For the first time I loaded up some rounds for a friends 500S S&W. Brass was one fire in hs gun. He went with Lee Dies ( ) Sorry -- just dont like em....I'm a Redding and Hornady guy.

Using 400gr Sierra's I went thru all the normal steps. Where the bell is the rounds wont fit in the chamber! The bulge is toooo big. I checked the rounds and they are .4995 so they are good to go.

Am I correct to believe I over belled the case?? That's the only thing I can think of. I did FL size the cases.

It is possible that you over belled the case, you might have also tried to apply to heavy of a crimp and bulged the case as well.

You want to bell 'just enough', no more. You can take any bell out with a Lee FCD, & put in as much crimp as called for.

I am with TX on this one, however, I have an addition, sometimes case length is too long, and when they are crimmped, they bulge the case not allowing th round to fit the cylinder. Just try backing off the crimping die, and see how that works.

Jerry

If you are crimping, you can't over bell the case. It does sound like you are over crimping though & slightly bulging the case. I have done this w/ brass that is a bit too long. Check your crimp, check your case length. With magnums, I find you need to watch case length & trim for consitent crimping.