Problem with .38 reloads

[J-cat]

Certainly not in my experience. Lee Loaders yes, they are a hammer activated hand loading system which lacks an expander. Very simplistic, yet highly functional, but not fast.

Standard die sets for presses, not so. The roughly 2 dozen sets I have for various calibers from straight walled pistol and rifle cartridges, to bottleneck rifle and pistol cartridges by various companies. All have an "expander" function.

With these press dies. The sizer, sizes the neck area to "just under" finish size from the outside. Then the expander sizes the neck from the inside to assure proper neck tension. Usually .001" under bullet diameter.

This all but eliminates seating retention problems due to variances in neck thickness.

JM2c

What kind of experience do you have?

You just contradicted yourself.

[desertjosh]

So the charge sucked because lack of recoil? I'm confused.

[pacrat]

What kind of experience do you have?

You just contradicted yourself.

Reloading experience started in Feb of 1968 for shotshell. Later that same year for metallic catridges [308 with Lee Loader]. Not that experience really makes a difference as to mechanical function or capability of dies.

Contradiction?



OP,

Have you slugged the bore? Still using same undersized .356" bullets? Some firearms just don't like certain projectiles or loads.

JM2c

[J-cat]

You replied "certainly not in my experience" to my statement that case tension is the primary mechanism that retains a bullet in a metallic cartridge. Then you went on to describe the very same mechanism, case tension, resulting from the sizer die sizing the case "to just under finish size from the outside."

So, what in your experience is the primmary mechanism for retaining the bullet within a metallic case if it is not case tension.

[pacrat]

You replied "certainly not in my experience" to my statement that case tension is the primary mechanism that retains a bullet in a metallic cartridge. Then you went on to describe the very same mechanism, case tension, resulting from the sizer die sizing the case "to just under finish size from the outside."

So, what in your experience is the primmary mechanism for retaining the bullet within a metallic case if it is not case tension.

Of course "case tension" is the primary mechanism, as you say, that holds the bullet. You should re-read my post. How it is set and governed is what I commented on.

With a LeeLoader which has "no expander". Tension is dependant solely upon the relationship between the "sizer" inner dimension and the bullets outside dimension. In such a system, case "thickness" becomes a variable that can effect that tension. Thin case = not enough tension. Thick case = too much tension.

With standard press dies [which in my experience] all have expanders. Case thickness is NOT a factor as to case tension. Because the sizer, actually slightly under sizes the neck, then the expander sizes the "inside" of the neck to a predetermined dimension. Negating any variable as to tension due to neck thickness. Only metallurgy remains as a variable.

JM2c

[DR296]

Well damn. Tonight while reloading some more .38 with the berrys copper plated bullets. I found the culprits. It seems cases with a headstamp of WW will not hold the bullet it just slips thru even with a crimp.The other Winchester and federal I have hold just fine

[pacrat]

Well damn. Tonight while reloading some more .38 with the berrys copper plated bullets. I found the culprits. It seems cases with a headstamp of WW will not hold the bullet it just slips thru even with a crimp.The other Winchester and federal I have hold just fine

Odds are definitely in favor of the offending cases being thinner necks than the others. That combined with the undersized bullets. Tolerance stacking strikes again and you have loose bullets.

[hambam105]

DR296

Don't change anything you are doing other that switching to a 158 grain cast bullet with a .357 or .358 diameter bullet.

Since 1968, I'd safely estimate that more than a few million .38 Special reloads were assembled properly and produced excellent performance using the same data as well as reloading techniques you are using now minus the Berry-Berry copper plated bullet treatment.

Try Berry's 158 straight cast bullets. Loose the copper plated stuff.

[J-cat]

Well damn. Tonight while reloading some more .38 with the berrys copper plated bullets. I found the culprits. It seems cases with a headstamp of WW will not hold the bullet it just slips thru even with a crimp.The other Winchester and federal I have hold just fine

Sorting brass prevents headaches.

[DR296]

This new round of loads are. Same bullet 158grn Berrys with 3.6 grains 700x seated at 1.455
In seating these to that spec it appears to me that col seems short for a round ball. All my books indicate 1.455 col. But those seem to be wad cutters or hollow points.
I measured rounds from a box of federal ammo I have. The average length on those are 1.65
So with that said what are you guys seating .38 ball at

[Carcassonne]

It seems these Berrys bullets might be the problem. I am getting an actual size of .356

Those would be for 9mm.

Maybe they sent you the wrong box


.

[pacrat]

Those would be for 9mm.

Maybe they sent you the wrong box


.

Berry's doesn't sell 158 gr RN 9mm bullets.

Most likely just a bad QC batch.

Suggest OP slug his bore and get bullets that fit.