Problems with 40 brass

jimbobborg · Jul 25, 2017

Once again, I'm having problems with my Limited pistol and my reloads. A good portion of them aren't crimped enough, and if I adjust to fix that problem, I crush other cases :mad54:

Short of getting a Dillon 1050 with automagic case trimming, is there a fast way to trim a few thousand 40 brass? I have a couple of big single-stage presses, does someone make a trimmer that works with them?

BigDaddy · Jul 25, 2017

jimbobborg said:
Once again, I'm having problems with my Limited pistol and my reloads. A good portion of them aren't crimped enough, and if I adjust to fix that problem, I crush other cases Short of getting a Dillon 1050 with automagic case trimming, is there a fast way to trim a few thousand 40 brass? I have a couple of big single-stage presses, does someone make a trimmer that works with them?

I am not familiar with your previous problems. Is the problem actually brass that is too long? Lee makes a case trimmer die and trimmer.

I had a problem with loaded rounds not passing the Dillon case gauge. No amount of crimping solved the problem because it was range brass, probably fired in a glock and had "case bulge" I solved that with a Lee bulge buster.

alucard0822 · Jul 25, 2017

What is your current setup?

I use a Hornady 3 die set and a Lee FCD, just use the Hornady crimp die to seat, and straighten the flare, then the FCD gives a nice taper crimp and post sizes, never have a problem with this setup. Use something similar with crimping in 2 stages with my 38 spl competition loads, can get a nice consistent crimp without crushing cases, the FCD especially supports the case when it crimps, and would iron out wrinkles anyway. Never felt the need to trim handgun cases, ideally something like a dillon 1500 could just replace a stage on the press, but being the cases are shorter than pretty much any toolhead, it won't work. Lacking a shoulder, motorized case prep canters won't work either, so no good way to avoid clamping each and every one in a fixture to trim them.

jimbobborg · Jul 26, 2017

My current setup is using a Lee Turret Press with Lee dies. I separate the seat and crimp process. From what I can see, brass is not even in length, so the crimp die is either too high up for some brass and too low for others. Or maybe my Lee gear is crap and I need to just get Dillon dies and move on with my life. A high speed trimmer would be nice when I'm loading up a few thousand .223 rounds, too.

John from MD · Jul 26, 2017

Pistol cases don't stretch like bottle neck rifle cases do. I shoot over a thousand .40's a year and have never had a problem with case length. I do run all my range brass through a Lee Bulge Buster die before using it though. I use a Dillon 550 and a Lee Factory Crimp Die at the last station. Do you drop your finished cases into a chamber gauge after loading? That would give you an idea where your problem is but I don't think it is in case length. BTW, I have never trimmed a .40 or .45 case and I use all sorts of range pick ups.

jimbobborg · Jul 26, 2017

Yes, I have a case gauge, they fit after I load them. And I have a bulge buster, which I use a lot. So is it the case length or my equipment? Or both?

John from MD · Jul 26, 2017

You should not be able to crush anything vertically if you are using a Lee FC die at your last station. Make sure that your bullet seating die is backed off so that it cannot crimp at all when it is seating the bullet.

Even if you over tighten a Lee FC die, it will just swage the mouth in more, your ammo will still feed.

jimbobborg · Jul 27, 2017

I'm not using the factory crimp die. I'm using this set https://www.midwayusa.com/product/356293/lee-carbide-3-die-set-10mm-auto with an RCBS 40 seating die. So if I get this https://www.midwayusa.com/product/289675/lee-carbide-factory-crimp-die-40-s-and-w-10mm-auto that would alleviate this problem?

John from MD · Jul 27, 2017

Probably. The problem with the standard die is that brass has to be the same length or you wind up with the problems that you have. The Lee FC die gives you much more flexibility as to case length. Standard seating dies force the case to turn in for the crimp. The Lee Factory Crimp die works as a collet and squeezes the case into the bullet.

Regards,

noylj · Jul 27, 2017

You know, most of us really have no idea what the problem could be as we have never had it.
Pictures.
I really doubt any of your .40 cases need to be trimmed, unless the head stamp is "10mm Auto."
1) Get a Lee Taper crimp die.
2) Contact Lee and be sure your dies don't roll crimp.
3) When you adjust crimp, be sure seating stem is all the way up and out of the way. After getting the crimp you want (which is really to JUST REMOVE the case mouth flare and NOT to push the case into the bullet), lock the die body down and then screw the seating stem back down to just contact the bullet. Attached is a picture of properly "crimped" rounds.

noylj · Jul 27, 2017

>The Lee Factory Crimp die works as a collet and squeezes the case into the bullet.

That's for bottleneck cases. All the Lee FCD for .40 S&W, and other straightwall cases, does differently from other taper crimp dies is it has a carbide ring to iron out any bulges from seating the bullet crooked.
It does crimp fairly well.

John from MD · Jul 28, 2017

Your right, I had a brain fart. It will make sure his completed rounds will chamber.

PowPow · Jul 28, 2017

I love Lee factory crimp dies. :heart:

bayoubrass · Aug 4, 2017

Since most semi-auto headspace on the case neck, you don't get case stretch, hince, you don't need to trim. Conversely rimmed cartridges like .38 special, .357 mag, .44 mag, ect are headspaced on the rim. Hence, they stretch when fired and need to be trimmed at least occasional.

John from MD · Aug 4, 2017

Yup, especially when you load them hot. I just spent the last hour trimming a coffee can of .44 Mag.

HWB3 · Aug 7, 2017

I use the Dillon electric case trimmer on a single stage press that stays set up on the end of the bench. The Dillon trim die also sizes the case so after sizing and trimming I tumble the cases to get the lube off and they're ready to reload.

bayoubrass · Aug 20, 2017

Ditto on the Lee Taper Crimp Die. Never had a problem with either 9mm or .45 ACP

Problems with 40 brass

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