.38-55 Reloading Trouble

[Shotgun Franklin]

When I try to seat a bullet, lead or jacketed, the case collapses. I tried belling the mouth more but it didn't help. Any ideas?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

1.   Are the cases new, and perhaps too soft?   I'm not sure what to do here.

2.   Get the calipers out and check all your dimensions.  Bullet diameter within specs? Inside expander about 2 to 3 thou' under bullet dia.  Base of bullet fits inside the mouth bell?  (I fit them in by hand, rather than pop it on top the case and jamb it.)

3.   Are you using smokeless or Black?  If you are using Black in a single shot it may not even be necessary to size the case mouth if you are single loading right at the range.  This doesn't apply if you have to carry loaded ammo around.

I have collapsed a few cases in my time, but not how you describe.  &#it happens!

[Ranch 13]

 Are you flaring the case mouths, and make sure you're seating die isn't trying to crimp before the seating stem has the bullet in the proper depth.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

I was thinking along those lines, too. For mine, I crimp in a separate operation with a LEE Factory Crimp die...........Buck

[Shotgun Franklin]

I think I'll try 'neck sizing'. I did full lenght size the brass and thinking back I usually don't to that. The die set is new so it may be sizing the brass to much. I'll let ya'll know when I get some more reloading time.

[Ranch 13]

That won't help.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

For .45-70 and .38-55 I usually adjust the dies upward so the top of the case is just sized enough for the neck expander to work enough of the case to hold the bullet properly.  As the case profile is tapered to straight the result is not exactly "neck sizing".  Think of it more like minimal working of the brass.  All this depends on chamber dimensions.  Maybe it will work for you.

There are proper neck sizing dies for straight taper cases, but I think you have to be quite fussy to gain much from them.

[Shotgun Franklin]

It's not exactly 'neck sizing' but no one has come up with a good term for it that I know of. I'm going to try to mess with it again tonight. I'll post with the results good or bad. I am going bto use a caliper to make sure I'm belling the case deeply enough.

[Ranch 13]

 You don't need to measure the flare with calipers, just keep adjusting the flaring stem down until a bullet base will just set inside the case mouth.
What brand of dies are you using?

[Shotgun Franklin]

The bullet will set in the mouth of the case just fine. I think they're Lyman dies, it's a set I bought long ago and just dug out.

[Ranch 13]

I'ld go back and revisit the adjustment on the seating die.
Run a resized unbelled case up until the ram is at the top of the stroke. Then adjust the die down until you feel it bump against the case mouth. Then lower the case and turn the die down about 1/8th of a turn and set the lock ring.
Now bell the case mouth and start a bullet , run the seating stem down all the way. Raise the case into the die a little at a time until the bullet is seated to the depth you want. Now back the seating stem way out and run the case the rest of the stroke up. If the bullet is seated where you want then with the case fully raised lower the seating stem until you feel it make good contact with the bullet. Set it and all should go well from there.

[Shotgun Franklin]

The dies are Lee.
The collars don't lock but I changed'm out with some others. I belled the case mouth deeper and no more problem. I made sure that the depth expanded equaled the depth I wanted the bullet to seat.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Delmonico]

It's not exactly 'neck sizing' but no one has come up with a good term for it that I know of. I'm going to try to mess with it again tonight.

It's called partcial body sizing and is commonly used in rifles that lock in the rear like 99 Savages and SMLE's.  With bottle neck cases you set the die to just bump the shoulder but not set it back.  It's explained in a lot of good loading manuals.  Also very comon on belted magnum cases.  The reason is all the aboved named types can have case head seperations with out it, but neck sizing is not good away from a bench and a bench rod.  Of course the ammo produced is rifle specific.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Del said:

"It's called particle body sizing"

You mean you blow the case up so only particles remain?

[Delmonico]

Del said:

"It's called particle body sizing"

You mean you blow the case up so only particles remain?

OK, I should have had a second cup this morning, but there was not enough time, I fixed it, never said I was a good speler.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Del said;  "never said I was a good speler. Grin"

But you are a great Spieler