Quoted:
So now that I have my 650 setup, I'm starting to workup a new load for 9mm.
While doing so, I noticed that the OAL of the cartridges loaded with a full shell plate ended up 0.003"-0.005" longer than that of the cartridges loaded with a partial shell plate.
For the most part, the COAL variation wasn't due to differences in bullet OAL. Bullet OAL only varied 0.001" based on a sample I checked.
Station 1 seemed to be what caused the difference.
I don't expect this to be a huge issue because I don't think the difference is enough to cause a dangerous pressure spike and I likely can't shoot a handgun well enough to notice, but it is a little bit of an annoyance.
I also noticed that my charge weight with a full shell plate was consistently 0.1 grain less than my setup weight.
Is there anything those using progressive reloaders do to avoid this while working up loads?
Keeping the shell plate full to run the last few rounds seems like a PITA.
This seems like a good argument for using a single stage and Charge Master for load development.
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You were using all the same head stamped brass with the same lot number?
Right?
This is for 9mm?
Do they all fit in the magazine?
Does it pass the case gauge?
Or do all the rounds chamber check just fine?
If yes to the last 3 questions, then don’t worry about it!
I make sure the top of the ram and the underside of the shellplate is clean.
Then I sprinkle a little bit of graphite powder on top of the ram before I install the shellplate.
I have that brass tipped set screw loose.
Then that main bolt that secures the shellplate to the ram... that’s just finger tight at first.
Then I cycle the handle a few times to make sure the shellplate still indexes.
Then I will tighten that main big bolt maybe a tenth of a full turn.
With each adjustment, I will cycle the handle to make sure it still indexes the shellplate.
Eventually, that bolt will be so tight that the shellplate won’t index. That’s when I back it off a tenth of a turn.
Then I tighten that brass tipped set screw.
I also clipped off a coil or two of that spring that sits below the ball bearing.