I'm prepping once shot brass for the .40 S&W. After sizing this Winchester brass with a Lee carbide die, I trimmed to length .020 below minimum to get all the brass the same length. After trimming, I am able to slip a .40 caliber bullet into the brass, it is a close slip fit. I've tried resizing the brass but it still is a slip fit for the bullet. I mic the bullet(s) and they are the proper size. I will be crimping the bullets after loading, so that should fix the bullet in the case mouth, but it seems odd to me that the bullet is not an interference fit in the brass case after sizing the brass. Has anyone else had this happen to them, or do I have some kind of problem with my procedures? I'm unable to determine how or where my loading process is at fault...Jeff

They should be tighter than a slip fit jeff. There should be some resistance going in. Even if you crimp the bullets after sizing there's a chance that they will slip back into the case when handled and fired with the fit your talking about.

I know this seems simple, but have you set up your dies in the press per directions? I know you probably have, but I thought I'd ask.

My last thought is you might have a set of out of spec sizing dies. Give Lee a call they've been very good at solving any problems I've ever had with their equipment.

Hope you can figure this out, perhaps some of our other members can help out here.

The die is screwed into the press to contact the shell holder, per instructions. I'm wondering if I have a die that's out of tolerance, maybe I need to contact Lee...

Jeff, is this after sizing and BEFORE you run them onto the expander/bell spindle? If you are expanding them, try to slip a bullet into one that's been sized only. If it slips in to a sized and unexpanded case, it's likely a size die problem. If the sized cases are tight until after you expand/bell them, then the expander spindle is too big.

Jeff, is this after sizing and BEFORE you run them onto the expander/bell spindle? If you are expanding them, try to slip a bullet into one that's been sized only. If it slips in to a sized and unexpanded case, it's likely a size die problem. If the sized cases are tight until after you expand/bell them, then the expander spindle is too big.

Originally I noticed this as I was setting up my expander die. However, once I found the problem, I checked several cases that all had NOT been run thru the expander die, and they allowed the bullet to pass into the case interior as well, so it is NOT related to the expander die. I've sent a note to Lee explaining the situation and asking them for their impressions and suggestions. At this point I really believe it is an oversize die. Still, I know I've loaded ammo in the past with this die set and do not recall this problem. Very strange. Since I do crimp with a collet taper crimp die, maybe I just didn't catch this before...