I have been reloading 38s for a while, given the prices thought I'd start on 40 cal. I got the dies changed over. The problem in the pics does not occur on all cases, just enough to slow you way down. The ridge does not go all the way around either. You can feel too much effort is occuring, cycling the handle right from the start of resizing. This has never happened on the 38 specials. I was wondering if someone has experiance with this and can make a suggestion, before I call Dillion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: magnum12pm,

Are you using carbide dies? If not, are you lubricating the cases? I've never seen that before and can't really imagine what it could be. What the headstamp on the cases this is happening to, or is it happening to a variety of headstamps?

Bill

Did you change locater buttons also?

The dies are carbide Dillion pistol dies. I will have to recheck the headstamps however the ones in the picture are both stamped CBC, I don't even know what that is, sometimes people at the range see me pick up my brass and offer theirs. I got so frustrated I tossed them across the garage into the trash. Wayne I did change the locator buttons, however if I remember they had same number on them as the 38 special dies I had in previous to the change.

For a carbide die you are sizing too far down on the case. You are trying to size the solid portion of the case. Just adjust the die so you don't size any farther that the part of the case that shows expansion.

Even better, just size the case as far as the bullet seats and replace the crimping die with a Lee Carbide FCD to finish sizing of the case body in the crimp stage.

Alk8944, I think you may be right on sizing to far down the case. The die set up manual says run it down till touched the shell plate and I think back off a 1/4 turn now I can't remember if I backed out a quarter turn or not, I was so tee off at the time. I'll check it out Monday..thanks

Looks strange - like youv'e moved metal - you already said carbide die. Another word of caution - .40 S&W if shot in Glocks should be rolled prior to sizing - the area you have the problem in is often bulged due to unsupport portion of case in chamber.

Like Herb said.

It probably is from an unsupported barrel. Not just Glocks have that problem, there are others. What did you shoot them out of and what are you going to shoot them in?
The offers from others, what were those shot in and were they hand loads or factory stuff?

As for carbide dies, if you are going to use any brass that is given you or found don't be afraid to lube once in a while. Use Hornady One-Shot and some of the problem will go away. It dries completely and is not messy at all.

I did notice on one of the cases you show in your picture that the belling die is set plenty deep. When you work the case mouth that much you limit the lifetime of the case. They will get brittle and crack there no matter what caliber they are.

On your resizing die take the thing apart and see if something isn't stuck in there. Eliminate all possible problems. Just a thought.

Let us know what pans out.

Foreign or cheap "gift" brass might be your problem. If I remember CBC and AMERC gave me fits in 45ACP(along with a few others I don't have in front of me at the moment) but troubles dissappeared once I went to once fired Federal, Speer, Remington, Winchester....you get the idea. You did set up your sizer correctly: just touching the shell plate. Good luck, keep us informed.

I am shooting them from an MP 40, most of my brass is CCI and winchester. I have noticed the ones stamped CBC seem to show the problem most often. I will have to get into it more next chance I get....Thanks for all the advice and ideals guys.

If I remember correctly CBC is Magtech, which is quality brass.

The resize die is set correctly and by the way, I simply used the ruined casings while adjusting the belling die it is now set with just enough belling to get the bullet to set in.

I have sent the picture to Dellion and here is their reply, seems to make since. I will have to shoot some from my M&P 40 and try loading just my own cases, see what happens.

Dillion:

Your brass has been over expanded. 40 S&W is an exceptionally weak cartridge case and suffers from blown out (over expanded) brass which the sizer die will just push the lump farther down. Use brass fired only in your gun and use only US made brass and a slower burning powder to reduce bulging. Discard any brass like those in your photo.



Thank you,

Dillon Precision Products, Inc.

Yep! Probably shot from a Glock! I roll all range brass .40 cal. prior to use.

I just got in from the garage and dug down deep in the brass bucket to get the ones from my MP-40, only had one bad case out of 100. That must be the problem, bad cases from another brand of weapon. I'm not clear on the rolling, could you explain that please?