Boolit being sized when seated

[nickl403]

I am trying to reload 124 gr TC boolits cast with a lee mold. I cast the boolits out of pure lead with some tin. When I seat the bullets which drop at an average of .358 they become sized all the way down to .353. I'm using a lee seating die which came with my 4 die set, and am not using the post sizing die. I have pulled many boolits after seating them with the die being screwed in the recomended way as well as unscrewed as far as possible and the boolits are still being sized down to .353. Is this because I am using only lead and it is not hard enough, or is the problem with the seating die. Any input would be appreciated

[bhn22]

Here's another possibility: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=95269

There are lots of things to check when your bullets are getting squished.

[beagle]

I have a feeling that a bunch of us are doing the same thing with 9mm bullets....we just don't know it. How are they shooting? That's what counts. I have a feeling they'll "bump" back up when fired.

I pulled some cast .30 Carbine bullets once that were .310" when seated and after pulling, they ran .308.

The force of seating will swage them down some and if you're using a taper crimp die, that takes them down a bit more.

Give 'em a try and see./beagle

[462]

I used to have the same problem. Was using Lee dies in .38/.357, .44 Spl., and .45 ACP and the seating die was swaging down the fat boolits. Switched to Lyman and no more problems.

Seat and crimp in seperate steps.

[nickl403]

I have shot them and they tumble. I am trying to figure out what the problem is and I feel like it is either this or my gun does not like the boolit type.

bhn22 thanks for the link I found alot of useful information there

[Charlie Two Tracks]

On my .358 moulds. The Lee seating die was the culprit. 462 told me about the Lyman "M" die. I got it and got a RCBS seating die. So, I have a Lee sizing die, Lyman M die, RCBS seating die, and a Lee crimp die with the bottom carbide sizing ring knocked out. Sounds strange but the system works great now.

[HighHook]

There is a lot of different head stamp 9mm brass out there and some are thicker walled then others. i use the thinner wall brass for my cast. The M die really helps solve a lot of problems...

[casterofboolits]

I replaced my 9mm expander plug with a 38/357 plug as I was using 357 sized boolits. Worked great for me.

[Calamity Jake]

I replaced my 9mm expander plug with a 38/357 plug as I was using 357 sized boolits. Worked great for me.

There ya go nick, the above works.

[NHlever]

I suspect that your soft alloy is contributing to the problem too. I once had that trouble with my .35 Remington loads, and I had to harden the alloy with a bit of antimony, and tin before the problem went away. I had also turned the expander plug down a bit to try to get more bullet pull so the suggestion to use the .357 expander plug is a good one that I may use with my 9mm loads since I am using .357/.358 boolits.

[nickl403]

Thanks for all of the quick replies. Would the lee universal expander die be able to do the same thing as switching to a .38/.357 expander?

[44man]

Dump the soft lead. It can not take seating or the fast pressure rise.

[Char-Gar]

Well that is not good. I have never had the problem ,but I don't use Lee dies either.

[Kraschenbirn]

Thanks for all of the quick replies. Would the lee universal expander die be able to do the same thing as switching to a .38/.357 expander?

Nope!! The Lee universal expander is only used to expand the case mouth slightly to prevent lead shaving as the boolit is seated. A .38/.357 expander will allow you expand the case for the full seating depth.

Bill

C.O.B. #14