.45Coltguy
Member
As mentioned above, Kroil. It simply works. I figured this out when cleaning shotgun barrels to get wad residue out. Works!
I don't know the exact diameter of the cast bullets they were cast and given to me by a friend. He also gave me the molds and they are made by Lee so mold quality should not be a problem. I can definitely say that diameters of jacketed bullets are indeed a bit less. There is a slight bulge. The outside diameter of the case at the mouth is .005" wider than near the base.
Two Q's:
1. What is the reason for the bulge. Is it the size of the bullet or something I'm doing wrong when I crimp?
2. Since the bulge is at the mouth of the case why does the cartridge go in at all. Shouldn't the fit issue manifest immediately (ie at the entrance of each chamber) rather than at the 2/3 depth?
I am crimping into the first (closest to the tip) groove of the SWC.On Q1, is the crimp bulged out or is the case bulged out the length of the bullet? If the latter, that is a normal thing as the case gets resized smaller and then bulges out when the bullet is seated. If the former, are you crimping into a crimp groove? Might try to back off the crimp or seat the bullet differently if that is the case.
Q1: The bulge can be at the mouth where the cartridge case gets pressed into the bullet by the roll crimp insert in the die.if it gets mooshed too much it will form a raised bulge where the case gets compressed and rolled by the same action. (You can picture it like a cut miniature mushroom in profile)I don't know the exact diameter of the cast bullets they were cast and given to me by a friend. He also gave me the molds and they are made by Lee so mold quality should not be a problem. I can definitely say that diameters of jacketed bullets are indeed a bit less. There is a slight bulge. The outside diameter of the case at the mouth is .005" wider than near the base.
Two Q's:
1. What is the reason for the bulge. Is it the size of the bullet or something I'm doing wrong when I crimp?
2. Since the bulge is at the mouth of the case why does the cartridge go in at all. Shouldn't the fit issue manifest immediately (ie at the entrance of each chamber) rather than at the 2/3 depth?
I have been shooting mostly 38 Special reloaded target loads ammo in my Colt Python for over 40 years but recently the cylinder will only allow insertion of factory ammo.
I don't know the exact diameter of the cast bullets they were cast and given to me by a friend. He also gave me the molds and they are made by Lee so mold quality should not be a problem.
Better check the user reviews first. Three reviews, all one star. Bad product.As mentioned in another thread, it might not be carbon. Try these in a cordless drill on totally dry chambers.
https://www.brownells.com/gun-clean...-brushes/revolver-chamber-brush-prod1290.aspx
Charlie, if factory ammo chambers OK, then I don't think fouling is your problem.
Here are a couple possibilities:
I use a Lee Factory Crimp die, which on some cases with cast bullets takes a bit of effort, but they ALWAYS chamber after that.
- Not enough crimp to remove the case mouth flare
- Bullets stretched the case to thicker than factory specs. With a caliper or micrometer check a factory round vs. your reload vs. the cartridge drawing from a reloading manual.
- Your bullets are too big in diameter and are causing ↑ They shouldn't be bigger than 0.358", or they'll cause problems.
Good question. I use the same seating stem I have always used. Never thought of changing seating stem to match bullet profile. In fact I have used the same stem for all bullets I reload which are (mostly) SWC and WC. However they do not appear to be seated crooked.What seating stem did you use to seat them, does it match the nose profile of the bullet your using?
Lead bullets need to be sized and lubed before you load them.OK I believe the mystery may be solved. I measured the bullets I am reloading and the diameter is 0.362". This has to be the issue.
I can still fire these in other revolvers so I'll reload factory bullets only for my Python.
Bought separately as many sizes are available in each caliber.Is the sizer die normally included in the set of dies or is it a special item that needs to be bought separately?