I loaded some .357 Mag cases with 158GR. SWC lead bullets. They had a lot of waxy lube on them and it ended up getting caked into the seating die, making some of the rounds short. I was seating them for a COL of 1.590, and some of them ended up being 1.585. Is that too short??? Thanks.
When reloading, How Short Is Too Short??
- Thread starter toy4runr
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No.
.005" will matter not, one way or the other.
But if you are crimping them in the crimping groove as you should, you don't need to measure them anyway.
It will become quite evident there is lube packing in the die when the crimp isn't in the crimp groove anymore.
rc
.005" will matter not, one way or the other.
But if you are crimping them in the crimping groove as you should, you don't need to measure them anyway.
It will become quite evident there is lube packing in the die when the crimp isn't in the crimp groove anymore.
rc
Agreed.
If you want an eye-opener as to what is normal, mic a box of 50 cartridges from most any commercial supplier and see what the range of OAL's is. Your .005" variation will look good after that exercise.
If you want an eye-opener as to what is normal, mic a box of 50 cartridges from most any commercial supplier and see what the range of OAL's is. Your .005" variation will look good after that exercise.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Welcome to reloading the to THR...
1858rem
Member
have any of you guys got a particular method you prefer for cleaning the caked lube out?
freakshow10mm
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Hoppe's Elite and a copper brush.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Unless you are using some sort of liquid lube all over the bullet nose, you shouldn't be getting all that much lube in the seater die that it needs constant cleaning.
Like Walkalong said in post #3, you may not be using enough bell on your cases and shaving off lube every time you seat a bullet.
Bell them enough the case mouth clears the lube when seating and the problem should be almost a non-issue.
rc
Like Walkalong said in post #3, you may not be using enough bell on your cases and shaving off lube every time you seat a bullet.
Bell them enough the case mouth clears the lube when seating and the problem should be almost a non-issue.
rc
Shoney
Member
Bees wax and parafin are almost universal components of bullet lube. Some lubes also add other hard waxes to the mix along wth tallow and lanoline. The best solvent for wax is Xylene. Acetone is the good solvent for greases. A mixture of the two solvents will clean the dies of goop that cannot be wiped or brushed out, and they will not harm the die.
Please do it outside and heed all warnings.
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Please do it outside and heed all warnings.
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