45acp...how to I correct this bulging?

[kdsd731]

I am new to pistol reloads. I am reloading mixed head stamp once fired brass and 200gr HAP bullets. The COL is 1.229" and the case diameter at the top is .473". The dies are Hornady Custom Grade New Dimension Nitride 3-Die Set. I am using a single stage press. I keep getting these random rounds with a slight bulge at the base of the bullet on one side of the case. What would cause this? My assumption is the bullet seating slightly offset. But how could that be and how can I correct this?

[Timbob55]

AS far as I know that's normal. Your resizing die squeezes the brass down a little extra to enable a good tight bullet fit. All my handloads have it and I've never had a problem

[Timbob55]

Re: seating offset (I should read thewhole post before replying) you can try partially seating the bullet, rotate the cartridge 180 degrees and finish

[ojisan]

You need a bullet seater that has the correct shape to match the bullet's shape.
When loading lead bullets, lube can build up in the seating die and result in angled bullets or a too-deep seating depth.

[kdsd731]

Thanks! Actually, I think I may have figure it out. Now I need to load some up to verify. I did some searching and found someone mentioning to use a flat base bullet seater for a flat bullet and the concave seater for a round bullet. I had the round one in for my flat top bullet and I bet that is the reason for the crooked seating!

[krwada]

That looks like a Hornady HAP projectile. The bulge on one side is due to the seater stem being offset with respect to the projectile top.

Did you use the flat seater stem? If not, then this is most likely the problem. If you look closely, you can see that the projectile is slightly tilted. This amount of visible runout will affect the accuracy of your loaded rounds ... even for pistol.

Also, you can do the partial seat, followed by a 180 spin and seat rest of way. This is what I do with all of my rounds ... that is unless I am using one of those Forster precision bullet seaters.

[robert101]

I would try to match my bullet seater with the bullet style. Also, on a single stage press, I usually start the down stroke to seat the bullet say 1/16" into the case, then let up slightly on the handle, then re-apply pressure and complete the stroke. I find this helps in getting things aligned properly.

A slight buldge in the case can be normal depending on your bullet diameter relating to lead, jacketed or plated bullets.

[kdsd731]

I will try to spin them 180's but that seems annoying to have to do. I switched to the flat base seater which I hadn't before and still get that bulge here and there. I am getting frustrated though. I removed the barrel from the gun and am testing how each round fits in the chamber. I get the die adjusted and producing rounds that easily slide into the chamber all the way for a few ruonds but then I get some rounds that slide easily to about 1/3 out to just the rim out. I keep playing with the die and it never seems to produce the same rounds. Any tips? I am setting the crimp to .473" on my .451" bullets. I have messed around with different tapers and did .471" but ran into frequent rippling of the case so I backed it off. Any one live in the Fontana area? lol.

['ol shooter]

I start my bullets about a 1/4 of the way, back off slightly, let the case tension help right the bullet, then finish seating. You are going to get a few bulges here and there, but as long as it drops freely into your case gauge, you are good. Crimp just enough to remove the case bell from the expanding die.

[Limitedrounds]

I just got into reloading and had the same thing thappen to 3 of the first 50 rounds I made. It was so bad they wouldn't go half way into the gauge, so I took them apart and resized the brass with my depriming die. Of course I took out the pin first.

I also had a few that looked like this but still fit in the headspace gauge fine.
I would take them apart a redo them. I hope you find a solution , cuz it might work for me too haha.

[kdsd731]

Okay, so what are your thoughts? Is my differences in case length the cause of my frustration? I just measured a handful of cases and they varied by .003-.004". To me that's the only thing it could be. I keep setting the die for one length and then it is off on others. Does that sound like a possible reason? I will set the die to say a shorter case and get the complete round to drop in and out of the chamber freely with no bulging/rippling then seat and crimp another case that is a little longer and it doesn't just drop in freely or it ripples showing it's over crimped.

How loosely should the round drop into the chamber? A factory round drop in completely and falls out on its own when turned upside down. My rounds if accomplishing that loose feel is when I start getting issues.

[krwada]

Given everything that you had mentioned so far, it looks like you have too much crimp. You need to back this off.

All of your finished rounds should just drop into your disassembled barrel. Your cases will vary by 0.003 to 0.004". This is normal.

This is what I would do:
1. Get one of your sized and flared cases and make a dummy round
2. This dummy round has NO powder and NO primer
3. Do the drop test with this round on the barrel
4. If it drops in, then make another dummy round
5. Keep repeating this till you get one that does not 'drop' in.
6. Disassemble the problem dummy round
7. Adjust the crimp and reassemble the dummy round
8. Do the drop test

The way I did the crimp on my .45 ACP was to do the following:
1. Size the case
2. Flare the case, (1/16" or less)
3. Buff the case using a Scotch brite pad
4. Set bullet in place
5. Seat the bullet and crimp
6. The crimp will plainly show as a bright ring near the case neck
7. Adjust the crimp until the bright ring is less than 1/16"

Now, you have a crimp that is pretty decent for the .45 ACP

Also, here is a very nice graphic on the proper headspace for the .45 ACP.

[sr71brd]

There will be times when certain brass/ bullet combinations just don't work. For me, it is a combination of Zero brand 230 gr. jacketed hollow point bullets w/ PMC brass. Also, don't seat & crimp at the same time. Buy a separate crimp die, but not a Lee, unless you want taper filing instead of taper crimping.

[Sunday]

maybe try a bigger bell . then Try to loosen up the die and see if you can recenter the die.

[bruce381]

Thats normal some brass is thicker on one side and will bulge, My thoughs are that it you seat too fast the brass 'sticks' to the boolit and wrinkles, so slow down the seating and try to be consistant. that said if they chamber they will be fine some of mine look like that and shoot 1 1/2 @ 50 yards from a 1911.