case feed. Checking the 15 loaded rounds at that point by pushing the bullet nose against the press frame lead to 3 other bullets seating back into the case as a lack of neck tension. This is when I measured the bullets to ensure they weren’t undersize. My second thought was that the 3 cases didn’t size properly or had not been sized. I pulled the bullets, and ran the cases through the sizing die with decapping pin removed. Inside case diameter was 3 thousandths under bullet diameter of .355, or actually .352 This is correct and has worked properly for 1500+ previous rounds. (Oh, and I also ran .3550 sized JHP’s with no setback issues)
I noticed on the cases that fail, that the case passes easily on the expander with very little effort most of the time, and the same with seating, even though it’s sized properly. As an added measure, I sprayed the expander mandrel with brake-kleen to ensure no oil residue was contaminating the case walls, but to no avail.
What is causing this issue? Are the cases just trash at this point/only good for oversized .356 projectiles? Any help/advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!
