Problems reloading Ranier 148gn DEWC in 38 Special
- Thread starter Fishstyx
- Start date
Wadcutter brass
Speaking of 38 Spcl. brass & full wadcutters, here's something I saw sometime ago (probably here but I'm not sure?) & saved as a FYI:
Wadcutter brass has a longer straight untapered case wall than the standard case. This allows the deep seated wadcutter bullet to not hit the thicker wall of the case toward the case head. This can cause the loaded case to bulge and the bullet to be damaged. This also gives an even case tension on the entire length of the bullets. Wadcutter brass can be distinguished from regular brass by the double cannelure ring.
Winchester used special brass for their match wadcutter loads that were thin-walled from the case mouth to the first cannelure. This brass is especially desirable if you use double end wadcutters (DEWC).
All my vintage WW brass from the USAF pistol team days is like this.
Speaking of 38 Spcl. brass & full wadcutters, here's something I saw sometime ago (probably here but I'm not sure?) & saved as a FYI:
Wadcutter brass has a longer straight untapered case wall than the standard case. This allows the deep seated wadcutter bullet to not hit the thicker wall of the case toward the case head. This can cause the loaded case to bulge and the bullet to be damaged. This also gives an even case tension on the entire length of the bullets. Wadcutter brass can be distinguished from regular brass by the double cannelure ring.
Winchester used special brass for their match wadcutter loads that were thin-walled from the case mouth to the first cannelure. This brass is especially desirable if you use double end wadcutters (DEWC).
All my vintage WW brass from the USAF pistol team days is like this.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Like already said, R-P are Remington brass (Remington-Peters) and they are just fine when loading .38 Special ammo. I have been using the same 1200 pieces for over 8 years not and not one has failed.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I never had a problem reloading Magtech brass (CBC) but I can't remember if I ever tried to load full wadcutters in Magtech brass either.
I had this same problem a few months ago with a variety of brass. Come to find out, the tumbler media was dirty and left a film of crud on the inside walls. Looking inside the cases it was easy to see, (in hindsight). I properly cleaned the brass again...and voila....the DEWCs seated without bulging.
I inspect the entire case now, inside and out. I am constantly learning things regarding reloading even after all these years.
I inspect the entire case now, inside and out. I am constantly learning things regarding reloading even after all these years.
CBC (AKA MagTech) makes excellent brass. It is probably better than some other brands out there. It may be because it is a heavier wall brass? Also may be some of the bullets have more plating than others?? Impossible to say with measuring.
As mention, do not ditch the brass it is good brass.
Perhaps, (wild idea) try a bit of case lube (like rifles) on the mouth of the case and try seating it??
Most WC bullets are plain old lead alloy, so I am thinking that the friction of the plated bullets may be something??
You say the work in other brands of brass, perhaps it is softer brass, but if those work than just use that brass.
As mention, do not ditch the brass it is good brass.
Perhaps, (wild idea) try a bit of case lube (like rifles) on the mouth of the case and try seating it??
Most WC bullets are plain old lead alloy, so I am thinking that the friction of the plated bullets may be something??
You say the work in other brands of brass, perhaps it is softer brass, but if those work than just use that brass.
Virginia John
Member
I feel your pain. I really like the looks of the CBC cases but I had problems with them as well, including primer pockets. It is a nice heavy case too bad it is such a pain to work with.
I just loaded a bunch of .38 Special with mixed brass. I was getting slight bulging with military and the old headstamped S&W brass using a LSWC bullet. I did not want to throw the brass out, so I ran the problem cartridges through a Lee FCD.
gregintenn
Member
Thanks for the info. I've never seen that before.
I've found CBC to be fine brass, but I'm not sure I've ever loaded one with a wadcutter bullet. I'm certain I've never loaded one with a plated wadcutter bullet.
I recently bought 1K of the Rainier 148 grain DEWC. I ran them all through a Lee .358 sizer die before I loaded any. They are my new favorite accurate pinking load using 38 special brass loaded to about 20K psi and 357 brass loaded to about 25K psi per Quickload, especially the 357 cases. I use a Lyman M expander die as well as chamfering the inside of the case and never had any problem with any brass including CBC which I also observed has slightly tighter primer pockets.
Also just take the bell out when you crimp.
Also just take the bell out when you crimp.
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That sounds like a good thing to try, chamfer the case!
Resize DEWC
Just curious, was there sometime odd about their size that you decided to resize them?
Just curious, was there sometime odd about their size that you decided to resize them?
I usually do this with only lead bullets but had just read an article where someone was complaining about these bullets being oversize.
It was just out of curiosity that I tried to drop a few through the cylinder throats which are reamed to .3585. Most did not drop through but got stuck and had to be pushed out. After sizing they all dropped through.
I don't think they were too large but rather distorted.
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Interesting. That sounds pretty conclusive that they are oversize. I mean that's a pretty important caveat to have to resize factory bullets.
It sounds like the bullets without the plating are just right, and plating pushes them to top end of spec or beyond. So, combine a bullet that's very nearly, if not oversize, with a DEWC deep seat design and you have a combination that is very sensitive to case thickness, seat friction, bullet angle etc.
So despite all these issues, the fact remains that the Ranier DEWC I shot were very accurate, especially behind 3.4gr or Titegroup. So, I will use them and probably buy more, but the knowledge in this thread will save a new user a lot of grief.
If I was a betting man, I would say your bullets are "funky".
Millions of 148 gr WC have been loaded in all kinds of brass. I doubt it's the brass. More the bullets.
I do not see where Magtech sells a "special" brass for wad cutters only??
I don't know what empty brass Magtech sells. All my CBC brass is recovered from factory ammo. In my case, the ammo was Magtech 158gr LRN. All I'm saying is that the brass from the LRN box looks different from the brass in the Magtech DEWC pic. My CBC brass has no cannelure ring low on the case like the one in the DEWC product picture.
