Something stinks with my reloading. But what is it?

[RC20]

James:

LSWC: WC would be wad cutter.

LS?

While I have shot 38 in WC, never a 44 (not that it could not be done).

I never saw a bullet you describe that has a hollow base.

It sounds like these are horribly soft.

You can't shoot them like that without lube.

The leading would be atrocious and fill the groves in 4 rounds. Not even low speed.

 

[Pond James Pond]

LSWC: Lead Semi-Wadcutter.

No plating, no jacket....

Honestly, so far there has been no leading but I think they must have a coat of something on them...

 

[44 AMP]

Modern Dry-Film lubricants are fantastic things. They can be virtually undetectable to the eye, or to the touch, and still do a good job.

 

[Pond James Pond]

It certainly seems to be doing the job.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've just seated and pulled two bullets. One I crimped with the FCD and the OD came back at about 0.427" avg.

The one that was simply seated but not crimped by FCD showed an OD of 0.4275" so not that big a difference.

No, but it proves that the FCD is resizing the bullet when being crimped. I doubt very much that the speed or the force you use when using your press has any impact on the amount of crimp or neck tension of the case itself, unless your press has an extreme amount of flex when it bottoms out. Neck tension is controlled by the size of your resizing die, thickness of the case itself, size of the projectile and the amount of flare used to start the bullet. If one has inadequate neck tension(as it appears you have), it is because of the aforementioned. Resizing the bullet smaller after it has been seated can do nuttin' but reduce neck tension.

 

[Pond James Pond]

I've reseated the bullets (admittedly now FCD swaged..) and re-crimped using the seating die and roll crimp. I'll find out tomorrow how they perform....

RANGE TIME!!

 

[HiBC]

Something stinks with my reloading. But what is it?

You did not lose a half can of sprats in your reloading room,did you?

 

[Pond James Pond]

ou did not lose a half can of sprats in your reloading room,did you?

Dammit!!

Now that you mention it... although it was more like quarter of a can...

 

[bamaranger]

brass

I've had trouble with .44 mag reloads and jacketed bullets resulting in poor case mouth tension and the symptoms Pond is describing. In my case, I traced it back to old, tired brass.

James old boy, how "fresh" is your brass?

 

[Pond James Pond]

I reckon my Spl brass has had about 5-7 reloads.

My mag brass has not had problems as yet. All this started with there odd-ball LSWC bullets!