bullets not tight enough in .303 brass - am I doing something wrong?

[louthepou]

Hi folks, another question from Lou the newbie...

I've reloaded about 50 rounds now, with a simple Lee Classic reloader, with once-fired brass (different manufactures), and two different bullets - 180gr. Speer round nose, and 150gr. Hornady.

With both types of bullets, I had incidences where the bullet would not fit tightly; I could, with little force, pull it out (the 150gr. have a rim for crimping, but that didn't help). This happened twice with the 180gr, and twice with the 150gr. Is this a normal amount of "rejects" or is the used doing something wrong? Thanks for any tip,

Lou

 

[7 STW]

Your dies should squeeze that neck down..I would assume the neck tension could be loose maybe with one brand of brass not 2..Take apart your resizer and clean it up real good..If it doesn't help I'd be shopping for another die set..

 

[Scott_N]

It sounds to me like you don't have your dies adjusted properly. They may need to be screwed in a little farther into your press.

 

[J Stuart]

Lou, first up you may want to check the size of your expander ball( if it is too large then the judicious use of some very fine emery paper may be called for), and just to be impertinent....you are using .311 projectiles and not .308 ?

 

[louthepou]

Thanks guys. I do have .311 bullets; and the tool I'm using is the hand reloading tool, "Classic Lee Loader" (http://www.leeprecision.com/html/catalog/cleeloader.html) - primitive, but cheap for a newbie...

It may just be then that I haven't fully pushed the brass into the tool for the neck resizing; I'll try to see with the next batch if that could be the cause.

Lou

 

[J Stuart]

Lou, look about for a second hand cast (not alloy) O-frame press, then purchase some relevant 7/8 dies....it will save you an awful lot of headaches.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

Sir have presses for $30. I have one and it works great for the reloading I do. It does sound like you have not full length sized your brass. If shot out of different guns, FL sizing is necessary. I also wonder if someone before you may have switched the neck expander. For $25.00 maybe find a new set of dies, then you are certain of reloading right.