Trouble Realoading
I'm having trouble with .38spl +p rounds. When I make cartridges, it looks like the cartridge is bulging. Every now and then I notice the bottom of the case is bulging as well. It almost seems like it's sizing the case to small. What should I try in order for the cartridge to look correct? I'm using laser cast bullets .358 diameter, rcb carbide dies and press.
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It is OK for the case to have a bulge at the heel of the bullet... Chamber a round to see if they fit. Be safe.
If they fit, you are good to go.0 -
I had the same problem with one manufacture of cases .
A friend gave me 500 hulls from a 38 ramset gun .
The cases were marked 38 but had thicker walls .
Had to scrap them .
Several variables to check here .0 -
I get the samething with some brand 9mm brass. Make your carbibe sizer die is set tight against the shell holder for the bottom bulge. A little bulge won't hurt a thing, as long as they chamber OK. 0 -
Alright, thanks guys. I just wanted to make sure they were safe. They do chamber. I've had a few that didn't so I played with dies a little until they all chambered. I just wanted to make sure even though they weren't pretty, they are safe. The 38spl is the only cartridge I have this happen on. My .40, 9mm, 45, always turns out perfect. The only other concern I had on this issue was that if some cases have more of bulge, will this affect the consistency of one cartridge to another? 0 -
Here's what happens:
The sizing die reduces the diameter of the fired case to minimum size. Then the expander plug makes it large enough for the bullet to be seated tightly. The bullet expands the brass even more, so that the case grips the bullet tightly.
However, the part of the case below the bullet but above the base is still at its minimum size - so you get what looks like a slight hourglass shape.
Factory ammo isn't made with a sizer and an expander, so factory ammo doesn't have that bulge.
When you fire it, that "waist" will magically disappear - until you size and expand it again.
BTW, calling everything a "bullet" is confusing. "The bullet bulges the bullet so that the bullet looks funny after I put in the bullet." Huh?
The bullet is the part of the loaded cartridge that flies out of the barrel. What stays in the gun is the cartridge case (or brass). Primer + case + powder + bullet = cartridge.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
Here's what happens:
The sizing die reduces the diameter of the fired case to minimum size. Then the expander plug makes it large enough for the bullet to be seated tightly. The bullet expands the brass even more, so that the case grips the bullet tightly.
However, the part of the case below the bullet but above the base is still at its minimum size - so you get what looks like a slight hourglass shape.
Factory ammo isn't made with a sizer and an expander, so factory ammo doesn't have that bulge.
When you fire it, that "waist" will magically disappear - until you size and expand it again.
BTW, calling everything a "bullet" is confusing. "The bullet bulges the bullet so that the bullet looks funny after I put in the bullet." Huh?
The bullet is the part of the loaded cartridge that flies out of the barrel. What stays in the gun is the cartridge case (or brass). Primer + case + powder + bullet = cartridge.
Sorry for the confusion, I was writing really fast and didn't reread what I wrote. I went back and fixed it.
Thanks for the info.0 -
You're most welcome.
Too many of us call cartridges bullets - possibly because the airhead media types butcher it so badly. Just the other day, I heard a brainless reporter call a piece of brass "an empty bullet casing."0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
You're most welcome.
Too many of us call cartridges bullets - possibly because the airhead media types butcher it so badly. Just the other day, I heard a brainless reporter call a piece of brass "an empty bullet casing."
I have to agree. I catch myself doing it every once in a blue moon. To solve the problem with the media however, I turn off my TV. I can't stand news anymore because it's all b.s. The only news I get, to stay current with gun stuff, is my newsletter form the NRA telling me what is going on in what state. They also send info on other gun related news. I know some don't agree with the NRA but they are the only defense we have right now.0 -
I get that same bulge in the case at the heel of the bullet reloading .45/70. Case a tiny bit too tight, bullet a tiny bit too big...all work fine. 0 -
atvguy585 - the answer is "neck reamer".
trapguy2007 - too bad you got rid of those ramset cases - don't know why you had a problem with them but "neck reamer" is probably the answer in this case as well.
Many, many years ago a friend gave me a large bucket of ramset cases he had picked up on a construction site. Some were plain brass, many were nickel plated. Headstamps were "RAMSET 37" and "WRA SPL TOOL" (both headstamps on both types of cases). The only handgun I had access to at the time was my fathers old top break Iver Johnson hammerless in 38 S & W. As far as I can recall I chucked these cases in a lathe and held a hacksaw against them to cut them off close to 38 S & W length and then used my case trimmer to true up the mouth and reduce them to exactly 38 S & W length (and yes, I know the dimensions are not exactly right but when you love to shoot and you are a teenager on a VERY limited budget, you make do with what you have).
My problem was that when I seated bullets in these cases, the case mouths were bulged to a point that made chambering difficult at best and sometimes impossible. I bought a Forster .358 neck reamer for my case trimmer. Problem solved. For "indoor" shooting (i.e. my parents basement) I used 1.6 grs. Bullseye with a Lyman 135 gr. cast SWC. For "outdoor" shooting (i.e. my parents backyard) I used 2.0 grs. Bullseye with the same bullet. Long range accuracy was not very spectacular, but at about the cost 22 rimfire, it was a lot more bang for the buck and my friends and I must have put a good many hundreds of rounds through that old gun.
I still have some of these cases and they work fine for 38 Special loads in my Colt Python 357 Mag. and in my T/C Contender with 357 Rem. Max. barrel (no neck reaming required). They do however have crimped in primers so the primer pockets need reaming the first time around. Also, as others on this forum have noted, the nickel plated cases tend to develope split necks after a few loadings.
Hope this is of some use to someone out there.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rhope
atvguy585 - the answer is "neck reamer".
trapguy2007 - too bad you got rid of those ramset cases - don't know why you had a problem with them but "neck reamer" is probably the answer in this case as well.
Many, many years ago a friend gave me a large bucket of ramset cases he had picked up on a construction site. Some were plain brass, many were nickel plated. Headstamps were "RAMSET 37" and "WRA SPL TOOL" (both headstamps on both types of cases). The only handgun I had access to at the time was my fathers old top break Iver Johnson hammerless in 38 S & W. As far as I can recall I chucked these cases in a lathe and held a hacksaw against them to cut them off close to 38 S & W length and then used my case trimmer to true up the mouth and reduce them to exactly 38 S & W length (and yes, I know the dimensions are not exactly right but when you love to shoot and you are a teenager on a VERY limited budget, you make do with what you have).
My problem was that when I seated bullets in these cases, the case mouths were bulged to a point that made chambering difficult at best and sometimes impossible. I bought a Forster .358 neck reamer for my case trimmer. Problem solved. For "indoor" shooting (i.e. my parents basement) I used 1.6 grs. Bullseye with a Lyman 135 gr. cast SWC. For "outdoor" shooting (i.e. my parents backyard) I used 2.0 grs. Bullseye with the same bullet. Long range accuracy was not very spectacular, but at about the cost 22 rimfire, it was a lot more bang for the buck and my friends and I must have put a good many hundreds of rounds through that old gun.
I still have some of these cases and they work fine for 38 Special loads in my Colt Python 357 Mag. and in my T/C Contender with 357 Rem. Max. barrel (no neck reaming required). They do however have crimped in primers so the primer pockets need reaming the first time around. Also, as others on this forum have noted, the nickel plated cases tend to develope split necks after a few loadings.
Hope this is of some use to someone out there.
Thank you for the very informative post. That is useful and I notice the same on nickel plated cases, they tend to crack.0
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