RP and 38 special

[ole farmerbuck]

NO, the search didnt work! I decided to load some 38's today and they are RP cases. I used a Hornady die and sized them but when i went to put the Win 125gr JHP bullets in, they went in way too easy. I went ahead and loaded some and put a little extra roll crimp on them. Will they be ok you reckon or do i need to get a die made to make the cases smaller like i had to do for my 40s&w.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Ole Walkalong, last time i posted something, you told me i should have ask ya so here it is!

 

[918v]

Maybe your expander plug is too big in diameter.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Well, my expander only flares the very top of the case. The bullets can go on down with ease. I did a winchester case and there is no way i can push the bullet in it! They about fall in the rp"s.

 

[918v]

Then you are a victim of the "RP brass is thin" crime. Use it for .358/.359" lead bullets. Jacketed bullets typically mike .357" and cause problems with thin brass.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I think thats what i need to do, save em for the lead.

 

[jfh]

that last post by 918v is spot on. RP brass is thin.

Jim H.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep. RP is generally the thinnest. You might need a tighter sizer though. I am using RP brass as well as other brands. My expander doesn't do any expanding either, only flaring. My .38/.357 sizers are borderline small enough.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I just shot a few. They shot ok but left a little blast stuff around the top outside of the cases. At least they shot holes in my thick trash barrel. I tried that with the 380 and all they did was dent it. Now i have some air hloes.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Yep. RP is generally the thinnest. You might need a tighter sizer though. I am using RP brass as well as other brands. My expander doesn't do any expanding either, only flaring. My .38/.357 sizers are borderline small enough.

Yea i think i'll call Hornady and get a smaller die coming.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Just save those rp cases for wadcutter loads

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Yea, i have some 125 and 158gr swc's. I can use those i guess. I've loaded very few cast bullets though.

 

[Ky Larry]

I load lead plinking rounds in everything but Win. I save it for social work JHP loads.

 

[jbrown13]

Here is a thread I started after having a similar problem to yours with jacketed .357" dia. bullets. Maybe there will be some info in it you can use. I later purchased a Lee "U" die from EGW which seems to have temporarily solved the problem for me. When I have an adequate supply of other headstamps I'm going to save the R-Ps for lead.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=473040

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Thank you jbrown.

 

[rg1]

I've had the same problem with some .38 cases being too thin for my 38/357mag carbide die. Someone posted that you can use your 9MM sizing die to partially size your thin .38 brass. It works. I set my 9MM carbide sizing die to size the .38 brass down to just past where the bullet would stop. Then run them thru your expander die and they will be tighter and have proper bullet grip. Now if you don't have a 9MM carbide sizing die, the Lee Undersize die is a good choice or Hornady can probably send a die that'll work. I have a Lee U-Die for .45ACP that sizes some thin brass and it works perfectly.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I am using the same 1200 Remington .38 Special cases for about 5 years now and I've had no problems with them at all. I'm using Lee Carbide dies though, not Hornady dies.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I tried another die, same thing. I dont think the die is the problem. The 9mm sizer does the trick. Like i said, i had the same problem with 2 RCBS dies, i bought two sets and both sized them the same. Sent one back to rcbs and problem solved.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Thin-brass RP's...

Ole Farmer Buck--I solved the problem w/o modifying my sizing dies, buying new dies, or buying different-diameter bullets--I just quit using RP brass!

I reload .357 Magnum cases with LDEWC's loaded to .38 Spl levels, for bullseye shooting. What with the RP cases having thinner walls (more room for gas expansion as the powder burns) and holding the bullets less tightly (thereby letting the bullet move before the burning powder gases get up to normal pressure) both of which would affect the velocity of the bullet, and therefore the POI, I have stopped reloading RP cases.

No idea exactly how much it affects actual performance on the range, but I feel more confident NOT using the RP's, so it's better for me.

All the other brass reloads and works just fine except of course the Amerc brass which is trash. That, and now the RP's I find @ the range, goes straight into the recycle bucket.