Problem with shell holder/ new brass

[StanMemTn]

I've been reloading for a few months now. I started off using .38 and .357 brass that I had saved up from before I got my press (Lee Anniversary single stage).

Well, I finally bought some new Winchester .357 brass. Out of the bag of 100, I had about 15 pieces that really resisted going into the #1 shell holder that came with my Lee die set. In some cases I had to remove the shellholder from the ram to push the brass into the shell holder. Once in the shell holder, the brass is able to be freely rotated but needs a good bit of pushing to come back out of the shell holder. I used my calipers and didn't observe any difference in rim thickness or in diameter of the case (measured just above the rim).

I seem to recall a few pieces of the used brass that I started with having similar issues but I just tossed those since I had several hundred other pieces of used brass to work with. In this case though I hate to think about tossing 15% of a new bag of brass.

Do those of you with more experience think this could be a problem? Could the case head be damaged? There are no visible scratches or damage occurring to the case or shellholder. Should I not worry so much and just see how they shoot and see how easily they go in during the next reloading session?

Thanks in advance for any help. I wouldn't be reloading if it weren't for what I've learned on this forum.

-Stephen

 

[J Miller]

Stephen,

You're seeing the effects of tolerances. From your description I'd say your shell holder is on the tight side, and some of the cases are on the large side. I've run into this with Lyman and RCBS shell holders too.
If you look at the shell holder it will taper in from the top to a beveled part. A lot of times this part of the shell holder will fit into the grove just ahead of the rim on the case. But if that grove is too large, or not there, then the case is too tight or just won't fit into that shell holder.
The cure is to try a different shell holder, or slightly open up the one you have.

Joe

 

[Jimbo357mag]

The shell holders are not precision made. See if you can open it up with a file to accept your 357 brass. Or try another shell holder.

...Jimbo

 

[GP100man]

I now have over 50 peices of 357 brass that`ll work with only 1 of my shellholders!!

 

[StanMemTn]

Thanks for the advice everybody, I'll try to touch it up with a file.
I kind of thought this wasn't that big of a deal, but at this stage anything that seems slightly out of spec makes me a little nervous!

 

[Dale53]

The Lee shell holders are not expensive. I would simply try another one.

Dale53

 

[WESHOOT2]

The Lee shell holders are not expensive. I would simply try another one.

Dale53

And there you go, getting what you paid for.



I switched to Lyman and RCBS shellholders. Mostly; I still use a few LEEs.
"When in doubt buy RCBS"

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

As mentioned, it's a tolerance thing...

Sadly, the "shortage" of ammo and components the last year and a half has lead to more "less than perfect" products slipping into the distribution chain than usual. Hopefully that's a short term problem, not a new "manufacturing model!"

I use mostly Lee shellholders, and the situation w/ them has usually been they're LOOSER than the few corresponding RCBS holders I still have. A tight one kinda goes along w/ that "get 'em out the door" mentality, as the cutters have been allowed to wear more than usual.

A tiny file, or some 400-600 wet/dry paper may be all it takes to debur a tight spot on your shellholder, but even if you decide to spring for an RCBS holder, it's only $7-$8 that you'll never have to spend again...

Regardless of brand, a shot of cleaner and an old toothbrush or cleaning brush every so often goes a long way toward avoiding "fit" problems.

Rick C