Adjusting OAL after the fact

ex_isp · March 25, 2012, 12:04 AM

Got out to test my fresh (first batch) of .40s today.
I had previously adjusted the crimping die to set them a little tighter
after having experienced them not dropping fully into battery. They go
in fine now and shoot well.

New problem is OAL issue. In my Glock G22, they are a smidge too long
for the magazines if I load more than 2 rounds to the mag. They are fine in the barrel, but just long enough that they stick a bit in the mag.

Question: Can I re-adjust the seating station on my Dillon 550b to press them in a smidge more without having to take them apart? These are case-full loads (even at 1 grain less than max) using Unique powder.

I wouldn't call them compressed loads at this point as the Unique is very fluffy powder, but the powder does sit at the bottom of the bullet.

I need to shorten these by... probably 8 or 10/1000s".

Can I just press them in a bit?

As always, appreciate any/all input. Another valuable lesson learned today

ex_isp · March 25, 2012, 12:27 AM

No comments on this? Somebody has encountered this before...?

C7AR15 · March 25, 2012, 12:33 AM

Running your reloads through to seat them .010 deeper should be no problem.

Think about it - you seated a bullet on top of a live primer and powder the first time around, so pushing the bullet in a bit deeper should pose no danger, as long as the COAL is not too short.

What you should NEVER DO is to reseat a primer that is protruding from a fully assembled cartridge. This could blow up in your face....

In this case the thing to do is to pull all the bullets, dump out the powder - then reseat the primer all the way in.

Safety First J

dacaur · March 25, 2012, 02:06 AM

I think if you used a seperate crimping die, seating them deeper might not be a good idea, depending on the crimp..... This is just my own thoughts though, not from experience, but I think it might cut into the jacket. I would guess it would be safe, but accuracy might suffer?... You might as well try one and take a look and see how it looks....

bamiller · March 25, 2012, 05:25 AM

I've shortened them in station 3 and then recrimped them in staion 4 without any issues.

korny351 · March 25, 2012, 04:18 PM

As the .40 S&W headspaces off of the mouth of the case and uses a taper crimp, I don't see any issue with re-seating them .010 deeper. You did set your crimp to just removing the bell on the case. right? With the load you describe I'm assuming you are using jacketed bullets. Bullet should slide into the case with no damage to the jacket. I doubt that .010" would have any major effect on case pressures either.

g.willikers · March 25, 2012, 05:39 PM

Did he mean .0010 or .010?

korny351 · March 25, 2012, 06:01 PM

My bad. Original post edited. My views haven't changed

LakeCruiser · March 25, 2012, 06:30 PM

I just recently worked up a new load for some 45acp and they didn't fit in the mag either. I did just what is being suggested and push them in about. 01. Granted my situation is a little different with the larger capacity 45acp . You could try a round or two and check for problems first. I am probably dealing with different primer and powder than the OP...many variables here... proceed with due caution.

Sport45 · March 25, 2012, 08:36 PM

As Korny351 said, it depends on whether or not you got carried away when you adjusted the crimping die "a little tighter".

Go ahead and seat one to the proper length and then pull the bullet. If it looks like the case mouth dug in as it was seated deeper you should pull all of them and start over by resizing with the depriming pin removed. If the bullet looks okay reseat all of them and have fun shooting.

Use the barrel to test your cartridges for chambering. Don't try to use it for setting max cartridge length.

RobertInIowa · March 27, 2012, 01:06 PM

I've re seated pistol bullets before and have never had an issue. I stay within specs and don't worry about it.

Sport45 · March 27, 2012, 08:22 PM

I've reseated pistol cartridges too. You just have to be very careful with .40S&W. If the bullet has been swaged by the crimp die you could wind up with too little neck tension. Bullet setback with this round in an unsupported chamber can be a really bad thing.

March 25, 2012, 12:04 AM	#1
ex_isp Member Join Date: May 5, 2011 Location: Az Posts: 28	Adjusting OAL after the fact Got out to test my fresh (first batch) of .40s today. I had previously adjusted the crimping die to set them a little tighter after having experienced them not dropping fully into battery. They go in fine now and shoot well. New problem is OAL issue. In my Glock G22, they are a smidge too long for the magazines if I load more than 2 rounds to the mag. They are fine in the barrel, but just long enough that they stick a bit in the mag. Question: Can I re-adjust the seating station on my Dillon 550b to press them in a smidge more without having to take them apart? These are case-full loads (even at 1 grain less than max) using Unique powder. I wouldn't call them compressed loads at this point as the Unique is very fluffy powder, but the powder does sit at the bottom of the bullet. I need to shorten these by... probably 8 or 10/1000s". Can I just press them in a bit? As always, appreciate any/all input. Another valuable lesson learned today __________________ Not having Windows on your computer is like not having bricks tied to your dogs collar. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.

March 25, 2012, 12:27 AM	#2
ex_isp Member Join Date: May 5, 2011 Location: Az Posts: 28	No comments on this? Somebody has encountered this before...? __________________ Not having Windows on your computer is like not having bricks tied to your dogs collar. The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.

March 25, 2012, 12:33 AM	#3
C7AR15 Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2011 Location: Burnaby Posts: 260	re-seating Running your reloads through to seat them .010 deeper should be no problem. Think about it - you seated a bullet on top of a live primer and powder the first time around, so pushing the bullet in a bit deeper should pose no danger, as long as the COAL is not too short. What you should NEVER DO is to reseat a primer that is protruding from a fully assembled cartridge. This could blow up in your face.... In this case the thing to do is to pull all the bullets, dump out the powder - then reseat the primer all the way in. Safety First J

March 25, 2012, 04:18 PM	#6
korny351 Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: stockton, ca Posts: 38	As the .40 S&W headspaces off of the mouth of the case and uses a taper crimp, I don't see any issue with re-seating them .010 deeper. You did set your crimp to just removing the bell on the case. right? With the load you describe I'm assuming you are using jacketed bullets. Bullet should slide into the case with no damage to the jacket. I doubt that .010" would have any major effect on case pressures either. Last edited by korny351; March 25, 2012 at 05:59 PM.

March 25, 2012, 05:39 PM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Did he mean .0010 or .010? __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 25, 2012, 02:06 AM	#4
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	I think if you used a seperate crimping die, seating them deeper might not be a good idea, depending on the crimp..... This is just my own thoughts though, not from experience, but I think it might cut into the jacket. I would guess it would be safe, but accuracy might suffer?... You might as well try one and take a look and see how it looks....

March 25, 2012, 05:25 AM	#5
bamiller Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 455	I've shortened them in station 3 and then recrimped them in staion 4 without any issues.

March 25, 2012, 06:01 PM	#8
korny351 Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: stockton, ca Posts: 38	My bad. Original post edited. My views haven't changed

March 25, 2012, 06:30 PM	#9
LakeCruiser Member Join Date: January 26, 2010 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 75	I think this is ok I just recently worked up a new load for some 45acp and they didn't fit in the mag either. I did just what is being suggested and push them in about. 01. Granted my situation is a little different with the larger capacity 45acp . You could try a round or two and check for problems first. I am probably dealing with different primer and powder than the OP...many variables here... proceed with due caution. __________________ Be Safe!

March 25, 2012, 08:36 PM	#10
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	As Korny351 said, it depends on whether or not you got carried away when you adjusted the crimping die "a little tighter". Go ahead and seat one to the proper length and then pull the bullet. If it looks like the case mouth dug in as it was seated deeper you should pull all of them and start over by resizing with the depriming pin removed. If the bullet looks okay reseat all of them and have fun shooting. Use the barrel to test your cartridges for chambering. Don't try to use it for setting max cartridge length. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

March 27, 2012, 01:06 PM	#11
RobertInIowa Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 149	I've re seated pistol bullets before and have never had an issue. I stay within specs and don't worry about it. __________________ Guns don't kill people, fathers with pretty daughters do. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three comes pretty close. Proud NRA member

March 27, 2012, 08:22 PM	#12
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	I've reseated pistol cartridges too. You just have to be very careful with .40S&W. If the bullet has been swaged by the crimp die you could wind up with too little neck tension. Bullet setback with this round in an unsupported chamber can be a really bad thing. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.