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Thread: I didn't adjust my sizer die down far enough

  1. #1
    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
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    I didn't adjust my sizer die down far enough

    So I just loaded up 50, 45 Colt bullets and put them in my cylinder to find out they stick out of the gun to 1/8 of an inch apparently I didn't set my Sizer die down far enough. Is there a way to size the last part of the loaded case without pulling all my bullets and starting over?

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
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    I loaded them too short anyway so they're getting pulled just curious for future reference I'm assuming there's no way to do it.

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    Boolit Master
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    it's only 50...pull them.

    and i think you mean your "bullet seater die" ...not your sizer die.

    if you've used your roll crimp die to crimp the bullet in you will need to pull them down anyway.

    start over and do only one ....once you are correct on the one , you'll be good to go 49 more.

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    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mozeppa View Post
    it's only 50...pull them.

    and i think you mean your "bullet seater die" ...not your sizer die.

    if you've used your roll crimp die to crimp the bullet in you will need to pull them down anyway.

    start over and do only one ....once you are correct on the one , you'll be good to go 49 more.

    I meant my sizer die. I believe I didn’t adjust it to A flush fit with my shell holder and the base it still flaired out a hair. I seated a few about .40 longer without issues so I know there not too long. I crimped these with my sizer die and I removed the boolit seater insert before doing so. I have the lee 3 die set without a separate crimper. I can see the markings on the case where it didn’t size all the way to the base.

    Last edited by Tripplebeards; 01-27-2019 at 06:57 PM.

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    Are you sure it's the case? Might try pulling one bullet and then see if that empty case will chamber. Could be those long seated powder coated bullets are to large for the throat.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
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    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
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    I loaded the same sized .451 boolits longer to 1.665” and they fit perfectly. These are 1.620”. I could push them through all the throats with my finger the last I checked when I sized them last year. Could they expand and grow? I still have some of the longer ones, 1.665”, I loaded last year and they still chamber flush. I will pull one and give it a try though just to make sure I didn’t forget to size these. I had them separate in a bag and more in a huge box.
    Last edited by Tripplebeards; 01-27-2019 at 09:10 PM.

  7. #7
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    One problem with a second full length sizing of loaded ammo will raise up when the ammo is shot. Almost all sizing dies under size the cases then the expander opens them back up a few thousandths, this allows the dies to work with cases with different neck wall thicknesses. When the second sizing of the loaded round the case is press down to this smaller dia and the bullet is swaged down in size also. ( the expand back up to size never happens with the second sizing) This can cause accuracy problems do to the now undersized bullet. also loose bullets do to case spring back away from the bullet.

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    Boolit Master 44Blam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tripplebeards View Post
    I meant my sizer die. I believe I didn’t adjust it to A flush fit with my shell holder and the base it still flaired out a hair. I seated a few about .40 longer without issues so I know there not too long. I crimped these with my sizer die and I removed the boolit seater insert before doing so. I have the lee 3 die set without a separate crimper. I can see the markings on the case where it didn’t size all the way to the base.

    So, it does look like your boolits might be seated a little high. There's a crimp grove that you can see - perhaps they should be seated to that grove and crimped?
    WWG1WGA

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    Boolit Man
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    So am I the only one confused by the fact that you mentioned 45 Colt but these are not 45 Colt cases? Do you mean 45 Auto? Or is just the angle in the photo that makes it look like an auto case?

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    Boolit Buddy

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    Do you have a good crimp on the case mouth. I did that once with 357's in my Blackhawk. After belling the case mouth to load the boolits I did not get enough crimp to close them back up around the boolit. When loaded into the cylinder they seemed to hang up on a carbon ring in the cylinder. Turned the seater die lock ring out an eighth turn and that corrected things. Just something to check before pulling them all.

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    I would take a round, put it in the seater die and seat it so that little band that is showing is in the case (I know, it's crimped- just push a little harder) I think that if you seated it to crimp over the top band, it would fit just fine. Just try one, in case I am wrong. As far as the suspected issue is that it's not resized close to the base, get a Lee Factory Crimp die since they size a little further down. I'm not quite clear on how you crimped them in a sizer die since there shouldn't be a crimping shoulder there.
    Loren

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Please, just blacken the entire cartridge with a magic marker, try to chamber it in the revolver and see where the black is worn off. That will tell you exactly where it is rubbing and then you can tell what it needs to fix it.

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    Try miking the brass and see where the inconsistency is

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    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
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    I crimped them in the boolit seater die and removed the part that screws in the top so I wouldn't seat my boolit deeper by accident. I roll crimped them pretty good but try to crimp one a little harder to see if it chambers but I'm positive I jist didn't adjust my sizer die down enough when full lenghth sizing the brass. I am using the lee three die set. I lower the die down till it fits flush with the shell holder and do not cam over a quater turn like I would with rifle brass correct?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tripplebeards View Post
    I crimped them in the boolit seater die and removed the part that screws in the top so I wouldn't seat my boolit deeper by accident. I roll crimped them pretty good but try to crimp one a little harder to see if it chambers but I'm positive I jist didn't adjust my sizer die down enough when full lenghth sizing the brass. I am using the lee three die set. I lower the die down till it fits flush with the shell holder and do not cam over a quater turn like I would with rifle brass correct?

    From the instructions for a Lee 3-die pistol dies set:

    FULL LENGTH SIZER - Screw the full length sizer in until it touches
    the shell holder and tighten the lock ring finger tight.


    The decapperis retained by a collet. Should it be overstressed by
    an obstruction; it simply slides up without damage.

    To reset, loosen the decapper clamp and position the decapper flush with
    clamp end and retighten. Considerable torque may be necessary. A 1/2" and 3/4"
    wrench are necessary.


    CAUTION If using a steel sizer, be
    sure to lubricate your cases. Without
    lubrication, your die will be damaged
    and the case may become stuck in
    the die.
    Source:https://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/Pistol3.pdf
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    Boolit Buddy
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    Might be worth it to full length size then take that piece and drop it in all the chambers to be certain that was your issue, but i always plan for the worst and hope for the best.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Tripplebeards View Post
    So I just loaded up 50, 45 Colt bullets and put them in my cylinder to find out they stick out of the gun to 1/8 of an inch apparently I didn't set my Sizer die down far enough. Is there a way to size the last part of the loaded case without pulling all my bullets and starting over?
    No, the seated bullet is larger than a sized case. If you try, you'll size the bullet and case mouth area to the size of a properly sized empty case.

    BF
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    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    Are you sure it's the case? Might try pulling one bullet and then see if that empty case will chamber. Could be those long seated powder coated bullets are to large for the throat.
    This would be the first thing I would do.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    shell holder covers more of the case than shown exposed above the cylinder. Slip one in the cylinder and twist it back and forth, suspect it will then show a wear ring where it is hanging up, bullet to throat usually shows the symptom you see.
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
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    Couple or questions . . . .

    Is this new brass? Or range brass new to you? Either way - it should always be full length sized for the first loading -

    What are you using it in? Did you load a dummy round first to check and since it's already loaded, have you used a black magic marker on one of them to see where the hang up is?

    I only have one 45 Colt - a Uberti Cattleman and the chambers are pretty generous. 45 Colt is about one of the easiest cartridges to load IMHO - I always FL size any new brass or range brass - after that - just a neck sizing the length of the seating depth works great and a moderate roll crimp. Doesn't matter if I'm using 45 Colt or 45 Schofield casings.

    The suggestion to try a sized casing in your cylinder first is an excellent one - if it doesn't fit - then magic marker one and saw where it's rubbing and the interference is - then load a dummy round and try it - if the casing fits gut the dummy round won't - then magic mark it and find out why - you may have tight throats for the boolit you're trying to use. If you are using a Ruger - check your throats - they are known to be tight. Once you get it figured out . . . and if you are just using one gun . . . . the casings should be pretty much fire formed to the chambers - and if all chambers are equal - you should be able to get by with just neck sizing - i.e. less wear and tear on the casing. Every gun is not equal - but on my Cattleman - with the load I use that gives the best accuracy - whether it be Red Dot, BE or ? with a 454-190 lead cast slug, I get very little blow back sooting and I rarely have to use the ejector rod as the cases pretty much fall out from the loading gate. YMMV

    If you[re talking 45 ACP - you're talking apples and oranges.

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