I just finished running a batch of .38 Special cases over the case mouth expander die. Somewhere during the process the adjustment changed and the case mouths are belled out to the point they will not fit into the bullet seating die. I was using RCBS Cowboy dies, there is no set screw on the lock ring and I must have not tightened it enough. Here's the bad part, I primed about 100 cases before I noticed the problem. I have thousands of cases on hand so I could live with trashing a few but with the current primer scarcity it's painful to think about throwing out the primers. I cannot figure out a way to resize the cases to fix the case mouth dimension, is it possible to gently de-prime? I've never tried to remove a live primer from a case. Suggestions appreciated. If I have to trash them so be it but maybe there is a solution?
.38 Special cases, I screwed up.
- Thread starter Fullmetaljacket
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Why don't you just unscrew the depriming rod from the sizing die and then resize the primed cases?
pantannojack
US Veteran
Wear eye protection.
If you can't re-size the case with your 38 dies............
the only hope is a die with a larger diamiter to bring that over belling back
to where it will fit inside your 38 dies, again.
I did that one time............. my brain was visiting the neighbors.
Good luck, saving those cases.
the only hope is a die with a larger diamiter to bring that over belling back
to where it will fit inside your 38 dies, again.
I did that one time............. my brain was visiting the neighbors.
Good luck, saving those cases.
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That was my thought...
I would try a .45 (if you have one) with the stem removed. Just kiss it enough so it will fit back into the 38. May not work, depends on how much you flared them. Easy enough to try. Also maybe a 40 die, whatever you have.
No me, no, not me; never had that happen
.
It is frustrating for sure.
I solved it using a Universal Depriming Die, which is fairly inexpensive and has been handy for other sizes of cases depriming, for various
reasons.
Go slow, do not use a lot of pressure and always wear eye protection.
I was able to recoup 100% of the primers and all functioned properly when later loaded into rounds.
. It is frustrating for sure.
I solved it using a Universal Depriming Die, which is fairly inexpensive and has been handy for other sizes of cases depriming, for various
reasons.
Go slow, do not use a lot of pressure and always wear eye protection.
I was able to recoup 100% of the primers and all functioned properly when later loaded into rounds.
OP
Unfortunately the "bore" of the .38 resizing / decapping die is too small in diameter to accept the bell mouth cases. I tried moving the decapping pin to the case mouth expander die but it didn't fit, the decap pin assembly is smaller diameter than the case mouth expander rod. I was able to gently push the live primers out using a .45 ACP decapping/resizing die so at least I have the primers. I can live with that. Lesson learned: pay attention to what you are doing! Thanks for the replies.
Huskerguy
Member
I did this once and the brass was close enough to going back through the sizing die so i didnt need much. I gently used smooth pliers to compress the bell, carefully working around the bell.
The seating die should also work, that is what it is for unless it is very excessive.
The seating die should also work, that is what it is for unless it is very excessive.
DWalt
Member
You might try using a suitable FL rifle sizing die if you have any.
gwpercle
Member
You need to size the bell back down just enough so the case will enter the bullet seating die .
Remove decapping rod and see if the case will enter the sizing die ...if so , simply size the bell down so it will enter the seating die ... the seating / crimping die will remove any bell that is left on the case like it normally does ... or you could simply re-size the cases , sans primer decapping rod and then bell again correctly .
If the bell will not enter the re-sizing die ... you need to find a sizing die that will allow the bell to enter and size the bell down... Do you have a 45 acp , 45 Colt , 41 magnum , 30-30 , 30-06 ... some other die that is large enough to let the bell enter and size the bell down just enough ? Remember to remove the decapping rod .
With the die in place and set where you want with a case in the press...hold the die body and tighten the ring with a wrench .
Also rings with set screws can be purchased and again when set , tighten that sucker with a wrench ...hand tight won't get the job done ... trust me , I know ...Wrench Tight !
Gary
Last edited:
OP
Now that I've satisfied myself that I can safely decap the cases I'm going to play around with other caliber dies and see if I can resize just the case mouth. Oh well, it's a rainy day here anyway, we'll see what happens.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Over the last 43 years I've done this more than a few times!
You can di-prime and trash the cases. But you don't always have that luxury with rare or unusual cases.
My solution is to lay the over expanded case on its side. On a very hard surface that is elevated enough to let the rim hang over the edge. Use a hard flat surfaced object to roll the case mouth back and forth to squeeze it back to a diameter that fits in your die. I have a few plates of aluminum to roll with.
Also try a taper crimp die to size the bell down. For 38 specials, I would try a 40-caliber taper crimp.
Ivan
You can di-prime and trash the cases. But you don't always have that luxury with rare or unusual cases.
My solution is to lay the over expanded case on its side. On a very hard surface that is elevated enough to let the rim hang over the edge. Use a hard flat surfaced object to roll the case mouth back and forth to squeeze it back to a diameter that fits in your die. I have a few plates of aluminum to roll with.
Also try a taper crimp die to size the bell down. For 38 specials, I would try a 40-caliber taper crimp.
Ivan
STORMINORMAN
Member
I deprime all spent cases with various dedicated depriming (de-capping, if you prefer): dies: all my pistol caliber sizing dies have the center depriming shafts removed.
I've pulled primers and reused them, pretty much like everyone else. Obviously eye protection is paramount. As is emptying out the powder 1st!
I do keep these reloaded reloads separate and fire them off at the earliest opportunity.
Cheers!
I've pulled primers and reused them, pretty much like everyone else. Obviously eye protection is paramount. As is emptying out the powder 1st!
I do keep these reloaded reloads separate and fire them off at the earliest opportunity.Cheers!
max503
Member
If you de-prime those cases don't let the removed primers pile up. I would put them back in their tray individually as they are removed. A pile of live primers is a grenade. Especially if they've been subject to the forces of seating and unseating.
tndrfttom
Member
One of my mentors used your technique. He had two slabs or short planks of "rock maple" that he used to clean-up the sprues on the round balls he made for his muzzle-loaders. (He would roll the cast balls around between the two planks while applying pressure and the sprues would clean up nicely). He had some over-expanded revolver cases and put them between the maple planks and rolled them back and forth till the flare was smoothed-out enough to run them back through the sizing die. Problem solved.
dmy
Member
I had the same thing happen to me, but the over-expanded cases did barely fit into the seating \ crimping die. The cause was the tip of my Lyman expander twisting loose from the rest of the stem. A little Loctite eliminated the cause.
If it's not too late, I suggest re-priming into the same brand of case. I did a few hundred a couple of years back and found that some seated pretty loosely. I believe it was due to small inconsistencies in the diameter of different case brands.
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