Issue with Barnes TSX/TTSX Reloading

Ivan9686

February 12, 2014 06:56

I use Barnes TSX/TTSX 308 150 - 168 grain bullets for reloading both 308 and 30-06 cases. Cases are all trimmed and sized to specification, chamfered and deburred. With the 30-06 cases only, I keep having a problem with the bullet curling a portion of the lip of the case in. It happens with both flat base and boat tail bullets but only with Barnes. This has occurred with new Winchester case and variety of once used cases of various manufactures. There is no noticeable difference in the pressure required to seat the bullet. Any idea of the cause of the cause and a solution beside pull the bullet and throw the case away?

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  charliemeyer007

  February 12, 2014 07:21

  Clean the inside of the seating die especially the nose cavity of the seating stem. Maybe a little more inside champher on the cases. What is the size of your expander ball on the sizing die?

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  bpost

  February 12, 2014 08:51

  A Lyman M die may help.
  
  http://www.midwayusa.com/product/129697/lyman-neck-expander-m-die-30-caliber-long

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  SoreShoulder

  February 12, 2014 09:56

  The grooves are catching the mouth of the case.
  
  Chamfer or flare the case mouth a bit. Or, you could try a larger expander.

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  charliemeyer007

  February 12, 2014 14:41

  Perhaps move die away from shell holder and then lower the seating stem in the die.
  
  Your ram is tight and the shell holder grove in the ram is free of crud allowing the shell holder to seat all the way back.

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  SoreShoulder

  February 12, 2014 17:41

  The necks will rarely be perfectly true and the material will always be just a little thicker on one side than the other unless you turn the necks. They'll be a little harder on one side unless you anneal very evenly.
  
  The shellholder has some clearance and does not hold the case perfectly centered to the die.
  
  Also, there is nothing aligning the bullet to the case neck on most dies and it enters the case mouth ever so slightly cocked.
  
  I try to align my brass by gently turning it while easing the ram up, then the bullet can align itself and the case has an easier time sliding across the top of the shellholder to find alignment.
  
  I've only loaded a few Barnes, but I think the solution here is to flare or chamfer the case mouth enough to overcome any minor misalignment in the case, die, or press which allows one edge to catch the case mouth.

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  Ivan9686

  February 13, 2014 10:48

  Thanks for the suggestions. I still find it odd that this only occurs with TSX/TTSX bullets and never happens with other grooved bullets.

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  Riomouse911

  February 13, 2014 11:54

  Maybe it's the shape Barnes uses compared to the others. I, too need to chamfer the inside of the case mouth just a touch when seating TTSX bullets in .257, .243 and .270 loads.

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