38 special cases resizing inconsistant

[GuitarmanNick]

I crimp every revolver and semi-auto load. I find it gives consistent accuracy and minimizes any setback or walking out of bullets.
All of my dies are Lee. Their factory crimp dies are awesome and used on every pistol round I produce.
The key to using them is insuring that the cases are trimmed to the same length before loading. It is an extra step that some skip, but is worth the time and usually only needs to be done once on straight walled cases.
To avoid a carbon build up in the chambers, it may be best to use only .357 cases when loading and avoid the use of .38 special.

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Might also be that you have "thicker" cases especially if you are using lead bullets. Happens to me with certain case stamps and poly coated lead bullets. Herters comes to mind. I think certain factory bullets are really made for jacketed .357 bullets and get a bit thick with that extra .001 inch of the lead based faire.

You can also mess up cases if you force lead bullets in too quickly especially if your seating stem head poorly fits the tip of the bullet you are trying to seat. This can bend the metal near the case mouth and make the bullets too wide to chamber.

These are not resizing issues but would make the cartridges less uniform for the chamber.

 

[ba_50]

I have read about how good the Lee dies are and would like to try them next.
The .45 acp cast bullets I used were .452 while these .38's are .358.
The wad cutter bullets seemed to give the most trouble.

 

[mousegunner]

I have read about how good the Lee dies are and would like to try them next.
The .45 acp cast bullets I used were .452 while these .38's are .358.
The wad cutter bullets seemed to give the most trouble.

I've read where cases for wadcutters were reamed by those who shoot them extensively and it was for a certain kind of brass. In any event I use Lee dies and don't have issues with .38s using RP or Win brass in a pinned Model 19.