reloading problem

I

Iron sights

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first off i use the Lee breech lock challenger press and all lee peices.

so last night was my first try at reloading. i decided to do some .303 brit as i shoot that by far the most. i lubed, sized, primered, and charged the casings without issue. but then came seating the bullet. i set up the die by putting a empty, uncharged, unprimed but sized shell in the shell holder, raised it all the way, screwed down the die, lowered the arm, and unscrewed the die a half turn, then tighted the nut. i went to seat the bullet and i heard a scrunching sound, when i lowered the arm the bullet was no where to be seen. i took apart the die and it was stuck inside the cylinder peice that would push it down. after repeatedly trying and the same thing happening i got very frustrated ( a few words were slipped out at the press) and decided i wasn't in a good condition to continue ( i was very frustrated) . But now i want to figure out what is going on.

any ideas why the bullet is getting stuck in the die? and also any instructions on how to properly set up the bullet seating die would be greatly appreaciated.
 
Iron sights said:
first off i use the Lee breech lock challenger press and all lee peices.

i set up the die by putting a empty, uncharged, unprimed but sized shell in the shell holder, raised it all the way, screwed down the die, lowered the arm, and unscrewed the die a half turn, then tighted the nut.
Click to expand...

2 problems:

1. You are using Lee.

2. Sounds like you are installing your die correctly, but I think you may have seating depth adjuster down too far. Try backing it off.
 
thanks guys i got it working, but now anothere problem,i have a 3 cases that are live, but got a bulghe around the entire shoulder, how should i go about fixing this? im assuming they are not good to shoot
 
Iron sights said:
thanks guys i got it working, but now anothere problem,i have a 3 cases that are live, but got a bulghe around the entire shoulder, how should i go about fixing this? im assuming they are not good to shoot
Click to expand...

To much crimp, back the die off, if you try those cases they will probably not chamber.
 
Iron sights said:
ok, how should i take them apart?
Click to expand...

You need a bullet puller, either kinetic or collet, then you can get the powder, primer and bullet but throw the case, but its not worth getting a bullet puller for 3 rounds, i would throw (dispose in sand bucket at range for example) those case and make sure you get the die set correct so you dont mess up other cases.
 
Iron sights said:
thanks guys i got it working, but now anothere problem,i have a 3 cases that are live, but got a bulghe around the entire shoulder, how should i go about fixing this? im assuming they are not good to shoot
Click to expand...

Pictures would help us determine what caused this ... (edit: I see you tried, but Google won't let me view the link :( )

Sight unseen though, I'd say the only 100% safe solution is to pull them using your kinetic puller, then try Full Length resizing the brass - remove your de-priming tool from teh die before doing this!!! - and try loading them again.

I agree with the prevous poster ... sounds to me like the crimp is being applied a little too aggressively and is not just crimping the mouth, but pushing downwards on the unsupported brass at the same time, causing a bulge at the first weak point.
 
I, as a newb, would like to suggest you play around with your tools without doing any powder charging. Get to know how your dies need to be set up, and develop a feel for it, and concentrate on achieving control over your seating depth.

X10 on the puller. I think the hammer type is more convenient to use than the collet type if you only have one press.
 
thanks all, i backed off the crimp a little and they are turning out perfect. i dont have a bullet puller, for the bulged rounds, i think i will store them like it was said in a sand bucket until i can get one (i.e. next paycheck) and take them out. as far as the primer goes would i just use the depimer in the sizing die for taking it out? even though the primers are still live?

IMagius, why must i take out the de-primer for a full length resize?
 
Iron sights said:
thanks all, i backed off the crimp a little and they are turning out perfect. i dont have a bullet puller, for the bulged rounds, i think i will store them like it was said in a sand bucket until i can get one (i.e. next paycheck) and take them out. as far as the primer goes would i just use the depimer in the sizing die for taking it out? even though the primers are still live?

IMagius, why must i take out the de-primer for a full length resize?
Click to expand...

If the bulged rounds chamber, you can fire them and they'll fireform back into shape.
You can pop the live primers the same way as the spent ones. Just go slow and wear eye and ear protection. I deprimed dozens of previously primed brass by mistake at full speed and nothing bad happened.
 
To pull your bullets, take the die out of the press.
Put the damaged cartridge in the shell holder and push the handle all the way down, so the bullet protrudes above the press.
Get a good grip on the bullet with side cutter pliers and hold the pliers tight.
With a sharp yank, lift the handle of the press.
The bullet should be in your pliers.
Throw away the bullet, but save the powder.
Resize the damaged case, pushing the primer out as you go. If you catch the primer, you can put it back in.
As has been stated, the cause of the trouble was the seating die turned too far in.
Correct the trouble and load away.
 
Iron sights said:
IMagius, why must i take out the de-primer for a full length resize?
Click to expand...

Taking it out isn't actually needed ... you can reset it's location to a point that it will still aid is sizing the neck, but not be deep enough to touch the primer. I only recommend doing that because you are relatively new to reloading. A person can certainyl leave the deprimer rod in, and carefully deprime a live primer while resizing the brass. I've done it, and it does work ... but ... there is a greater chance of the primer detonating.

For the price of a primer, I'd rather: A: fire the primer if possible, or B: reposition depriming rod before resizing.

Yes, I am erring on the side of caution ...
 
IMagius said:
Taking it out isn't actually needed ... you can reset it's location to a point that it will still aid is sizing the neck, but not be deep enough to touch the primer. I only recommend doing that because you are relatively new to reloading. A person can certainyl leave the deprimer rod in, and carefully deprime a live primer while resizing the brass. I've done it, and it does work ... but ... there is a greater chance of the primer detonating.

For the price of a primer, I'd rather: A: fire the primer if possible, or B: reposition depriming rod before resizing.

Yes, I am erring on the side of caution ...
Click to expand...

Ok thanks for the tip, it makes sense and ill follow it.
 
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