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Offline GH1

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Reloading SNAFU
« on: August 17, 2010, 03:08:47 PM »
 I'm passing on this error of mine in the hopes it'll save someone else some grief.
 I was at the range with Bersa .380 and all went well with the first two mags. I loaded up the third and when I inserted the mag and releases the slide, I couldn't fire the weapon. Worse, the slide couldn't move, it was stuck solid. I ended up having to take it to a gunsmith who was able to extract the stuck round.
 I couldn't figure out the problem until I got home and measured the case O.D. It turns out I had never sized or de-capped the case, I merely flared the case, charged it, and seated the bullet. Since the case was expended from firing it ended up getting stuck in the chamber and since it contained a spent primer it wouldn't fire.
 So I guess I'll have to inspect every case before I charge it. 
GH1 :)
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: Reloading SNAFU
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2010, 05:32:59 PM »
You might consider a lee factory crimp die for the .380.  It's a taper style and really smooths and resizes the walls of your case nicely.  I was having major issues with my reloads going into my New Model Blackhawk Convertible's .45 acp cylinder and using this die corrected it.  Especially helpful if you are loading plain base bullets.  I have also corrected my friends issues with his .40 S&W this way.  Just a thought, but I'd try it since it is an inexpensive way to insure you don't have issues when getting to the range.  ;)
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Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.

Offline shot1

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Re: Reloading SNAFU
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2010, 03:51:49 AM »
Just a thought to keep in mind so these things don't happen. Keep your mind on what you are doing while reloading. Do one process at a time without interruptions and always double check your work. ALWAYS look into the case to verify that there is powder in it and that all cases have the same volume of powder by sight. Failure to do this is where people screw up the most and get a double load of fast powder in a pistol case and they get a big BOOM surprise and pieces of gun and body parts go flying. I really like the Lee Factory Crimp die also. I use it for 45 ACP and 9mm and everything runs smooth.   
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Offline KansasPaul

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Re: Reloading SNAFU
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2010, 03:46:13 PM »
+2 on the Lee factory crimp die.  I had some problems with 357mag cartridges that I had loaded - when I seated the bullet I had not created enough crimp to completely straighten the case mouth. The bullets had a super tight fit when being placed into the cylinder of my Ruger Blackhawk. I ran all of the bullets through the Lee factory crimp die and they were perfect from that point forward.

Paul
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