I could use a little help on how to fix a new problem.

[Old Fart]

Here's the problem.

I've been using the same dies, mold, and resizer for about 30 years to do my 38spl/357mag with. Never had any problems with thier function and operation. This past weekends I took out some recent reloads to the range to do some plinking. When I went to load up the pistol the rounds wouldn't fit. It appears the bullets are to big. They show a slight bulge around where the base of the bullet is seated down in the case. So I'm guessing my resizer isn't resizing them down enough anymore. I haven't taken the time to check what size it reads yet, but I will soon enough.

I've got somewhere around 1000-1300 rounds loaded with these apparently to large bullets. I really don't want to have to pull all these and start over. Do any of you guys have a trick I can do to get these back down to a acceptable diameter without having to pull them all?

I'm just about sick over this.......

[45-70.gov]

take  the  primer punch  out of your  sizing  die

resize  whole  bullet

maybe  your  lead has too  much  antimony
or the mold  didn't  close all the way

my  44  did  that with  babbit  lead
that  is how  i fixed  it
now  i  have  a  lead  lubri-sizer  no  more   problems

[Old Fart]

take  the  primer punch  out of your  sizing  die

resize  whole  bullet

Why the heck didn't I think of that.

Well that's why I posted here.
Knew I was overlooking some simple fix.
Thank you sir for helping.

[45-70.gov]

you  want  simple........i am your man

[mdi]

I think the Lee factory crimp die sizes the case when crimping. I don't like that feature 'cause I need some oversized boolits for my Puma's oversized bore.

[Dee]

4570 is right, it is much like taper crimping a 45acp.

[SHOOTALL]

I will ask because it has happened to me , Are your cases getting to long ? Mine did and leaving the crimp setting alone let it bulge the to long case . The trick with the resizing die fixed it for the loaded rounds but it happened a second time so i looked farther and realized the cases were to long .

[Old Fart]

Well the bulge I'm referring to is only where the bullet is.
And for the most part the bottom of the bullet.
Maybe somewhere around .025 long all the way around.
Not a big bulge but enough the cause the thing to stick about halfway in.
It's universal on all of the brass, wether new or used.
Some have been trimmed recently others haven't.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

Also I did size all the bullets before loading.

[Lloyd Smale]

aloys with high amounts of tin and antimony will sometimes spring back when sized in your sizing press. did you possibly use a different alloy.

[Dee]

I too have until about 3 years ago been loading 38s and 357s with the same dies, and re sizer-lubricator die since about 1976. Never had that problem. I now use a Dillon progressive on the reloading end. Same re sizer-lubricator and die though.

[Steve P]

Please take a photo and show us how the loads are not fitting.

As referenced before, if your crimp die is not properly set, your case will bulge near the rim.  The is especially prone to the Dillon where you don't have a lot of case being supported by the shell holder AND your sizing die does not come down far enough to size this portion of the case.   If you read the current Handloader magazine, they actually show a photo of 357/38s with the bulge in the case from the bullet.  This bulge is not a bad thing.  When you have the bulge near the rim from the crimp die, you can hardly see it.....until you go to put the round into a revolver cylinder.  The case goes about 3/4 of the way in and stops. 

Don't ask me how I know all of this.......

I ended up buying the Redding Profile crimp dies for all of my competition reloads.  I also measure the cases more often.

Don't ask me how I know all of this.......

I hope you are able to resolve your issues with the sizing die.  If not, you may be pulling bullets to save bullets, powder, and primers.

Don't ask me how I know all of this.......

Steve

[wncchester]

"(Bullets) show a slight bulge around where the base of the bullet is seated down in the case. So I'm guessing my resizer isn't resizing them down enough anymore. I haven't taken the time to check what size it reads yet, but I will soon enough."

If the resizer weren't sizing down far enough the bullets wouldn't be bulging the cases, right?

Problem is the bullets themselves are too large.

[Glanceblamm]

As referenced before, if your crimp die is not properly set, your case will bulge near the rim

This was my first thought.
Senario: I run a turrent as a single stage and the first crimp of round one caught my attention with the crimp of round two causing me to say ouch...too tight. These two rounds were placed in the last two slots of the ammo box and would not chamber (bout 3/4 like Steve P was saying) when I went to shoot that 100rd lot. This was the first and only time that I had that happen. The cartridge's looked ok but the extra force had also jacket the bullet perhaps .007 deeper into the case and expanded the rim which was hard to see.

[Old Fart]

aloys with high amounts of tin and antimony will sometimes spring back when sized in your sizing press. did you possibly use a different alloy.

Lloyd this too may have contributed to my problem.....
I'll try the resizing thing. If it doesn't hold then maybe I'll be spending some time pulling bullets.

Oh and I'll try and post a couple pics tonite to clear up what I'm talking about.

[45-70.gov]

IT  BOTHERS  ME TO  RELOAD 
AND  NOT  HAVE THE GUN  I AM RELOADING  FOR
RIGHT THERE IN FRONT  OF ME

when  the  first  few  come  of  the press
i  just have  to  fill  the  magazine  and  work  the  action

i  do this  just because  it  makes  me feel good  and  for  no  other  reason

then  i realized...i  caught  a few  problems  over the years

now  i  do this  ritual  for  logical  reason

[Sweetwater]

IT  BOTHERS  ME TO  RELOAD 
AND  NOT  HAVE THE GUN  I AM RELOADING  FOR
RIGHT THERE IN FRONT  OF ME

when  the  first  few  come  of  the press
i  just have  to  fill  the  magazine  and  work  the  action

i  do this  just because  it  makes  me feel good  and  for  no  other  reason

then  i realized...i  caught  a few  problems  over the years

now  i  do this  ritual  for  logical  reason

+1  YES!! This is comfort zone!!!

I also very much dislike to handload for a gun that is not accessible to me for whatever reason.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Old Fart]

Well it appears the resizing thing did the trick.
Thanks 45-70 for pointing out an easy fix.

I'm leaning towards to much antimony in my mix.

[qajaq59]

1000 to 1300 pulls? Oh man, what a job that would have been!!

And I'd be curious to know if your sizing cracked and that's why they are bigger then they should be?

[Steve P]

"(Bullets) show a slight bulge around where the base of the bullet is seated down in the case. So I'm guessing my resizer isn't resizing them down enough anymore. I haven't taken the time to check what size it reads yet, but I will soon enough."

If the resizer weren't sizing down far enough the bullets wouldn't be bulging the cases, right?

Problem is the bullets themselves are too large.

False.  .358 or .359 is not going to change.  You are not going to wear out a sizing die with lead bullets.

That bulge you see at the base of the bullet is because your bullet is bringing the case back out to where it should be.  Full length sizing with a carbide die will give straight wall cases a "coke bottle" effect.   The longer the case the more noticable.  Lots of my straight wall cases are assigned to specific guns (ammo boxes labelled for each gun) and I only size the depth of the bullet on most.  Case capacity is more consistent because minimal variation in any spring-back in the sized brass.

Check the crimp die setting and check the first few loaded rounds in the gun you are going to fire them in.   

Trying to crimp a bullet that is seated too deep can cause this bulge also.

Steve

[Sweetwater]

"(Bullets) show a slight bulge around where the base of the bullet is seated down in the case. So I'm guessing my resizer isn't resizing them down enough anymore. I haven't taken the time to check what size it reads yet, but I will soon enough."

If the resizer weren't sizing down far enough the bullets wouldn't be bulging the cases, right?

Problem is the bullets themselves are too large.

False.  .358 or .359 is not going to change.  You are not going to wear out a sizing die with lead bullets.

That bulge you see at the base of the bullet is because your bullet is bringing the case back out to where it should be.  Full length sizing with a carbide die will give straight wall cases a "coke bottle" effect.   The longer the case the more noticable.  Lots of my straight wall cases are assigned to specific guns (ammo boxes labelled for each gun) and I only size the depth of the bullet on most.  Case capacity is more consistent because minimal variation in any spring-back in the sized brass.

Check the crimp die setting and check the first few loaded rounds in the gun you are going to fire them in.   

Trying to crimp a bullet that is seated too deep can cause this bulge also.

Steve

Well Stated, Steve!

Regards,
Sweetwater

[gman628]

IT  BOTHERS  ME TO  RELOAD 
AND  NOT  HAVE THE GUN  I AM RELOADING  FOR
RIGHT THERE IN FRONT  OF ME

when  the  first  few  come  of  the press
i  just have  to  fill  the  magazine  and  work  the  action

i  do this  just because  it  makes  me feel good  and  for  no  other  reason

then  i realized...i  caught  a few  problems  over the years

now  i  do this  ritual  for  logical  reason

I Always, Always do this to check for problems and headspace and I would never had loaded 1000 - 1300 round before checking to ensure no problems, and I bet you will too, now.

[BIG Dog454]

Are these cases different, some cases are thicker.  check your head stamp on the cases if they are new to you.