Am I reloading these shotgun shells right?

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I just reloaded two shells of buckshot and they don't look quite right. There is a slight ring around both of them near the brass from the BP Gas Seal and the crimp isn't closed all the way where I can see the shot and it moving around slightly. I followed the book exactly, 36 grains of Blue dot powder, BPGS, 1/2 fiber wad, and then 27 #4 buckshot.

 

[oneounceload]

Looks like your crimp is INcorrect - you shouldn't have a hole in the middle that deep or cratered

What machine are you using?

 

[otrman]

I don't know, looks like crimp is little too deep/heavy. I would back off on crimp and load another.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I'm using a mec single stage reloader.

 

[gamestalker]

Is the hull, and all of the internals including the powder match up with a listed load? I've had problems like you are experiencing because I was using a different hull for the listed application. Not all hulls are created equal. Some have more internal space than others. Loading for birds or clays is far less cumbersome than loading with buck shot or steel shot.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I'm going by the lyman shot shell reloading manual, going by a recipe for buckshot. I reloaded 5 more and they look alot better. I just can't push the handle down all the way on the last stage.

 

[Uniquedot]

I'm going by the lyman shot shell reloading manual

Don't know what edition your manual is, but in case you are not aware those hulls (aa's) have changed in recent years. Easing up on wad pressure may solve your crimp problem and help with the ring bulge, but be sure you are using the data for the correct hull. If your manual is current and your hulls are several years old or if your hulls are newer and your manual is old the data is not interchangeable.

 

[rg1]

Don't see what hull you're using but if it's a 2 piece hull, possibly your wad is hitting the lip of the plastic insert in the bottom of the hull, and that may be causing your bump?

 

[oneounceload]

Sorry, hd to correct my typo - crimp is INcorrect. If you cannot push the handle down on the last station, then adjustments are necessary - not only there, but also at the first crimp station and possibly with the wad pressure at station 3.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

How exactly would I adjust it and how would I test that I adjusted it right?

The other shells I loaded don't have the ring around it and the crimp looks good but I have to be careful about crimping it. I'm not gonna shoot the two that I messed up on the crimp.

 

[JimKirk]

http://www.mecreloaders.com/ownermanuals/ownermanuals.asp

Go here and download the manual for the correct press... it will have adjustment directions.

Jimmy K

 

[Presto]

I think your problem may be that you are using tapered wall hulls. Almost all of Ballistic Products' components are designed to be used in straight wall hulls like Federal, Fiocchi or Rio. You can find a few recipes that use tapered hulls like AA or Rem STS, but they never work without bulging in my experience. Your gas check is sized to fit the larger diameter of the straight walls and they make your AAs bulge. I was almost pulling my hair out over this situation until I tried Fiocchi and Federal Gold metal hulls.

As for the caved in crimps, they are caused by the large sized shot. It lines up around the perimeter of the hull and leaves a space in the middle, and the plastic caves into this. If you add a thin card wad, it usually helps the crimp a lot. The caved in crimp won't hurt the performance of the load, but it usually reduces hull life. For specialty loads you'll never beat the looks of a roll crimp, but I'm really picky about my crimps looking nice!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Thanks for the help guys, My crimps look alot better now but the bulge is still there. Once I run out of powder I'm gonna use a recipe with different powder that uses WAA12 wad cups and the #00 buck I was originally planning on using.

 

[snuffy]

The other shells I loaded don't have the ring around it and the crimp looks good but I have to be careful about crimping it. I'm not gonna shoot the two that I messed up on the crimp.

There is no danger of shooting those shells with the hole in the center. Sure, they don't look like factory crimped, but they'll still shoot, and safely. As presto says, a OVER SHOT CARD will give you nice flat crimps. Regular over POWDER card wads are too thick to be on top of shot charges,(or buckshot).

As for the bulge, it too is no problem as LONG AS YOU CAN FREELY CHAMBER THE ROUND. AND as long as the over powder gas seal is tight against the powder.

 

[oneounceload]

Cheerios also work well as a filler to help crimps.
Wad pressure should be per recipe instructions
Precrimp station should have the petals almost closed
Final crimp should recess and make it look like factory - you may need to adjust the cam on the last station - it doesn't take but 1/8" or so