mkl
Member
One of the most frequent topics I've seen asked on this forum is "How much should I bell?"
The quick answer is "Just enough so as not to shave lead off the bullet your are trying to seat."
In my experience (40+ years) of reloading, most new reloaders starting out bell way too much. I would suggest that those reloaders may want to try measuring the bell with a caliper, whether loading jacketed or lead bullets.
If you will perform a one time chamfer of the case mouth of your new or range pick up brass cases, it will make the belling and bullet seating go much smoother.
I just got finished with processing 100 .357 Magnum cases, and for the first time I decided to measure the bell that I use. [Before, I always just looked/felt of the case mouth to determine the 'right' bell.]
Anyway, my "right" bell seems to measure .004" to .005" greater than the mouth of the case before I belled it.
That isn't much, but if the case mouth is chamfered, it will not shave lead, and will minimize the working of the brass at the case mouth as you either straighten it back out (autos) or crimp (revolvers). The more you bend that case mouth lip in and out, the more brittle the brass will become (crack sooner at the case mouth).
This minimal belling has worked well for me for many years. Hopefully, not too many seasoned reloaders will disagree with this suggestion for the new comers.
The quick answer is "Just enough so as not to shave lead off the bullet your are trying to seat."
In my experience (40+ years) of reloading, most new reloaders starting out bell way too much. I would suggest that those reloaders may want to try measuring the bell with a caliper, whether loading jacketed or lead bullets.
If you will perform a one time chamfer of the case mouth of your new or range pick up brass cases, it will make the belling and bullet seating go much smoother.
I just got finished with processing 100 .357 Magnum cases, and for the first time I decided to measure the bell that I use. [Before, I always just looked/felt of the case mouth to determine the 'right' bell.]
Anyway, my "right" bell seems to measure .004" to .005" greater than the mouth of the case before I belled it.
That isn't much, but if the case mouth is chamfered, it will not shave lead, and will minimize the working of the brass at the case mouth as you either straighten it back out (autos) or crimp (revolvers). The more you bend that case mouth lip in and out, the more brittle the brass will become (crack sooner at the case mouth).
This minimal belling has worked well for me for many years. Hopefully, not too many seasoned reloaders will disagree with this suggestion for the new comers.
