Resizing loaded rounds
- Thread starter Drop45
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greyling22
Member
how many? if it's only 20 test rounds I'd just take them apart and try again. If it's hundreds I might look into it further.
bluetopper
Member
Lee Factory Crimp Die.
Essentially, that is what a Lee handgun FCD does. Although, the resizing ring in theee die may not be as small as a standard resizing die resizing ring.
I would determine where the interference is before doing a wholesale resize. Resizing may not fix the problem.
I would determine where the interference is before doing a wholesale resize. Resizing may not fix the problem.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
You cant re-size them in a regular sizing die without re-sizing the bullets undersize too.
Remember what the expander die did after the FL sizing die?
rc
Remember what the expander die did after the FL sizing die?
rc
rcmodel thanks for that reminder, that's why i ask first act second. so I guess the Lee fcd is the way to go then. I take it that I did not have the resizing die set deep enough then to cause me this problem. I was under the impression that the resizer die needs to make contact with the shell holder and all should be good, perhaps i should screw it down a little further.
Take apart a couple of rounds. Size the cases. See if they fit your chambers. If they do, it's not the sizer. Then seat a couple of bullets with no crimp. See if they fit your chambers. Then crimp the rounds and test again. It may be your crimp.
Just ordered the Lee fcd, but in the meantime I do have some new Starline brass that I full length sized per their instructions so I'll see if that's were my problem is. If I read correctly the Lee fcd also does a full length resize correct? Thanks again for all the feedback everyone.
I'm assuming that you are talking about cast boolits.
Actually, I did it with some bulging .45 acp rounds recently for the first time. I always get a couple where the bullet doesn't go in straight or something. Obviously, you are swaging down the boolit as RC noted.
I shot them indoors at 50 feet, and they seemed to be as accurate as my other loads. But then again I'm not a very good pistol shot, so take that for what it is worth. I do think that they caused increased leading, probably because of the smaller diameter.
Much as I hate to admit, it looks like I better get a FCD.
Laphroaig
Actually, I did it with some bulging .45 acp rounds recently for the first time. I always get a couple where the bullet doesn't go in straight or something. Obviously, you are swaging down the boolit as RC noted.
I shot them indoors at 50 feet, and they seemed to be as accurate as my other loads. But then again I'm not a very good pistol shot, so take that for what it is worth. I do think that they caused increased leading, probably because of the smaller diameter.
Much as I hate to admit, it looks like I better get a FCD.
Laphroaig
Vol46
Member
Screw the FL sizing die in until it touches the shell holder, then screw it in another 1/2 turn or so ( check your sizing die's instructions). This makes up for any "slack" in your press/shell holder linkage.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
NOooo!!!!!
That is only for full-length steel bottle-neck rifle dies.
Carbide handgun dies will be damaged if you follow those instruction.
Excess pressure on the carbide insert can loosen the insert in the die.
Or crack or break it totally.
Adjust Carbide handgun sizing dies to just 'kiss' the shell holder.
NO MORE!
rc
Vol46
Member
Oops - RC is correct as usual - I forgot about this being a handgun round.
critter
Member
Not sure this will help your problem, but it might keep it from happening any more.
I have a FA in .454. Tolerances are VERY tight all around. I found my best success was to seat the bullet in the loaded cases with one die AND THEN do the crimp with a separate die in a separate process. (Bullet seating is done with a .45 Colt die and the crimp done with the .454 die.) That process works for my FA and my reloads. Before doing that, I had the same problem you did.
I have a FA in .454. Tolerances are VERY tight all around. I found my best success was to seat the bullet in the loaded cases with one die AND THEN do the crimp with a separate die in a separate process. (Bullet seating is done with a .45 Colt die and the crimp done with the .454 die.) That process works for my FA and my reloads. Before doing that, I had the same problem you did.
I went into the man cave last night and took apart 15 rounds. I re sized the cases and they fit into the revolver chamber. I then reloaded with powder a seated the bullets and once again they fit the revolver cylinders. Then the first one I crimped with my original setting and it would not fit the chamber. So I readjusted the crimp die and all the other rounds fit without an issue. I guess fearing the recoil, I over crimped the rounds. All is now good. Thanks for all the wisdom.
Curator
Member
Drop45:
ALWAYS crimp as a separate step unless you can be sure you are not bulging the case. Trying to save the "extra" step one seats and crimps at the same time. The bullet is being forced downward as the crimp is applied, pushing up a small bulge below the case mouth. Voila! The loaded round won't chamber. If I had a nickle for every reloader who did this I would be a multi-millionaire!
The Lee factory crimp forces you to crimp as a separate step eliminating the bulge but you can do this without the special die. Simply set your seating die to seat without crimping, then re-set the die to make a crimp with the bullet seating screw unscrewed. Crimping and seating at the same time creates this problem.
ALWAYS crimp as a separate step unless you can be sure you are not bulging the case. Trying to save the "extra" step one seats and crimps at the same time. The bullet is being forced downward as the crimp is applied, pushing up a small bulge below the case mouth. Voila! The loaded round won't chamber. If I had a nickle for every reloader who did this I would be a multi-millionaire!
The Lee factory crimp forces you to crimp as a separate step eliminating the bulge but you can do this without the special die. Simply set your seating die to seat without crimping, then re-set the die to make a crimp with the bullet seating screw unscrewed. Crimping and seating at the same time creates this problem.
Seating and crimping at the same time is not the problem here. An improperly adjusted crimp is. That can happen either way. It is just a little bit simpler to set up a crimp by its self.
There are times, however, when crimping in a second step is a must.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7699828&postcount=14
There are times, however, when crimping in a second step is a must.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7699828&postcount=14
oldreloader
Member
I think Walkalong is right.
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