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.38/357 load problem
Nwcid
Member Posts: 10,674 ✭
I am doing my first batch of cast lead bullets and loading .38 Special right now. The bullets are 148gr and have 2 "lube" groves in them.
The problem am having is when seating them to the upper "lube" groove as listed it make the case expand and not fit in the cylinder. I have never run into this kind of problem before, any thoughts?
The problem am having is when seating them to the upper "lube" groove as listed it make the case expand and not fit in the cylinder. I have never run into this kind of problem before, any thoughts?
Comments
There are 2 deep groves so they may be cannalures but in rounds that use lube that is what I have seen in them.
I am using mixed head stamp.
They are semi wad cutters, I measured them and they all run .360.
There are 2 deep groves so they may be cannalures but in rounds that use lube that is what I have seen in them.
I am using mixed head stamp.
Nwcid, .360 probably is the problem. 38spl/.357mag should be .357 or .358 on bullet diameter. Email me your address I've got 165 or so Oregon Trail Laser-cast 158gr., .358 LSWC. shipping on me.
Nwcid, .360 probably is the problem. 38spl/.357mag should be .357 or .358 on bullet diameter. Email me your address I've got 200 or so Laser-cast 158gr., .358 LSWC. shipping on me.
Hey I appreciate it but I have about 3k of these and now I need to try an figure out what to do with them.
Here is a pic.
I know some of them are seated different, trying to find a way to make them work. I can get some of them to work but they fit real snug. I messed with about 2 dozen before giving it up for the night.
Where did you get the bullets from?...brand etc. I don't pour my own but maybe they need to be sized and lubed.
I got them a couple years ago. I think it was at a local pawn shop but can not remember for sure. I dont have the boxes either, dumped them into a .50 cal can, go figure.
Do you know if there is a way to resize them?
quote:Originally posted by reloader44mag
Where did you get the bullets from?...brand etc. I don't pour my own but maybe they need to be sized and lubed.
I got them a couple years ago. I think it was at a local pawn shop but can not remember for sure. I dont have the boxes either, dumped them into a .50 cal can, go figure.
Do you know if there is a way to resize them?
Like I said I don't pour my own. I do know that Lyman makes a press that is specific to resizing but really can't help ya more than that. Maybe post another thread dealing with that issue. sorry can't help more. The offer is still on if ya want those bullets I mentioned in an earlier post. It will at least get ya started. just email me your address. reloader44mag
Either get someone at a local club to do it, buy a tool or sell the bullets.
Lyman and Lee sell a cheap bullet sizing die to use in your press.
You will have to lube the bullets.
Get an inertia bullet puller and dismantle the ammo already loaded.
Do the need to be lubed and sized, or can they just be sized?
If they need lubed how much lube does it take to do 3k?
Other then having one more step in reloading is there a disadvantage to doing this?
How much are these worth to just sale and buy some that are already sized?
Have a puller already.
Are they already lubed?
Nope, just exactly what you see in the pic.
Does the lube cover the whole bullet or just go in the groves?
What is in Gig Harbor, you?
Funny thing is I will be in Seattle this weekend. Got a night at the Olympic Fairmont and dinner as a christmas gift from work.
If you plan on casting your own in the future, buy a Lyman or Saeco sizer-lubricator (check ebay). If not, Lyman had a cheap system involving a "Cookie Cutter" which was a sleeve slightly larger than the bullet. You stand bullets on a tray and melt lube in it up to the lube groove. Then after the lube has cooled,press down on each bullet with the cookie cutter sleeve and they pop out the top. Then you push them through the sizing die in your press.
It's a little messy and bullet bases need to be free from lube or it may contaminate the powder.
So, If you want, I could bring my brand new Lee Sizer to the meet, you could take it back with you, and call it your own. That would be earnest money for a possible future hunt out your way? You get to meet me, size me up (sorry, I couldn't resist)) and get away with the sizer you need right away. Howzat sound?
You driving or flying?
Lee sizers come with these instructions, BTW: You first lightly lube the bullets with Lee Liquid Alox (a bottle of LLA comes with the sizer). Then you size the bullets using your regular single-stage press.
Next, you lube them again with LLA. When dry, load as usual into cartridges. When ready to load, the LLA will leave them with an overall golden-brown tint. Some find it a bit sticky even when dry; if you do, dust them with a little bit of powdered mica. I do.
I bought one of Lee's smaller presses just for sizing and doing other small loading jobs. I mounted it to a short piece of 2x6 so I can C-clamp it to the corner of my bench whenever I need it. It is VERY handy to have a second press to do bulk depriming, bullet pulling and bullet sizing. I even set it up with the expander die when I'm doing handgun ammo. Size a case in my regular press, then immediately expand it in the little Lee. It saves a LOT of time.
The bullets in your photo look like they were sold "as cast" without having been sized or lubed. They were probably cast from a lyman or rcbs-type mold. Those were meant to go thru a regular luber/sizer which sizes them and puts lube into the groove (only) to protect your bore from leading. Those luber/sizers use the hard stick-type lubes.
Lee makes their own dies that are meant to be "tumble-lubed". The grooves in the bullets are not as deep and after your run them thru Lee's sizing die, you just put the bullets into a small container, squirt on the liquid lube and shake the container to coat the entire bullet with lube. I used a small yogurt container to accomplish this lubing process. Then you stand the bullets on a tray with wax paper while the lube dries. You can then load them and dust them with mica after loading them into cases if the stickiness bothers you.
What people are saying here is you can probably run your bullets thru the very inexpensive Lee sizer and them tumble lube them after to make them shootable without a big dollar outlay. I agree with them.
I hope this explains things a little better.