When I reload 38sp, 158gr LSWC's, using "multi-fired" brass, sometimes a bullet is not "tight" enough to prevent me from turning it in the case. I crimp in the cannellure, and all crimps look good. Don't ever have a problem with bullets creeping out of the cases during firing. Anyone else have/had this problem? If so, how do you deal with it? tks........skrazo
Inconsistent Crimping
- Thread starter skrazo
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I experience this occasionally, too, and I don't deal with it at all. If the bullet seats too easily, I'll check for mouth or body splits, then disassemble the ctg. if present. Failing that, I just shoot 'em, they don't seem to cause any trouble in a ctg. of such low intensity. If I'm loading for accuracy or velocity, however, I'm using excellent, matching, inspected brass and haven't experienced loose bullets doing that.
Hope this helps.
Larry
Hope this helps.
Larry
Pisgah
Member
If you seat and crimp in one step -- don't. Even very minor differences in case length can lead to inconsistent crimping. Slower but much more consistent to seat and crimp in separate steps.
I would add: Trim your cases and then random check sized length in between loadings to check if trimming is needed again.
jimbo728
Member
I have been using a taper crimp die, set to a light tc, in .38 Special and .357. It works well to give some good tightness. I use this in addition to my seater/ roll crimp die.
I did not start doing this because of looseness of bullets but because my roll crimps had sometimes appeared uneven.
I noticed a smaller extreme spread in chronagraph testing and accuracy has been very good since using the tc die.
Jim
I did not start doing this because of looseness of bullets but because my roll crimps had sometimes appeared uneven.
I noticed a smaller extreme spread in chronagraph testing and accuracy has been very good since using the tc die.
Jim
fredj338
Member
All the same brand of brass? It varies quite a bit from brand to brand.
If a .38 is loose in the case before I crimp, there is something wrong with that cartridge: usually a split case. It should not require a crimp to be tight.
One of the most common causes of the bullet becoming loose AFTER being crimped is over crimping. Once the mouth of the case touches the bullet, any further crimping tends to push the case down and loosen it.
One of the most common causes of the bullet becoming loose AFTER being crimped is over crimping. Once the mouth of the case touches the bullet, any further crimping tends to push the case down and loosen it.
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It's a "Duke's Mixture" ... many different brands ... brass brass - no nickel plated in the lot.
Interesting ... I seat & crimp in separate steps when loading 357 ... never have the above problem. I may be "overflaring" the 38. Will have to re-adjust dies next time I reload.
Thanks for comments so far .... keep em' comin'
Any time I get a bad load, I check it to see if it will work.....
if not I dismantle it but if ok to fire, I mark the back of the case with a marker.
After firing, I find the case and add it to my "Old" case box where it is used with light target loads or tossed out.
You would be amazed how long a case with several small rim cracks will last with light loads.
Good shooting.
if not I dismantle it but if ok to fire, I mark the back of the case with a marker.
After firing, I find the case and add it to my "Old" case box where it is used with light target loads or tossed out.
You would be amazed how long a case with several small rim cracks will last with light loads.
Good shooting.
Calliope
Member
If you can spin the bullet in the case before crimping something is very wrong. Over expanding/flaring is the most common cause. Expanding/flaring has to be just enough to get the bullet started.
With a minimum of expansion there should be no way to twist the bullet with your fingers once seated. .38 special shouldn't need much of a crimp unless you have an ultralight revolver. I taper crimp most of my light and medium .357 loads.
With a minimum of expansion there should be no way to twist the bullet with your fingers once seated. .38 special shouldn't need much of a crimp unless you have an ultralight revolver. I taper crimp most of my light and medium .357 loads.
mark44spec
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Your expander may be to large for the diameter of bullet you are using. This can be fixed by turning it down in a drill if you dont have a lathe. Not all dies are the same dimensions, its also possible your size die is on the large side. If you have a caliper or better yet a mic and small hole gauges, measure some brass before and after sizing, and expanding. Then you know where you are at, and you can adjust wherever it is needed. pm me any questions, mark
Anytime there is a fit problem, measure. Measure the bullet. Measure the expander. Measure the case walls, if you can. Check the head stamps to see if all the "loose" bullets are the same manufacture. Separating the crimping from the seating steps is a very good idea (many times a crimp when applied a bit too much will loosen bullets and/or buckle cases, and very common when new reloaders seat/crimp in one step), at least until you gain a bit more experience...
(FWIW; I have been reloading .38 Specials since 1969 and have used a variety of dies and a Lee Loader, but with .357"-.359" bullets I have never experience loose bullets.)
(FWIW; I have been reloading .38 Specials since 1969 and have used a variety of dies and a Lee Loader, but with .357"-.359" bullets I have never experience loose bullets.)
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Stating the make of dies is helpful when posting sizing/seating/crimping questions.
I've always seated and crimped in one step, with both semi-auto and revolver cases, and never trimmed a single one. All it takes is proper die adjustment.
As for the OP's dilemma, some cases lose their "springiness" after a few firings and don't grip the bullet as tightly after being run through an expander/flaring die. It's the grip of the case, not the amount of crimp that should be holding the bullet. Use the minimal flare needed to start the bullet and the minimal amount of crimp to roll the mouth into the channelure.
I've always seated and crimped in one step, with both semi-auto and revolver cases, and never trimmed a single one. All it takes is proper die adjustment.
As for the OP's dilemma, some cases lose their "springiness" after a few firings and don't grip the bullet as tightly after being run through an expander/flaring die. It's the grip of the case, not the amount of crimp that should be holding the bullet. Use the minimal flare needed to start the bullet and the minimal amount of crimp to roll the mouth into the channelure.
I don't expect to be reloading 38's until the end of next week. I'll readjust the expander die (Lee). I had it too tight before and some of the bullet lubricant (158gr LSWC's) would sometimes be just below the mouth (outside) of the case. Not shaving any lead, but just enough red lube I'd have to clean it before putting reloaded cartridges in their boxes.
Go ahead and use as much flare as you need to seat bullets cleanly, no shaving of lead or lube. Get good shootable ammo now and worry about case life later (a bunch of folks will tell you to use minimal flare because "too much" will shorten case life, but nobody says how much of a reduction, 5 reloadings? 10 reloadings?). .38 Special is plentiful, new, once fired, and range pick-ups, and is cheap, so use as much flare as you need, and worry about case life later...
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After expanding and flaring the case, the bullet should sit just inside the flare, perhaps 1/16", and not any further. If it does, you may be expanding too much or the bullet may be too small.
If you seat and crimp in the same operation, the crimping die may be swaging the bullet. The case will spring back, but the bullet will still be too small. You can avoid this problem if you seat and crimp using separate dies.
Over flaring may have a similar effect. The neck may be constricted once the flare strikes the walls of the seating die, swaging the bullet at the restriction. The case will appear slightly bulged below the crimp if this occurs.
If you seat and crimp in the same operation, the crimping die may be swaging the bullet. The case will spring back, but the bullet will still be too small. You can avoid this problem if you seat and crimp using separate dies.
Over flaring may have a similar effect. The neck may be constricted once the flare strikes the walls of the seating die, swaging the bullet at the restriction. The case will appear slightly bulged below the crimp if this occurs.
