The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - I think it's a crimp issue but... + a couple other questions.

jclayto · July 15, 2009, 08:49 AM

I am reloading .38 for my 686 revolver. Both times that I have been out with these reloads at some point during the day the revolver binds up. I originally posted over in the revolver forum thinking it was mechanical but after hundreds of successful dry-fires I think it is ammo related. Last time it locked up (cylinder did not want to rotate, hammer would not pull, cylinder would not open)) I was able to rotate I noticed it was getting stuck between cylinders so instead of trying to force it to rotate the normal counter clockwise, I turned it back clock wise and was able to open the cyl and remove rounds. I set them aside , shot some more, same thing happened a little later, fixed it the same way and shot some more.

Do you folks think it could be that I do not have enough crimp? OAL is consistent as I checked the offending rounds against some that worked fine. I have this theory that some of the rounds are not crimping consistently causing the cartridge rim to sit slightly above the cylinder? Is there really a key to crimp when using lead rounds? I take it crimp is pretty subjective so I admit I am not 100% sure what I am looking for crimp wise.

Next question: I've noticed on some of my brass that there is a little "dotted line" around the brass about 1/2 way down the cartridge. On some of them there is multiple dotted lines. I thought this was a problem with my machine (dillon 650, dillon carbide dies) until I ordered some once fired brass the other day and most of it had the same lines. What causes this?

July 15, 2009, 08:49 AM	#1
jclayto Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 600	I think it's a crimp issue but... + a couple other questions. I am reloading .38 for my 686 revolver. Both times that I have been out with these reloads at some point during the day the revolver binds up. I originally posted over in the revolver forum thinking it was mechanical but after hundreds of successful dry-fires I think it is ammo related. Last time it locked up (cylinder did not want to rotate, hammer would not pull, cylinder would not open)) I was able to rotate I noticed it was getting stuck between cylinders so instead of trying to force it to rotate the normal counter clockwise, I turned it back clock wise and was able to open the cyl and remove rounds. I set them aside , shot some more, same thing happened a little later, fixed it the same way and shot some more. Do you folks think it could be that I do not have enough crimp? OAL is consistent as I checked the offending rounds against some that worked fine. I have this theory that some of the rounds are not crimping consistently causing the cartridge rim to sit slightly above the cylinder? Is there really a key to crimp when using lead rounds? I take it crimp is pretty subjective so I admit I am not 100% sure what I am looking for crimp wise. Next question: I've noticed on some of my brass that there is a little "dotted line" around the brass about 1/2 way down the cartridge. On some of them there is multiple dotted lines. I thought this was a problem with my machine (dillon 650, dillon carbide dies) until I ordered some once fired brass the other day and most of it had the same lines. What causes this?