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deboog93 HB Full Member
| Joined: | 9 July 2007 |
| Location: | Some Where, North Carolina USA |
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Posted: 20 July 2007 04:30 PM |
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I reload .38spl rounds and am having some problems with my cases and want to get an idea of what is going on. This only seems to happen to by chrome cases more often then the plain brass. When I am expanding the mouth it seems that the case is developing a bulge or bump about midway down the case. So far this has not affected the ability to use the case but it looks bad. Some of these cases probably have been shot multiple times since this is th caliber I started with in the beginning.
Are these case wore out and this is how you determine their usefulness is up?
Once again thanks for reading and sharing your knowledge. This board is the best!
____________________ Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. Lincoln
The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
George S. Patton
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72coupe Handloading Master

| Joined: | 11 June 2006 |
| Location: | Iowa Park, Texas USA |
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Posted: 20 July 2007 05:00 PM |
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| I think this is common. On my cases the sizer reduces them more than is necessary and when you use the expander it doesn't expand all of the case that has been reduced by the expander leaving a wasp waist appearence. This particularly apparent on 9mm cases.
____________________ Reloader since 1969.
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charlie-6 HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | 22 August 2006 |
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Posted: 20 July 2007 06:32 PM |
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| Been reloading 38 sp. for years never had that problem, check you die setting what dies are you useing?
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deboog93 HB Full Member
| Joined: | 9 July 2007 |
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Posted: 20 July 2007 06:36 PM |
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gene
I am using RCBD set of dies for .38 spl I have it set to where it only expands the fist 1/4 inch of the case if that much when expanding. As stated my plain brass cases do not seem to happen when reloading.
____________________ Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. Lincoln
The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
George S. Patton
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charlie-6 HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | 22 August 2006 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
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Posted: 20 July 2007 06:48 PM |
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| You may be opening the case mouth too much, take one of your bullets and set your die where the bullet will very start just enough it will start in your brass, you don;t need to over expan the mouth. try that on some your nickle brass is harder.
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armoredman Handloading Master

| Joined: | 8 April 2006 |
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Posted: 20 July 2007 10:33 PM |
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| Do you have any trouble chambering them? That's why I use a Lee FCD last thing, even if it rarely catches a bump in my 38s.
____________________ If total government control equals safety, why are prisons so dangerous?
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sdb777 Administrator

| Joined: | 16 October 2005 |
| Location: | Cabot, Arkansas USA |
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Posted: 21 July 2007 02:02 AM |
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deboog93 wrote: As stated my plain brass cases do not seem to happen when reloading.
Cartridge cases, bullets or primers which have been electroplated with nickel and which have a characteristic bright silvery appearance, are generally hardened to the point that they don't reload well. Those nickel/chrome cases are too hard, that is why they spilt, bulge, or whatever. Brass has the "ability" to work, and is more forgiving. Nickle cases are pretty, but aren't usually worth the headaches involved in loading them.
IMHO, toss them and get some brass.....no problems.
Scott (brass can be shiny too) B
____________________ Archery Tech at a BIG BOX store....
I know where the bathroom is...please ask me!
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hoashooter2 HB Life Member

| Joined: | 26 February 2007 |
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Posted: 21 July 2007 06:52 AM |
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Set your die to size then adjust to bell or expand the mouth and your problems will go away
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charlie-6 HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | 22 August 2006 |
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Posted: 21 July 2007 05:08 PM |
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| That's what i already told him.
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hoashooter2 HB Life Member

| Joined: | 26 February 2007 |
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Posted: 22 July 2007 06:39 AM |
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gene-your right,had a few and didn't read all the post clearly
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Dirtkicker addicted handloader

| Joined: | 3 September 2007 |
| Location: | High Plains |
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Posted: 6 September 2007 04:58 PM |
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| I use nickel cases in leather gunbelts to avoid verdigris, but try not to reload them too much. (Cartridges in the belt are nickel, those in the gun are brass!)
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deboog93 HB Full Member
| Joined: | 9 July 2007 |
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Posted: 7 September 2007 12:14 AM |
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Dirtkicker
Only one problem with that .38 is one of my favorites to shoot and these cases have been reloaded multiple times they are about ten years old. Although there was a break of about 5 years in the middle though. I figure I see them bend in the scrap pile they go till they are gone. definitely like the brass one better
____________________ Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. Lincoln
The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
George S. Patton
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wheezengeezer addicted handloader

| Joined: | 16 July 2007 |
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Posted: 11 September 2007 10:12 AM |
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your nickel cases might be a bit thicker than the plain ones.38 spl operates at less than 17000 psi.you will get long case life.one thing to help extend their life is to trim and burr cases to make a smooth mouth.it helps prevent cracks.shoot the 38 untill the cases harmlessly split,quite often when sizing.
____________________ I was raised in the 50's on gunpowder and jackrabbits.salt and pepper wooda made'em taste better
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SCSlim HB Life Member

| Joined: | 2 May 2008 |
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Posted: 14 May 2008 07:42 PM |
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That's pretty much been my experience with the nickel-plated brass .38 cases. Sometimes the plating flakes off. They seem to form case mouth cracks more frequently than plain brass cases do. Unfortunately, I have a lot of the nickel-plated stuff. It'll be a while until they go away through attrition. In the mean time, I've learned to love the warm glow and workabilty of shiny brass.
Last edited on 14 May 2008 07:43 PM by SCSlim
____________________ NRA Endowment Member
Ride hard, shoot straight, and always speak the truth.
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WILDCATT HB Pro Staff
| Joined: | 11 September 2007 |
| Location: | South Carolina USA |
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Posted: 15 May 2008 08:34 PM |
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I reloaded for target practice and compitition.I use nickle plated and mine are 30 yrs old(more)do you load full charges?also the case tapers inside.and some bullets are on the large side.I cast my own and sized .365.at 50 ft will go in same hole.
try 2.8 gr bullseye or 700 X with 148 gr wc or hbwc. 
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Carlo1776 HB Full Member

| Joined: | 21 January 2008 |
| Location: | Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| Posts: | 24 |
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Posted: 5 June 2008 06:08 PM |
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| I had issues with reloads fitting too tight in the chambers on my K38. I bought a Lee carbide factory crimp die #90861. use your existing dies as before but seat the bullet with NO crimp. Mount the Lee die and follow the directions. The carbide sizes and crimps on the down stroke and resizes on the return stroke. No bulges due to crimping. It looks and chambers like a factory round. As for nickel cases the other guys are right, they look cool and clean but they split easily at the mouth. I just tossed a a 100 out because they were pissing me off with the number of defects.
____________________ Vegeterian is latin for bad hunter.
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dirtrooster HB Full Member

| Joined: | 18 May 2008 |
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Posted: 27 July 2008 01:03 AM |
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hey Carlo next time some brass makes ya mad throw it my way. im easy goin as long as not split ill get along with it.
Never saw what yall are talking about here before my first thought was cases need trimming but i think a couple guys are on it with the right answer your flaring the mouth too much. Ive never had a problem with the nickol casses either though guess ive just been lucky.
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Carlo1776 HB Full Member

| Joined: | 21 January 2008 |
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Posted: 28 July 2008 03:45 AM |
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Hey Dirt
I was looking at some more of the nickel cases after they came out of the tumbler and it looks like they were fatigued from reloading. As for expanding, I'm real carefull to expand only as much as I need to. I use Speer lead HBWC and because they are cylindrical their entire length, you have to take extra care to line them up for seating.
____________________ Vegeterian is latin for bad hunter.
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dirtrooster HB Full Member

| Joined: | 18 May 2008 |
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Posted: 13 August 2008 02:35 AM |
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| got to admit carlo ya got me concerned and i inspected all my cases with a little more time than i usually spend and didnt find a problem. some of my nickel cases ive had for probly over 25 yrs and loaded countless times. but one thing i do with my 38 loads is they are mostly all mild.
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Carlo1776 HB Full Member

| Joined: | 21 January 2008 |
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Posted: 13 August 2008 04:45 AM |
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dirtrooster wrote: got to admit carlo ya got me concerned and i inspected all my cases with a little more time than i usually spend and didnt find a problem. some of my nickel cases ive had for probly over 25 yrs and loaded countless times. but one thing i do with my 38 loads is they are mostly all mild.
Dirt
Can't be too sure about the brass you buy from an unknown source. It's made me more carefull checking more while reloading. As for mild, thats my favorite thing about a nice wheel gun, you can load mouse fart charges that are as acurate as a laser without having to worry about the hammer re-cocking itself. I still love my SIG P226 but I can fire my K38 all day and hit 10 rings till the cows come home.
____________________ Vegeterian is latin for bad hunter.
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