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rvenneman

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C92F7887-0135-4BED-AF36-247360A6C71A.jpeg I need help. All my prep was done correctly. The bullets are Berry Bullets, .380 ACP 100gn RN. These cartridges were NOT crimped, just seated within specs at .962. I am using a Lee seating die. Does anyone have an idea why I am getting these indentations on the side of the brass? It almost appears as if the bullet is too large or the case is to narrow? They are expanded to a comfortable flair. I gave done so many of these. I really need help on this. Any ideas?
 
Pics aren't so clear, but that surely looks like a crimp on the case mouth. Back the seating die off another turn and adjust the stem down.

If that doesn't clear it, start measuring bullet diameter and case wall thickness. Clearly the bullet seats part of the way, and then something goes wrong.
 
I agree. Looks like your trying to crimp way to early. Like sad back the seating die body back atleast 1 turn. The run the seating stem down to set the length. If your still getting a crimp back it off some more, then walk it down slowly till you only remove the flaring.
 
The seating die on a lot Lee dies has a crimp built into it...it seats and crimps at the same time...chances are you spun it the wrong way...if I was home I’d send you pics of what to look for, but you can walk (turn) it out till it’s well above case around the ogive of the bullet. You usually can see the crimper move depending which die you have.
 
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Generally, I seat and crimp in separate steps. But if you want to seat and crimp in the same step, there are a couple of steps that need to be followed.

First, set the die in the press so that the crimp rim does not touch the case. Then adjust the seating stem to seat a bullet to the desired cartridge overall length.

Back off the seating stem so that it does not touch the bullet and screw the die down to obtain the desired crimp and lock it in place.

Once the desired crimp is obtained, screw the seating stem down to touch the bullet.

Some minor adjustments in the crimp and seating stem may be needed to get things just right but we are talking 1/16th of a turn or less when making adjustments.

As folks have said, too aggressive a crimp will crush the case. It would be very unusual for Berry bullets to be too big in diameter.

Hope this helps.
 
It looks like you're way over crimping to the point of crushing the case wall. When you installed the seating die, did you turn it in until it hit the shell holder with the ram raised and THEN back it out 3 full turns for no crimp, per the instructions?
 
looks like to much crimp. run the seating die down untill it touches the raised ram. then back off the die untill you can place a nickel between the rased ram and seating die. adjust the seating stem to seat the bullet where you want it. then use a lee factory crimp die to crimp the round.
 
Thanks for all the help. Although I have done this 20 or more times in the past (a real pro I am ), I had the seating die touching the adapter. I adjusted it properly and it works fine. I saved the bullets and primers and tossed the brass.
 
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