Question for those shooting a 73 rifle in 38-40

[Noz]

I tried to beef up my 44-40 loads by adding more powder and squeezing it into the case. Shoots fine but won't chamber. The case neck is so thin that it will expand when too much powder is put in and makes itself over size for my chamber.  Had to pull a bunch of bullets. Light compression and a more harmonious out come.

[w44wcf]

Noz,
What likely is happening is that when the powder is compressed and the yield strength of the bullet is exceeded in doing so (depending on the bullet bhn and the amount of compression) the bullet will grow in diameter, expanding the case neck o.d.

Been there done that!

So, if I use a softer bullet over enough b.p. to = the original loading or close to it, I compress the powder first, then seat the bullet.
The Lyman "M" neck expander die works great for  that.

w44wcf

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy John,

Yer right on.  Over compressing soft Big Lube bullets will deform them and they will grow in diameter.  If you absolutely need that extra bit of Holy Black in the case, use a compression die to compress it.  Then, seat the bullet and crimp it firmly in the crimp grove.  All the Big Lube bullet designs now have a minimum of .0015" deep crimp groove.  It seems that to make a bullet that satisfies all the 44 Cal needs a crimp grove that deep is needed so that it doesn't get wiped out when sized down to .427", yet will not be too deep when sized to .430 for modern chambers (my 44 ELR guns are chambered for .429" bullets).

I sure like soft bullets with black powder, but soft bullets need to be treated more gently than common heathen fad smokeyless hard cast bullets.

DD-MDA

[w44wcf]

DD,
Thank you for the affirmation. . We can sometimes use that to our advantage. Just this morning I was loading some soft cast .32 long colt hollow based bullets over 12 grs.of b.p. I use as fired cases so the bullets are a slip fit and need to be tightened up some in the brass. 

So....after compressing the powder charge, I hand seated a bullet into the case then compressed the bullet slightly with the seating die which expanded it to fit snugly in the as fired case without increasing the case neck o.d. I then applied the crimp.

Don't you just love it whea plan comes together..........

w44wcf