crusht case newbie question

pearson1662 · April 5, 2005, 07:12 AM

Does this photo indicate too much crimp was attempted? Is there any possibility that this is an indication that the press is not "in line" and seating bullets crooked? Loading: 14.5 gr W296 .357Mag, 158 gr LaserCast FP, CCI Mag primer. Lee Dies RCBS RC press. I appreciate the help.

Russ5924 · April 5, 2005, 08:02 AM

you are taking about that bulge 1/4 the way down the case I guess???I would have to say it's from having your crimp die screwed down to tight.Are you using the 3 dies or 4 of the Lee????

pearson1662 · April 5, 2005, 09:34 AM

Carbide 3 die set. Why? Are these cartridges still shootable if chamberable? I was reluctant to, considering the cost/benefit and just pulled the bullets, primers and powder and chunked the brass. Could this indicate that my careful trimming of the brass left the case mouths "unsquare" since the bulge is greater on one side than the other? The asymmetry of the bulge and the slight "bananna" shape to the case is what caused me to think that my press might not be perfectly aligned. Thanks for your reply. Jay

JoeHatley · April 5, 2005, 09:54 AM

Looks like your crimp die needs adjusting.

Joe

Russ5924 · April 5, 2005, 03:51 PM

Have you even tried to put them in your gun not to sure they will even fit in the chamber.If you take them apart and resize them I think most will be OK.I hate to say this but I don't trim my .38 or .357 and have NEVER had one that wouldn't fit in the chamber.You should be able to see if your cases are going in straight if they go into the die without moving or cocking over should be fine.Are you belling out the mouth enough so the bullet can go in easy that would be your powder die you want to bell so the bullet will just sit on the case.If you bell to much the case won't go into the next die properly.

CaptainRazor · April 5, 2005, 05:14 PM

Yep, I've done that before. One reason why I only crimp with taper crimp dies now. It's just easier.
To be honest, I never, ever, did "master" the roll crimp on 38/357 cases.
No matter what I tried, they where always messed up.
I finally gave up and got Taper Crimp dies. Problem solved

pearson1662 · April 5, 2005, 06:56 PM

Perhaps they were excessively belled. Of the 50 I loaded, about 10 were distorted. I trimmed them all to 1.280" +or- .001" with my Lyman trimmer, which I'm not terribly happy with. It may just be old, but there seems to be a lot of play in the shaft, which I blame for the case mouths seeming to be out of square. Jay

CaptainRazor · April 5, 2005, 07:26 PM

pearson, My lyman trimmer got a lot play in it too.

I called up Lyman, they told me to send it back to them and they would put a new bushing in it for $10.

When I got it back they had installed a new rotor as well!
That has been several years ago, but you might give them a call. The service was great and they where fast too.

Rodger Peterson · April 5, 2005, 10:56 PM

Are you trying to seat and crimp at the same time? If so try seating your bullets in one step then crimping in another step. I would spend the money for a Lee factory crimp die. I don't think its your press or you would have noticed it before this stage, perhaps during sizing.

pearson1662 · April 13, 2005, 04:45 AM

Thanks, RP. I think I'll give that a try. Jay

April 5, 2005, 08:02 AM	#2
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	you are taking about that bulge 1/4 the way down the case I guess???I would have to say it's from having your crimp die screwed down to tight.Are you using the 3 dies or 4 of the Lee???? __________________ Russ5924

April 5, 2005, 09:34 AM	#3
pearson1662 Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Posts: 52	crusht case Carbide 3 die set. Why? Are these cartridges still shootable if chamberable? I was reluctant to, considering the cost/benefit and just pulled the bullets, primers and powder and chunked the brass. Could this indicate that my careful trimming of the brass left the case mouths "unsquare" since the bulge is greater on one side than the other? The asymmetry of the bulge and the slight "bananna" shape to the case is what caused me to think that my press might not be perfectly aligned. Thanks for your reply. Jay

April 5, 2005, 09:54 AM	#4
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	Looks like your crimp die needs adjusting. Joe __________________ Go NRA

April 5, 2005, 03:51 PM	#5
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	Have you even tried to put them in your gun not to sure they will even fit in the chamber.If you take them apart and resize them I think most will be OK.I hate to say this but I don't trim my .38 or .357 and have NEVER had one that wouldn't fit in the chamber.You should be able to see if your cases are going in straight if they go into the die without moving or cocking over should be fine.Are you belling out the mouth enough so the bullet can go in easy that would be your powder die you want to bell so the bullet will just sit on the case.If you bell to much the case won't go into the next die properly. __________________ Russ5924

April 5, 2005, 05:14 PM	#6
CaptainRazor Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2005 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 302	Yep, I've done that before. One reason why I only crimp with taper crimp dies now. It's just easier. To be honest, I never, ever, did "master" the roll crimp on 38/357 cases. No matter what I tried, they where always messed up. I finally gave up and got Taper Crimp dies. Problem solved

April 5, 2005, 06:56 PM	#7
pearson1662 Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Posts: 52	Perhaps they were excessively belled. Of the 50 I loaded, about 10 were distorted. I trimmed them all to 1.280" +or- .001" with my Lyman trimmer, which I'm not terribly happy with. It may just be old, but there seems to be a lot of play in the shaft, which I blame for the case mouths seeming to be out of square. Jay

April 5, 2005, 07:26 PM	#8
CaptainRazor Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2005 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 302	pearson, My lyman trimmer got a lot play in it too. I called up Lyman, they told me to send it back to them and they would put a new bushing in it for $10. When I got it back they had installed a new rotor as well! That has been several years ago, but you might give them a call. The service was great and they where fast too.

April 5, 2005, 10:56 PM	#9
Rodger Peterson Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Location: Nevada Posts: 93	Are you trying to seat and crimp at the same time? If so try seating your bullets in one step then crimping in another step. I would spend the money for a Lee factory crimp die. I don't think its your press or you would have noticed it before this stage, perhaps during sizing.

April 13, 2005, 04:45 AM	#10
pearson1662 Member Join Date: June 4, 2004 Posts: 52	Thanks, RP. I think I'll give that a try. Jay