I am having a problem reloading shells for 38-55. I have new Lee dies and when I seat the bullet in the case the case bulges out more on 1 side than the other. Does anyone have any suggestions, or can tell me what I'm doing wrong?

What bullet are you using?

I had the same problem with a 45-70 using Lee dies, I tried adjusting the die every way I could. I solved it by throwing the Lee dies away and buying a set of Hornady's. I like the Lee collet dies and their primer tool, but I have had problems with their standard dies on more than one occasion.

[ 05-16-2003, 17:49: Message edited by: DennisF ]

Take a look at the thickness of the brass you`re useing. The cases are probibly thicker on one side than the other, allowing more "bulge" on one side than the other. I would check run out if you have the means just to be sure but I wouldn`t lose any sleep over it if you don`t and the ammo shoots OK.

Sounds like you may be over-crimping. If you bottom-out your seating die on the shell holder head, you will likely be crushing the mouth of the case and causing a bulge.

Back your die off so that it makes NO crimp when the bullet is seated. If you need a crimp (as is likely desirable with a .38-55), after the bullets are seated, screw the seating stem out so that it no longer touches the bullets and screw your seater died body progressively deeper into the press until you achieve the amount of crimp desired, without over crimping.

The expander button may be to small in dia.

Hard to tell but it sounds like the bullet is catching on the lip of
the cartridge neck. It could be that the cases and bullets are a little
out of alignment when the bullets starts to seat. Hard to tell without
a photo or detailed description.

I think Stonecreek got this one. The other thing when using the roll crimp that comes with the seater die, is that the cases must all be trimmed to the same length as to when the die was set up. If the cases are long you will get a bulge.

Another thing to cosider is that the cannalure is in the correct spot. You may be attempting to put a crimp on a part of the bullet that has no groove for it.

Turok