Dealing with the Glock 'bump' Options

[haze10]

Is there really any way to get the 'bump' out of 40SW fired from a Glock. I finish size with that LEE die especially designed for final case sizing and crimping, but it just doesn't work. The bump is too low to the shell plate and all the dies have a slight taper to guide in the case, so that bump just doesn't get fixed.

[G-ManBart]

Is there really any way to get the 'bump' out of 40SW fired from a Glock. I finish size with that LEE die especially designed for final case sizing and crimping, but it just doesn't work. The bump is too low to the shell plate and all the dies have a slight taper to guide in the case, so that bump just doesn't get fixed.

To quote some of our Mods "Use the search function"

The easiest way to get rid of this is to buy an Evolution Gun Works (EGW)/Lee Undersized resizing/decapping die. It will get the last little bit of case resized and the problem disappears. The Lee factory crimp die is totally unecessary if you use the U-die first.

[Guy Neill]

The Case Pro 100 case roller was the first serious attempt to eliminate the bulge. It works, but is costly.

Another means was to simply push the case entirely through the sizing die. Magma makes a press especially to do this. It's not as expensive as the Case Pro, but still costs.

I've not personally used the U-die, but as long as teh case is held in a shellholder/shellplate, you are not likely going to totally eliminate the bulge.

Guy

[JFD]

Use the "U" die and your problem is solved. Dirt cheap too.

[G-ManBart]

The Case Pro 100 case roller was the first serious attempt to eliminate the bulge. It works, but is costly.

Another means was to simply push the case entirely through the sizing die. Magma makes a press especially to do this. It's not as expensive as the Case Pro, but still costs.

I've not personally used the U-die, but as long as teh case is held in a shellholder/shellplate, you are not likely going to totally eliminate the bulge.

Guy

The U-die might not get the last couple of thousandths before the extractor groove, but that's about all and the cases will fall through a case gauge. You really have to look to see it didn't get that last tiny bit. Since I'm a little obsessive, I turned down my shell holder and that got that last little bit. Either way, they fall through the gauge.

[SA Friday]

You can buy a roll sizer and size the brass before reloading too.

FWIW, I just use the undersized Lee die AND the Lee factory crimp die.

[G-ManBart]

You can buy a roll sizer and size the brass before reloading too.

FWIW, I just use the undersized Lee die AND the Lee factory crimp die.

I thought roll sizers were illegal in MD

[SA Friday]

Hell, I'm still trying to get over the 10 day waiting period and extra state paperwork rant I had about a month ago. I did get the gun though. That helped.

[harry carey]

Glock bulge on 40 S&W - magma casemaster junior sizes entire case (rim and all) the 45acp die will also do 15 different rifle cases, however when you break the modified dillion carbide die you get to pay $40.00 for a new die , no guarantee ,no deal on the replacement die . remanufacturers of ammo use the casemaster automated unit, 5800 cases per hour for autoloader ammo. 380 die does 222 & 223, remember this when you need a body die for 223. some of these dies are modified to alter the taper in the die. I have used a 380 die in a regular press to body size 223 that was neck sized only for one gun and I sold that gun and then realized I had 500 rds. neck sized onl;y for the one I sold !!! oops. this worked.

[larry cazes]

I've not personally used the U-die, but as long as teh case is held in a shellholder/shellplate, you are not likely going to totally eliminate the bulge.

Guy

Umm. Yup it does a great job for lots of folks. I bought one years ago and have never needed anything more.

[benos]

I've heard a lot of reports that the U-die lowers the press's rounds-per-hour output, because with no radius at the die's mouth, cases will tend to want to hang up or snag as they enter the U-die.

One person even told me that his rounds-per-hour output was actually cut in half, because he had to hold each case with his fingers to make sure it was aligned as it entered the die.

Any feedback on that from U-die owner-operators?
be

[G-ManBart]

I've heard a lot of reports that the U-die lowers the press's rounds-per-hour output, because with no radius at the die's mouth, cases will tend to want to hang up or snag as they enter the U-die.

One person even told me that his rounds-per-hour output was actually cut in half, because he had to hold each case with his fingers to make sure it was aligned as it entered the die.

Any feedback on that from U-die owner-operators?
be

It can slow you down, but I guess it would vary slightly with the exact press. Best bet is to run a standard resizing die in station one and then the U-die in two if your press will allow it...less effort and a case that's been through a standard resizing die normally lines up fine on the U-die. R,

[JimmyZip]

I've heard a lot of reports that the U-die lowers the press's rounds-per-hour output, because with no radius at the die's mouth, cases will tend to want to hang up or snag as they enter the U-die.

One person even told me that his rounds-per-hour output was actually cut in half, because he had to hold each case with his fingers to make sure it was aligned as it entered the die.

Any feedback on that from U-die owner-operators?
be

It can slow you down, but I guess it would vary slightly with the exact press. Best bet is to run a standard resizing die in station one and then the U-die in two if your press will allow it...less effort and a case that's been through a standard resizing die normally lines up fine on the U-die. R,

Found this out today! +1

[racerba]

I've heard a lot of reports that the U-die lowers the press's rounds-per-hour output, because with no radius at the die's mouth, cases will tend to want to hang up or snag as they enter the U-die.

One person even told me that his rounds-per-hour output was actually cut in half, because he had to hold each case with his fingers to make sure it was aligned as it entered the die.

Any feedback on that from U-die owner-operators?
be

I tried the U-die for my 9mm and after a few times it ripped the cases through the shell holder plate, I removed it. I don't remember having to guide the brass into the die though. It is tight and it did slow me down. I would not say 50%, but significantly. I only use the Lee FCD and it works fine for me.

[DougCarden]

Another option.........try the $12 regular Lee sizing die for .40/10mm........
I bought one set and since have not had any Glocked brass not gauge or not chamber in my tight Schumann barrel in my LTD gun....If that doesnt work, then I would try the more expensive U die....
Good luck,
DougC

[AustinMike]

I'd say the U-die slows things down a little. I keep the shell plate pretty snug on my 550 and don't have problems other than sometimes tearing up a case with a slightly deformed mouth that I missed. It's a bit more important to make sure you've got tension set correctly with the little paper clip looking thingy that guides the case on the sizer station on the 550 so the case is lined up right. One Shot lube helps keep the press running smoother. If I had the extra stations to run through a regular sizing die before the U-die, I probably would do so.

[revchuck]

Another option.........try the $12 regular Lee sizing die for .40/10mm........
I bought one set and since have not had any Glocked brass not gauge or not chamber in my tight Schumann barrel in my LTD gun....If that doesnt work, then I would try the more expensive U die....
Good luck,
DougC

+1. I use the standard Lee four die set in my 550 and have no problems with Glock brass. This includes loading for a Steyr M40 with a chamber so tight it wouldn't take Rem-UMC ammo reliably...though the Steyr ran ammo I loaded using that brass with no problem. It's working the same for my M&P .40 now.

[LPatterson]

I suffrer from OCD so I deprime my 9MM's and 45's in a RCBS Rockchucker press with Lee/EGW (1 of each) dies with milled shell holders. I use a Lee FCD because I don't want to chamber check my practice ammo, however I do check all match ammo.

[Graham Smith]

I've heard a lot of reports that the U-die lowers the press's rounds-per-hour output, because with no radius at the die's mouth, cases will tend to want to hang up or snag as they enter the U-die.

It is my understanding that this develops because a U die is a standard Lee die that has been ground down so that it sizes further down. By doing so, it also reduces the flair at the mouth, but it is the flair that is keeping the die from sizing all the way down.

Part of the problem then comes in because position #1 in a press is less exact in it's positioning because that is where the case is inserted and it is not held in position quite as exactly as in other positions. Prior to purchasing a 550, I was using a Lee Load Master (5-positions) and had the regular die in position 1 and the U die in position 2. This setup seldom produced any problems but it increased the amount of force needed as you essentially had double the work going on.

I quickly abandoned that setup and started running all my brass through a U die on a single stage press. This has actually turned out to be an excellent solution as it gives me a chance to look at each case in advance and weed out anything that does not look or feel right. I do this in large batches as part of the whole brass cleanup process and then stockpile it till needed. This means that all my brass has been inspected, deprimed, and sized before it even reaches the press which makes the actual reloading process go a lot smoother.

So, in answer to your question, it seems to me that one way or another, a U die is going to increase the amount of work needed by it's very nature. But for now, at least, I am happy with my solution.

Your mileage may vary.

[benos]

Thanks for all the reply's! I get this topic A LOT on the phone, so I'm trying to gather as much good input as possible.
be

[ben b.]

I've heard a lot of reports that the U-die lowers the press's rounds-per-hour output, because with no radius at the die's mouth, cases will tend to want to hang up or snag as they enter the U-die.
...

FWIW I'm loading on an LnL AP.

I have U-dies in 9 and .40, with both as the only resize die in the lineup. I estimate that this happens about 1x in 20-30 in 9mm for me, and is not an issue in .40. The operant factor seems to be less than a full feed into the shellplate.

Edit: Loaded up 200 rds of 9mm last night after putting my kids to bed. I did not have a single U-die snag.

This post has been edited by ben b.: Sep 26 2008, 11:11 AM

[yoshidaex]

Heres a short story regarding the whole higher lever effort.
i have a dillon sizer/decapper in station 1 and the "U" die without the decapper in station 2 on a 650. This cures a lot of the improper case alignment issues due to the wider mouth of the dillon die. With the "U" die in 1, i would get the occasional hangup. The lever effort is higher with 2 sizer dies but i figured if it helped with the feed issue i could live with the higher effort. Now this was using the "everyone" recommended case lube oneshot. At one point I ran out of oneshot and had a bottle of the dillon case lube i bought when i first acquired my 650. I sprayed a cookie sheet worth of brass and let it dry and started reloading. The effort with the dillon lube was WAY easier than oneshot. Granted it was a bit stickier and powder would stick to the powder drop a bit more than one shot but the lever effort was drastically reduced. Now all i use is either the dillon case lube or a concotion of rubbing alcohol mixed with liquid lanolin. Works great and I probably won't go back to using one shot.

[G-ManBart]

Heres a short story regarding the whole higher lever effort.
i have a dillon sizer/decapper in station 1 and the "U" die without the decapper in station 2 on a 650. This cures a lot of the improper case alignment issues due to the wider mouth of the dillon die. With the "U" die in 1, i would get the occasional hangup. The lever effort is higher with 2 sizer dies but i figured if it helped with the feed issue i could live with the higher effort. Now this was using the "everyone" recommended case lube oneshot. At one point I ran out of oneshot and had a bottle of the dillon case lube i bought when i first acquired my 650. I sprayed a cookie sheet worth of brass and let it dry and started reloading. The effort with the dillon lube was WAY easier than oneshot. Granted it was a bit stickier and powder would stick to the powder drop a bit more than one shot but the lever effort was drastically reduced. Now all i use is either the dillon case lube or a concotion of rubbing alcohol mixed with liquid lanolin. Works great and I probably won't go back to using one shot.

I think you'd find that pure, unscented lanolin would give you the same basic result as the Dillon lube, without the mess. If I recall correctly, the lube part of the Dillon lube is actually lanolin. Get a tube, put a dab half the size of a pencil eraser on your hands, work it all around (heat softens it) and then run your hands through a box or bucket with a couple hundred cases on it....then load 'em up. No need to tumble and it doesn't get anything sticky or dirty.

[PhotoRecon]

In reading about the EGW U-die it appears that the die is a standard Lee die milled down so that it resizes further down the case.

However, the EGW website states "EGW offers custom made, carbide sizing dies that are 0.001" smaller in diameter than typical dies", so, if it is actually .001" smaller in diameter it can't be the same as the standard Lee sizing die?

If the "Glock Bulge" is the primary problem why is it necessary to size the case down an extra .001" along with sizing the case further down?

[G-ManBart]

In reading about the EGW U-die it appears that the die is a standard Lee die milled down so that it resizes further down the case.

However, the EGW website states "EGW offers custom made, carbide sizing dies that are 0.001" smaller in diameter than typical dies", so, if it is actually .001" smaller in diameter it can't be the same as the standard Lee sizing die?

If the "Glock Bulge" is the primary problem why is it necessary to size the case down an extra .001" along with sizing the case further down?

I've read that some folks have purchased U-dies direct from Lee...think you have to call and ask...so it's different from the standard die. I'd suspect that a standard die milled down to get the last little bit of case would work as well, but that extra .001 seems to help with tight match chambers.