Loose Bullets

smokingunns

smokingunns

Member
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
Location
Fraser Valley
I've loaded about 1500 rounds of cast lead bullets and have never seen this before...

I stopped reloading for about the last 3 weeks and changed to a lee pro from a lee turett however I am still using the same RCBS dies.

Not sure if leaving the bullets along with the press/dies during the chilly weather the last few weeks in the garage could be a cause however I just loaded 5 cartidges this afternoon and in all 5 cases, the bullet is loose...I can grab the bullet and turn it around....I even took a pair of pliers and pulled one of the bullets out. I examined the bullet and it does show the casing marks and the bullet is a different diameter where it sat in the casing.

The dies are set up properly (as per Lee's website videos) and am using 2 turett heads to complete the reloading...the first has the deprime and expander (I'm not expanding the casing that much...if at all), the second turret has the powder through, bullet seating and factory crimp.

What do you think the causes could be and how could I fix this?

Last but most importantly, is it dangerous to shoot these loose bullet cartridges? I'm not going shoot them but I wanted to ask this question.

thanks,
 
Last edited:
Have you measured the bullets with a caliper yet, just to see how much if any variation there is?? I've not casted myself, but I had some Excel bullets that weren't real uniform, I think they are called Mexican Match bullets.

Is it possible little hands/ fingers were playing with dads reloading equipment, and turned a few dies a bit. When I first started reloading, I noticed with undersized above mentioned bullets, too much flare for seating, and not enough crimp can cause havoc. Yes, there were a few abortions off the starting line.

Another possibility is, I'm using the Lee turret press, but the turret has some play in it, where a single station press(for example) would have no play or give when you hit the down stroke/shell casing up.

Food for thought...the pros should be by anytime now.:redface:
 
I'll take some measurements with my digital calipers and post...as for the little hands, I don't think so as i just set up the pro 1000 this afternoon also.

Maybe I should try crimping some more but thought I'd post for some advise before wasting any more cartridges.
 
Smokingunns...i don't mean to be a a-hole but back to reloading 101 for you....when you deprime case with your "full length sizing die" it should be adjusted so that the whole case enters the die at the same time it is being deprimed. if you don't have carbide dies this will require using case lube. This reduces the neck to a couple thou. less then the bullet dia. for a good tight fit. From here you bell case mouth for cast bullet, and crimp when all is said and done, either roll crimp for rev. or taper for semis. Bullets should not move even when full body weight is brought to bear......contact me or any other knowledgeable reloader on this forum if you have any questions as you're treading on possible dangerous territory with bullets falling further into cases, and when fired causing dangerous press. situation...........Ben
 
Is it possible he has been resizing while depriming, and just didn't know it?? I do agree that for safety sake, a good look at your reloading manual is in order. You like your eyes and fingers as much as I do.:)
 
ben hunchak said:
Smokingunns...i don't mean to be a a-hole but back to reloading 101 for you....when you deprime case with your "full length sizing die" it should be adjusted so that the whole case enters the die at the same time it is being deprimed. if you don't have carbide dies this will require using case lube. This reduces the neck to a couple thou. less then the bullet dia. for a good tight fit. From here you bell case mouth for cast bullet, and crimp when all is said and done, either roll crimp for rev. or taper for semis. Bullets should not move even when full body weight is brought to bear......contact me or any other knowledgeable reloader on this forum if you have any questions as you're treading on possible dangerous territory with bullets falling further into cases, and when fired causing dangerous press. situation...........Ben
Click to expand...

I see...you're not an a**hole and neither is anyone else who responded...I came on this forum because I am new and I appreciate your input(s).

Anyhow, I now see the problem and know how to fix it.

I'm reloading .40 S&W and I broken the depriming pin (RCBS is currently shipping me a new one)...so I deprimed with a .45acp RCBS die!!! It did deprime however it did not resize the cases!!

Again, thanks to everyone who responded.
 
smokingunns said:
I see...you're not an a**hole and neither is anyone else who responded...I came on this forum because I am new and I appreciate your input(s).

Anyhow, I now see the problem and know how to fix it.

I'm reloading .40 S&W and I broken the depriming pin (RCBS is currently shipping me a new one)...so I deprimed with a .45acp RCBS die!!! It did deprime however it did not resize the cases!!

Again, thanks to everyone who responded.
Click to expand...

Easy fix then for you. Just remove the Decapping pin from the 45 die and put it in the 40S&W die. Or decap with the 45 die and resize with the 40 die.
 
smokingunns

I think it would be helpful if you sat down with an experienced reloader with your equipment in front of you and the two of you go throught the reloading process. Such an individual would, I am sure, pass on to you some of his experiences which would move you up the learning curve quickly.

You might just want to ask on this thread if there is someone in your area who would be willing to give you a leg up. What is often so obvious to those who have reloaded for awhile is not always so obvious to those knew to the hobby.

Take Care

Bob
ps We all have made similar mistakes during our reloading. Maybe not the one you did but I certainly have done some dumb things over the past 25 years and I dare say most who have replied on this thread have too. Tough way to learn.
 
smokingunns said:
I see...you're not an a**hole and neither is anyone else who responded...I came on this forum because I am new and I appreciate your input(s).

Anyhow, I now see the problem and know how to fix it.

I'm reloading .40 S&W and I broken the depriming pin (RCBS is currently shipping me a new one)...so I deprimed with a .45acp RCBS die!!! It did deprime however it did not resize the cases!!

Again, thanks to everyone who responded.
Click to expand...

Now this THIS is a great post!!

Someone who asks for help........is told where he went wrong and instead of Craping on those who replied. THANKS THEM!

Kudos!
 
"...Mexican Match..." That'd be when you pull milsurp ball and replace the bullet with another bullet.
"...deprimed with a .45acp RCBS die!!!..." You can take the decapping pin out of any die and put it in your .40 S&W die with no fuss.
 
Ooops brain fart. You said 40 S&W and I said jam a revlover cylinder.

If you feed these from the mag, the bullet could get shoved down into the case even further. If you used Bullseye or 231 (fast powder) there is lots of room left in the case and the result could be very high pressures.

If I understand you correctly, the problem is you have loaded 1500 of these. Too many to scrap without trying something.

If it was me, I would try to putr some taper crimp on the case - enough to snug the bullet up so it does not move when chambered.

Take the seating ram out of the seating die and screw it in a bit deeper, to make more crimp, and see if youc an make the ammo work.

Good luck, and report back. We all learn.
 
Hi,

I took the old depriming die and "resized" all the cases as everyone's suggestion and began reloading the rest of the cartridges (150 or so) and voila!!!! Everyone of them came out perfect!

I'm going to switch the depriming pin from the .45 die when I reload .40.

Thanks again for everyone's suggestion(s).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom