Ok, here is my situation. This is the first time I have reloaded (or tried so far) .380 using my Loadmaster Progressive press. I have loaded plenty of 9mm but no .380.
I am loading the following:
Sierra 90 gr JHP Bullets in Cleaned, Resized, and Hand Primed Range Brass (Mixed head stamps) I have verified the bullets are exactly .355"
I am having trouble with the loaded rounds fitting into a Case Gauge. I happen to have Two (L.E. Wilson and a Lyman)and getting the same results from both.
When I have a completed round, they will only go in about 9/10's and will not go flush. If I check the resized cases BEFORE I flare, dump powder, seat bullet and Factory Crimp, the resized cases fit flush, and properly seated in the gauge. After seating the bullet to an OAL of .965" 9 out of 10 will not sit flush in the gauges (I am holding the gauges in my hand, not placed on the bench, so it isn't a length problem.
I have tried, resizing, belling more, belling less. Crimping more, crimping less. I have changed to a OAL of .970" down to .960", all, with the same results.
I was using a brand new set of Lee Dies, so I even changed the die set to an older PROVEN set (I've loaded several hundred .380 rounds using the old die set with my Lee Classic Turret press with no issues), to rule put a possible bad die.
If anyone has a suggestion or solution, I'm all ears. Feel free to post here, PM me or even BETTER, Call me 952-928-9 three five two (I will be away from 6:00pm until about 8:30 but feel free to call as late as midnight).
I have NEVER ran into this problem before. My only solution is to try and go back to using my Classic Turret press to load .380 (Note: I am using the Lee Loadmaster Shell Plate # 4AS ) .
I hope someone has an answer before my wife makes me sleep outside for yelling and cussing so loudly at my press/ammo...