I don't load this cartridge often, but I've long been aware of being cautious with the case rims on this cartridge. Loading on a single stage last night and DAMNED if I didn't shear one off about 75 cases in. Starline brass too, which is a favorite of mine. And not during the sizing step where I'd have expected it to be more likely, but rather during case mouth expanding. Rotated the case to get a new bite in the shellholder after the initial shear and completely destroyed the rim with subsequent attempts, it was jammed so tight on the expander. Took me an hour and a half with a pair of needle nose pliers, a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel and a utility knife to get that case off without destroying the RCBS expander. Was able to score the case wall enough to peel it off in pieces like an orange.......EVENTUALLY!
Never lubed a case mouth before on a straight wall revolver case prior to case mouth expansion, but I damned sure did that afterwards! Going to measure some rims tonight. Maybe polish the expander also. Might have had a rim out of spec to begin with. But I'm also wondering if another shell holder might be available for this cartridge with tighter grip tolerances/rim bearing surface than the RCBS #20 I've been using? This was NOT fun!
Anyone have any similar experiences with .45 Colt? Thoughts or remedies that I haven't considered?
Thanks!
Never lubed a case mouth before on a straight wall revolver case prior to case mouth expansion, but I damned sure did that afterwards! Going to measure some rims tonight. Maybe polish the expander also. Might have had a rim out of spec to begin with. But I'm also wondering if another shell holder might be available for this cartridge with tighter grip tolerances/rim bearing surface than the RCBS #20 I've been using? This was NOT fun!
Anyone have any similar experiences with .45 Colt? Thoughts or remedies that I haven't considered?
Thanks!