First time reloading .38 Super, what went wrong?

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No, my gun didn't blow up. But I did have the dangdest experience yet at my reloading bench earlier today. I have just gotten a .38 Super 1911 and besides that dies, bullets and brass for that caliber. I was trying to load Ranier .356 151gr plated bullets, Remington nickel plated brass and was getting COL's all over the place. I set it up for 1.280 and was getting lengths everywhere from 1.268 to 1.29. I measured the bullets and it turns out they were anywhere from .685 to .700 in length. I've never had anything like this happen before, usually COL turns out to be what I set it at +-.002. Has anyone else had this much trouble with Ranier bullets?
 
Most likely just the difference in plating.

I'd venture a guessd that the plating porocess on the bullets was not precisely uniform. This can also subtly alter the nose shape of the bullet, and consequently the ogive.

From what I read, the recent production Ranier bullets are not so aflicted with these problems as the older ones. People refer to "double-struck" raniers. Iy you look at the bullet base, and there si a noticible cupping effect (but well less than a hollow base,) it si the newer style. Might you have gotten hold of some of the several-years-past bullets? If the base is flat, this is likely.

What kind of load are you using? Powder and charge weight? If it is well under maximum published charge, I'd just go ahead and shoot 'em up in practice. A few thousandths difference in COL won't matter. And, if you're loading right at top charge, you'll likely have trouble with the plating stripping away anyhow.

If you do see evidence of plating stripping away (keyholing,) examine your bore carefully and make sure there isn't any gross amount of plating trhere, which might raise pressures dangerously. If so, I would clean my bore carefully, and then pull the rest of those bullets. There's such a thing as "getting away with it, but not hazardously" but it can sure become a lot of work. I would NOT fire any ammo in a bore grossly fouled with plating material.

Best of luck to you
Johnny

I've loaded some plated bullets in my Super and they shoot pretty well. But then, I don't load them very close to max. For the warmer loads, I use real jacketed bullets.

Best of luck,
Johnny
 
if they are new dies, taking them apart and a through cleaning again may help. perhaps an imperfection or a burr from the manufacturing process needs attention.
as for the bullets, lately is been a crap shoot what you order vrs whats in the box. have you tried separating them by size and than checking the reloads for COL consistency?
 
With some bullets, the shape of the nose varies a lot, even in the same box of bullets. Thus, the seating stem engages each bullet differently.

Strange as it sounds, it may not be a problem as long as they feed in your 1911 and shoot well. Go ahead and shoot them. If they shoot well, don't worry about it.
 
They are the cupped base, perhaps they didn't yet have all of the kinks worked out of the system when they made these. I was using 8.0 gr of AA#7, and there appears to be no fouling in the bore, so I'll probably keep going with that load until I run out of these, then switch to a different bullet. Makes me glad I only bought 200, and not 500. I'll try cleaning the dies too.
 
In all probability, your seating stem doesn't match the contour of the particular bullet you're using. If the stem isn't bottoming on the actual nose of the bullet, you'll get large variations in seating depth, because the outside rim of the seating stem is contacting the ogive of the bullet and not giving it the same "push" each time a bullet is seated.

I prefer 124/125 grain bullets for my .38 Super loading. I get better performance and accuracy with that weight range, though the 115 grain bullets work well, too.

In reading your original post again, I can't help but wonder if you meant 115 grain bullets, rather than 151 grain?

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
bullet OAL is seldom consistant.I had a bad run of Hornady bullets for a 308.OAL was all over the place.finally figured out that if I had a seating button that fit the ogive of the bullet,the distance of loaded round to the rifles lands would be consistant.but OAL may very.I've had the same thing happen with cast pistol bullets.I seldom use the bullet tip/point when seating bullets,I'll buy or modify a seating button that fits down the ogive. jwr
 
Cheap is as cheap does. If you want more consistent ammunition, buy more consistent bullets. If you are just plinking, it won't matter.

Yes, Fred, Rainier makes a 151 gr Super bullet. Meant to let IPSC shooters load .38 Super Major with standard ramp barrels.
 
I am in the "seater stem not matching the bullet nose well" camp. I shoot the 115 Ranier in 9MM a lot and get good consistent O.A.L.'s with it. I also did not know Ranier made a 151 Gr bullet.

I shoot the Zero R161 125 Gr JHP in .38 Super with excellent results.
 
Jim,

I've always said that reloading is a continuous learning curve. I don't use Rainier Bullets, so I didn't know they made a 151 grain bullet. Now I do.

Thanks for the information.

Fred
 
I was definitely the 151 gr. While not anything fancy, I've never had a problem with plated bullets before (Been using Berry's for a while, for other calibers). I just didn't want to have to pay two shipping fees, because Midway doesn't carry Berry's. I'll definitely have to look into different bullets and dies. Thanks, everybody.
 
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