Seating 38 specials using RCBS dies

[larry7293]

Started to reload 38s today with my RCBS dies for the first time using new starline brass. When I started to seat the bullets the seating stem started flattening the top of my cast brinell12 RNFP bullet before I could get it all the way seated. Tried using both stems supplied with the dies and had the same problem. Tried using a RNFP brinell 18 bullet I had and started to have the same thing happen, maybe a little less severe. Had been reloading 357s with Lee dies brinell 18 RNFP and never had this problem. Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong.

 

[tranders]

Started to reload 38s today with my RCBS dies for the first time using new starline brass. When I started to seat the bullets the seating stem started flattening the top of my cast brinell12 RNFP bullet before I could get it all the way seated. Tried using both stems supplied with the dies and had the same problem. Tried using a RNFP brinell 18 bullet I had and started to have the same thing happen, maybe a little less severe. Had been reloading 357s with Lee dies brinell 18 RNFP and never had this problem. Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong.

Sounds like a little too much neck tension. I ended up having to go with a Lyman M die to keep from shaving lead and marking the tops of the boolits.

 

[gojones]

I actually have the Lyman M die also. It solves those neck flaring issues that seem to happen occasionally.

 

[USSR]

Larry,

Your seating die does 2 things: seat the bullet, and apply a crimp. Try screwing the die up further so it is not applying a crimp, and lower your seating stem. Once you are able to seat the bullets without damaging them, then you can raise the seating stem and lower your die so you are applying a slight roll crimp. Hope that helps.

Don

 

[larry7293]

Larry,

Your seating die does 2 things: seat the bullet, and apply a crimp. Try screwing the die up further so it is not applying a crimp, and lower your seating stem. Once you are able to seat the bullets without damaging them, then you can raise the seating stem and lower your die so you are applying a slight roll crimp. Hope that helps.

Don

I screwed in the die until it touched the top of the brass and backed out the die one full turn per what I thought the instructions said. So maybe backing out the die one full turn was not enough and I was applying the crimp before seating the bullet? I thought the RCBS expanding die was a M type die? I am not shaving lead. thanks Don

 

[.308 Norma]

So maybe backing out the die one full turn was not enough and I was applying the crimp before seating the bullet?

Naw, I think backing the die out one full turn should be plenty. I only back it out a quarter of a turn. I guess I didn't read the instructions explaining seating and crimping in two, separate steps.
Sorry I don't have an answer to your bullet seating question, but I'm wondering if the fact it's new brass if its so called "neck tension" is just a little too tight.

 

[USSR]

I screwed in the die until it touched the top of the brass and backed out the die one full turn per what I thought the instructions said. So maybe backing out the die one full turn was not enough and I was applying the crimp before seating the bullet? I thought the RCBS expanding die was a M type die? I am not shaving lead. thanks Don

Forget the instructions. Screw the die up as high as you can go and still get the seating stem to seat the bullet by lowering it. Then raise the seating stem and lower the die to apply the crimp. Yes, the newer RCBS dies use a
"Type M" type of expander.

Don

 

[CoalTrain49]

I size new brass. I also flare it a tiny bit. Trying to get a seat/crimp die adjusted without shaving lead can be a major PIA. I seat and crimp in separate operations. Things just work better for me when I do it that way. I know, it's possible to do it in the same operation but I like to break things down to basics.

 

[dgod]

For me, I slightly flare any Brass I'm loading that is not Boat Tail, it seems to fit better,then I seat and crimp fort he final product.

Good Luck

 

[243winxb]

RCBS cowboy dies have a larger diameter expander just for lead bullets.

Call RCBS , they may send you a new one.

 

[USSR]

243winxb,

I was very disappointed in the .38/.357 RCBS cowboy expander that I received from RCBS - It was only a half a thou bigger in diameter. However, their .45 Colt cowboy expander is a good one and worthwhile. I ended up having a custom expander made in .38/.357.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

Have you seen the NOE expander plugs? They come in many sizes and even in powder through.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=89&osCsid=6a7gs75tt22fgo3v409g8nm3t0

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

You should size and expand any new brass before reloading, just like any other brass.

 

[USSR]

Have you seen the NOE expander plugs? They come in many sizes and even in powder through.

Yeah, but not a fan of Lee products. I had one made in .3575" for my RCBS expander die.

Don

 

[Airman Basic]

Yeah, but not a fan of Lee products. I had one made in .3575" for my RCBS expander die.

Don

Lee??
http://noebulletmolds.com/

 

[USSR]

Lee??
http://noebulletmolds.com/

Airman B,

The NOE expanders fit Lee dies.

Don

 

[larry7293]

I was not shaving brass. There is a imprint{from the seating plug} on the top of the bullet where the seat plug is pushing the bullet in the brass. The new brass was resized and expanded using the RCBS M die. I raised the bullet seating die as far as I could and set the bullet to the crimp groove. I also belled the brass a little more. These things helped but did not totally eliminate the impression of the seat plug on top of the bullet. Thanks everyone for their suggestions.

 

[Walkalong]

There is a trick using JB Weld or similar to fit the stem to your bullet. The better the stem fits the bullet, the less likely deformation will happen.

Have any pics?

 

[USSR]

There is a trick using JB Weld or similar to fit the stem to your bullet. The better the stem fits the bullet, the less likely deformation will happen.

Have any pics?

Yep, I did this taking a seating stem designed to seat round nose .38 bullet, of which I don't use, filled it with JB Weld to make it perfectly flat to seat my wadcutters without marking them.

Don

 

[larry7293]

There is a trick using JB Weld or similar to fit the stem to your bullet. The better the stem fits the bullet, the less likely deformation will happen.

Have any pics?

There is a trick using JB Weld or similar to fit the stem to your bullet. The better the stem fits the bullet, the less likely deformation will happen.

Have any pics?

Pic. Used the flat stem from RCBS.

 

[USSR]

Larry,

Yeah, that's the problem, your seating stem doesn't match the profile of your bullet, and while the center of the seating stem is flat, there is a "ridge" around the perimeter that is gouging your bullets. Fill the center of the seating stem up with JB Weld so it is the same height as the ridge around the perimeter.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, do as Don suggested.

 

[larry7293]

Talked to a tech at RCBS this morning. They are sending me a seating stem that will work with my RNFP bullets. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Walkalong]

Perfect!

 

[USSR]

Gotta love RCBS customer support.

Don