HELP - Swollen Case After Station 3

#1 · May 18, 2011, 1:52 am

Hello all.

Graduated from a Square Deal to an RL550 a month ago.

I'm setting it up for .38 special, and its the wierdest thing: finished (unprimed/unpowdered) cartridges DO NOT FIT IN CYLINDER OF GUN.

Station 1 works perfectly, and case is perfectly resized/deprimed, etc

Station 2 works perfectly...have great flare set up

Station 3 - all set with perfect 1.550" depth, etc...EXCEPT:

I've narrowed it down to station 3. The cased bases are swollen (after coming out of station 3; they fit after stations 1 & 2) and do not fit into cylinder of revolver! About 1/16" of an inch is sticking out and will not go flush. They are also tough to get back out without a healthy "bump" of the ejector rod.

Picture

Anyone encounter this???

Thanks,

#2 · May 18, 2011, 4:16 pm

I need a pic of the loaded cartridge. What does the case diameter at the mouth measure? Using what bullet? Are you crimping? Whose dies are you using?

#3 · May 18, 2011, 6:07 pm

I am at work now. Can take photo when i get home. Did you look at the link provided to see where case swells? Right at the base...and it is happening in station 3.

I can measure diameter when I get home. The mouth is fine...is the base...

Bullet - Missouri Bullets' lead semi-WC

Crimping - Yes

Dies - Dillon. Bought them when i bought the press.

This is hard to explain over "electrons" perhaps I'll call. I've spoken with other guys @ work (I work in a gun culture) and @ my gun clib...no one has ever seen it!

#4 · May 18, 2011, 6:37 pm

Just called in, and I must say that i wasn't too pleased with the receptions and attitude I was greeted with.

I explained all the measures I've taken, to include:

Making sure die was clean

Making sure that the cases are all measuring out and will fit in a revolver cylinder UNTIL STATION 3 (and yes, I checked after crimping, but again, I've isolated it to station 3)

Watched the video, ad nauseum, to make sure I followed all set-up procedures.

Brass - once-fired, fit into gun empty, until station 3 (I loaded some un-charged test cartidges...thankg goodness I did, lest I have a bunch of ammo that won't fit into gun).

I told the man on the phone (when I could get a word in edgewise) that I would re-start from "ground zero" and set up the dies from "ground zero", even though i'm not confident this will help.

#5 · May 18, 2011, 9:04 pm

Run a fired brass through all four stations, without setting a bullet on the case mouth. See if that piece of brass chambers fully. How much are you flaring the case mouth? We recommend a flare between .010-.020". What brand of brass are you using? If possible, phone us when you can be in front of the machine, and have your revolver avaialble. That way we can provide the best assistance to you.

#6 · May 19, 2011, 12:28 am

I spoke with "Dennis" when I got home from work today.

We did some critical-thinking an dproblem solving...he was awesome!

The cases were being fed with SWCs and I sunk the bullet just a tad more to a case length of 1.45-50.

So far, so good. made a few dummy rounds to check, and they all work,

Thanks again Dennis!