A strange thing happened while developing some 380 loads ...

[lrrifleman]

Greetings! I need a little advice. I have been reloading for about 45 years, and I don't remember this ever happening.

Once I got my dies adjusted, with my test/dummy rounds sliding easily into and out of my case gage, I started production on my single stage press. I checked every completed round in the case gage. The problem is, 1 out of every 6 or 7 rounds was a tight fit in the case gage, and would not fall freely from the gage.

The dies were locked in place. The ram went through a full stroke and cammed. The seating die was set to taper crimp the case mouth to 0.3725". The Sierra 90 gr JHP-C bullets were seated to a C.O.L. of 0.941". I was not compressing the powder charge.

Can anyone offer an idea of what was going wrong?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[kleeber]

Some of your reloads may have the bullet seated a bit cocked in the case, causing a slight bulge from the heel of the bullet that causes interference with the case gauge.

Do all your sized cases slip easily into the case gauge? If you are loading range pickup-up brass, some of the cases may not be getting sized sufficiently at the base to pass the gauge test.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Were all the problems with one type of brass? Run some empty cases through the case gauge after they have been sized and expanded, but before you seat any bullets...

As suggested above, there well may be different degrees of resizing, depending upon the age and sources of your brass.

Cheers!

P.S. This is, in my experience, where the LEE FCD comes in handy.

 

[rpf2000]

The problem is, 1 out of every 6 or 7 rounds was a tight fit in the case gage, and would not fall freely from the gage.

Can anyone offer an idea of what was going wrong?

Is your brass all the same brand or from different manufacturers? Are the rounds with tight fit all the same brand?
Perhaps some have a little thicker walls?

 

[max503]

Have you tried cycling them through the gun?

 

[gwpercle]

Have you tried cycling them through the gun?

Case gauge fit doesn't mean doodly squat ... do they pass the plunk test in your guns barrel .
Max503 has a good suggestion .
Gary

 

[Old_Cop]

One more thing to worry about with .380s is bullet sliding into the case from loading from the magazine. Don't know why but I suspect that there is a variance in wall thickness in different cases. They are such a pain that I rarely load .380s

 

[glenwolde]

I had the same problem. It was indeed bullets that were seated crooked. I could just see it rolling them across the bench. Since I couldn't make it stop I swapped out the Lee seating die for a Hornady and the problem disappeared. It's a very short bullet and assuming you're using round nose bullets those are probably the hardest profile to keep straight with such a short bullet.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I had the same problem. It was indeed bullets that were seated crooked. I could just see it rolling them across the bench. Since I couldn't make it stop I swapped out the Lee seating die for a Hornady and the problem disappeared. It's a very short bullet and assuming you're using round nose bullets those are probably the hardest profile to keep straight with such a short bullet.

A 2nd vote for the Hornady seating dies. They just seem to work better with the smaller diameter bullets for me. Their design guides the bullet into proper orientation.

I like their expander dies as well: once properly set they don't vary. No powder-through feature, but I don't typically use a drop.

The LEE FCDs are still my favorites for a separate crimp, though...

Cheers!

 

[glenwolde]

One more thing to worry about with .380s is bullet sliding into the case from loading from the magazine. Don't know why but I suspect that there is a variance in wall thickness in different cases. They are such a pain that I rarely load .380s

Wouldn't that be a concern with any autoloading cartridge? Certainly the 9mm has case variations all over the place.

In my experience the .380 is not harder to load than anything else. I crank them out 1,000 at a time on my Dillon and have never had any real problems once I solved the seating problem.

I love the cartridge. Inexpensive to reload. Extremely accurate. I like it better than the 9mm. Certainly not from a terminal ballistics standpoint but for goofing around and introducing new shooters to centerfire handguns one of the larger .380's is a great choice. The only downside is the selection of guns is small and they get discontinued frequently. I'm talking about the .380's with double-stack magazines.

 

[glenwolde]

A 2nd vote for the Hornady seating dies. They just seem to work better with the smaller diameter bullets for me. Their design guides the bullet into proper orientation.

I like their expander dies as well: once properly set they don't vary. No powder-through feature, but I don't typically use a drop.

The LEE FCDs are still my favorites for a separate crimp, though...

Cheers!

Most of the time I just use a regular roll crimp die or taper crimp die depending on the cartridge an/or bullet.

The Lee FCDs are great with jacketed bullets but I have upon occasion had issues with those using lead bullets, which is 90% of what I shoot, so I don't generally use them unless I'm loading jacketed bullets for an autoloader. Which is not that often.

For magnum revolver cartridges the Redding Profile Crimp Die is fantastic. But I don't shoot a whole lot of that anymore either.

Most of my die sets, as I use them, are a mixmaster. If I buy a full die set it's Hornady or maybe Redding. I have plenty of Lee dies and I'm not a hater but I don't buy them as a full set anymore unless it's the only choice. Really I've got dies from everybody at this point.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Seriously, one should consider trying the SCCY CPX-3. Single stack, multiple 10 round magazines, a LIFETIME WARRANTY that goes with the gun as well...

Normally found for under $280 it is a very inexpensive alternative to the typical 6 to 7 shot offerings in 380 acp. My experience has shown them to be both accurate and reliable once you get used to the rather long, revolver-like, double-action trigger. Not at all sensitive to ammunition choices, either.

Cheers!

 

[mikld]

Any time there is a fit issue, measure.Measuring will tell you where the problem is and then you can determine when it happens and fix it, Measure the case OD in several places checking for bulges. Measure the OAL of the "bad" rounds. Measure/make sure some rounds don't slip by that still have some flare. Check headstamp on "bad" rounds as some walls may be thicker and seating a bullet may bulge the case OD...

 

[4barrel]

I have a Lyman sizer for that problem. I size the bullet down .001 if needed. If it fits your chamber all is good.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Seriously, one should consider trying the SCCY CPX-3. Single stack, multiple 10 round magazines, a LIFETIME WARRANTY that goes with the gun as well...

Normally found for under $280 it is a very inexpensive alternative to the typical 6 to 7 shot offerings in 380 acp. My experience has shown them to be both accurate and reliable once you get used to the rather long, revolver-like, double-action trigger. Not at all sensitive to ammunition choices, either.

Cheers!

Th Nevada youtube test showed the new 380 in the box came with all the normal stuff and a triger lock with two keys but....
the kicker was that it came with three (3) 10 round magazines.

Nice selling point.

FMJ and JHP were tested in a never fired weapon and only 1 fail to feed, right out of the box in 120 plus rounds.

Not bad for ruff metal edges and no lube added for the first try.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Although the ol' "right outta' da' box" & the "we shot 2,000 rounds without any cleaning" videos are kind of entertaining (well... Sometimes!) I just can't imagine not 1st cleaning and lubricating a new (or, even just "new to me") gun before I would take it out and shoot it.

Although the CPX-3 is not typically thought of as a range gun I have shot at least 500 rounds with it: those 3 mags do come in handy when one is practicing...

Remember, even Tuco took the time to locate the best parts and assemble the pistol he "borrowed" from the storekeep in The G, the B & the U!

Cheers!

P.S. Same goes with cleaning: unless I'm consciously planning to use the same firearm within a very short time I just (semi-)automatically clean my guns before they get put away.

 

[ChillyDog]

Sounds like the crew had all of the suggestions needed to figure out what's happening here for you. What did you come up with? Also was mentioned above I use Lee factory crimp dies for all my pistol cartridges I load for. They work great.

 

[Funflyer]

The Sierra 90 gr JHP-C bullets were seated to a C.O.L. of 0.941". I

Can anyone offer an idea of what was going wrong?

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

Good advise above. I'll just add one other comment. If that's the Sierra 8100 you're using, double check that OAL in your barrel. I have to seat the 8100 to an OAL of .925" for most of my 380s.

 

[raljr1]

I had the similar issue with some 45 ACP loads. Case walls were thicker on some. There was not really a noticeable bulge, but it changed the OD enough that they would not readily chamber in one of my 45s

 

[glenwolde]

I had the similar issue with some 45 ACP loads. Case walls were thicker on some. There was not really a noticeable bulge, but it changed the OD enough that they would not readily chamber in one of my 45s

Lead bullets or jacketed?