Reloading screwup by yours truly

[Dave Waits]

Well, went shooting today. took 150 rounds with me,an older box I reloaded about three weeks ago and two boxes I reloaded last week. Loaded the oldest box first and fired all fifty rounds with normal reliability and accuracy. Then opened the first of the two newer boxes of reloads. Loaded three mags, and shoved one up the chute. Fired the first round and got a FTRB. Slide stopped about a 1/4" shy of battery. Pushed it into battery with my thumb and fired again. Same result. WTF! Did it four out of the next ten rounds!

Hmmmm, Maybe the chamber is dirty. Tore it down, scrubbed it ,reassembled and loaded up another mag.Fired three rounds then on the fourth it FTRB'ed again. Double-WTF! Checked the gun out again, nothing amiss. That's when I finally noticed it, a loaded round laying on the bench that didn't look right. Picked it up and saw the problem, there was a blob of lead right on the casemouth impressed into the brass.

Checked about fifteen other rounds in the box, same thing. Damn! Knew right away what had happened, either the Expander die wasn't screwed in all the way or it had backed off. I load Bevelbase bullets so, nothing felt different but there sure was! The casemouths weren't Expanded(Belled) and as the seater sat the bullet it shaved lead off of the side and then the crimper smashed the lead into the brass. It was barely noticable but, it was enough to keep the gun from going into Battery. Spent the next hour at the range, sitting there with my Gerber, scratching lead blobs off of the cases. Reloaded the mags and shot, every round fired perfectly fine. Have to wait til next Sunday(Reloading Day) to check the Expander Die.

Always check your Dies before each operation.

[Sheepdog]

Tell me it ain't so.

[Dave Waits]

It's so.

[skosh69]

For your honesty! Glad to hear you had no further issues.

[DaFadda]

Man.... .... You had the perfect opportunity.... and you've let it slip by. +10 and a Beer to you for your gentleness and kindness.

Da

[skosh69]

Originally Posted by DaFadda

Man.... .... You had the perfect opportunity.... and you've let it slip by. +10 and a Beer to you for your gentleness and kindness.

Da

I didn't let it slip by....I chose to not go there. A rookie should never point fingers at the master, but should keep his eyes open and learn......

Until I've reloaded 1/1000th of the rounds Dave has loaded and learned what he has learned, will I even begin to think of talking trash!

Thank you for the compliment.....

[DaFadda]

Wise man. 'nuff said!
Chucklin'
Da

[Thedragonslayer]

Well even the best can screw-up. Thats why I'd rather be lucky than good!!!



Glad it wasnt something more serious Dave.

[Dave Waits]

Well, the Nut that holds the Expander in place on top of the Die was backed off. This caused the Expander itself to back off inside the Die. This was puzzling as I always tighten the depth-nut with a wrench when I set the Die. This time it also got a shot of Red Loc-tite. BTW, this is a new set of RCBS Tungston-Carbide Dies.

[Quick Draw]

Had similar situation with bullet lube around mouth of case.

I always clean case mouth with very fine steel wool from the paint department of H.D. and do plunk test. Very good results since I started doing this.


COTEP CBOB 0638