Rounds that won't chamber II

13 May 2003, 11:50

I just got through reloading some 454s for my Freedom Arms. Often times, out of 50 rounds I'll have about two that won't fit. The rim is left protruding from the chamber. It looks like the last 0.07" is not getting sized. Today I used Laser Cast bullets for the first time. Out of 50 rounds 15 didn't fit. I compared the case dimentions of the rounds that didn't fit to those that did. They were all pretty close. Here's where it gets weird for me. I took a round that didn't chamber and I pulled the bullet out. The empty casing chambered fine. I compared the bullet dimentions (.4525") with other bullets of the same lot and they looked ok. I'm using Lee dies, Starline brass (it's been fired 5 times). Any thoughts?

13 May 2003, 11:53

recoiljunky

Oh yeah, I'm letting the ram / shellholder come all the way up to the resizing die. The dies are relatively new, about 800 rounds old.

13 May 2003, 14:31

ricciardelli

Are you over crimping?

13 May 2003, 14:40

recoiljunky

I'm not sure.

Would that cause the round to wedge into the chamber before the round was all the way in?

13 May 2003, 14:43

Robert M Boren Sr

I need just a little more info. What type of bullets are they, brand and style? I had a similar problem with a load I was doing for a 357 and 38 special. These were cast half jaket bulltes 160gr swc in design. Even seating the bullet to max oal they woulld fit in the cylinder. I found out the the bullet shoulder was hitting in the cylinder and wasn't letting the cartridge completely seat. It was an easy fix, just seat the bullet a bit deeper, just enough to chamber. No more problems. Give that a try.

13 May 2003, 18:59

wingnut

Sounds like inconsistent case length or case mouth thickness.

Are you seating and crimping in one operation?

14 May 2003, 09:51

ricciardelli

quote:
Originally posted by recoiljunky:
I'm not sure.

Would that cause the round to wedge into the chamber before the round was all the way in?

Over crimping....that's why I asked...

14 May 2003, 02:13

Magnum Mike

quote:
Originally posted by ricciardelli:
Are you over crimping?

That would be my first guess also. I lil too much crimp will cause a bulge just below the case mouth and the rounds will be very difficult to chamber.

14 May 2003, 02:36

recoiljunky

And the winner is:

OVERCRIMPING

I took the cartridge that I disassembled and reassembled it without as much crimp. Worked fine.

In the past, I have applied more crimp and the rounds worked fine, difference is that I was using a different crimper.

Thanks a bunch!

14 May 2003, 06:15

243winxb

If ALL your brass is not trimmed to the same exact length, set up your crimp die to work with the cases that are the longest OAL.

14 May 2003, 08:44

Stonecreek

Don't seat and crimp in a single operation. If you do so, you'll be pushing your bullet deeper into the case while simultaneously squeezing the case mouth against the bullet. This will cause bullet deformation or at least shave lead (or jacketing material) from the bullet.

First, back your seating die off so that the bullet seats without the crimp ring contacting the case and adjust the seating stem to seat the bullets to the desired depth. After seating all bullets, screw the bullet seating stem out so that it no longer contacts the bullet and adjust the die deeper in the press so that it gives you the desired amount of crimp on a second pass. This is one reason that the separate Lee collet crimping die is so popular.

Two separate operations to seat, then crimp, slows the process a little, but then you are doing two SEPARATE things which don't go well together.

14 May 2003, 13:51

recoiljunky

Thanks everyone for the advise. I am using the Lee factory crimp die. I've had better success with my 44 mag Lee factory crimp than with my 454 Lee factory crimp. I'm guessing the tight fitting chambers on my Freedom Arms 454 are less forgiving than my S&W 44 mag chambers. Also, I've noticed that too much crimp on the 454 will buckle the case. I haven't had a 44 mag case buckle yet.

[ 05-14-2003, 04:52: Message edited by: recoiljunky ]