I use a Lee turret press for reloading. My problem is with 45 ACP shells that have nicks on the rims. They will not slide into the shell holder smoothly.

I have been tossing them aside and grabbing another one, so as to not break my rhythm. I don’t have too many of these, I would say 1 in 20 will not slide into the shell holder. Before you say my guns are causing these nicks, some of these shells have never been through any of my weapons.

How do you deal with these problem shells? Seems too tedious to take a small file and knock the nicks off. Will a buffing wheel smooth out the rims? Hate to just toss them into the scrap bucket. Any solutions will be appreciated. Thanks for your replies in advance.

dont be lazy ... grab the brass and a file ... its soft and cuts fast ... you'll have em done before the local news is over

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it just needs more voltage

I had the same problem when I started to reload..I was using range pick-up brass that had MANY reloadings ..Seems as though when shooting a 1911 Colt, the slide would strike the round and force it into the chamber.. The striking of the round by the slide would slightly bend the rim on the round..After many reloadings, the rim was totally bent and wouldn't fit the shell holder.. A file usually solved the problem,, otherwise scrap it and move on......TIN..

Does your fired brass land on rough concrete? If so you will battle this forever. There is some brass that just will not fit a shellholder.

My best 223 Rem Hornady brass will not fit a #4 shellholder and it never touches the ground. I had some other 9 mm that would not fit either.

Send the shellholder and few pieces of brass to LEE and they will send you one that fits. They either machine the holder or just find one that works. If it is only a few pieces I would not even mess with it, yes you file them.

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Still Running Against the Wind

You might try a different brand of shell holder because they do vary from brand to brand on how "tight" they are. Personally I've found the RCBS shell holders to be a bit "loose" without being too "loose". As for Lee shell holders the one I had for 38 special was so "tight" that it wouldn't accept about 25% of the Winchester cases I have on hand.

My Smith 645 doesn't leave many nicks on my shells, but my Springfield TRP leaves a flat "line" across a section of the shell that sometimes leaves a nick at one end. I generally take a file if they drag into the shell plate, but I'm using a Dillon 550b so there's usually enough clearance. I'd file them before you scrap them.

Thanks for the responses. After I get a large enough pile I will grab the file and get started.

You'll be amazed how a file cuts brass. When I cut down a cartridge case to use as a dipper, I cut it a little long and with a few seconds of filing I can trim down the entire mouth of the case until it throws the charge I want.

A small diamond fingernail file is excellent for this.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

If it's only a few pieces of brass, seems like a waste of time. It not always the outside edge, its the thickness of the case head edge which is hard to find the spot.

I would just recycle them and spend the time doing nothing, reloading or shooting.

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Still Running Against the Wind

A file is my friend!

Check your extractor for burrs. It may need tuning.