44 speer shotshells loose

[ericuda]

Got my shotshells loaded up #12 and some 7 1/2 and 4 shot. Going to load to what Speer recommends but They slide in even an unsized fired case to 1.500 with zero effort. They measure .419 or so and instructions have .430 and of course case is around .429.

It says seat to 1.600 and while i could insert it and apply a light crimp and pull it out to crimp a little more I'm not sure that is the right way to do it.

Did I get a bum box of capsules?

 

[jmorris]

...They slide in even an unsized fired case...

Not un common, why we size them first, so there is some tension.

 

[Palladan44]

Resize the brass, and there will be tension.

 

[Bwana John]

I believe you can make cylinder lenght 44 mag shotshells using cut down 303 Brit or 30/30 brass.
Cut down 410 wads, and punched out flat plastic sheeting for a overshot wad, crimped in and sealed with fingernail polish.
You should be able to increase the payload by 2x with the longer brass compared to the Speer capsule.

 

[.308 Norma]

Resize the brass, and there will be tension.

Yep, sometimes too much tension. I have an old Pacific 357 carbide sizing die that "resizes" 357 or 38 Special brass down just a little too far. And when I try to seat those plastic Speer shot capsules in brass that I've resized with that die, it won't go because there's no room for the air in the case to escape. So, I pull down on my press handle a little harder, the shot capsule breaks, and when I raise my press handle back up to lower the ram, the shot spills out all over my bench and on the floor. I cuss, dump the powder back out of all the charged cases, set them aside for future use with real bullets, and vow to remember (but usually don't) to use my old RCBS 357 sizing die the next time I want to build some 357 shotshells using Speer shot capsules.

 

[Palladan44]

Yep, sometimes too much tension. I have an old Pacific 357 carbide sizing die that "resizes" 357 or 38 Special brass down just a little too far. And when I try to seat those plastic Speer shot capsules in brass that I've resized with that die, it won't go because there's no room for the air in the case to escape. So, I pull down on my press handle a little harder, the shot capsule breaks, and when I raise my press handle back up to lower the ram, the shot spills out all over my bench and on the floor. I cuss, dump the powder back out of all the charged cases, set them aside for future use with real bullets, and vow to remember (but usually don't) to use my old RCBS 357 sizing die the next time I want to build some 357 shotshells using Speer shot capsules.

I guess if the OPs new brass cases drop in the cylinders freely, then only resize part way down, or expand the heck out of them, or combination of both. Whatever works. Worst case scenario, warm up the plastic in an oven to maybe 120 degrees just prior to loading them and let them cool.....maybe they would just wind up breaking once they cooled, IDK

 

[ericuda]

Sorry didn't explain good. I did resize brass and it measured .429. I tried previously shot brass too and both are very loose. I have loaded 38 spec Speer capsules and they take a little bell and a touch of pressure to get oal and then a slight roll crimp.