crimping problem.

[ar10]

I can't figure this one out and maybe someone can help.
I've been loading .40SW mixed brass and every once in awhile, maybe 2~3 bullets with get what seems like a lot of stress marks on the casing. In a few cases I will see a buckle about half way down. I added som break free to the die but it didn't do anything, I've also tried readjusting the crimp and that doesn't seem to help either. The majority of the reloads come out fine with no problems at all. All the rounds are running about 1.23 OAL
I did a previous post on crimping and followed a couple of recommendations on no crimp. That won't work for me because the bullets were catching on feed ramp then as the slide was going home would compress the bullet into the case.

 

[Ol` Joe]

It sounds like the seater is still in contact with the bullet as the crimp is applied. Slight variances in case lgt will allow some to buckle while others seat and crimp fine.
Try seating and crimping as seperate steps and see if it goes away. I perfer 4 die sets for just this reason over 3 dies.

 

[waverace]

What you might have is different case lengths , the crimp is trying to crimp in a different place each time , which if its set for a shorter case will buckle a slightly longer one .
So far I've never had to trim a case but I had this happen recently on a couple of 45/70 cases , so I measured the brass and there was a slight difference , just went real carefull with the crimp op for the rest of them .
Oal isnt so much of a problem for me cause most of my reloads go through a single shot contender .

 

[presspuller]

Try seating and crimping as seperate steps and see if it goes away. I perfer 4 die sets for just this reason over 3 dies.

I bet this will fix th problem. I crimp just enough to take the flare out of the brass and then do a taper crimp in a seperate step.

 

[Wilburt]

Yep, seat and crimp in two steps, best advice i ever got when loadind (especially lead).

 

[ar10]

Well crap! Loaded 50 rounds and took them to the range, 27 FTF's and all showed too much crimp. I didn't change any of the die settings. Not only was it hot but I was single feeding each one in the magazine. I'm not one to get real mad about stuff but I came real close to shooting my .40 for the 9mm, (at least I know that one works). When I got home, the first thing I did was order 2 Lyman factory taper crimp dies. 40sw, 9mm. I probably could have save myself a headache if I trimmed the .40 cases, but I have over 4000 of them now and I'll be damned if I'm spending 3weeks trimming cases. :banghead:

 

[kennedy]

I have loaded over 2000 .40 with my lee set up and never had the problems you discribe, at first I was buckling a few cases and adjusted the seating die, that also crimps and no more problems.

 

[Shoney]

My inclination is to agree with Ol` Joe, etal. However, I do not see which bullet you are using. Variations in COL can make a big difference in chambering.

Please tell us the bullet make, style, mfg., weight and so on.

 

[scrat]

yep i agree with ol joe. so with that if you dont have any you might want to invest in a case length guage and trimmer. you might be setting up for a case that is at proper length then when you get one longer you are buckling the cases or the opposite set up for one that is too long then all the other ones are hardly getting any type of crimp