Lol, nah. I realized that a round I made had a seated bullet upside-down. Yep, it got past me.... missed it. Glad I didn't miss it though while shooting...
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What did you do in the reloading room recently?
- Thread starter DW357
- Start date
So I have to ask this even though I’ve been reloading 357 mag since 2013…
For some reason I noticed a ton of unburnt powder when I shot my newly acquired DW 15-2.
Using 14.5 gr of 2400 under a Zero 158 gr JHP. I’ve always had some unburnt powder when shooting these loads in my other DW revolver but for some reason it was a lot more in this gun. No idea how a gun could make a difference.
Anyway, I’m starting to wonder after all these years if I haven’t been crimping enough.
This is a closeup of the crimp. I’m using a progressive press and mixed brass so you can see the OAL’s vary a bit. Ideally I know you don’t want a lot of the cannelure exposed so the casemouth/crimp rolls into the cannelure.
And this is a closeup of the even firmer roll crimp I applied after readjusting my Lee FCD. This seems kinda excessive? The case is really flattened into the cannelure. Can’t imagine I’d get much case life from these?
What say you @Michael J. Spangler @meh
For some reason I noticed a ton of unburnt powder when I shot my newly acquired DW 15-2.
Using 14.5 gr of 2400 under a Zero 158 gr JHP. I’ve always had some unburnt powder when shooting these loads in my other DW revolver but for some reason it was a lot more in this gun. No idea how a gun could make a difference.
Anyway, I’m starting to wonder after all these years if I haven’t been crimping enough.
This is a closeup of the crimp. I’m using a progressive press and mixed brass so you can see the OAL’s vary a bit. Ideally I know you don’t want a lot of the cannelure exposed so the casemouth/crimp rolls into the cannelure.
And this is a closeup of the even firmer roll crimp I applied after readjusting my Lee FCD. This seems kinda excessive? The case is really flattened into the cannelure. Can’t imagine I’d get much case life from these?
What say you @Michael J. Spangler @meh
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38ExtraSpecial
NES Member
If you’re getting unburnt powder then yeah probably a light crimp (from what I’ve read I doubt you’re loading too light of a charge)
Some of the factor stuff is lightly crimped but in a lot of the fire I’ve set up, when adjust properly they put a crimp that looks like your second pic.
I would try them to see. I crimp pretty heavy on my 357s because they’re cast and they have a pretty decent crimp groove.
With jacketed and cannelures it’s going to look a little more aggressive with no place for that case mouth to set into.
I think they look fine.
My slow powder loads (2400, H110, N110) look more like the bottom picture. Medium powder (e.g HS-6) like the top. Yeah, it does flatten out the brass at the case mouths. C'est la vie. I've played some with the Redding profile crimp instead, which is kinder on the case mouth, but my initial tests gave less good chrono stats than the Lee FCD, and I haven't gotten around to looking deeper into the matter.
The only way I can figure the gun would be involved, when comparing two revolvers, is via the throats. I'm just spit balling, but I'd imagine that tighter throats would facilitate a good burn with jacketed bullets. Maybe the charge hole diameters could have some effect because at 357 magnum pressure, the brass should be obturating, and if it's obturating to a larger diameter, that means lower pressure.
38ExtraSpecial
NES Member
I’m wondering if the profile crimp die is ever so slightly squeezing down the jacketed bullet? I haven’t worked with one but it sounds like of like a Lee carbide factory crimp die vs the collet crimp dies.
Throats do make a difference. It’s not uncommon that they’re too tight or too loose depending on the brand. Or all inconsistent.
Try pushing a cast bullets through the throats and see if they’re all the same.
Do you have the same issue with cast? I’m thinking a .001” or so oversized bullet along with the softer material sans jacket might obturate better and help with the burn.
FWIW, that's exactly what I suspected as well. I've since only made use of the profile crimps when I've reloaded 44 magnum GFL brass with Zero JSPs (.431). That combo is hell to push through the Lee FCD, and if I'm going to press on the bullet, anyway, I might as well have an easier time of it. I don't really use the GFL brass much anymore, but I've recently loaded up 44M's in older brass in preparation for shooting it in my Ruger 44 carbine this winter. I don't like using the brass catcher all that much, and if I don't, brass will be lost in the snow. Better the GFL than some headstamp that I actually like.
Eh probably would have shot just fine
I shot a rifle with a 8oz trigger. NO THANKS. I like to be able to rest my finger on the trigger blade as part of my shot prep. Twice i tried resting my finger and the gun went off WAY to prematurely. My comfort spot is 20 oz.
Check out some factory ammo , its often crimped hard.
Also using mixed brass can have mixed results.
The lee crimp is a bit forgiving to case length my hornady seating/crimp die not so much.
Now toss in a “loose chamber” and the fun continues.
You can also try faster powders
Mudflap621
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Early Christmas for me!
Nice!! Glad you were able to grab some
Mudflap621
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Even a blind 🐿 gets a
once in a while!
SJan
NES Member
Broke my roller handle. Its an Inline fabrication ergo that I have had for many years on my Dillon 650, and swapped it over to my 750. I emailed them on Saturday, a new handle arrived with no charge yesterday. Great service. The screw probably worked a bit loose with out being noticed and caused the break.
Attachments
Mudflap621
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Trying to shove that 338 through the 308 die again
SJan
NES Member
probably just the quarter million various 9, 40, 45 and supercomp over the yearsTrying to shove that 338 through the 308 die again
also another thing to show that (given enough time) I cam capable of breaking anything
Im on the hunt for H4895
Mudflap621
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I’ll keep an eye out a bunch came out last week.
I told you where to get H4895 lol. Sorry to say you ain’t getting it for $20 per pound anymore
I will never find the time to get to glennsI told you where to get H4895 lol. Sorry to say you ain’t getting it for $20 per pound anymore
The reloading vendor in the valley had some on 12/12 and I messaged you
. And you said “Ugh $40 per pound” 
Made a small batch of .30-06 to shoot in the tractor gun (IHC M1) and post a target in Winter Warrior. Trimmed and neck turned the cases, uniformed bullet meplats and sorted to .0000001" concentricity, and ... LOL, no. Grabbed some HXP brass and cleaned powder residue off neck with steel wool then the usual load procedures. 47.0 gr Varget and 168 Nosler CC blems.
This question comes up from time to time- what to do about crimps? If only the simple 3 stake marks, I ignore them and just blow through them when priming. Here's an example of what I ignore. Crimp stake marks at 3:00, 7:00, and 11:00:
edit- Yes, I know that is an original primer. Used that pic because once I re-prime it's more difficult to see the stake marks.
This question comes up from time to time- what to do about crimps? If only the simple 3 stake marks, I ignore them and just blow through them when priming. Here's an example of what I ignore. Crimp stake marks at 3:00, 7:00, and 11:00:
edit- Yes, I know that is an original primer. Used that pic because once I re-prime it's more difficult to see the stake marks.
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Yup $40 lb plus ship and hazmat no thanksThe reloading vendor in the valley had some on 12/12 and I messaged you
Did they have a limit?
“We” where about due on our next group buy back in spring 2021.
“We” got together in spring 2020 and did a small order. I did not get H4895 for some dumb reason. “We” as a group where taking a gamble on things being better by now ….. o well … I got alternatives for now
Ya I hear ya. I think 10 one pounders was the max? Obviously the 8 pound jugs are the better deal but even those work out to be $35 and change per pound before shipping and hazmat.
If you’re buying powder now there’s no deals to be had anymore. It’s either open the wallet or get none
Considering the inflation for primers and other components, $35 to $40 per lb of powder is fine.Ya I hear ya. I think 10 one pounders was the max? Obviously the 8 pound jugs are the better deal but even those work out to be $35 and change per pound before shipping and hazmat.
If you’re buying powder now there’s no deals to be had anymore. It’s either open the wallet or get none
Be nice to Mac this week. He's feeling a little down because he hasn't been able to figure out a way to recycle powder. Me too- I was trying to collect used Varget for him.
![[rofl]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/013.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
Must be getting better. Squidway has an entire first row of available primers: 41's, BR4's, 400's, 450's.
I did not see any popular powder that goes at $40 per lb in 8lb jugs. Only 1lb, limit 4 per purchase per day. Larry limits per week, I think.Ya I hear ya. I think 10 one pounders was the max? Obviously the 8 pound jugs are the better deal but even those work out to be $35 and change per pound before shipping and hazmat.
If you’re buying powder now there’s no deals to be had anymore. It’s either open the wallet or get none
One and only jug I got was reloder 16, and it was very lucky as it did not appear anymore in any form after that.
Considering the inflation for primers and other components, $35 to $40 per lb of powder is fine.
Be nice to Mac this week. He's feeling a little down because he hasn't been able to figure out a way to recycle powder. Me too- I was trying to collect used Varget for him.
Must be getting better. Squidway has an entire first row of available primers: 41's, BR4's, 400's, 450's.
![[laugh]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/012.gif "Laugh [laugh]")
Oh macYa I’m in agreement on powder prices. They haven’t gone up as much in price as primers have.
I hear yeah , im hopeful tou can at least buy by the case. Miss buying 4-6 cases of 8lb jugs.Ya I hear ya. I think 10 one pounders was the max? Obviously the 8 pound jugs are the better deal but even those work out to be $35 and change per pound before shipping and hazmat.
If you’re buying powder now there’s no deals to be had anymore. It’s either open the wallet or get none
I have other powders to burn through.
Gives me a chance to burn up all the 1/2lbers sitting in the cab.
where?
Although load data is limited, consider some of the Midwest Powder offerings at AR. I recently discovered this burn rate chart (about the most exhaustive that I've seen):
I think he was asking rather than saying if you can buy by the case. I'm pretty sure you can't buy cases of powders from any vendors I'm aware of. Otherwise there wouldn't be any limits on powder purchases from various vendors.
Edit: there is 1 vendor who still sells by the case.
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