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Reloading pistol lead bullets

cramercramer Member Posts: 35 ✭✭
edited October 2007 in Ask the Experts
I need a little help. i have loaded 44-40 for several years now and now when i seat the lead bullet i get slivers of lead down the neck of the case. i can scrap it off with my finger nail but when you load 500 the starts to get the thumb nail a bit sore. I did use magtech bullets they are a dark in color compared to what i have been using and they do not have the gas check. did i just buy cheap stuff and now paying for it? or do i need to change something in my process?

thanks

Comments

  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    First, the 44-40 develops an irregular mouth so it's good to trim the case mouths occasionally.
    You need to inside chamfer case mouths for lead bullets and bell the mouths slightly.
    Your expanding plug may be for jacketed bullets. If so, get one that will bell case mouths.
    Some commercially cast bullets have beveled bases so you might get away without belling case mouths and just a light chamfer inside
    the case mouth.
  • BT99BT99 Member Posts: 1,043
    edited November -1
    Try expanding the case mouth a little more by setting the expander deeper.
  • PA ShootistPA Shootist Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are you using a die that would bell the case mouth, such as a properly sized and adjusted Lyman "M" die? I believe that would cure your problem, by opening the mouth of the case enough so that the soft lead bullet will start into the case without shaving. Lots of good information on loading cast bullets is available in the Lyman reloading manual. Same would apply to your soft lead bullets.
  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My guess is that you need to bell the mouth a little more (die adjustment). A champher on the inside of the case helps. The old diameter was .424 not the current 44 as .429. hth
  • cramercramer Member Posts: 35 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks guys. i have belled the mouth just a touch. next time i will try just a bit more. the only thing i find strang is that i did not have this problem untill i started using magtech bullets
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello I have loaded lead bullets in 45ACP for 35+ years. 250,000 rounds + all the replies have been right on to your post .But I might add I think a taper crimp die is the only way to go with lead bullets . If you don't have a taper crimp die but your cases vary in length then you will roll the case smaller then the bullet BEFORE the seater has finished moving the the bullet this will shave lead. . Try unscrewing the seater die one full turn and then turn the seater stem in to keep the same OAL. If the lead shaving is less then you will know the seater is the problem not the case mouth BELLING. Just a thought .
  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Something else you might want to try is seating the bullet to overall length as perryshooter suggests, and then try applying crimp with a Lee Factory Crimp die. I've tried them on a wide range of rifle and pistol rounds and discarded them as of little value for my .357, .44 special and mags and most rifle rounds, BUT, wouldn't trade them when it comes to thin necked rounds like the .38-40 and 44-40. Eliminates buckled necks and I've gotten consistent ignition and good accuracy.
    In the ACP round theirs nothing like a good taper crimp die.
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