9mm die help?

[Axis II]

just set up my lee 9mm dies per directions.

size die touches and 1/4 turn out and flare doe touches and 1 turn out.

it decaps with very little felt resistance and the flare die I don't feel anything at all. it doesn't appear to be flared at all however there is a slight ring around the cases.

check with calipers and no real change.

wanted to size all of them today then load later this week.

 

[2bfree]

Just turn your powder through die down till you get the flare you want.

 

[Axis II]

how does one know how much flare I need?

I'm thinking it would be better to have some bullets on hand first?

 

[2bfree]

Flare just enough so the bullet will sit on top of the case. Yes, you really need a bullet to set the die.

 

[Shaq]

The flare is right when you're able to insert the BASE of the bullet into the case. I use a bit more for cast bullets to clear that ring of bullet lube.

 

[kerreckt]

Use the least amount of flare that works. Your brass will last longer.

 

[Walkalong]

You want your sizer down as far as it can go while actually sizing a case and still not touch the shell holder or plate. This will take press flex into account.

You want just enough flare to start a bullet easily and no more. Excessive flaring can hurt neck tension. And sometimes even have trouble going up into the seater.

Forget the 1/4 turn, 1/3 turn, 1/2 turn stuff. It's a rough guesstimate.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Forget the 1/4 turn, 1/3 turn, 1/2 turn stuff. It's a rough guesstimate.

Yup, those are just manufacturer's guidelines to get you started.

You do need bullets on hand to determine how much flare you'll need...and you'll likely have to readjust whenever you change bullets.

I add enough flare so that my bullets will sit in the case mouth by themselves (without my having to hold them there)...prevents pinching fingers on the Seating die

and flare doe touches and 1 turn out

If you mean:
1. Expanding die
2. "touches" meaning touching the case mouth
3. "turn out" meaning backing the die off (turning counter clockwise; away from the shellholder)

...you're turning it the wrong way

 

[Reloadron]

Give this old THR thread a read, commonly called belling the case mouth. Keep in mind what has been stressed in this thread as well as my linked thread. All you want to do is open the case mouth so a bullet sits nicely on it and can be seated. Note in the linked thread that some members choose not to mess with belling at all. Keep in mind that with 9mm you will likely use a taper crimp and all you will be doing is removing the belling you just performed to seat the bullet nicely and evenly. Thus, you do not want to overdo this step.

Ron

 

[Brian425]

Coated cast bullets require more flare than plated or jacketed.......one more tidbit

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

 

[Fatelvis]

Or you could use this as your belling step, and it adds a "pocket" to the mouth of the case, to help you squarely align the bullet when setting it in the neck. It helps avoid starting your bullet in crooked.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=89&products_id=1606

 

[Walkalong]

(.356) 356PC Exp. Plug
38 Cal. expander plug .352" x .356" To use with Lee Universal Neck Expanding Die Turns it in to a true neck expander like a Lyman M-die.

Almost all of my expanders are now the Lyman M Die "style". These are great replacements for the Lee expander plugs.

 

[mdi]

Set your case upright on your bench. Set a bullet on the case mouth. Will the base of the bullet enter the case mouth mebbe 1/16 of an inch? If not, screw the powder through die a bit more. Don't worry now about case life shortened by over flaring, get good shootable ammo now and worry about case life later. 9mm brass is plentiful and cheap. With minimal flare, how many more reloads will you get out of a case? Probably not enough to notice...

 

[gwpercle]

Those directions , as are most directions with anything now days, are woefully lacking.
They get you set up then you have to fine tune the adjustments.
Go to www.chuckhawks.com . Click on guns & shooting main site, then click on reloading information, scroll down to general reloading information and scroll down to How To Adjust Reloading dies. Print it out and keep it.
Actually there are many helpful articles for the beginner and long time reloader on that site, I have printed and saved several of them. Lots of good complete info !
Gary

 

[rcmodel]

I prefer to flair just enough I can hand start the bullet in the charged case and pick it up out of the loading block to seat it without the case falling off and spilling powder in the other cases in the loading block.

My experience with Lee expander dies is, the belling portion of the powder through die is VERY abrupt, (almost 90 degree) and very difficult to fine tune for perfect belling.

rc

 

[Rule3]

How difficult are these instructions to follow?

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/Pistol4.pdf

 

[Sky King]

Next question will be, "Why am I getting bulges on one side of the case."
SOP on 9mm's

 

[Reloadron]

Question: why am I getting slight bulges on my cases and they won't chamber?

Sorry, just had to ask.

Ron

 

[higgite]

My next question is "Why are you backing the sizing die out 1/4 turn?"