.500SW Case Issues?

[JackRussel]

I recently bought a S&W 500 6.5" and the seller was nice enough to include a Lee three die set and a bunch of brass in the deal. The issue I'm having is about 10% of the reloaded cartridges won't fit into the cylinder, another 10% will fit with a mild amount of pressure and the rest will drop in normally. I suspect it may have something to do with using the seating die to crimp the rounds. The person I bought them from had none of the difficulties I'm having. Has anyone had this issue? Has anyone ordered the factory crimp die from Lee? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Hand Cannon]

Did you resize the brass before building your rounds?

I use a Redding Competition die set on my S&W 500, also with a 6.5" barrel. A taper crimp comes with that set of dies. Even shooting hot loads did not overcome the taper crimp - I encountered no bullet set-back.

 

[JackRussel]

Did you resize the brass before building your rounds?

I use a Redding Competition die set on my S&W 500, also with a 6.5" barrel. A taper crimp comes with that set of dies. Even shooting hot loads did not overcome the taper crimp - I encountered no bullet set-back.

All of the brass was resized, I disassembled the rounds that wouldn't fit and checked the fit after depriming/resizing and they seemed to fit fine so I tossed them into the tumbler with the rest of the brass that I did fire to clean off the lube (lost track of the suspects). After reloading 150rds I still found a small percentage with the same issue, since I cleaned all of the brass together I'm not sure if the same cases are causing the issue. I'll take them all to the range and fire everything that fits and disassemble the ones that won't again and perform a more thorough inspection. If I can't find anything wrong I will have to start checking the plated bullets I'm using, but I still suspect it's the crimping step causing the issue. I'll call Lee on Tuesday and inquire about the crimp die, this cartridge is capable of shooting so many different size bullets I want to be sure the die can be adjusted to accomodate the larger projectiles not just the dummy round they request that you send them.

 

[Tom S.]

Because of the recoil, the 500 requires a very secure crimp. However an improperly adjusted crimp die can cause the case to bulge at or below the crimp. Do you have a set of calipers or a mic to measure the cases with?

 

[JackRussel]

Because of the recoil, the 500 requires a very secure crimp. However an improperly adjusted crimp die can cause the case to bulge at or below the crimp. Do you have a set of calipers or a mic to measure the cases with?

I think you and I are thinking along the same lines. I've been applying a very secure crimp due to hearing about bullets dislodging because of recoil, in fact I spoke to the seller this morning and think I might have found the problem. He was using the exact same model single stage press as I have to reload these rounds, but he was using bullets with a cannalure whereas I'm using plated bullets without a cannalure, and I hadn't readjusted the die and I think with the variations between the used brass and new brass I've purchased it's causing the issue on a portion of the rounds. I'm going to contact Lee about the factory crimp die regardless and will back off on the seating die a little bit and see if that will solve my problem. I really enjoy shooting this gun and hate having little issues spoil my fun.

 

[125JHP]

You need to adust the dies for your press regardless of what he was using, I have found just changing the shell holder in my RCBS will make a difference in crimp, seating, etc... each die has to be set up for your equipment and then for the particular bullet...

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...I'm using plated bullets without a cannalure
...I hadn't readjusted the die
...I'm going to contact Lee about the factory crimp die regardless

.

You didn't say exactly which plated bullet you're using? I've used Berry's plated 350gr RNFP & it has a cannelure but it's very shallow, & too close to the base (minimal seating depth @ .255") for good bullet-case tension.

I use a taper crimp on all my plated bullets, even the 500. The Berry's I've gotten (& I'm on my second box of 500) are undersized (.4986") in the crimping area (only the base mics at .5003") so I deep seat mine to .375" (reduced loads) & taper crimp them & haven't had any issues with jump crimp (but I did when seating to the cannelure depth though).

Alway plan on readjusting/tweeking your dies when you reload.

I've come the conclusion that (4) die seating seats are the best to use. Since Lee doesn't make a (4) die set for the 500 (or 460) purchase a separate crimp die & adjust the seating/crimp die from the (3) die seat to only seat.

Lee doesn't make a Carbide Factory Crimp Die for the 500. They do make a Collet Style Crimp Die for it though. I bought one to use on the Berry's but because the bullets are undersized it didn't work (couldn't crimp down that small) on them. I use Hornady's Taper Crimp die instead for the Berry's.

.

 

[colt_saa]

I seat and crimp separately

Order the Lee Collet Crimp Die and split your operations in two and I think all will be well

This die will put a cannelure in bullets that do not have one and is under $20.

 

[JackRussel]

Thank you for the responses. The bullets I'm using now are Rainier 335gr plated round nose. Regarding the Lee crimp die, I was under the impression that they would make a factory crimp die if you sent them a dummy round. If they don't I'll try to use the seating/crimping die in two seperate operations. I don't mind if it takes a little longer as long as the results are consistent. That's probably what bothers me the most now, the fact that the majority of the rounds are fine but the few outliers built at the same time with the same equipment and components are causing me an issue. Thanks again for your responses.

 

[colt_saa]

Thank you for the responses. The bullets I'm using now are Rainier 335gr plated round nose. Regarding the Lee crimp die, I was under the impression that they would make a factory crimp die if you sent them a dummy round. If they don't I'll try to use the seating/crimping die in two seperate operations. I don't mind if it takes a little longer as long as the results are consistent. That's probably what bothers me the most now, the fact that the majority of the rounds are fine but the few outliers built at the same time with the same equipment and components are causing me an issue. Thanks again for your responses.

Any FCD they make for you from your 6 sample dummy rounds will be without the carbide ring. With the 500 S&W the carbide ring is too thin and cracks. We went through this when the 500 S&W was first released.

If you do not want to use a Collet style crimper, just order a spare LEE seater/crimper and pull out the seating stem. This will be much cheaper than their custom charges for a single die. Heck, you could order both from LEE (or a distributor) and still be under the custom die charge.

Then you can experiment on which you prefer.

 

[JackRussel]

I ordered Lee a collet style crimp die off of eBay for $15.00. I'll report back after it arrives and I can try it. Thanks again for the help.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Just remember roll crimps on plated bullets usually aren't good.

From Rainier's website:

A slight taper or minimal roll crimp may be used with our bullets. Over-crimping plated bullets may result in decreased accuracy, and can result in the fragmentation of copper plating.

.

 

[cmj8591]

Check the length of the cases. It's a pain but they might need to be trimmed. The trim length is 1.615" and the max length is 1.625". It is impossible to get a uniform crimp on cases with differing lengths. This could explain while some cases fit and others don't.

 

[JackRussel]

I finally received the collet crimp die, loaded and fired 100 rounds with zero issues. Thanks again for all your responses, having everthing work as it should really enhances my enjoyment of this gun.