Flaring a 38 Special Case

[stodd]

Hello everyone!

I'm starting my first batch of 38 special reloads and I'm at the step to flare the cases now. Is there a good way to know how much to flare the cases? Or to know if you flared the cases too much?

Thanks
Stodd

 

[Chasing Crow]

Stodd,
I'm not an expert, but I flare just enough to give a seat for the base of the bullet to sit. The press will do the rest when seating.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, just enough to seat a bullet. If it is lead, just enough so you don't shave any lead or lube. Jacketed takes very little belling, just a bit of expanding, and even that can be skipped sometimes depending on the sizer. Plated bullets need a hair more than jacketed, but a hair less than lead.

 

[USAFRetired]

In this case; Less is More. I flare 38 SPL just enough that I can feel it with my fingers.

Remember, brass doesn't like being overworked. Leads to cracking.

 

[stodd]

I can look at the brass mouth and see just alittle bit of a flare.. If i don't flare it enough will i see the shaving on the lead bullet when i do the seating?

 

[Walkalong]

That's about it.

 

[stodd]

Dumb question... dewc bullest you put almost all the way in right? I told you dumb question lmao...

PPC #2
.358 Diameter
.38 Special
148 Grain DEWC-BB
Brinell 10
For PPC Velocity

 

[pcwirepro]

Dumb question... dewc bullest you put almost all the way in right? I told you dumb question lmao...

Could you please rephrase the question.

 

[Oyeboten]

Only enough 'flare' for the Bullet to be used to fit in enough by hand and sit up straight, for the Press to then Seat it to proper depth. This can be a very very tiny amount of 'flare' too, berely perceptible.

 

[Walkalong]

you put almost all the way in right?

Yes, and crimp into the crimp groove.

 

[LouisianaMan]

Stodd,
I hope you have a loading manual for reference. . . ? I know they don't answer all the questions that come up, but they do a pretty good job with most issues we encounter. Also, they help you understand the entire process, and how each factor is important.

I started with Lyman 45th, now use their 49th Edition. Lee 2nd Edition is really thorough with a lot of info on every aspect of the process.

Although you'll get lots of good advice on Internet forums like this one, you can also get bad advice. There's no substitute for an up-to-date manual, and it's not something you can economize on safely.

 

[stodd]

Yes i have the lyman's 49th ed. I just had a few questions that i was trying to understand from the manual and here ppl explain it and i understand it now. ty.

 

[Hondo 60]

I usually use plated bullets. So I flare just enough to seat w/o scratching the bullet.
I almost need a magnifying glass to see the bell.

 

[918v]

If you have trouble imagining a loaded round in three dimensions, buy a box of new ammo and look at the rounds. Generally, you seat the bullet in the case so that the edge of the case mouth is positioned in the middle of the crimp groove. You crimp into the groove. As far as belling/flaring goes, do it enough so that the bullet isn't shaved during seating, but not too much as to overstress the case. I bell so that the base of the bullet clears and about .010 of the bullet is able to sit in the case mouth.