Bullet stuck on barrel

[vjay]

Well this is kinda odd folks.
I was unloading my gun at the range so pulled back the slide to eject live round from chamber, but! the case came out without bullet (lead bullet). Powder all over the place and 1 bullet stuck on barrel (or chamber?).
It was easily removed by a wood stick and was not deep enough to let another round to chamber.

Recently upgraded to a lee turret press (new operator), so I guess something went wrong.

Any thoughts on this? Perhaps I didn't remove flare from cases while seating?.


Oh BTW, using Lee 3 die set-up. Crimping and seating with same die.
380acp loads on a CZ83
2.6gr red dot
105gr lead SWC sized to 0.356"
OAL 0.975"


Thanks
Jay

 

[Canuck-IL]

Not enough neck tension (resizing die not screwed in far enough) and/or OAL too long for that chamber with that particular bullet shape. Use the barrel as a gauge when loading - be sure you get a nice "plonk" into it with a loaded cartridge and that there're no marks or dents on the bullet nose. THe base of the bullet should be at or a little below the hood length.

Crimp doesn't hold the bullet in the case - that's neck tension. But you certainly want to remove the flare for reliable feeding.
/Bryan

 

[sourdough44]

Loaded to long or to little neck tension, or a combination of the 2.

 

[qajaq59]

As the others have said, the Over All Length was too long so the bullet got forced into the rifling and stuck. You want to seat those bullets a bit deeper.

 

[243winxb]

Neck tension- make sure the expander is not to large, should measure .002" or more smaller than bullet diameter. Some brass may be thinner than others, if using mixed brands. Is the bullet diameter correct ?

 

[Walkalong]

A bit long because the rifling has hold of the bullet, and not nearly enough neck tension on the bullet or it wouldn't have pulled out of the case.

Sizer too big, or expander to big, or a bit of both. Try sizing without expanding and see if that gives no sufficient neck tension. It may shave lead on your bullet, but it will tell you if you are getting enough sizing. If you are, then you can take a look at the expander. Perhaps you belled way to much, or perhaps your expander needs polishing down some.

If you are using mixed brass like many of us do, your dies must work for the thinnest brass you use, or cull that thin brass. (Usually Remington)

 

[vjay]

Thanks, actually OAL is 0.98" and barrel marks bullet whenever I eject rounds from chamber so it may be OAL.

Bullet mold is new too, so I need to test a bit more.
Think I'll try less OAL for now, using barrel as a gauge and see if that solves the problem.


Thanks guys, I'll let you know results asap.
Jay

 

[josephbw]

Another possibility is that the neck tension as previously mentioned was too loose, allowing the bullet to ease out of the case when the first rounds were fired.

Just a presumption using the SWAG factor.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Thanks, actually OAL is 0.98" and barrel marks bullet whenever I eject rounds from chamber so it may be OAL.

If the lands leave a mark on the bullet the COL is definitely way too long and needs to be reduced.
Watch the amount of crimp also. A heavy hand on a taper crimp -or roll - can actually cause the case to bulge slightly behind the mouth and reduce the tension on the bullet.
BTW jamming a bullet in the lands can raise pressures greatly. I would reseat any cartridges you still have to make sure they fit the chamber properly and not shoot them until you do.