I have 2 questions/problems

[hillbillydruggist]

these are from my last attempt at reloading over 25yrs ago,

1) I had originally purchased a LEE loading kit in 357/38, one of those that you tap with a mallet. I couldn't get any of the cases to get flush, I looked on youtube and I saw some people sized it completely into the die, some only partially. what was happening?

2) I had a H&R .308 single shot, it shot factory ammo fine, but my reloads would make the action spring open upon firing. I tried 3 different IMR powders, 3-4 different bullets/weights, min. through max load data. I measured with a reloading scale, a digital scale and LEE dippers. I trimmed cases, measured OAL length. I couldn't see any signs of high pressure. I loaded 300 mag into a bolt Ruger without any signs of pressure. I thought maybe that I was doing something wrong in my process and that the bolt gun was just withstanding it unlike the single shot did.

this has been the main reason that I stopped reloading, any insight would be greatly appreciated

 

[msinc]

For question number 1: I had the same set up many moons ago. Depending on the last gun the cases were fired in they can be extremely hard to near impossible to drive into the die with a plastic mallet. If you know someone that has 357 dies for a standard type press you might want to run them thru that first to get them sized. If the last gun they were fired in happens to be the one you own and intend to reload for then you might want to get the chamber{s} checked because they might be a little large. This is "out there", but you aren't trying to resize 357 Maximum cases by chance??? I just remembered something else regarding the use of Lee hand dies...you must lube the cases or it wont go and might get stuck if you force it.

2: There is an issue with the gun, even if your reloads are max loads. It is not supposed to blow itself open whether you are shooting reloads or factory ammo. It either has an issue with the locking block in the receiver, the lump on the barrel or the spring that holds it all in place, among a few other possibles. Get it to a gunsmith that is familiar with that gun and have it checked out. I have seen many of the heavy barreled slug guns blow themselves open right out of the box with factory slugs and this is absolutely not correct. It must stay locked after being fired.

 

[hillbillydruggist]

thanks for the answers,
I think? I used LEE lube, but they were probably fired out of another gun before the attempt, so that solves my question.
I am glad that you think it was the gun and not my loading technique on the second question, so that solves my second question.

I greatly appreciate it!

 

[alinwa]

these are from my last attempt at reloading over 25yrs ago,

1) I had originally purchased a LEE loading kit in 357/38, one of those that you tap with a mallet. I couldn't get any of the cases to get flush, I looked on youtube and I saw some people sized it completely into the die, some only partially. what was happening?

2) I had a H&R .308 single shot, it shot factory ammo fine, but my reloads would make the action spring open upon firing. I tried 3 different IMR powders, 3-4 different bullets/weights, min. through max load data. I measured with a reloading scale, a digital scale and LEE dippers. I trimmed cases, measured OAL length. I couldn't see any signs of high pressure. I loaded 300 mag into a bolt Ruger without any signs of pressure. I thought maybe that I was doing something wrong in my process and that the bolt gun was just withstanding it unlike the single shot did.

this has been the main reason that I stopped reloading, any insight would be greatly appreciated

these are from my last attempt at reloading over 25yrs ago,

1) I had originally purchased a LEE loading kit in 357/38, one of those that you tap with a mallet. I couldn't get any of the cases to get flush, I looked on youtube and I saw some people sized it completely into the die, some only partially. what was happening?

2) I had a H&R .308 single shot, it shot factory ammo fine, but my reloads would make the action spring open upon firing. I tried 3 different IMR powders, 3-4 different bullets/weights, min. through max load data. I measured with a reloading scale, a digital scale and LEE dippers. I trimmed cases, measured OAL length. I couldn't see any signs of high pressure. I loaded 300 mag into a bolt Ruger without any signs of pressure. I thought maybe that I was doing something wrong in my process and that the bolt gun was just withstanding it unlike the single shot did.

this has been the main reason that I stopped reloading, any insight would be greatly appreciated

OK..... Safety Geek here.

#1, need more information. Were those 38 cases or 357? And pistol reloading can be tough with the hand equipment as it takes a lot of force (hammering) to get the rounds crimped properly. This can lead to lockup issues altho I can't actually see a safety issue. The problem with this equipment is..... you almost need a deeper understanding of the process than usual to use it. Kindofa' cart-before-the-horse thang.

#2, I'm taking this one a whole nuther direction. In My Opinion the problem with the H&R has to do with resizing. The reloads were too tight in the gun to allow the locking mechanism to engage. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!

I suggest you get back into reloading but with a reloading press. Take some a' that drug money and get some better equipment.

 

[hillbillydruggist]

thanks for your reply
question 1- they were 38 special
question 2- I was using an RCBS full length die in a single stage press, could that still happen?

LOL-wrong kind of druggist

 

[alinwa]

question 1- well, there went the "long cases hard to crimp" theory. I will state that I have several sets of Lee hand dies and quite a few Wilson-style hand dies and they DO sometimes require more force than would seem possible. Especially hammering them. (I have 3 arbor presses which are the elegant replacement for the hammer)

BFH time?? LOL

question 2- and THERE GOES my theory there too! YES, it's possible to set the die "too high" when using a single stage press. But it's likely that back in the day you followed the directions contained in your reloading kit which would be to "set the sizing die down to bottom out on the shellholder" and this method will 99% of the time result in loose-fitting loads. I do think that the "popping open" problem will end up being tight rounds, rounds which bound up so that the firearm wouldn't go into full lockup.

I suggest you procure a bolt actioned rifle to learn with.

"drug money" is funny. Every pharmacist I know uses the term and you come on as "hillbilly druggist"?????


C'MON man...... wha'dja' expect??

 

[JFrank]

thanks for your reply
question 1- they were 38 special
question 2- I was using an RCBS full length die in a single stage press, could that still happen?

LOL-wrong kind of druggist

West Virginia Pharmacist perhaps

 

[Bc'z]

Check out Gold Hill Pharmacy.
Their advertising is
"We sell guns n drugs"