CanuckShooter
CGN frequent flyer
My dad had been having some problems with his reloaded .40 rounds not chambering. About 30% of them would not chamber. He is using lead RNFP bullets. So we bought the Lee Factory Crimp Die and I am not sure if it has helped....
We originally thought that it was the brass that was bulged keeping it from chambering since some of it is Glock fired. But after resizing the brass, it drops right it to the chamber no problem. So I figure that is not the issue. The OAL we are using, is the recipe for this type of bullet in the Lyman and Hodgdon manual, and I am scared to go any shorter since from what I understand that could cause a great pressure spike (even though there are some .40 recipes that call for an OAL as short as 1.110.... which I don't understand). So the only thing I can come up with is the lead bullets. He has used plated, and FMJ's before with nary a hiccup.
We tried dropping some factory ammo into the chamber of his gun (S&W 4006 with Bartso barrel), and of course it dropped right it, and none of the case wall was showing. But when we drop a reloaded cartridge in, it doesn't drop in all the way like the factory ammo. It chambers fine when cycling the slide, even when I ease the slide closed lightly, yet there is a bit of resistance when cycling the slide to eject the cartridge manually.
Is that ok? Or should ejecting the cartridge be as easy as if the chamber was empty, with absolutely no resistance. We are using an OAL of 1.124 with the RNPF bullets. I am ripping my hair out trying to find what the hell is going on, but just can't seem to figure it out. I am apprehensive about turning down the crimp die too much as to avoid a pressure spike, but I read that the Lee factory crimp die will not allow you to go below SAAMI case mouth specs. Does this mean I can crank it down all the way with no ill effect? I have ony turned the crimp insert down half, to a full turn past where it engages an empty casing as the instructions say.
Help anyone? I am losing my mind! lol

We originally thought that it was the brass that was bulged keeping it from chambering since some of it is Glock fired. But after resizing the brass, it drops right it to the chamber no problem. So I figure that is not the issue. The OAL we are using, is the recipe for this type of bullet in the Lyman and Hodgdon manual, and I am scared to go any shorter since from what I understand that could cause a great pressure spike (even though there are some .40 recipes that call for an OAL as short as 1.110.... which I don't understand). So the only thing I can come up with is the lead bullets. He has used plated, and FMJ's before with nary a hiccup.
We tried dropping some factory ammo into the chamber of his gun (S&W 4006 with Bartso barrel), and of course it dropped right it, and none of the case wall was showing. But when we drop a reloaded cartridge in, it doesn't drop in all the way like the factory ammo. It chambers fine when cycling the slide, even when I ease the slide closed lightly, yet there is a bit of resistance when cycling the slide to eject the cartridge manually.
Is that ok? Or should ejecting the cartridge be as easy as if the chamber was empty, with absolutely no resistance. We are using an OAL of 1.124 with the RNPF bullets. I am ripping my hair out trying to find what the hell is going on, but just can't seem to figure it out. I am apprehensive about turning down the crimp die too much as to avoid a pressure spike, but I read that the Lee factory crimp die will not allow you to go below SAAMI case mouth specs. Does this mean I can crank it down all the way with no ill effect? I have ony turned the crimp insert down half, to a full turn past where it engages an empty casing as the instructions say.
Help anyone? I am losing my mind! lol


Last edited: