Case bulge.

grunt2406 · June 11, 2013, 06:49 PM

I am new to reloading and have reloaded a few hundred 30-06 military brass using 150gr bullets.When i change to 125 gr bullets my cases bulge about 1/8 in below the neck.What am i doing wrong.

SonOfGun · June 11, 2013, 07:20 PM

Need a picture (image).

603Country · June 11, 2013, 07:33 PM

Are you loading a flat base bullet into a non-chamfered case neck?

higgite · June 11, 2013, 07:56 PM

Are you seating the 125 grain bullet into the case as far as the 150 grain, or are you seating them to the same cartridge OAL?

Is the 125 grain's bulge diameter larger than the 150 grain's neck diameter?

NESHOOTER · June 11, 2013, 11:22 PM

Sounds like your only neck sizing your brass and do not have it going down far enough.

AllenJ · June 12, 2013, 08:47 AM

A picture would be really helpful, is there a chance you can post one?

Do the cartridges loaded with 125 grain bullets chamber in your rifle? What is there overall length? The reason I ask is that if you did not adjust your seater die after reloading for the 150's there is a chance the base of the 125 grain bullet is not going below the neck, and therefore would appear to be a bulge in the case neck. Military brass is usually pretty thick so this bulge is going to look very pronounced.

**Unclenick** · June 12, 2013, 10:18 AM

Grunt2406,

A picture would help so the nature of the bulge can be seen. Is there any chance you adjusted the seating die for the shorter bullet by turning the whole die body down instead of only adjusting the seating ram in the center of the die by itself? If so, you probably ran the crimp shoulder in the seating die down so far it is pushing the neck down into the case.

Salmoneye · June 12, 2013, 12:32 PM

Too much crimp...

DennRN · June 12, 2013, 06:47 PM

+1 for a picture,
Is the bulge always there?
Is it uniform or only on one side?
There are many variables that can cause a bulge.

June 11, 2013, 06:49 PM	#1
grunt2406 Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2013 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 1	Case bulge. I am new to reloading and have reloaded a few hundred 30-06 military brass using 150gr bullets.When i change to 125 gr bullets my cases bulge about 1/8 in below the neck.What am i doing wrong.

June 12, 2013, 10:18 AM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Grunt2406, A picture would help so the nature of the bulge can be seen. Is there any chance you adjusted the seating die for the shorter bullet by turning the whole die body down instead of only adjusting the seating ram in the center of the die by itself? If so, you probably ran the crimp shoulder in the seating die down so far it is pushing the neck down into the case. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 11, 2013, 07:20 PM	#2
SonOfGun Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 110	Need a picture (image).

June 11, 2013, 07:33 PM	#3
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	Are you loading a flat base bullet into a non-chamfered case neck?

June 11, 2013, 07:56 PM	#4
higgite Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Posts: 1,025	Are you seating the 125 grain bullet into the case as far as the 150 grain, or are you seating them to the same cartridge OAL? Is the 125 grain's bulge diameter larger than the 150 grain's neck diameter?

June 11, 2013, 11:22 PM	#5
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	Sounds like your only neck sizing your brass and do not have it going down far enough.

June 12, 2013, 08:47 AM	#6
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	A picture would be really helpful, is there a chance you can post one? Do the cartridges loaded with 125 grain bullets chamber in your rifle? What is there overall length? The reason I ask is that if you did not adjust your seater die after reloading for the 150's there is a chance the base of the 125 grain bullet is not going below the neck, and therefore would appear to be a bulge in the case neck. Military brass is usually pretty thick so this bulge is going to look very pronounced.

June 12, 2013, 12:32 PM	#8
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Too much crimp...

June 12, 2013, 06:47 PM	#9
DennRN Member Join Date: April 10, 2013 Posts: 96	+1 for a picture, Is the bulge always there? Is it uniform or only on one side? There are many variables that can cause a bulge.