Please help me out as I am new to reloading. After shooting my first batch of reloads I noticed one of my 6mm Rem bullets was pushed inside the case. I then literally pulled the bullet out of the case with my bare hands and dumped the powder. Now, with ever load I end up with the same thing. The bullets aren't seated tightly. I can push then down into the case or pull them out. I have tried everthing including crimping(which I don't like). What am I doing wrong?
Some more info. I have tried 3 different bullet types and weights all with the same result. Any help is appreciated.
Size a case without the decapper/expander. If your bullets won't go into the case, good. That means your expander is expanding too much; I have run into this. You can chuck the expander assembly in an electric drill and use fine emery to polish/reduce the expander plug until you achieve the desired diam..FWIW.
Why not put a mike on it and give RCBS a call. If it is the expander, and it sounds like it is, they should mail you another. RCBS is a good outfit and they make good dies.
Posts: 2037 | Location: frametown west virginia usa | Registered: 14 October 2001
Sometimes the finishing, doesn't matter what brand, is not up to par. Expanders are cheap and readily available so if you bugger-up, no big deal. Polishing it will make it easier on the brass, as well. Just my redneck opinion, take it for what it's worth.
Another possibility is that your die is either not adjusted correctly or is too long.
Smoke the case neck with a match or candle (cover it with soot). Then run it through the sizing die. If the soot has been wiped off all the way down to the shoulder, then the problem is with your expander ball.
If the soot is still there, then adjust your die as per the instructions that came with it.
George
------------------ Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!
Posts: 14623 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: 22 May 2001
Thanks GeorgeS. Another Question. I have about 20 casings that have the necks too wide. Are these casings worthless now? Once a neck is expanded too wide, is there anyway to get them back to their correct size or do I just need to throw them away and chalk it up as a learning experience?
Sounds like you should read or re-read some manuals. When you push a case up into the resizing die, the expander goes in first and easily. As the case goes further into the die it gets reduced in diameter--smaller than the expander and smaller than the bullet of that caliber. When the case is withdrawn from the die, the expander comes out last and opens the neck up to accept the bullet. Cases that are too large will be Ok as long as the die is doing it's job. If, like I said, you size them without the decapper/expander in the die and the bullets won't go into the neck, the die is ok. If you size them without the decapper/expander in place and the bullet falls into the case, the die is no good. Even resizing a tenth of an ihch of the neck will show if the die is working properly; you don't have to resize the whole neck to find that out. I hope this is of some help.
Daryl, I have re-read the manuals about 20 times. It just doesn't make sense. My problem is that the necks are too large and the expander rod simply passes through the sized case very easily. How do I get the neck smaller so the bullet will be seated tightly? Especially with a cannelure the bullet just wiggles in the case after seating.
When I take the sizing die out of the press and put a sized hull in the die, it just slips in and out all the way until the decap pin hits the bottom of the casing. Which process tightens the neck to the bullet? (without crimping)
harkm, I guess I didn't understand the question. There is no other step other than running the case into the sizing die, and you can see how far down the case you've gone by looking at the neck, then priming,charging,and seating a bullet. Neck tension on the bullet is achieved through resizing the case. The obvious,maybe,wrong size die for case? It normally takes quite some force to remove a bullet from a case even if it is not crimped. The only other thing is bad die if it won't hold the bullet tightly.
Your case necks will be slightly oversized after firing and should not make contact with the expander on the way into the die but after you run the case into the die until the shell holder touches the bottom of the die the neck should then be squeezed down to slightly undersized then on the way out be sized by the expander, if the expander is sizeing the neck it should be very noticeable and even make a squeeling noise if the inside of the neck is not lubed.
harkm, Your question about the other 20 cases has been answered; you don't have to throw them away.
Do you have a micrometer or dial calipers? If so, just measure the diameter of the expander. If it is SMALLER than the caliber you are shooting, contact the die maker for the correct size expander. If it is the correct size expander, then your die might be too long, and needs to be replaced by the die maker.
hutt, Contact RCBS Customer Service right away! Your dies may have been lost in the anthrax shuffle.
George
------------------ Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!
Posts: 14623 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: 22 May 2001
You say you can drop a fired case into the resizing die and it will drop all the way in? The base of the case is pretty much flush with the mouth of the die? Are you sure you have the right dies? Check the top of the die for the calibre data. RCBS may have put a wrong die in the box. I would definitly call RCBS.
Posts: 2037 | Location: frametown west virginia usa | Registered: 14 October 2001
I have a 6mm REM ACKLEY, I've turned the necks just enough to make them uniform. With the rcbs dies I have the same problem, I found the hornady neck die is tighter. So my suggestion is get a Hornady neck sizing die.
Posts: 787 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 15 January 2002
Through inexperience with Lee collet neck sizing dies, I have been known to not apply enough pressure to the press with the result that some case necks were not closed up sufficiently. I had exactly the sitution that you had - loose bullets!
As I don't crimp I had to find a solution and re-sizing the cases but with ample pressure on the press was a 100% cure.
------------------ tikka 3 barrels
Posts: 360 | Location: Sunny, but increasingly oppressed by urbanites England | Registered: 13 February 2001
Maybe you should start from the beginning like this: insert the corect shell holder into the ram. Then screw the die that has the pin sticking out of the bottom. Pull the handle on the press to raise the shell holder up to meet the die. Make certain the shell holder touches the die enough so that the lever will "cam over". If it does not touch fim enough, screw the die in a bit further. When the die is in the correct position, adjust the lock ring to hold it there. Next, adjust the de=priming pin low enough to eject the spent primers. The pin should protrude through the shell holder a small amount. Next, you are ready to full length re-size and de-prime your brass. The "cam-over part is important here. Check that.
