First batch of [real] reloads

[ironhorse1]

gotcha, what about them is wrong so i know what to correct?

the mouths measurw a bit small, but i didnt think small enough for them to be visibly noticeable..... some are right at 0.473, some are 0.4685....

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My guess is you are using mixed cases of various lengths.

If you set it to crimp the shortest case it will over crimp the longest case.

I sort by head stamp which helps avoid this issue.

irh

[rman]

ok, I'm not trying to defend myself or prove anyone wrong, just trying to understand so i can develop safe rounds. Until I get my P227, all I have is my P220 x-six which is way too nice to blown up, my XDs which is way too small and way too polymer too blow up, and my #33 MKIV combat elite which is way too rare to blow up.... I also have 4 kids and a single-income household, so I am way too crucial to blown up lol.

here are more pics. I just don't see a VISUAL variation in case width vs. mouth with, which ranges from 0.000 - 0.450"

also, different case sizes is possible, but not evident in the pics. the case lengths. just look staggered because i suck at taking pics.

i did measure them all, but since they are lost-crimp, they obviously all measure the same :/


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[rman]

i do have some that gp down to .4685 - .4690 at the very mouth,

Measurements do help and yes that is a good indication that you are crimping to hard.

My reloads with 230 FMJ average .470"-.471" I was thinking about my.45 Colt with cast bullets.

Factory rounds measure about the same. So you are close.

There are other problems with over crimping such as causing the case to bulge or losing case neck tension.

Back off on the crimp die and lower the seating stem to keep your OAL.

As long as the case stops you should be able to fire those rounds.

irh

missed this post. i think the server is doing a little juggling.

thanks ironhorse, this makes me feel a lot better.

well, now I'm looking at the 0.473 like it's not crimped enough!

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[rman]

so now to call hornady and get a new decapping pin. How TF did i bend it? (it broke when I tried to straighten it in the vise)

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[J-cat]

Way over crimped

[tylenol9999]

If you have a bullet puller I would pull one of them apart. From the last pictures you posted it looks like a very pronounced ring where the crimp is as well as above where the seating die contacted the bullet while seating the bullet. When I pull my apart I see no ring where I taper crimped the case. Keep us posted, feel free to ask as many questions it helps all of us.

[ironhorse1]

I see quite a bit of variation in your crimp.

While some look just fine others appear to be rolled inward.

As I mentioned before mixed brass will vary in length.

Also brass varies in thickness. Remington brass is thinner than Winchester brass.

I also see that you need a different seating die stem from the visible ring on your bullet head. While it won't hurt anything the right one for a round nose bullet will not leave a ring.

It's a learning process. The only way you will blow anything up is from an over charge or a squib load that goes unnoticed.

Learning to seat and crimp is just a part of the learning curve.

irh

[ironhorse1]

Looking at the second round it appears that the jacket/plating is bulged above the case mouth.

Are you belling the case mouth enough to start a bullet without damaging the copper jacket?

From the ring on the bullet nose it appears to me it is taking a lot of force to seat a bullet.

You may want to check a bullet in a belled case to see if it is belled enough for easy seating.

Your first load, in a nickel case, appears ok with a less noticeable ring on the bullet.

irh

[rman]

I see quite a bit of variation in your crimp.

While some look just fine others appear to be rolled inward.

As I mentioned before mixed brass will vary in length.

Also brass varies in thickness. Remington brass is thinner than Winchester brass.

I also see that you need a different seating die stem from the visible ring on your bullet head. While it won't hurt anything the right one for a round nose bullet will not leave a ring.

It's a learning process. The only way you will blow anything up is from an over charge or a squib load that goes unnoticed.

Learning to seat and crimp is just a part of the learning curve.

irh

Looking at the second round it appears that the jacket/plating is bulged above the case mouth.

Are you belling the case mouth enough to start a bullet without damaging the copper jacket?

From the ring on the bullet nose it appears to me it is taking a lot of force to seat a bullet.

You may want to check a bullet in a belled case to see if it is belled enough for easy seating.

Your first load, in a nickel case, appears ok with a less noticeable ring on the bullet.

irh

i have aboit 20-30lbs of processed brass .... as long as I'm not blowing anything up, im not sorting headstamps..

i would say 10 or so of those rounds were not belled enough. i fixed that right before i bent my decapping pin/stem.

once i get the decapping stem replaced...
*back off the crimp a bit
*ensure proper flare/bell
*shoot a bunch!

once i get the hang of it, and consistent accuracy... then I'll work up the loads close to max.... then eventually go back to the drawing board with CFE Pistol


Thanks guys! Learning a lot here!

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[rman]

here's a shot of the dummy rounds i made 6 weeks ago



you can see it doesn't look heavily crimped, and I cycled these thru my XDs with no setback.

thenline on the bullet is still there, but not nearly as prominent.

the crazy thing is these dies have not been adjusted/changed since that test run, other than the expander die, which would explain the seating ring.

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[aleng888]

I think may is the angle of the pic. can you take some from above and down at 45deg angle. that way we can how much the neck have been roll in.

[RR.44]

Rman, they are definitely over crimped, adjust the seater die up and lower the plunger, if you are trimming them you are also over chamfering them, when you seat the bullet and crimp in the same die you should not have a ring around the bullet, you are putting just a little too much squeeze on them hence the term over crimped, however, you are on the right track you just need to make the adjustment. as others have said .45 ACP head spaces on the case head, the fact that you had one stick is the clue that tells you that they are over crimped it means that the bullet and case are both entering the barrel and this should not happen at all.

Rich

[rman]

Rman, they are definitely over crimped, adjust the seater die up and lower the plunger, if you are trimming them you are also over chamfering them, when you seat the bullet and crimp in the same die you should not have a ring around the bullet, you are putting just a little too much squeeze on them hence the term over crimped, however, you are on the right track you just need to make the adjustment. as others have said .45 ACP head spaces on the case head, the fact that you had one stick is the clue that tells you that they are over crimped it means that the bullet and case are both entering the barrel and this should not happen at all.

Rich

thanks for the info

also rereading a few tutorials/how-tos on the PTX and Powder Measure, along with the Powder Measure stop... going to try to fine tune that to get the proper bell.

Just got off the phone with Hornady... upon closer examination, I. shomehow bent (then snapped) the zip spindle, which inadvertently locked up the retainer and decap pin

Replacements en route!

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[rman]

thanks for again for the help everyone.

adjusted my Powder Measure and Powder Measure Stop, I have decent bell now to comfortably seat the bullet

Adjust the pawls and it looks like it should index properly for priming

Backed off my crimp die, and adjusted my seating stem appropriately.
Getting uniform crimps (measured) and no digging into the bullet. Seating still leaves a ring, but very faint.

Passed the plunk test
Racked 3x thru my XDs with no measurable setback

Now waiting on my zip spindle, decap pin and retainer so I can crank 50 loads out and test them

Best of all, I have a better understanding of how everything works and importance of each component andnadjustment!

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[krwada]

Ring around the Ogive!!!

Rman, they are definitely over crimped, adjust the seater die up and lower the plunger, if you are trimming them you are also over chamfering them, when you seat the bullet and crimp in the same die you should not have a ring around the bullet, you are putting just a little too much squeeze on them hence the term over crimped, however, you are on the right track you just need to make the adjustment. as others have said .45 ACP head spaces on the case head, the fact that you had one stick is the clue that tells you that they are over crimped it means that the bullet and case are both entering the barrel and this should not happen at all.

Rich

This comment ^^^^ is spot on!

As far as checking head space for a round on barrel for the rimless semi-auto ... Here is a very good graphic to help you with this...



I recommend image #2 ... trying to squeeze more accuracy by attempting #3 may adversely affect reliability.

In general, it is better to have reliable feeding and operation 1st ... then go for accuracy next.