50AE preventing setback

[macgunner]

I just loaded my first 10 or so 50AE cartridges. 31.5gr h-110 under a 300gr berry's projectile. Rounds cycle fine. I seem to be having trouble getting the correct neck tension with my RCBS dies. I thought I had enough by trying to push the bullet in once it was seated on the bench but the recoil of the round seems to tell me otherwise.

So to test I fired one, then pulled the rest in the magazine checking for setback. Ever round had some substantial setback after the first shot.

I came back to my bench and tightened down the die. Do these look right? Or does it look like I might have the die too tight now?

These bullets are coming in at like .499". I think they should hold in place with some tension without too much crimp.

Fr_1777

• macgunner
• Nov 19, 2016

Fr_1775

• macgunner
• Nov 19, 2016

 

[Jim Watson]

You cannot crimp a loose bullet tight, and those plated bullets are inherently soft and slick. Undersize, too.

I recommend a cannelure in the case at the base of the bullet. I have a tool that does it to .45 ACP in one stroke on the press, but for an oddball like .50 AE you will probably have to use one of the roller machines.
http://www.corbins.com/hct-1.htm
http://www.buffaloarms.com/bullet_cannelure_tool_pr-3872.aspx

 

[Walkalong]

How much is "substantial, and what do you mean by tightened down the die? The case is slightly tapered, so you do want the sizer all the way down.

Looks like you have some taper crimp on those. Overdoing that can hurt neck tension.

As Jim pointed out, those bullets are slick, I would tumble them in corncob to remove oils. I had some Berrys 200 Gr .452s that were real oily. I tumbled all of them.

 

[macgunner]

Awesome, both of those things make sense and I bet i'm making the problem worse.I have steel dies and have to hit the brass with OneShot lube to resize...and I bet some is getting inside of the case. I will tumble the brass after sizing to remove all the lube and tumble those bullets.

If I went down the cannelure route would I have to do the actual brass, or just the bullet?

Thanks fellas!

 

[Walkalong]

If I went down the cannelure route would I have to do the actual brass, or just the bullet?

The brass only, see Jim's post

I recommend a cannelure in the case at the base of the bullet.