38 special size question

[31 Pump]

I am setting up my dies to seat and crimp my first batch of 38 specials. I was testing a few with no powder or primer just to get the depth right and figure out how much to crimp. When I checked to see if they would fit in the cylinder of my Model 10 they wouldn't. To big. I then tried to drop a .358 bullet by itself thru the cylinder thinking it would fall right thru but it gets stuck in the cylinder. Are these bullets to big or I am doing something way wrong. If a bullet won't go thru by itself it sure won't fit in when it is inside the brass.

Thanks

Glenn

 

[31 Pump]

I am setting up my dies to seat and crimp my first batch of 38 specials. I was testing a few with no powder or primer just to get the depth right and figure out how much to crimp. When I checked to see if they would fit in the cylinder of my Model 10 they wouldn't. To big. I then tried to drop a .358 bullet by itself thru the cylinder thinking it would fall right thru but it gets stuck in the cylinder. Are these bullets to big or I am doing something way wrong. If a bullet won't go thru by itself it sure won't fit in when it is inside the brass.

Thanks

Glenn

 

[Bruce51]

Do you have a venier caliper? First you need to measure your bullets to be sure they are actually .358. A .358 bullet should not drop through the throat of the chamber easily. The throat is tighter than the chamber for a good reason. The biggest problem may be you are bulging the case during crimping. This usually happens when the case is being crimped prior to the bullet being seated properly. Recheck your loading techniques, bullet size and case prep. The .38 is very easy to load. Check back in if you need additional help. Bruce

 

[aalmcc4]

Bruce Lee M is correct. You don't want the bullet to slide through the chamber. It should be a snug fit. It should go through with some pushing, but not too much.

I suspect you over crimped the dummy round. It'll buldge the case, increasing it's diameter.

 

[AzShooter]

The biggest problem I've come across with my 627 lately was that the bore was .356 and the chamber throats were .355.

That means the bullets were swaged at the throat and then tumbled down the bigger barrel.

I lapped my barrel until it was nice and smooth and it now slugs out at .3565.

I enlarged all the cylinder throats until they were each .358 and ordered a new mould from LBT Limited that would cast exactly .358. With certain loads it now prints into 1 inch at 25 yards from a rest.

Mike you bore with a soft lead bullet and then mike your cylinder throats after pushing a soft lead bullet through them.

To learn more go to this site and if you cast, you can not do better then an LBT mould.

http://lbtmoulds.com/

 

[31 Pump]

Originally posted by Bruce Lee M:
Do you have a venier caliper? First you need to measure your bullets to be sure they are actually .358. A .358 bullet should not drop through the throat of the chamber easily. The throat is tighter than the chamber for a good reason. The biggest problem may be you are bulging the case during crimping. This usually happens when the case is being crimped prior to the bullet being seated properly. Recheck your loading techniques, bullet size and case prep. The .38 is very easy to load. Check back in if you need additional help. Bruce

Thanks very much for your help. Bullet size is correct. I wasn't seating the bullet deep enough to get the crimp on the ring of the bullet properly. After resetting the bullet seating depth and crimping a little less it fits perfectly. Now I'm ready to throw some powder and see how they shoot tomorrow.

Thanks again for all your help

Glenn

 

[Bruce51]

That is why we all are here. To help,advise and share our knowledge. I'm happy to hear you are ready to load. Be safe. Bruce

 

[VonFatman]

Good luck Glenn! I too have gotten questions answered here...lots of knowledgeable reloaders who will make time to help.

Bob