Lee Loader

I'm loading some 44 mag for the Henry using Berry's plated 240 gr flat point. After setting the seating die and checking the length I crimp with the Lee FCD and re-measured and discovered that that one grew .004" in length. A few have been between .002 and .003 but most are right at .004. Not enough to affect feeding or anything just a curiosity and wondering if any body else has this experience.

Inquiring minds and all.

Make smoke,

If it is a compressed load, it can do that. Otherwise, not enough neck tension. Are you using the Powder Through Expander die? If so, back off it just a wee bit. Not so much flair.

Ranch Dog wrote:If it is a compressed load, it can do that. Otherwise, not enough neck tension. Are you using the Powder Through Expander die? If so, back off it just a wee bit. Not so much flair.

Doesn't get anymore right than that !!!
Just one thought, be careful of the amount of crimp, the bullets being plated, just a slight
bit to much crimp will cut clear through the jacket (plating).
At least the regular plated will, I dont know about the double plated stuff.

Ranch Dog wrote:If it is a compressed load, it can do that. Otherwise, not enough neck tension. Are you using the Powder Through Expander die? If so, back off it just a wee bit. Not so much flair.

Not compressed middle of the road CFE Pistol

Yes on the expander it's adjusted that I can barely feel the flair and seating takes a little force

Crimp die is set so the collet doesn't close all the way so crimp is mild to my way of thinking

Make smoke,

My experience with bullets lead, plated or jacketed is a variation in bullet profile. Even my Lapua bullets will vary a thousand or two when measured with a comparator. Seating punches tend to contact the sides of the bullet not the face so any variation in the bullet profile leads to variation in seating depth. I use FCD rifle dies and honestly have not checked to see if they themselves may measurably increase OAL. It would only take a minute to check lengths before and after crimping.

There is another issue I have had to address with my single stage Lee breech lock press. There is a fair amount of combined play and stretch/compression introduced by the linkage, threads and the O'ring. A loose breech lock bushing may turn slightly changing the amount of backlash. Some bushings are worse than others even when it comes to the fit of the locking pin in the cutout in the bushing rim. I have added shims to reduce backlash and used locking collars to eliminate the O'ring. I pondered replacing the locking pin with a tapered head machine screw but decided it was overkill. Darn OCD was kicking in I guess.

I don't use plated bullets, especially when they need a crimp as in a revolver and never in a tubular magazine. I am biased, from my personal experience and will add that the Lee FCD for handgun cartridges can be adding to the problem. Heavy crimping with post crimping sizing can make a cartridge "grow" some by over working the case and squeezing the bullet. Besides, measure some of the bullets length, they may vary by .004", and actually .004" variation in seating depth isn't much and may make very little/no difference in your ammo's performance.

Personally I would save those plated bullets for extra light revolver reloads and taper crimp, and get some bullets with a cannalure or crimp groove and use a plain old roll crimp.

If you're using a collet crimp, think of this; what happens when you squeeze a tooth paste tube in the middle? It gets longer.

I guess my post ain't much help for you right now, but mebbe for future reloading?

all good to know

I'm not using the FCD with the sizing ring. Up until I got the Henry in 44 mag my only gun in that caliber is a Contender, old style 44 mag with the shot shell choke. I never worried about a crimp just ironed the bell out. In the rifle magazine that wasn't quite enough with some bullets. Just for grins and curiosity I pulled a couple of the Berrys and while the plating is marked it isn't cut through. They're just for fun loads, something for the recoil sensitive that just have to try a 44 mag lever gun.

Make smoke,