|
|
Post by HRFunk on Nov 20, 2017 19:08:41 GMT -5
Here's a little video tip to help solve the odd, occasional, malfunction with plated-bullet handloads in your semi-auto pistol.
Howard
|
|
|
|
Post by ruber on Nov 20, 2017 21:13:57 GMT -5
Great video Howard, thank you for posting.
I didn’t catch what dies you were starting with. I had the same problem with both 40S&W and 45 Auto using RCBS dies. I wound up getting Hornady TC dies for the final step which cured my problems.
I like the Lee Factory Crimp Dies, and use them in many cases, just wondering if you tried the Hornady dies.
Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by HRFunk on Nov 21, 2017 6:02:23 GMT -5
Interestingly, the dies I used for my 40 S&W ammo are Hornady New Dimensions. The malfunction I talked about in the video occurred in several different pistols, and it was fairly annoying. I should have bought a Lee FCD years ago, but I didn’t shoot many handloads in that particular caliber (The 40 has been been my duty pistol load since 2000, so the vast majority of my shooting with that cartridge has been financed by tax payers - THANK YOU!!!). In any case, I switched to a 9mm M&P earlier this year, so I thought I should probably solve this functioning problem so I can shoot my 40 S&W pistols when the mood strikes.
Howard
|
|
|
|
Post by ruber on Nov 21, 2017 10:35:29 GMT -5
Hmmm... I haven’t tried the new dimension dies yet, this does not bode well.. Are they 4 or 3 die sets in .40?
I think I got my first FCD for 10mm, really nice for getting those long, thin cases nice and smooth. Wound up getting them for .357 and .44 magnums.
|
|
|
|
Post by gt40doc on Nov 21, 2017 15:59:57 GMT -5
***
|
|
|
|
Post by HRFunk on Nov 21, 2017 17:31:05 GMT -5
Hmmm... I haven’t tried the new dimension dies yet, this does not bode well.. Are they 4 or 3 die sets in .40? I think I got my first FCD for 10mm, really nice for getting those long, thin cases nice and smooth. Wound up getting them for .357 and .44 magnums. I believe the New Dimension dies are all three die sets. It could just be an issue with mine. I doubt the whole line is bad or else everyone would know about that! Howard |
|
|
|
Post by HRFunk on Nov 21, 2017 17:33:57 GMT -5
Hmmm... I haven’t tried the new dimension dies yet, this does not bode well.. Are they 4 or 3 die sets in .40? I think I got my first FCD for 10mm, really nice for getting those long, thin cases nice and smooth. Wound up getting them for .357 and .44 magnums. I believe the New Dimension dies are all three die sets. It could just be an issue with mine. I doubt the whole line is bad or else everyone would know about that! Howard I agree. I have several for both rifle and pistol cartridges. Accross the board they seem to be quite helpful. That's why I gave the .40 S&W version a try in this instance. Howard |
|
|
|
Post by xtimberman on Apr 11, 2018 8:50:40 GMT -5
Excellent video Howard! Please excuse my lateness to your thread.
The Lee FCD with the carbide ring like you're using here is now a permanent stage in my reloading routine for the pistol cartridges, 9mm Luger and .45acp...and I have the collet-type Lee FCDs for .30 Carbine, .30-'06 (for M1 use) and .44-40.
I encountered chambering issues similar to your .40 S&W experiences when I first began reloading for .45 acp. many years ago - long before the wonderful FCD was introduced. When I would try to reload some of my heavy GI brass that had thicker necks with store-bought lead RNs that were slightly over .452", the finished cartridges wouldn't completely chamber in my Series-70 1911. It took me awhile to figure out the problem, but I soon discovered that I could run the oversized cartridges into the .45acp sizing die (standard, non-carbide) just a "little bit" and swage the neck of the cartridge to proper dimensions - no lube required. That trick works on all sorts of other reloaded cartridges with similar issues with cast or plated bullets. I wouldn't try it with jacketed bullets unless I lubed the neck slightly.
A good companion tool to have with any auto pistol cartridge is one of the cartridge gages offered by Lyman, Dillon, and others. These are great for those of us with a bit of OCD who want to gage every single cartridge before loading them to shoot. Before I discovered the Lyman cartridge gages, I would remove the barrels from my various auto pistols and use them as cartridge no-go gages. I still do that with some other firearms chambered for cartridges that do not have loaded cartridge gages available.
|
|
|
|
Post by HRFunk on Apr 14, 2018 7:33:56 GMT -5
That's a great idea for solving case-mouth issues in cartridges that do not have a coresponding Lee FCD. I actually still do the "remove the barrel and check the cartridges" routine. I always feel better knowing the cartridge will fit properly in my pistol's chamber allowing for any eccentricities it might have. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't really out to get me!
Howard
|
|
