I've had a continuing problem with my .50 AE reloads. The bullets won't stay seated. They can be pushed back by hand if I squeeze really hard, or during feeding from the magazine. This problem happens often, but randomly between nickel plated Speer brass, and Starline brass. Mostly it happens with the Speer brass being reused from factory loads.

I've set the resizing die per RCBS instructions (touch the shell holder, then another 1/8 turn down). The case mouths measure to the spec listed in the Speer book (don't recall what it is). Should the sizing die be undersized to get some friction between the bullet and the case body?

On the cases that don't have a problem, the crimp is so heavy that there are lines in the bullet from the case mouth. The ones the do have a problem, it feels like the crimp is the only thing holding the bullet in place, and once it slides past the ogive, the case body provide zero friction.

I'm tempted to try a different set of reloading dies. One thing I just thought of was bullet variance. The one constant in all this is the bullets used have been Speer 325 grain HP.

Any ideas?
Thanks

After you size a case, and before you bell the mouth, what is the inside diameter of the case mouth?

Why do some cartridges have heavier crimps than others? If the case lengths are the same, which they should all be very close, the crimp should be the same for each cartridge.

You seem to be describing multiple problems, from incorrect case length(s) to an oversize dies / brass which is too thin at the mouth.

ASS_CLOWN

Case length came up as the first culprit. I resized the cases, then trimmed them to the same length. That should have helped with consistent crimping, but didn't.

I'll check case I.D. after belling. I'll also check wall thickness after resizing and bullet diamters.

Is it possible the case mouths are too hard and are springing instead of resizing?

Thanks

Check your mouth inside diameter BEFORE belling! You can also check it after words. If you set the belling die too deeply it WILL open up the case mouth and make it over-size. That is why I strongly recommend that you check the ID of the mouth BEFORE you bell, to rule out the sizing die and see if the belling die expander is the problem.

If you are shooting 325 or 335 grain bullets, you are only getting around .3" of bullet seated in the case. The belling die and easily over expand the case and lead to loose fit bullets as you describe. I guess I am trying to say that the belling die depth is somewhat critical.

ASS_CLOWN