Then you were over crimping them and bulging the case just below it. The FCD merely squished the mistake to fit.Found out that if I don't apply any crimp the rounds will slide in with no problem.
Agreed. You were applying to much crimp. The squeezed brass has to go somewhere, and expands the case. usually just below the bullet. Walkalong has a lengthy thread on crimping, with a lot of photos to show the proper crimp. The FCD simply masks the problem.Then you were over crimping them and bulging the case just below it. The FCD merely squished the mistake to fit.
If you're talking about my 38Spcl loads...With only one here and there doing the bulging, my guess is your bullets are not consistently sized.
I've been going through this with 38Spcl loads using DEWC. Two in every 50 bulge at the base of the seated bullet. Bulges larger than 0.380" won't chamber.
View attachment 905736
Think that's going to be my game plan for all my .357 reloads. I always crimp separately anyway so it's not an imposition.measure one after it has been run through the FCD. It will be smaller. Bet you will have to open up the throats or always use FCD with that revolver when using lead bullets. If you get no leading I would just use the FCD for it's ammo and call it good.
I've been going through this with 38Spcl loads using DEWC. Two in every 50 bulge at the base of the seated bullet. Bulges larger than 0.380" won't chamber.
View attachment 905736
I've never encountered that situation. I've always just cleaned my .38 brass and loaded away. I load about 10k wadcutters a year and probably have a hundred different brands of brass. Maybe I've never had any pmc brass. It would be hard to believe I've never had any as many as I go through, but its possible. I had a primer seating problem one time with my Dillon 650 that I thought I had narrowed down to 2 different brands of brass, but the problem got worse and all brands of brass started having problems. Turned out to be a problem with my press. One will adjustment and the problem has go away for ever I hope. I do use a Lee seating Die and a Lee Factory Crimp Die. They do little resizing when seating and crimping. Maybe that is why I've not run into your problem. Good luck solving your problem. I've been loading over 40 years and just when I think I've run across every problem that you can imagine, a new one pops up. You did the right thing. Throw it out to a crowd. Odds are someone will know the cure.If you're talking about my 38Spcl loads...
No sir. In fact it's the brass. Some brass simply won't except Wad Cutters loaded that deeply into the case. PMC seems to be one of the big offenders. I'm weeding them out as I find them.
The FCD is why you haven't seen the issue. It's busy ironing out any irregularities in the case wall.I do use a .... Lee Factory Crimp Die. They do little resizing when seating and crimping. Maybe that is why I've not run into your problem.