billybob44
Contributing Member
Same here, although I load my .40S&W+ 10MM on my Dillon 550..
Bulged Brass
- Thread starter BGguns2S
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Can't typeI have the 45 ACP Lee Bulge Buster and absolutely LOVE it, works great on my RCBS RC IV. If you fire anything in a Glock, Case Bulge is a potential problem. I don't shoot a Glock, but I am a Firm Believer in the Bulge Buster.
Greaty Tool...
Greaty Tool...
gamestalker
member
I've never found a need for any bulge reduction dies, and I do load them at full pressures too. Glocks, XD's, Taurus, you name it, and I've probably loaded for it, still no problems. Now I have found bulged brass when inspecting range pick up's, but nothing that I've ever loaded has exhibited this problem so far.
GS
GS
RealGun
Member
Without using all new brass, I don't see how a 40 S&W or 45 ACP reloader can avoid range pickups that need not only inspection but processing to make them uniform. It's just easier to run them all.
^furthermore, it's not a problem with OP's reloads of safety procedure. It's just that he has a gun with a tight chamber. If gamestalker had that gun, he probably couldn't fit his cases in it, either.
This is like the never ending debate on whether or not you need a small base die to reload for an AR, lol. It depends on your guns.
This is like the never ending debate on whether or not you need a small base die to reload for an AR, lol. It depends on your guns.
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savagemann
Member
Look into the EGW U Die.
I use it for 9mm and .40
You will need to bell the case a little more than usual.
Your finished rounds will have a coke bottle look to them.
But I have not had 1 failure to feed since switching to them a few years back, about 15k rounds ago.
I use it for 9mm and .40
You will need to bell the case a little more than usual.
Your finished rounds will have a coke bottle look to them.
But I have not had 1 failure to feed since switching to them a few years back, about 15k rounds ago.
I dont worry about it. I look thru the brass before I load it. If it looks bad I just toss it.
I size with Hornady dies, and my final crimp is a Lee FCD. Never had a single case fail to chamber because of it being too heavily bulged and every piece of 9mm brass I own came off the ground at the local range.
As a side note I run a M&P 9mm 5" Pro with a KKM barrel, so a little tighter than a factory barrel. My pistols with factory barrels are much looser. Its served me well for a couple of years now.
I size with Hornady dies, and my final crimp is a Lee FCD. Never had a single case fail to chamber because of it being too heavily bulged and every piece of 9mm brass I own came off the ground at the local range.
As a side note I run a M&P 9mm 5" Pro with a KKM barrel, so a little tighter than a factory barrel. My pistols with factory barrels are much looser. Its served me well for a couple of years now.
RealGun
Member
The tapered 9 mm is not a problem, but the straight wall 40 and 45 certainly are.
They can be. I load 45 and 40 as well, just not as much. Never had an issue with these either. Size with Hornady dies, use FCD for light crimp. The carbide ring on the FCD acts as a second sizer.
Brass is cheap. Sort thru it. Throw away the junk. Nature of the beast when youre a reloader.
RealGun
Member
Experience varies I guess. Certainly the guns are a variable. If I couldn't run my brass through for bulge removal, and I am talking ballooning rather than the old Glock pimple, I would stop loading 40 and sell the guns. These bulge removal gadgets appeal to enough people to warrant a product offering from two prominent vendors.
And spotting problem brass without some sort of gauge is easier said than done. It's just more realistic and practical to run it all through the bulge remover.
Understand that these tools process an area of the brass that dies can't touch, given a conventional shell holder/ shell plate.
And spotting problem brass without some sort of gauge is easier said than done. It's just more realistic and practical to run it all through the bulge remover.
Understand that these tools process an area of the brass that dies can't touch, given a conventional shell holder/ shell plate.
15,000 rounds?
Please do not take anything I say as a criticism, but then I read BGgun2S's statement that he had 15,000 rounds of brass and didn't want to go through each one, it surprised me.
First, I'm envious of anyone having 15,000 rounds of brass.
Second, I'm envious of anyone who has the equipment to process huge lots of brass into loaded cartridges at a time.
Third, when I got into reloading it started as an economic necessity, but as time progressed I became focused on crafting ammunition that I knew. I use a single-stage press. Each case is handled and has eyes on it no less than fourteen times. I want every step confirmed by sight and touch. I want a memory of having handled each cartridge I put into a magazine.
Forth, someone who shoots more than I do has to load more often than I do and that means they can't lavish as much time on each cartridge. I understand it, but it still seems as strange to me as the fact there are people who like Brussels Sprouts.
For what it's worth, I've heard good things about the Lee Bulge Buster, but no more pistol ammunition than I load, I just cull out all the bulged cases and toss them.
Please do not take anything I say as a criticism, but then I read BGgun2S's statement that he had 15,000 rounds of brass and didn't want to go through each one, it surprised me.
First, I'm envious of anyone having 15,000 rounds of brass.
Second, I'm envious of anyone who has the equipment to process huge lots of brass into loaded cartridges at a time.
Third, when I got into reloading it started as an economic necessity, but as time progressed I became focused on crafting ammunition that I knew. I use a single-stage press. Each case is handled and has eyes on it no less than fourteen times. I want every step confirmed by sight and touch. I want a memory of having handled each cartridge I put into a magazine.
Forth, someone who shoots more than I do has to load more often than I do and that means they can't lavish as much time on each cartridge. I understand it, but it still seems as strange to me as the fact there are people who like Brussels Sprouts.
For what it's worth, I've heard good things about the Lee Bulge Buster, but no more pistol ammunition than I load, I just cull out all the bulged cases and toss them.
RealGun
Member
But how do you identify them?
RealGun
Member
Rhetorical question?
Well,... are they?
Since the carbide sized easily takes out this consistent bulge on rimmed 45Colt
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4974048&postcount=4
Since the carbide sized easily takes out this consistent bulge on rimmed 45Colt
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4974048&postcount=4
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
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A normal size die cannot fix what it cannot touch. There is a portion of the case that remains untouched with a standard carbide size die during the normal reloading process.
The reason for this being that a portion of the case is inside a shell holder or shell plate and the dies themselves do not size completely all the way to the tip.
A push through die or roll sizer can size more than the normal process can. A roll sizer for example, can even iron out any dings on the rim caused by the extractor or ejector.
In short if it can it does, if you have ran it through the normal process and it still won't case gauge, then no it won't.
The reason for this being that a portion of the case is inside a shell holder or shell plate and the dies themselves do not size completely all the way to the tip.
A push through die or roll sizer can size more than the normal process can. A roll sizer for example, can even iron out any dings on the rim caused by the extractor or ejector.
In short if it can it does, if you have ran it through the normal process and it still won't case gauge, then no it won't.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
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- 24,204
The carbide ring on your dies may extend all the way to the end but they won't size all the way to the end.
If they didn't have a radius or "lead in" you would never be able to line up the case with the die after you fired it for resizing.
What I am saying is that there are times where a normal size die will not bring a case back to dimensions so it will drop into and out of a case gauge, other methods can fix them so they will.
If they didn't have a radius or "lead in" you would never be able to line up the case with the die after you fired it for resizing.
What I am saying is that there are times where a normal size die will not bring a case back to dimensions so it will drop into and out of a case gauge, other methods can fix them so they will.
Jim Watson
Member
Size one and look at the rub marks from the die. You can see where it actually touches. Paint with felt tip if necessary.
The standard press shell holder is .125" deep and the die mouth is radiused for easy entry, more so in dies meant for progressive loaders with sloppy shellplates.
I marked a .45 ACP case, sized in in my Dillon, and measured the untouched ink, about .29" up from the head. Measured the height of the web and subtracted that from the case length. Came out .11" of sidewall not resized. Plenty of space for a bulge if it had been overloaded to start with.
The standard press shell holder is .125" deep and the die mouth is radiused for easy entry, more so in dies meant for progressive loaders with sloppy shellplates.
I marked a .45 ACP case, sized in in my Dillon, and measured the untouched ink, about .29" up from the head. Measured the height of the web and subtracted that from the case length. Came out .11" of sidewall not resized. Plenty of space for a bulge if it had been overloaded to start with.
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