.40S&W HELP!

[CAL.BAR]

Reloaders help. I am just getting started with my Dillon 650. Set it up and starting running .45 acp w/ no problem.

Then went to switch to .40S&W Using all Dillon equipment and dies. 180g Rockey Mountain Reloading plated bullets .4005 diameter (similar to the .45 acp reloaded w/o incident) and mixed 1x fired brass. I have weighed and measured many of the bullets and there are only extremely small inconsistencies in them.

The problems I am having are two fold. The first: Some(not all) the brass after being belled for bullet insertion by the machine is just too wide and the bullet simply falls in. see below
[IMG][/IMG]

With other brass (both mine and that purchased SOME (not all) sticks in the case gauge at different spots. it doesn't seem to matter how much or little I crimp or the OAL (which is 1.120 per Lyman manual)

see below:



I didn't have ANY of these problems with the brass or rounds from with the 45.acp.

ANYONE have any ideas what is going on?????

[XDRoX]

You just need to lower your sizing die. It should be all the way down until it just touches the shell plate and then backed off a tad so the carbide ring doesn't hit the plate every time you pull the handle.

[Bumslie]

Is this Federal brass in the photo?

[CAL.BAR]

You just need to lower your sizing die. It should be all the way down until it just touches the shell plate and then backed off a tad so the carbide ring doesn't hit the plate every time you pull the handle.

Thanks, I will try it. Now that I am thinking of it, I may have raised it slightly to avoid the needle getting bent. I will go recheck it. That really seems to be the issue though

[Munk]

You don't have the bell die's expander set all the way down do you? You might be flaring out the entire case... the picture I see doesn't appear to have a noticeable bell at the top.

[BigBronco]

First remove a case from the press after resizing. Then see if the case fits in to the case gauge. Then see if the bullet fits into the case before flaring. If it does it could be one of three things. The sizing die not adjusted properly as XDRoX mentioned. This was not a problem with the .45 as .45 is not a tapered case. The sizing die could be no good, too large or lastly the brass wall of the empty case is too thin, bad or worn brass. Does this only happen with like manufactured brass. Keep in mind a resizing die sets the outside diameter of the brass not the inside. The sizing die should over shrink the outside diameter and then the expander will set the inside diameter for case tension. Just a thought you did change the powder die to the .40 and are not using the one for .45 are you? That could do explain everything also. We had a similar problem a while back with some Federal brass. It about drove Bumslie nuts.

Our problem ended up being a bad Dillon Die. Problem went away with an RCBS sizing die. Ended up sending the original die back to Dillon.


As for the loaded cartridge not entering the case gauge. If your bullet was not lined up squarely when being pressed into the case it probably caused a slight bulge. Properly flared brass and not rushing when putting the bullet in the case should help.


If you are still having issues tomorrow call me as per my PM.

[J-cat]

Learn to reload (master each step) before attempting to use automated equipment.

[Pauliedad]

Learn to reload (master each step) before attempting to use automated equipment.

Ouch, but sometimes true...

I started researching to reload a year ago and was really impressed with all the guidance this forum offered. I realized that if I started on single stage that yes, I'd learn thoughly but would also end up spending even more money on the Dillon 650 that I eventually ended up ordering.

I've been reloading now since Feb and am glad I started with the 650. I have what I want and yes, the learning curve has been slow. I started with .45 then .38 and finally .40

Another resource for me was You Tube. Whaching how the machines operated and how people talked about what they had to do was invaluble.

I'm on to .223 in a couple of weeks and have been scouring this site for info and issues that come up.

Biggest point I can make is adjust those dies. Start with the Dillon instructions. I found them easy to follow.

OP, welcome to the fun and good luck.

[J-cat]

The OP first needs to understand the concept of case tension.

[Shoot-it]

Have you figured out what's wrong yet.I am reloading for my 40sw to but with a single stage press time consuming but it get's it done using lee carbide pistol die set.
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The only thing comes to mind is your die is not re-sizing your brass.