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Thread: Reloading help
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April 27th, 2015, 11:59 AM #1
Reloading help
I got into reloading last year. I have only reloaded a couple of hundred rounds so far. Recently on my last couple of trips to the range I have had some problems.
I am reloading.40 S&W. I have had a lot of rounds that did not fire. I also have had a few rounds not chamber correctly.
I am useing a RCBS rockchucker single stage press and a 4 die Lyman set of dies. I am also using CCI small pistol primers.
If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
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April 27th, 2015, 12:09 PM #2
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April 27th, 2015, 12:10 PM #3
Re: Reloading help
Rounds not firing - how are you priming the cases? The rock chucker has a primer seater, but it may very well be using too much force & smashing the primers in. I hand prime a lot of cases with an RCBS hand priming tool. What brand of primers?
Rounds not chambering - look for problems with your crimp & C.O.A.L. / bullet profile.
It will be hard for us to debug your re-loading issues without more info. What components are you using, charge, COAL, what are you shooting them in etc. Pics of rounds that won't chamber might be useful as well.
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April 27th, 2015, 12:24 PM #4
Re: Reloading help
Not a lot of info to go on...
I will assume the gun works fine with factory ammo?
Do you have the primers seated completely? Do they show good firing pin hits? I use Lee auto prime (hand primer) to seat all my primers it lets you really get a good feel for proper seating. Could primers have become contaminated w/oil, water,etc?
As far as not chambering that could be OAL to long, not enough crimp, (I use and recommend Lee factory crimp dies on all auto cal reloads) Maybe the case is bulged? is this a Glock? Or are you using range pick-up brass.
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April 27th, 2015, 12:47 PM #5
Re: Reloading help
I had similar problems...reloading for so many calibers die setup can be a pain in the rear when changing over and getting things set back up.
I am a firm believer in case gauges and highly recommend them. My screw-ups and chambering issues have been eliminated.
Blue Press (Dillon) has them pretty cheap and a very good investment.
Link: http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...gun_Case_Gages"Disperse you Rebels! Damn you! Throw down your Arms and Disperse!" British Major Pitcairn at Lexington April 19, 1775
"Sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things" Marvin Heemeyer
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April 27th, 2015, 01:29 PM #6
Re: Reloading help
As the others alluded to, and just off the top of my head. With the rounds that didn't fire did you try and fire them a second time? If they ignite after a second or even third try the primers probably weren't seated. If they just won't fire then primer contamination may be a cause. I'd pull the loads, give the primers a bump to ensure seating and fire without powder or bullet to check. Careful not to deform them when bumping.
Using a single stage I assume you're feeding them one at a time. Need to be certain hand placing primers is clean.
Another thought, were the primer pockets relatively clean with no media clogging the flash hole?
An email to CCI will confirm if they are seeing problems with a certain batch. To rule out the pistol I'd try some factory loads.
Case gauges are great but many times I just do the plunk test with the pistol barrel. Good luck.It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.
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April 27th, 2015, 01:37 PM #7
Re: Reloading help
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April 27th, 2015, 04:17 PM #8Grand Member
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Re: Reloading help
I've only had 1 CCI primer ever crap out on me and I've been happy with them overall. I've not diagnosed that one yet but it may be an issue with the gun and not the primer.
To me a case gauge is worth the $20. Reloading is all about doing your math and a case gauge is an excellent way to verify your work. Every round I load in a case gauge after I crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp Die.
What kind of powder are you using? What is your overall length? Are your primers seated flush?
Personally I like using a hand primer tool myself.
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April 27th, 2015, 04:20 PM #9Grand Member
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Re: Reloading help
Yep good points on perhaps some of the primer flash holes are plugged with media or debris or if wet tumbling or ultrasonic cleaning, brass was still wet inside.
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April 27th, 2015, 04:27 PM #10Active Member
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Re: Reloading help
Pictures are worth a thousand words.
Pic of the primer of one that did not fire.
Pic of one that you have problems feeding along with an OAL.
Exact load data as well might help as well as how/if you are cleaning the cases.
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