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| I'm using bullets that I cast using a Lee 175gn mold using wheelweights. The bullets are semi wadcutters. The cases are new. I feel that the problem is in the bullets because my jacketed reloads work fine. I'm starting to think that the bullets need sizing. When I drop them into the chamber they don't fall all the way in. I just tried seating the bullet further, so far that the entire shoulder was in the case. Only then did the sticking go away. With the bullet seated all the way in the gun would not chamber from the magazine. |
| Posts: 336 | Location: Alabama, U.S.A. | Registered: 19 February 2003 |
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| If sizing your bullets does not help, I would suggest that you try backing off on your crimp some more. What happens if you over crimp is that the front band of the bullet becomes larger from the swaging action of the taper crimp. That in turn prevents the round from head spacing on the case mouth. You should be able to see this, with close inspection.
With the same crimp setting, cast bullets can often be over crimped, while no problem is noted with jacketed bullets. |
| Posts: 121 | Location: Arizona | Registered: 29 December 2002 |
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| If you are not sizing your bullets, another fix is the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die. It adds an extra step, You seat the bullet in the case with your regular seating die but do not crimp. The Lee FC Die taper crimps the bullet and resizes the case when you use it as the last step. I use it in the .45acp and .40S&W. I shoot Lee Tumble lube bullets in the .40 and don't size the bullets. I use a Lee RNHP in the .45 and don't size them. The Lee FC Die costs about $9.00 and IMHO is money well spent for auto pistol loading with cast bullets. It's cheaper than suying sizing dies and easier than taking the time required to size bullets. |
| Posts: 34 | Location: VA, USA | Registered: 12 September 2001 |
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| I'm using the Lee Factory Crimp as well as the other Lee dies. I've tried applying no crimp, just letting the LFC resize the cartridge but no luck. I've added a little bit of crimp with no luck. The cartidges are still slightly sticking in the chamber. Sometimes they can be removed in the same manner that you use to get ketchup out of a bottle, but usually you have to pull on the rim. The jacketed bullets slide in and out.
The bullets are not hard cast either; they are just dropped straight of the mold onto a towel. |
| Posts: 336 | Location: Alabama, U.S.A. | Registered: 19 February 2003 |
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| I use Lee 230gr RN as cast and then taper crimp. No problem in my Govt 1911. |
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