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.38 bullets swaged down when seating

I've been loading some Hornady swaged 158gr .358 LSWCHPs and it seems that when you seat them into the case they get swaged down to .353. I found out when I pulled a couple rounds and later tried to reseat them. Even without flaring the case they slipped right in and when I measured them they were .353 instead of .358.

I've shot about 50 rounds with no problem and I'm not getting any bullet set back. These are just some mild .38s and I put just enough crimp to remove the flare. All my brass is once fired by me so there's no unknown brass with a dubious history and I resize with Lee dies.

I'm thinking that these swaged bullets are too soft and get swaged down on seating. I pulled some .45 hard cast bullets and those measured the same, they did not get swaged down on seating. If I had some different .358 bullets I would try them but this is all I have to work with right now till I get some jacketed or hard cast bullets.

I guess as long as I don't have to pull bullets from my .38 rounds they should work fine. I just can't count on reusing any pulled bullets. I don't think I'll get any more of these bullets in the future, I'll just use up what I have and be done with them. Anywho that's my latest reloading experience, thanks for looking.
 
Some years ago when I still got Handloading magazine one of the writers pulled some soft Remington 44 cal HBWC's from factory 44 Special ammo and they had swaged down to .427.
 
I would use a moderate roll crimp if using a revolver and shoot them. They will do just fine. I have loaded a fair amount of 38 special and all mine like mild loads with a roll crimp. In fact I do not reload for a revolver without a roll crimp in any caliber.

KS
 
The Seater /Crimp die in the Lee Three Die Set makes the same crimp as the Carbide Factory Crimp a "Slight Taper into a Roll Crimp".
Only loading for Rifle I use a Lee Cowboy Taper Crimp Die for .357/38sp.
 
brother just gave me a 500 box of zero .358 swaged swchps. I use my r-p wadcutter brass its thinner walled than standard 38 brass and doesn't swage down the bullet as much when seating, and mild roll crimp for easy release. the newer carbide sizer dies size smaller for jacketed bullets than the older steel dies, I mostly load cast in 38 and don't really care what cases I'm using
 
What's ID of your brass after sizing?

That does seem a little odd; but I'm wondering if you're shooting light loads I'd bet the brass isn't expanding against chamber, it might be a bit coke-bottle shape. Sizing dies for 38/357 won't iron that out.
What load are you shooting?

Next question, are you sure you're not shaving the bullet on seating and that sliver is building up in the seating / crimping die?
 
Look into an M-die for expansion. It does a better job of opening up the case to accept the bullet (it also tends to work the neck a little less than the belling type does.)

A taper crimp die will swage down the bullet if you're over-crimping.
 
What's ID of your brass after sizing?

That does seem a little odd; but I'm wondering if you're shooting light loads I'd bet the brass isn't expanding against chamber, it might be a bit coke-bottle shape. Sizing dies for 38/357 won't iron that out.
What load are you shooting?

Next question, are you sure you're not shaving the bullet on seating and that sliver is building up in the seating / crimping die?
After sizing .352, shooting 3.2 grains of Bullseye, not shaving lead on seating. I'm using RP wadcutter brass.
image.jpeg
 
Sounds like the diameter reduction is happening when the soft lead bullets are being seated, and then the problem is being compounded by the crimp die you're using. There are two ways to "remedy" the situation. One, shoot them and the soft lead bullet should upset/obturate enough to provide an adequate seal through the throat and down the bore so as to not lead the barrel. Two, get a Lyman "M die" that is designed for expanding the necks a bit more specifically for cast bullets and get a dedicated crimp die. I use RCBS dies for my handguns, I took a seat/crimp die removed the seating stem and use it as a dedicated crimp die.
 

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