Case rim shaving off, stuck case
Quote from Kevin on December 12, 2023, 12:26 amI have been reloading for 30+ years and have had a Dillion 650XL since like 2000 reloading 45colt for SASS and I’m having a problem I have never had before. My loading bench is 1.75in thick butcher block bolted into the wall so it is real sturdy.
I thought initially this was a one off but has happened now 3 times over like 2000 rounds of reloading 45colt. The case edges come off/shave off when I resize the case and I come down and the case is stuck in the sizing die. These are Dillion 45colt carbide dies.
I usually use Starline brass but have some Remington and Winchester from way back but the issues seem to be some CBC and GFL that got mixed in with my brass over the years. I have had it yet with Starline and some of that brass is real old.
Any one have any idea what could be happening? Wondering is GFL and CBC just poor quality and or just slightly undersized or not as strong as Startline, Winchester or Remington?
See pics
I have been reloading for 30+ years and have had a Dillion 650XL since like 2000 reloading 45colt for SASS and I’m having a problem I have never had before. My loading bench is 1.75in thick butcher block bolted into the wall so it is real sturdy.
I thought initially this was a one off but has happened now 3 times over like 2000 rounds of reloading 45colt. The case edges come off/shave off when I resize the case and I come down and the case is stuck in the sizing die. These are Dillion 45colt carbide dies.
I usually use Starline brass but have some Remington and Winchester from way back but the issues seem to be some CBC and GFL that got mixed in with my brass over the years. I have had it yet with Starline and some of that brass is real old.
Any one have any idea what could be happening? Wondering is GFL and CBC just poor quality and or just slightly undersized or not as strong as Startline, Winchester or Remington?
See pics
Quote from RB85 on December 12, 2023, 3:19 amI have had an issue with several 45 Colt cases not fiting into the shell plate on my xl750 it seems like the rim diameter and thicknes is all over the place.
I have had an issue with several 45 Colt cases not fiting into the shell plate on my xl750 it seems like the rim diameter and thicknes is all over the place.
Quote from Kevin on December 12, 2023, 11:11 amof the case or the shell plate? 45 colt is the original purchased setup so been running 45colt through the press the most over the past almost 25 years. I'm suspecting the cases going a little reading they might be thicker thus harder to resize and there base base can't hold up to the down stroke. Its not like it cracks it just shaves off like it also is not quite seated in the shell plate which could be issue as already GFL holes at time slightly off center. But that doe snot seem to be the case here from what I can see
of the case or the shell plate? 45 colt is the original purchased setup so been running 45colt through the press the most over the past almost 25 years. I'm suspecting the cases going a little reading they might be thicker thus harder to resize and there base base can't hold up to the down stroke. Its not like it cracks it just shaves off like it also is not quite seated in the shell plate which could be issue as already GFL holes at time slightly off center. But that doe snot seem to be the case here from what I can see
Quote from ARMTGuy on December 12, 2023, 9:49 pmThe 45 Colt case has a lot of surface area. Try a light spray of case lube. Additionally, measure the rim diameter and thickness of the failed cases. There is likely a dimensional problem.
The 45 Colt case has a lot of surface area. Try a light spray of case lube. Additionally, measure the rim diameter and thickness of the failed cases. There is likely a dimensional problem.
Quote from Kevin on December 14, 2023, 2:44 pmQuote from The Human Manual on December 12, 2023, 9:49 pmThe 45 Colt case has a lot of surface area. Try a light spray of case lube. Additionally, measure the rim diameter and thickness of the failed cases. There is likely a dimensional problem.
Well I would hate to spend the time and effort and cover things with lube when its been like 3 cases out of say 50K of 45colt I have probably loaded on this machine in the past 20+ years.
I measured the cases :
- Wall thickness is .012 for both the failed (CBC and GFL) and normal Starline brass I reload
- base of case: failed ones .504, Starline and even some older Winchester I have is constant at .508
- inside rime/grove: failed cases vary .44-.46, Starline consistent at .45
So looks from this that the base on failed cases are line .004 smaller than others like Starline. Seems to be the slightest of amount and I have other CBC and GFL that have loaded ok. Typing this up has me thinking to measure some other dimensions to check on other cases that did load without issue head stamped with CBC and GFL.
checked thickness of rim:
.054 starline
.050 failed brass.
Found CBC that loaded correctly, seems its rim was .054, so looking like maybe the rim thickness is varying on failed cases. Not much of an amount but maybe enough to make a difference?
Quote from The Human Manual on December 12, 2023, 9:49 pmThe 45 Colt case has a lot of surface area. Try a light spray of case lube. Additionally, measure the rim diameter and thickness of the failed cases. There is likely a dimensional problem.
Well I would hate to spend the time and effort and cover things with lube when its been like 3 cases out of say 50K of 45colt I have probably loaded on this machine in the past 20+ years.
I measured the cases :
- Wall thickness is .012 for both the failed (CBC and GFL) and normal Starline brass I reload
- base of case: failed ones .504, Starline and even some older Winchester I have is constant at .508
- inside rime/grove: failed cases vary .44-.46, Starline consistent at .45
So looks from this that the base on failed cases are line .004 smaller than others like Starline. Seems to be the slightest of amount and I have other CBC and GFL that have loaded ok. Typing this up has me thinking to measure some other dimensions to check on other cases that did load without issue head stamped with CBC and GFL.
checked thickness of rim:
.054 starline
.050 failed brass.
Found CBC that loaded correctly, seems its rim was .054, so looking like maybe the rim thickness is varying on failed cases. Not much of an amount but maybe enough to make a difference?
Quote from ARMTGuy on December 14, 2023, 4:07 pmNo question that the undersized case rim is the cause. Use of case lube might prevent this, but the tiny quantity of defective cases may not justify the time involved.
No question that the undersized case rim is the cause. Use of case lube might prevent this, but the tiny quantity of defective cases may not justify the time involved.
Quote from Kevin on December 14, 2023, 4:41 pmQuote from The Human Manual on December 14, 2023, 4:07 pmNo question that the undersized case rim is the cause. Use of case lube might prevent this, but the tiny quantity of defective cases may not justify the time involved.
Yea I got the Dillion because you can load a lot of ammo fast :), and of course the increasable warranty and reputation of no BS replacement parts (yea Dillion is not cheap but I have reloaded a lot of ammo and any issues Dillion sent parts free and immediately. I wish all companies worked this way) ! Have every dillion attachment available (ok not the bullet feeder ) even the RF1200 (which I will admit took a lot to get working correctly) to load primers while loading. Not looking to slow down for brass that got into my brass from a match by mistake that only represents like .01% of my brass. Thought maybe could have been something else why I was checking but I suspected the brass as was not ones I purchased just accidently got into my reloading bucket.
Thanks for the confirmation!
Quote from The Human Manual on December 14, 2023, 4:07 pmNo question that the undersized case rim is the cause. Use of case lube might prevent this, but the tiny quantity of defective cases may not justify the time involved.
Yea I got the Dillion because you can load a lot of ammo fast :), and of course the increasable warranty and reputation of no BS replacement parts (yea Dillion is not cheap but I have reloaded a lot of ammo and any issues Dillion sent parts free and immediately. I wish all companies worked this way) ! Have every dillion attachment available (ok not the bullet feeder ) even the RF1200 (which I will admit took a lot to get working correctly) to load primers while loading. Not looking to slow down for brass that got into my brass from a match by mistake that only represents like .01% of my brass. Thought maybe could have been something else why I was checking but I suspected the brass as was not ones I purchased just accidently got into my reloading bucket.
Thanks for the confirmation!