What am I doing wrong?

[powwowell]

Loaded 43 rounds of .38 Special, Win cases, 148 grain, BB coated wadcutters, in a Dillon Square Deal B press.

Picture shows lead shavings from those 43 rounds. It seems excessive to me.

 

[Shooterbob]

Did you flair the case enough?

 

[Shooterbob]

Sorry for the bullet to start into the case straight

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I agree with Shooterbob. I have got lead shavings like this before when I didn’t flare the case mouth enough.

 

[powwowell]

I haven't changed the flair from previous sessions. Maybe I need more flair for wadcutters? I'll adjust for more flair before loading any more of these.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I haven't changed the flair from previous sessions. Maybe I need more flair for wadcutters? I'll adjust for more flair before loading any more of these.

It's hard to tell from the picture but if you are using the crimping ring on your seating die, the crimp *may* be happening before the bullet is fully seated - thus the shaved lead. Try re-adjusting your seating die so the crimp ring is just at the point of full seating.

 

[merlynski]

I quit seating and crimping in the same step long ago because of that.
I anneal the cases to make case mouth splits less likely, then trim, chamfer and bell. I also bell the mouth more for (factory) wadcutters, the softer lead seems to shave easier. I use a taper crimp on wadcutter loads, as they are (usually) lighter target loads.

 

[Mal H]

I quit seating and crimping in the same step long ago because of that.

Same here. Yes, it's an extra step, but it makes for better looking rounds and no shavings.

 

[Jim Watson]

Right, you have to flare with a flair. I figure if it is as wide as will enter the seating die, it is just barely flared enough. Not like I am loading 9.2mm Podbyrin and need to worry about "case life."

 

[kidneyboy]

Not like I am loading 9.2mm Podbyrin and need to worry about "case life."

You get a million extra internet points for this.

To the OP - flair more

 

[EricBu]

More flare. Also could be indicative of your crimp and bullet seating being slightly off.....IE, crimp is hitting before bullet is fully seated. Run back through the adjustment directions with your seat/crimp die.......or do what many of us learned a long long time ago......seat and crimp in different stations.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It's hard to tell from the picture but if you are using the crimping ring on your seating die, the crimp *may* be happening before the bullet is fully seated - thus the shaved lead. Try re-adjusting your seating die so the crimp ring is just at the point of full seating.

that’s happened to me!

 

[Mark_Mark]

and

More flare. Also could be indicative of your crimp and bullet seating being slightly off.....IE, crimp is hitting before bullet is fully seated. Run back through the adjustment directions with your seat/crimp die.......or do what many of us learned a long long time ago......seat and crimp in different stations.
View attachment 1007976

and don’t forget to not over crimp

 

[powwowell]

Thanks for the replies. But, the Square Deal is a progressive press with 4 stations. Station 3 is adjustable to seat the bullet. Station 4 adjusts the crimp. I'm not crimping these wad cutters, just taking the bell (flair) out. I'm using the flat seating stem. Could that be the problem?

I've adjusted the flair until it's 0.388!! Loaded 15 more rounds and still getting shavings.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Thanks for the replies. But, the Square Deal is a progressive press with 4 stations. Station 3 is adjustable to seat the bullet. Station 4 adjusts the crimp. I'm not crimping these wad cutters, just taking the bell (flair) out. I'm using the flat seating stem. Could that be the problem?

I've adjusted the flair until it's 0.388!! Loaded 15 more rounds and still getting shavings.

Which station is shaving? Isolate that by checking each step.
If it's the seating station. Then you are having bullets start off square.

 

[powwowell]

The shaving happens at the seating station.

If every, single, solitary, wad cutter has to be absolutely square, before pulling the handle, this will be the last box of wad cutters for me. I might even sell the rest of them?

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

Are you using an oversized expander (width & length) meant for wadcutters? Check out PhotoEscape

 

[Bazoo]

Switching to an M die, (NOE expander in a lee universal expander body) in place of the expander, will likely solve your problem. It gives a little shelf for the bullet to set on and it seats more squarely as a result.

Chamfering your mouths will also help, and may cure the issue since you have separate seat and crimp steps.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for the replies. But, the Square Deal is a progressive press with 4 stations. Station 3 is adjustable to seat the bullet. Station 4 adjusts the crimp. I'm not crimping these wad cutters, just taking the bell (flair) out. I'm using the flat seating stem. Could that be the problem?

I've adjusted the flair until it's 0.388!! Loaded 15 more rounds and still getting shavings.

How about a picture of the belled (flared, flaired, expanded) case and a bullet on top before seating it?

 

[Walkalong]

It's possible the seating die is reducing the flare so you get shavings. Try flaring a case, measure it, run it up in the seater, but not far enough to hit the crimp ledge/slope/etc, pull it back out and see what the flare looks like.

A light taper crimp, even while seating the WC, shouldn't give shavings like that. Assuming it really is a very light taper crimp, did you double check that?

Those look like DEWCs, which have a crimp groove anyway, so crimping, unless over done, shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Walkalong]

How about a picture of the belled (flared, flaired, expanded) case and a bullet on top before seating it?

I like it.

 

[Walkalong]

Seated and crimped in one operation, with no issues. As long as the crimp is set right, and the
case mouth rolls into the crimp groove, you're golden, one reason why I like to trim revolver cases.


A good look at the crimp groove, then the finished crimp. I do this in two steps,
but it is easily done in one if all is set up correctly with trimmed cases.

 

[Reloadron]

The shaving happens at the seating station.

If every, single, solitary, wad cutter has to be absolutely square, before pulling the handle, this will be the last box of wad cutters for me. I might even sell the rest of them?

Don't let this get you discouraged. Just about everyone faces a frustrating problem like this occasionally. Somewhere in the maze there is an adjustment problem. Shavings are not unusual and the suggestions so far really well address the symptoms you are seeing. With me it was a matter of getting my seating and crimp set up correctly. I was still seating as I crimped. Since you are doing it in two operations start looking at where and when you are shaving lead off the bullets. Wad cutters are really fun to shoot so don't let this discourage you. Getting ready to load some HBWC bullets for my daughter-in-law to practice with for her CCW class. Once you get them right you will enjoy wad cutters.

Also per your initial post those shavings don't look that bad for 43 rounds. Unless the bullets all go in perfectly square you will get some shavings.

Ron

 

[powwowell]

I'm back! Found the problem today. Loose shell plate . Just loaded 20 rounds with no shavings.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my bullet shaving problem. I really appreciate it.

Larry

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm back! Found the problem today. Loose shell plate . Just loaded 20 rounds with no shavings.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my bullet shaving problem. I really appreciate it.

Larry

Imagine that. All that from just a loose shell plate. Glad you got it fixed!