| Posted: Mon Nov 10th, 2008 10:38 PM |
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firecop019
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Hey guys, I decided to reset my dies after my dad reminded me that the last batch of .38's I loaded up were a little tight when he loaded em up in his model 10. I just figured that I didn't get them crimped down far enough.
I'm using Hornady Carbide Dies, and I followed the instructions to a tee. I back out the die body and then slowly screw it down until it touches the case mouth. I back it off one full turn and set the lock nut. Then I put a bullet in the case and adjusted the seating plug until the bullet was seated to the lube ring. Then I back off the plug a few turns, I loosen the lock nut and then slowly screw the die body down until I get the right crimp. Lastly I turn down the plug until it touches the bullet. Voila, that round looks great. Then I insert the next round and it's not the same, the bullet isn't seated far enough. If I try to adjust the die from where I set it I end up buckling the case. I've tried twice now and get the same results.
It's really irritating, can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11th, 2008 12:40 AM |
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2nd Post |
saddlesore
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Check if there is a build up of crud in the die. The check if you are using the right seating stem to match the bullet. ThenI would check if all your brass is the same length. Sounds like they are varying enough to get an over crimp.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11th, 2008 01:59 AM |
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jjb2
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i looked back on your previous posts and couldn't see what press you are useing... i have old bair press that's a c- press but it's canted back in design... i had a little of that kind of problem when i seated some bullets in .38- .357 magnum cases... i was useing the old bair dies too when i began and fround i had a lot less trouble with my lee speed dies.. i bought a lee reloader press at a gunshow to use with my bair press... my presses are both single stage and i put my finger on the case rim that stuck out in front of the shell holder and seemed to help a little... i got to doing an extra step where i'd seat the bullet without crimping then set the dies again and crimp them.... that's what i'd suggest to you... it takes time for the extra step but i do it to relax anyhow and make the best reloads i can... i got an extra die body so i can reload from both presses at once....
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11th, 2008 03:50 AM |
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firecop019
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I'm using a Lyman T-Mag as a press.
I don't think I've got a buildup and I don't think the cases are longer. I did the one round I was working up and it came out perfect. The crimp was dead center in the middle of the lube line and it was crimped just right. The next 5 I did after that were all off. The case lined up at the bottom of the lube line but they were workable. I tried to adjust first the seater plug thinking that it would push the bullet in further before crimping (crinkled that one). So I started over again went through the same process again and came out with another one that was just about as good as the previous attempt. So I proceeded to load up five more and the same thing. It was off just enough to where the crimp barely grabbed the lube line. So this time I tried to drop the whole die body down a hair (really crinkled that one).
I'm thinking about doing another one and lining it up at the top of the lube line and hoping that it will end up in the middle and calling it good.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11th, 2008 08:29 AM |
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jjb2
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hhummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. there must be just some little thing goin awry.... (sometimes you gotta hold your mouth just right) i'd still try bullet seating and crimping in seperate (sp) steps......... i sometimes use my lee factory crimp die to crimp in the right place.... if your crimp is excessive the cases will be tight in the chambers too as it pushes the brass out to a little bigger diameter(sp)....... Last edited on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 08:34 AM by jjb2
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13th, 2008 03:22 PM |
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Ranch 13
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Sounds like you're either trying to put in to much crimp, or you're not using the same stroke on the press handle everytime.
One other thing that could be going on is the collet in that seating die isn't floating like it should. Take the die apart and clean and lubricate it.
Also if your previuos loads where a little lite, it didn't have much to do with the crimp, and most likely was a function of not enough powder.
More good loads have been ruined by crimping/over crimping than a fella can shake a stick at.
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13th, 2008 03:54 PM |
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TCA4570
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Other than a batch of 38s what is the load?
Is it a compresed load?
Sneaking up and compressing is different than just pulling a handle.
Shells were a problem last time, and being reloaded again?
Do the empty, sized shells fit the gun?
Please let us know.
tc.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14th, 2008 06:21 PM |
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firecop019
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It shouldn't be a compacted load it only has 2.9gr of Universal Clays in it. And I didn't get the crinkle until I started messing with it. So I'm going to try to get it lined up at the top of the cannelure line and see if the rest fall into the middle like they are supposed to.
Last time was the first time that I'd actually tried my hand at reloading. I'm sure i didn't have it set for enough crimp. I tried it after I worked up the last batch and they work just fine.
Yes the empties all fit into the gun.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14th, 2008 06:28 PM |
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Ranch 13
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Back your seating die out , now raise a case until the ram tops out. Now screw the seating die back in until you feel it bump the flared case mouth. lower the ram and screw the seating die in 1/8 turn. Set your loc ring at this point.
Now screw the seating stem in all the way, and slowly raise a case with the bullet in the mouth, checking often until the seating depth you want . Now back the seating stem out and raise the case and bullet to the top and feel the crimp set. While the case is still at the top of the stroke , run the seating stem back down until it makes firm contact with the bullet.
From there on out nothing should need changed unless you change bullets.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14th, 2008 11:28 PM |
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Timberghozt
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Good to see ya Ranch 13
TG
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15th, 2008 12:02 AM |
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264shooter
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I have had similar troubles in the past.The die is crimping as the bullet is seating.With lead bullets the bullet gets crimped before its fully seated.Then the press tries to finish seating the bullet causing the troubles you describe.I have an extra seating/crimp die and do it in two stages as jjb2 does.I use a Lyman Turret Press for reloading handgun rounds.Seat the bullet,turn the turret and then crimp.Are you trying to seat the bullet deeper after you crimped it?Over crimping can also cause hard chambering.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15th, 2008 12:40 AM |
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Ranch 13
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Thankee kindly there Gene. Good to be here.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15th, 2008 06:52 PM |
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wheezengeezer
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a good reason to buy a second set.i seat and crimp cast loads in seperate operations.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17th, 2008 04:30 PM |
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ryalred
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Sounds like your trying to crimp to much--the number one cause for crushed cases during the seating, crimping step. I, too, seat and crimp in separate steps. Good luck.
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18th, 2008 01:00 AM |
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runfiverun
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the crimp is only there to keep the bulet from walking forward.
i have several target loads in my 38's that don't use a crimp.
you are probably over crimping all you need to feel in the handle is a slight bump.
not even a bump just a slight pressure is plenty.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 22nd, 2008 06:15 AM |
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resqdan
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firecop019 wrote: Hey guys, I decided to reset my dies after my dad reminded me that the last batch of .38's I loaded up were a little tight when he loaded em up in his model 10. I just figured that I didn't get them crimped down far enough.
what does tight mean.. that they wont chamber.. maybe you need to trim the cases back a little.. i had that problem once where they were tight going in and i discovered (with help for the guys on here) that i needed to trim more.
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