powerboatr
Professional
wellllll dammm i never thought to look through the primer tube.
i watched the rod fall and off i went
thanks
reloading questions/advice if you would please?
- Thread starter Old_Me
- Start date
i watched the rod fall and off i went
thanks
Old_Me
SAINT
i was told to also spray Brakleen down the tubes, every once in a while, to keep them clean...i had "noticed" the quickness in which the primers fall to the bottom, when loading them in the blast tube.
i also use the plastic primer rod to gently push them to the bottom, after i pick them up from the tray, to be sure one is/was not stuck in that end piece.
Old_Me
SAINT
took a que from @youngolddude and ordered up the Lee Bulge Buster Kit, and that arrived yesterday (sat. 2/22/25)
about 2 hours ago i ran maybe about 1,000 45 ACP cases thru it.
some were new/first fired, some were my reloads, some were floor sweepings, so suffice it to say a variety of 45ACP brass.
after a few follies with my press (Lyman single stage) with the ram's support rods being loose,
i ran those casings..
some just slipped on in with no issues, many more were a gigantic PITA, and were more harder to run thru to flatten that bulge..?????..
anyway, i still have like maybe 2,000 more cases to run through, and i have yet to re-order more poly coated bullets, as Badman Bullets are out of stock...but i'll run those other cases in the near future.
about 2 hours ago i ran maybe about 1,000 45 ACP cases thru it.
some were new/first fired, some were my reloads, some were floor sweepings, so suffice it to say a variety of 45ACP brass.
after a few follies with my press (Lyman single stage) with the ram's support rods being loose,
i ran those casings..
some just slipped on in with no issues, many more were a gigantic PITA, and were more harder to run thru to flatten that bulge..?????..
anyway, i still have like maybe 2,000 more cases to run through, and i have yet to re-order more poly coated bullets, as Badman Bullets are out of stock...but i'll run those other cases in the near future.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
I only have 2 Glocks that still have factory barrels and for some reason I don't have this issue? 1 is a g41 and the 2nd is a g17.
Old_Me
SAINT
i have 1 glock, the G-30, (45ACP) and then the G-17 (9mm)
i dunno, the gunsmith at my club had said that glocks have "unsupported" chambers, where the brass can "expand a bit", near the base, giving that bulge...i even checked this out several times online.
so even given that info, my brass shot from my 1911's and a couple of other 45's other than glocks don't seem to be of any issue.
as far as floor sweepings, i do pick up some 45 brass, but i don't know what guns the people next to me are shooting.
the last time i took my CZ 97 B, it would not shoot my reloaded 45 ACP.....i found that issue to be, not enough taper crimp, once run thru the crimping die after an adjustment, the next day in fact, they all ran thru the CZ with no issues.
yet, all other 45's i own, shot the reloads, with the crimp the way it formerly was....
it was 'interesting" how some brass running thru the Bilge Buster was a PITA, and others were smoother...
didn't matter the head stamp either, Winchester, S&B, Remington, (new once fired) Star Brass, and LPP Federal
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
True about the unsupported on factory barrels. Maybe it's just the brass? Got what you have and use wisely. Have you checked to see if anyone will chamber after you clean the brass
Old_Me
SAINT
actually after i sent the brass thru the Bulge Buster die, THEN i put a few into the Lyman case gauge block, and they slipped in easily.
until then, only after the reloaded cartridges were being plunk tested and measured for OAL.
before this, the cleaned/polished brass went directly into the storage tin cans.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
I like those gage blocks. I have 1 for every cartridge I reload for. It's great for AR's as makes sure the base is small enough.
youngolddude
Professional
I have some .38 Special brass that you can see a bulge towards the base. This is because the dies cannot go all the way down. The crimp die will size the brass most of the way, just not all the way. .45 ACP brass is thin compared with revolver brass and may have more issues than them, especially if fired in oversize chambers. I would prefer reloading ACP just like my other loads, but if I can have fewer issues at a match, I grudgingly gauge them all and use the BB.
I'll do .38's today, a cartridge that isn't fussy and I can reload quickly.
I'll do .38's today, a cartridge that isn't fussy and I can reload quickly.
Old_Me
SAINT
yeah, its nearly 9AM and since i don't have anything else to do, i may just run more 45 ACP thru the BB......
it does not take long, after the die got set up.
Old_Me
SAINT
well as i mentioned a few posts ago, the Lee decapping die actually does get rid of the bulge, its in Lee's website
when i go to decap a casing, it takes a bit of force on the handle to resize, and the entire casing is not fully resized
time will tell when i go to reload the next batch of 45's.
youngolddude
Professional
Welp, my decapping dies do not push the entire case through it. According to my instructions, I run the decapping die down until it touches the shell plate and then I tighten. The only cases I have that entirely go through a die are the .45 ACP dies that are run through a bulge buster. If my Lee dies fully resized, I wouldn't need the BB on cases I reload.
jumpinjoe
Hellcat
I found some time ago that if you'll back the decapping pin out until it just will push the old primer out, it will allow the case to be resized just a few thousandths more. As this pic demonstrates, the decapping pin is pushing against the inside of the case (or can be) which will/can negate the last few 'inths' of sizing the case. Don't know that it ever can be a complete resize, especially with tapered cases, but it'll help. Luck!
Old_Me
SAINT
i use Lee decapping/resizing dies, except for the crimping die on the Dillon..that die IS a Dillon
i have both presses adjusted as you do, and have my decapping pin adjusted as @jumpinjoe said.
youngolddude
Professional
After I reloaded some 125 gr. .38 Special I saw two very different velocities for the same load using 231. The Lyman cast manual showed 733 fps using 3.9 gr. and the new Hodgdon magazine manual showed 856 fps using the same charge. I have other manuals in the garage which I'll want to check next. I'm hoping the Lyman book is the more correct one since I loaded 300 rounds. I don't have a chronograph, so I'll be looking forward to seeing how they feel. I can't seem to find my old notes anywhere. 
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
Also check if same have equal barrel lengths? That's a fair amount of velocity spread.After I reloaded some 125 gr. .38 Special I saw two very different velocities for the same load using 231. The Lyman cast manual showed 733 fps using 3.9 gr. and the new Hodgdon magazine manual showed 856 fps using the same charge. I have other manuals in the garage which I'll want to check next. I'm hoping the Lyman book is the more correct one since I loaded 300 rounds. I don't have a chronograph, so I'll be looking forward to seeing how they feel. I can't seem to find my old notes anywhere.