I've reloaded rifle ammo with minimal trouble for about 6+ mos.
Now I've ventured into pistol ammo reloading, all with RCBS stuff.
I've got a perplexing problem (to me, anyway). I've searched this forum, Google, etc. and picked up a few tips, but I'm still stuck.
I'm loading for a Springfield XDm 9 with once fired range pickup brass, Berry's 115 gr. RN DS (round nose, double struck?) and used RCBS dies. (Man, that sounds cheap).
Yesterday, I was making up some dummy rounds to get flare and bullet seating figured out. I don't have a taper crimp die yet; which I planned to get. I have a roll crimp bullet seating die from 1982. I can't seem to turn the die down enough into the press to seat the bullet yet not get the roll crimp.
I couldn't get dummys to chamber. Then I tried not flaring a case, and just seating the bullet after just sizing the brass (like a rifle round). It worked/chambered! But, I just tried it with one dummy.
Then I noticed my bullets were getting smudged with grime. I had wiped the dies off before and Q-tip'd the inside, but noticed there was still lots of gunk where the bullet nose contacts the die, maybe 0.010". So I really scrubbed it with toothpicks wrapped in paper towel, Q-tips and Breakfree CLP.
Now, with a clean die, and the die just starting to hit the brass, I can get an OAL of 1.17", but manuals say 1.16" is the max., and most loads I'd like try are around 1.13". Now nothing will chamber since I assume they're too long or the roll crimp is making the top of the case dia. over .380".
So is it the seating dies fault? Can these be adjusted by loosening the nut on the very top? Doesn't look like there's a gap on the inside to move the seating plug down any farther, but maybe it slides inside of the opening. I can't get mine to move. Or, aren't they supposed to? This used die may need some penetrating oil to loosen it up or something, I can't budge it without trying vice grip pliers or something. So, I thought I'd run it by these great minds before I break my seating die that isn't supposed to move?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
-Spoo-G
Now I've ventured into pistol ammo reloading, all with RCBS stuff.
I've got a perplexing problem (to me, anyway). I've searched this forum, Google, etc. and picked up a few tips, but I'm still stuck.
I'm loading for a Springfield XDm 9 with once fired range pickup brass, Berry's 115 gr. RN DS (round nose, double struck?) and used RCBS dies. (Man, that sounds cheap).
Yesterday, I was making up some dummy rounds to get flare and bullet seating figured out. I don't have a taper crimp die yet; which I planned to get. I have a roll crimp bullet seating die from 1982. I can't seem to turn the die down enough into the press to seat the bullet yet not get the roll crimp.
I couldn't get dummys to chamber. Then I tried not flaring a case, and just seating the bullet after just sizing the brass (like a rifle round). It worked/chambered! But, I just tried it with one dummy.
Then I noticed my bullets were getting smudged with grime. I had wiped the dies off before and Q-tip'd the inside, but noticed there was still lots of gunk where the bullet nose contacts the die, maybe 0.010". So I really scrubbed it with toothpicks wrapped in paper towel, Q-tips and Breakfree CLP.
Now, with a clean die, and the die just starting to hit the brass, I can get an OAL of 1.17", but manuals say 1.16" is the max., and most loads I'd like try are around 1.13". Now nothing will chamber since I assume they're too long or the roll crimp is making the top of the case dia. over .380".
So is it the seating dies fault? Can these be adjusted by loosening the nut on the very top? Doesn't look like there's a gap on the inside to move the seating plug down any farther, but maybe it slides inside of the opening. I can't get mine to move. Or, aren't they supposed to? This used die may need some penetrating oil to loosen it up or something, I can't budge it without trying vice grip pliers or something. So, I thought I'd run it by these great minds before I break my seating die that isn't supposed to move?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
-Spoo-G
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