Crimping Cast Lead 45 ACP ammo...

[Lone_Gunman]

I just started loading some cast lead Lasermax Oregon Trail 200 g LRN 45 ACP bullets. I have previously loaded jacketed bullets with no problem.

I am using Lee dies, including a factory crimp die. When I run my cartridge in and out of the FCD, I can feel a lot of "bumps" as I operate the lever and the cartridge goes in and out of the die. I have not noticed this feeling when I am loading FMJs. What would be causing this? Is this normal? The finished cartridge looks fine, and I fired 50 rounds of it this morning without a problem.

 

[Steve C]

Cast bullets are .001" larger in diameter and thus expand the case a little more than jacketed bullets. The Lee FC die does a pre and post crimp resizing so that's what your're feeling as you crimp your bullets. As you've found its not a problem.

 

[Jim Watson]

The bumpity-bump is the brass expanded over the bullet bands going through the CFC die hard and the unswelled brass over the lube groove going through easy. Perfectly normal. But I quit using cast bullets in my 1050, the bumpity bump was jarring the primer feed into misfeeds. I now load jacketed there, cast on the 550.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Thanks for the explanation of the bumpity bump, guys! Why didnt I realize that?

This forum has been a really great source of information for a me as a new reloader.