Learn from my mistakes.

[BoydAllen]

I am working up loads for a rechambered 6PPC barrel using a new bullet, and new Norma brass. The brass is .005 under GO gauge, and the chamber .004 over. I did not want .009 stretch on first firing, so I expanded up and sized to give a false shoulder (.25 caliber). Not wanting to have to clean out the lube from inside the necks from expanding, I used Lee Case Lube, which when it dries will not cause powder to stick. There is only one problem. 133 likes neck tension, and with the lube still in the necks, as I seated bullets, even with .0035 difference of diameter neck tension, the bullets slid in easier than they would have into a new dry neck, or powder fouling. I plan on thoroughly cleaning the insides of the other new expanded up, sized, and primed case necks, being careful not to foul the primers, or perhaps I will pull them and just soak the cases in hot soapy water.

The second mess was a result of using one of the false shouldered new cases to do a Wheeler test for touch. It gave me a solid click at a depth that did not shorten when I chambered the round (sans striker assembly). The problem was that I could find no marks on the bullet. What I should have done was use a previously fired case, sized it and at that point been working with a straight case. What I did was ignore how crooked all the expanded up and sized new cases are. The crooked neck put the bullet at an angle that caused the click even though I was over .030 shorter than touch found with a straight case.

 

[357Mag]

I am working up loads for a rechambered 6PPC barrel using a new bullet, and new Norma brass. The brass is .005 under GO gauge, and the chamber .004 over. I did not want .009 stretch on first firing, so I expanded up and sized to give a false shoulder (.25 caliber). Not wanting to have to clean out the lube from inside the necks from expanding, I used Lee Case Lube, which when it dries will not cause powder to stick. There is only one problem. 133 likes neck tension, and with the lube still in the necks, as I seated bullets, even with .0035 difference of diameter neck tension, the bullets slid in easier than they would have into a new dry neck, or powder fouling. I plan on thoroughly cleaning the insides of the other new expanded up, sized, and primed case necks, being careful not to foul the primers, or perhaps I will pull them and just soak the cases in hot soapy water.

The second mess was a result of using one of the false shouldered new cases to do a Wheeler test for touch. It gave me a solid click at a depth that did not shorten when I chambered the round (sans striker assembly). The problem was that I could find no marks on the bullet. What I should have done was use a previously fired case, sized it and at that point been working with a straight case. What I did was ignore how crooked all the expanded up and sized new cases are. The crooked neck put the bullet at an angle that caused the click even though I was over .030 shorter than touch found with a straight case.

Boyd -

Howdy !

“ Experience is the ability to recognize mistakes, when you make them again “.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[DanSavage]

It seems like I remember the Lee lube being water based, I recall pulling a bullet once and some of the powder was ruined and changed the color of the powder. I’ve long changed to imperial lube.
I never had one that didn’t fire though I thought I was fortunate!
I use imperial dry lube for any inside neck work with no issues.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Thank You for sharing your experiences so that others might avoid.

 

[JMayo]

I had a crooked case give me the run around.
Here's a good argument for a contricity (sp) gauge !