40 caliber brass

engineermike · April 12, 2010, 05:02 PM

I just purchased a new springfield xdm 40. While looking thrugh the reloading supplies i see there is a base resizing die for 40 cal. and up. I am wondering if i need to purchase one of these? Do all the 40 cal brass bulge at the bottom or just the one fired from some glocks, and why wouldn't the brass be resized when I deprime and resize when i run them through my Hornady resizing die and press? Anyway just a few questions if anyone has a few answers i'd appreciate your response.

Jim243 · April 12, 2010, 05:19 PM

Just Glocks and those with unsupported chambers. The reason you can not totally resize the case is because a portion on the bottom is held by the case holder and the dies are designed to do approx. 90 percent of the case.

It seems a wide enough problem, that Lee makes an accessory to correct the Battle of the Bulge problem.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=882261

Good luck

Jim

Shoney · April 12, 2010, 06:39 PM

engineermike
Although I do not own a Glock or other weapon with an unsupported barrel, I have reloaded many thousands of "glocked brass". I have never needed a special die to resize then.

I use my barrel as the final measure, by dropping each formerly "glocked brass" into it. I have yet to find a resized "glocked case" that didn't fit. I have both a set of Lyman dies and a set of RCBS dies.

Good Shooting.

brotus2 · April 12, 2010, 07:13 PM

bump

PCJim · April 12, 2010, 10:20 PM

All die manufacturers incorporate a certain degree of "mouth flare" on the bottom of their dies to assist in feeding a case into the die. Some use more flare than others. From what I have read, Dillon dies supposedly have more of this flare. Lee dies supposedly have less. I don't remember where other manufacturer's dies fall in the spectrum, but do remember these two.

I have just begun reloading 40S&W, having avoided the caliber for a very long time in favor of either 9mm or 45acp. I now reload range pickup brass on a Dillon 550b using Lee dies. I have not had any problem getting any of my reloads to fit in a Dillon case gauge.

Lee does make a "push thru" solution to fixing the 40S&W bulge. Their kit is used with a Lee FCD (not included in the kit). There is at least one other manufacturer with a similar solution. There is debate on whether resizing a bulge that cannot be removed with a regular resizing die is asking for trouble. If the case is so bulged that it cannot be resized with a normal die, the brass is probably being made weaker by overworking the area. If correct, it is not something you want to be doing to contain/control pressure exceeding 40k.

Tuzo · April 12, 2010, 10:32 PM

I have sized 40 S&W with RCBS and Lee carbide sizing dies. The Lee sizing die is more effective than the RCBS die in removing the Glock-induced bulge just above the casing base. After sizing with the Lee die I cannot see the bulge and the casing outside diameter measurement is within specifications. The Lee die sizes more of the casing due to less standoff between the top of the shell holder and the base of the carbide sizing ring.

Fullthrottle · April 12, 2010, 10:37 PM

I asked a similar question a while back.
Check the answers out, scroll down to Jep2's pics:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398286

Hope that helps, it helped me!

Remove your barrel and put a round in it to verify!

palabman · April 12, 2010, 11:54 PM

I run all the range brass I find through a Lee FCD without the crimp insert. I just use a bullet sizing ram to push them all the way though. There is a YouTube video out there that demonstrates

FreeTheLead · April 17, 2010, 08:24 PM

I reloaded for my Glock 40's for quite a few years and never used such device. BUT I have stuck with starting loads to mid-range. I have run up to 5 relaods (total of 6 fires) on brass and not had any feed problems nor failed cases. Yep, I've noticed the bulge when picking them up off the ground, but after sizing it is NOT visibly noticeable. I was curious ... so I walked over to my bench and checked 'er out. Very unscientifically I mic'ed a couple cases and while my Lyman manual says .424 I got .436-.438 at the widest. I had checked brass after, but I've never mic'ed the brass diameter BEFORE I sized it. Interesting. Widest point was about 1/3 way up the case, though, not right at the base. Threaded the die in and sized ... widest I got after sizing was .425. I don't consider myself an expert so maybe someone who knows more than me can add more or point out errors in my thinking, but at least with RCBS carbide dies, looks like you could even use so-called "Glocked" brass and be okay in your springfield? (If anyone cares, the brass was from a model 27).

FreeTheLead · April 18, 2010, 01:13 AM

Okay, before someone goes nuts on me ... I DID NOT intend to suggest resizing DAMAGED brass.

I found some pics of "glock smiles" on the www and ... ACK! ... If I picked up my brass and it looked like THAT I would never even consider taking it home and stuffing it into a die! I would NEVER EVER EVER recommend trying to "fix" damaged brass and hope no one else in here would either. The bulge I note from my Glocks and a friend's Glock ... while noticeable if you look, is very smooth without ridge or damage to the integrity brass. THAT you could probably fix with the device you mentioned if your dies don't.

WESHOOT2 · April 18, 2010, 11:27 AM

I have witnessed "Glocked' 40 brass from brands other than Glock; it is a CHAMBER thing, NOT a Glock thing.

Many Glocks have 'normal' chamber dimensions......

WESHOOT2 · April 18, 2010, 11:30 AM

In the interests of safety, I have for over 34 years used this simple tool: When in doubt throw it out.

Still works (yes, I have a BIG scrap brass can....)

palabman · April 18, 2010, 12:42 PM

I will also add that I DO NOT use any range brass for my hotter loads. All range brass is delegated to low load, lead plinking ammo suitable for our indoor range. I have also replaced the glock barrel with a more fully supported/tighter chambered barrel. After eliminating the bulge with the FCD I do not have a problem with the bulge in subsequent firings.

palabman · April 18, 2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Many Glocks have 'normal' chamber dimensions......

My Glock 23 is sure loose as hell.

Doby45 · April 18, 2010, 11:47 PM

Quote:

My Glock 23 is sure loose as hell.

And my 3rd Gen is not.

WESHOOT2 · April 19, 2010, 09:51 AM

Examining the empties from hundreds suggests it is just a "one in hand" thing.
Glock learned.

April 12, 2010, 05:02 PM	#1
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	40 caliber brass I just purchased a new springfield xdm 40. While looking thrugh the reloading supplies i see there is a base resizing die for 40 cal. and up. I am wondering if i need to purchase one of these? Do all the 40 cal brass bulge at the bottom or just the one fired from some glocks, and why wouldn't the brass be resized when I deprime and resize when i run them through my Hornady resizing die and press? Anyway just a few questions if anyone has a few answers i'd appreciate your response.

April 17, 2010, 08:24 PM	#9
FreeTheLead Junior Member Join Date: April 17, 2010 Posts: 5	Glock brass I reloaded for my Glock 40's for quite a few years and never used such device. BUT I have stuck with starting loads to mid-range. I have run up to 5 relaods (total of 6 fires) on brass and not had any feed problems nor failed cases. Yep, I've noticed the bulge when picking them up off the ground, but after sizing it is NOT visibly noticeable. I was curious ... so I walked over to my bench and checked 'er out. Very unscientifically I mic'ed a couple cases and while my Lyman manual says .424 I got .436-.438 at the widest. I had checked brass after, but I've never mic'ed the brass diameter BEFORE I sized it. Interesting. Widest point was about 1/3 way up the case, though, not right at the base. Threaded the die in and sized ... widest I got after sizing was .425. I don't consider myself an expert so maybe someone who knows more than me can add more or point out errors in my thinking, but at least with RCBS carbide dies, looks like you could even use so-called "Glocked" brass and be okay in your springfield? (If anyone cares, the brass was from a model 27).

April 18, 2010, 01:13 AM	#10
FreeTheLead Junior Member Join Date: April 17, 2010 Posts: 5	DAMAGED Glock brass Okay, before someone goes nuts on me ... I DID NOT intend to suggest resizing DAMAGED brass. I found some pics of "glock smiles" on the www and ... ACK! ... If I picked up my brass and it looked like THAT I would never even consider taking it home and stuffing it into a die! I would NEVER EVER EVER recommend trying to "fix" damaged brass and hope no one else in here would either. The bulge I note from my Glocks and a friend's Glock ... while noticeable if you look, is very smooth without ridge or damage to the integrity brass. THAT you could probably fix with the device you mentioned if your dies don't.

April 18, 2010, 11:27 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Point of Order I have witnessed "Glocked' 40 brass from brands other than Glock; it is a CHAMBER thing, NOT a Glock thing. Many Glocks have 'normal' chamber dimensions......

April 18, 2010, 11:30 AM	#12
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I should add: In the interests of safety, I have for over 34 years used this simple tool: When in doubt throw it out. Still works (yes, I have a BIG scrap brass can....)

April 12, 2010, 05:19 PM	#2
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Just Glocks and those with unsupported chambers. The reason you can not totally resize the case is because a portion on the bottom is held by the case holder and the dies are designed to do approx. 90 percent of the case. It seems a wide enough problem, that Lee makes an accessory to correct the Battle of the Bulge problem. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=882261 Good luck Jim

April 12, 2010, 06:39 PM	#3
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	engineermike Although I do not own a Glock or other weapon with an unsupported barrel, I have reloaded many thousands of "glocked brass". I have never needed a special die to resize then. I use my barrel as the final measure, by dropping each formerly "glocked brass" into it. I have yet to find a resized "glocked case" that didn't fit. I have both a set of Lyman dies and a set of RCBS dies. Good Shooting.

April 12, 2010, 07:13 PM	#4
brotus2 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2009 Location: Panama City Beach Posts: 269	bump

April 12, 2010, 10:20 PM	#5
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	All die manufacturers incorporate a certain degree of "mouth flare" on the bottom of their dies to assist in feeding a case into the die. Some use more flare than others. From what I have read, Dillon dies supposedly have more of this flare. Lee dies supposedly have less. I don't remember where other manufacturer's dies fall in the spectrum, but do remember these two. I have just begun reloading 40S&W, having avoided the caliber for a very long time in favor of either 9mm or 45acp. I now reload range pickup brass on a Dillon 550b using Lee dies. I have not had any problem getting any of my reloads to fit in a Dillon case gauge. Lee does make a "push thru" solution to fixing the 40S&W bulge. Their kit is used with a Lee FCD (not included in the kit). There is at least one other manufacturer with a similar solution. There is debate on whether resizing a bulge that cannot be removed with a regular resizing die is asking for trouble. If the case is so bulged that it cannot be resized with a normal die, the brass is probably being made weaker by overworking the area. If correct, it is not something you want to be doing to contain/control pressure exceeding 40k.

April 12, 2010, 10:32 PM	#6
Tuzo Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 797	I have sized 40 S&W with RCBS and Lee carbide sizing dies. The Lee sizing die is more effective than the RCBS die in removing the Glock-induced bulge just above the casing base. After sizing with the Lee die I cannot see the bulge and the casing outside diameter measurement is within specifications. The Lee die sizes more of the casing due to less standoff between the top of the shell holder and the base of the carbide sizing ring.

April 12, 2010, 10:37 PM	#7
Fullthrottle Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2009 Posts: 280	I asked a similar question a while back. Check the answers out, scroll down to Jep2's pics: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398286 Hope that helps, it helped me! Remove your barrel and put a round in it to verify!

April 12, 2010, 11:54 PM	#8
palabman Member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: SW PA Posts: 80	I run all the range brass I find through a Lee FCD without the crimp insert. I just use a bullet sizing ram to push them all the way though. There is a YouTube video out there that demonstrates

April 18, 2010, 12:42 PM	#13
palabman Member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: SW PA Posts: 80	I will also add that I DO NOT use any range brass for my hotter loads. All range brass is delegated to low load, lead plinking ammo suitable for our indoor range. I have also replaced the glock barrel with a more fully supported/tighter chambered barrel. After eliminating the bulge with the FCD I do not have a problem with the bulge in subsequent firings.

April 19, 2010, 09:51 AM	#16
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	actual Examining the empties from hundreds suggests it is just a "one in hand" thing. Glock learned.