New loader, problems w/ .380acp crimp.

[Mad Chemist]

So, I'm relatively new to this whole process but was finally able to get a proper shop and bench set up with all the necessary tools. Started with .38spl wadcutters, no problem. Next I tried .45acp 230gr lrn, once again relatively easy. However .380 is proving to be quite the PITA. Everything worked fine until the it came time to seat the bullets. The seated bullets (laser cast 95gr lrn) are very loose in the case mouth. I attempted to apply crimp with the bullet seater die but only managed to mangle a few rounds. I'm using Lee Dies and a Hand press kit right now, but could set up the RCBS rock chucker if I feel so inclined.

Anyhow, I decided to order one of the lee carbide factory crimp dies and see if this would solve the problem. Well tried it last night to no avail. I followed the directions but they are rather limited.

Should I play around with the bullet seating depth? I seated all of these to match some S&B factory rds since those always seemed to function well in my LCP.

Are there any tricks to setting up the sizing die?
Any help would be appreciated. I would like to be able to continue loading lead .380 since the jacketed stuff is so ridiculously expensive right now.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
MC

 

[freakshow10mm]

Measure the diameter of the expander button. It might be too large.

 

[GOT_GLOCK]

your flaring die is set too deep, and over flaring the case mouth.

 

[Roccobro]

You want the absolute minimum amount of flare on the case. Just enough to not get shavings of lead from seating the bullet.

If you place the factory round in the press, back the seater stem out, the crimp part of the die should just barely touch the case at "closed" position for your hand tool. Now screw in the seater till it touches the bullet. Make a dummy round from these settings and measure overall length, and crimp. Just enough crimp to eliminate the case flair and return case to pre-flair dimensions.

What is the diameter of the case mouth after resizing? If the neck is too loose without any belling you have an issue with the resize die.

Justin (who is loading .380 on a hand press right this minute)

 

[Walkalong]

If the bullets are too loose in the case mouth, a Lee FCD will not fix it. (nor will any other crimp die)

Your sizer is to big, or your expander is too big, or both.

Try seating a bullet without expanding them first. If you get good neck tension your sizer is OK and you need to look at turning/polishing down your expander.

Set the sizer up to touch the shell holder. If there is flex you will need to turn it down another little bit. That will ensure you are sizing as much as possible.

Be careful not to use too much flare. You just need enough to keep the case mouth from scraping lube & lead while seating.

Oh yea, measure your bullets just to make sure they are .356 or so, so that can be eliminated as a problem.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

all good advsie here, I load cast for that round. very little expansion and careful fitting of the slug before you seat/crimp is important. just enough flare to seat the slug with out shaveing any lead off.
I've got cast slugs from Mike at 'mastercastbullets' that group tighter than the hi$$ Speer fmjs if I load them right over BullsEye.

 

[Roccobro]

Slightly OT, but for light loads for lead .380, which is better- W231/HP38, bullseye, or ???

Justin

 

[ants]

Roccobro - In my humble experience, 231/HP38 is great for 380. But N320 is absolutely best. The 380 uses powder charges so small that it definitely benefits from the excellent flow and consistent throw of VV powders, and 320 is at the right burn rate for 380 velocities.

For what it's worth, I don't even bell the case for JHP or bevelled bullets. I just seat them right in the case. My old RCBS 380acp dies are the old 2-die setup that never had an expander die. I added the expander many years later. I don't think they even offer 2-die sets for straight wall pistol any more, do they? So the moral of the story is: Do what Walkalong said and it should work just fine.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

IMO BE is the better of the 2 you asked about. if you can get a small quantity of Red Dot to try give it a go. one of my b-in-laws is a shotshell loader (shoots clay birds and real birds too) and gave me a 1/4 lb, pleasant surprised but I use dippers and thru-expander lee dies. cleaner than BE and more 'bulk'

 

[BADUNAME37]

I use Red Dot for my 92g Meister lead bullets with excellent results. The case is about 3/4 full for a medium load, so there is plenty of bulk there to see each filling and compare, yet cannot double-load as it would be overflowing -with even minimum loading.

 

[Roccobro]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll give each of them a 1# tryout!

Justin

 

[woodsoup]

Are we sure the cartridges were resized?

That's what happens with fired un-resized brass too, the bullet tends to end up sitting on top of the powder.

 

[woodsoup]

Are we sure the brass was resized?

Raise the ram, with shell holder, to the top.
Screw the resize die down until it firmly touches the shell holder, and lock it in place.
You're good to go.

These are pistol rounds, there is no expander plug in the resize die. There is a flaring plug in most powder through dies and flaring dies. The flare should not open the case so much that the bullet won't crimp tight. Too much flare just wears out the brass quicker.

That's what happens with fired un-resized brass, the bullet tends to end up sitting on top of the powder, or loose in the case.