Originally Posted by
Jim Watson
I have not had a CFC die loosen a bullet in the case, at least not to where it set back, pulled forward, or turned like a poorly crimped .22.
The greater risk I have seen is loading short, small, slick bullets like a .355" jacketed 115 gr 9mm or .451" jacketed 185 gr .45. For which a CFC die does nothing.
I have undersize sizing dies for the purpose, it leaves a prominent constriction below the bullet, preventing setback. For added insurance, I cannelure the .45s at the base of light bullets.
That restriction you get below the base of the seated bullet is a good sign that the bullet stretched out the case during seating and that case stretching means the case has a good grip on the bullet. Ironically, some years ago someone posted here using the Lee CFC die for the main purpose of getting rid of (what he called) that unsightly bulge!!
As a Bullseye shooter I only shoot lead bullets and looking for that bulge is part of my reloading process. If I don't see it I know something's wrong and break out my undersized case resizing die. But that only happens when an ultra-thin R-P case slips by. The only commercial ammunition I've tested with a tighter grip than my cast lead handloads is PMC due to its bullets being sealed in the case.
BulletSetbackSummarya Rounds Pushed Further Into The Case, Post 13.jpg
As mentioned previously, you've not had any problems using the Lee CFC die simply because it sounds like you only load plated or jacketed bullets - except for those Bayou bullets that got swaged down 0.001" by the CFC die. I'd be willing to bet one of those slingshotted as the top round from a full magazine would show appreciable bullet setback.
I suspect most would say they don't have a problem with poor case grip only because their reloads make it into the chamber and go bang.
When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind. [Lord Kelvin]
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