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668 Posts
Can you say "D'OH"???
I re-read these comments just before bed time. In the middle of the night,
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It came to me that I had not disassembled and cleaned the sizing die. Had a bunch of crap up above the carbide ring....
I'll leave this posted a while to help the other slow learners to keep the basics and methodically work through each potential cause.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Perhaps someone here will have some ideas on why I'm getting inconsistent ability to mount the reload in the chamber; using 2 different revolvers. Somehow case dimensions are not proper.
Below is a compilation of a couple days in the reloading room.
Ideas?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
OK, I haven't reloaded 357 for a LONG time. I have in the past with no problem. Just got done with a large batch of 38, with virtually perfect results.
Dillon 650 press, adjusted the powder, seating & crimp dies all to proper length.
Have been throwing culls in about 90% of a small 'check batch'. Most don't want to fit quite all the way into cylinder of 2 different revolvers. The case trim length is right, OAL is right. Minimal crimp or max crimp doesn't seem to matter. Some I can push with thumb against some resistance, and others won't seat leaving about 1/3 of the case out. Others just fall in slick and proper. The cylinders are clean.
A couple cases are slightly deformed near the case rim, but whether I can eyeball a defect or not, something isn't right.
OAL 125g cast lead RN length 1.610 max per Hodgdon site.
Crimp die set to zero leaves the tiny bit of flare from the powder funnel. Light, medium & heavy crimp don't seem to be an issue.
What am I leaving out?
UPDATE:
I have discovered a couple minor points which improved but did not solve the problem.
1)(Note to self) Clean crimp die more often. That's why Dillon designs it that way;
2) recheck all dies, stations, adjustments, etc;
3) check bullet size; case trim length; OAL, etc;
4) run one case at a time to isolate station, checking between each for cylinder fit; no one station converts fit to non-fit;
5) individually separate pre-sized cases into 2 groups: one that fits and one that doesn't; measure with calipers, unable to identify difference;
6) Note case mfg on the 'non-fit cases'; equal mix of 1/2 dozen common mfg; note in 'fit-group' same distribution percentage;
6) run small batch of cases that fit; after sizing they still fit; after normal loading, they still all fit;
7) run small batch of 'non-fit' cases; after sizing some fit, some don't; run rest of small reload batch....about 30% fit the rest either stick 1/3 out, or right down near rim; some can be pushed with thumb into chamber; these set aside;
8) Now have 100 reloaded 357 mag rounds; will take to range for further study;
9) ordered Lee Factory Crimp Die set as this is what cured similar symptoms on 40 S&W and 9mm loads.
The cases that fit before sizing continue to fit after being reloaded.
The cases that are non-fit before, in large continue to not fit regardless of how I resize it.
continue shaking head....
All those 38s loaded perfectly.
I re-read these comments just before bed time. In the middle of the night,
It came to me that I had not disassembled and cleaned the sizing die. Had a bunch of crap up above the carbide ring....
I'll leave this posted a while to help the other slow learners to keep the basics and methodically work through each potential cause.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Perhaps someone here will have some ideas on why I'm getting inconsistent ability to mount the reload in the chamber; using 2 different revolvers. Somehow case dimensions are not proper.
Below is a compilation of a couple days in the reloading room.
Ideas?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
OK, I haven't reloaded 357 for a LONG time. I have in the past with no problem. Just got done with a large batch of 38, with virtually perfect results.
Dillon 650 press, adjusted the powder, seating & crimp dies all to proper length.
Have been throwing culls in about 90% of a small 'check batch'. Most don't want to fit quite all the way into cylinder of 2 different revolvers. The case trim length is right, OAL is right. Minimal crimp or max crimp doesn't seem to matter. Some I can push with thumb against some resistance, and others won't seat leaving about 1/3 of the case out. Others just fall in slick and proper. The cylinders are clean.
A couple cases are slightly deformed near the case rim, but whether I can eyeball a defect or not, something isn't right.
OAL 125g cast lead RN length 1.610 max per Hodgdon site.
Crimp die set to zero leaves the tiny bit of flare from the powder funnel. Light, medium & heavy crimp don't seem to be an issue.
What am I leaving out?
UPDATE:
I have discovered a couple minor points which improved but did not solve the problem.
1)(Note to self) Clean crimp die more often. That's why Dillon designs it that way;
2) recheck all dies, stations, adjustments, etc;
3) check bullet size; case trim length; OAL, etc;
4) run one case at a time to isolate station, checking between each for cylinder fit; no one station converts fit to non-fit;
5) individually separate pre-sized cases into 2 groups: one that fits and one that doesn't; measure with calipers, unable to identify difference;
6) Note case mfg on the 'non-fit cases'; equal mix of 1/2 dozen common mfg; note in 'fit-group' same distribution percentage;
6) run small batch of cases that fit; after sizing they still fit; after normal loading, they still all fit;
7) run small batch of 'non-fit' cases; after sizing some fit, some don't; run rest of small reload batch....about 30% fit the rest either stick 1/3 out, or right down near rim; some can be pushed with thumb into chamber; these set aside;
8) Now have 100 reloaded 357 mag rounds; will take to range for further study;
9) ordered Lee Factory Crimp Die set as this is what cured similar symptoms on 40 S&W and 9mm loads.
The cases that fit before sizing continue to fit after being reloaded.
The cases that are non-fit before, in large continue to not fit regardless of how I resize it.
continue shaking head....
All those 38s loaded perfectly.
