EGW Undersize 9mm Die Issue

[Blue68f100]

I've use the PTX for years now with no problems in 9mm. When they first came out they could not get enough stroke to expand the case. I gave the engineer the dimensions I was seeing and he re-machined the die and sent it to me to test. Been using it ever since. It can be a pain to get it set right. The stop will keep the load off the linkage once it full strokes. Not sure it's really needed. I've reloaded over 15k 9mm without it. The 9mm PTX seams to require more force to use than the 45 does.

btw. If you talk to the engineers and you already have the PTX they will send you replacements free if they think it's a problem. I have 3 of the old style which are useless since they don't work. While you talk to them mention to them any thing else that may need attention, like your retainer spring is kinked they will send you spares. Shims for loose fitting dies. Does you powder dispenser rock? If it does you need to put one of there shims under it. This will keep the powder dispenser bushing locked in.

There NO BS warranty is top notch.

 

[mohunter55]

yes, i know about their warranty, i've used it to replace a few lnl bushings i bought that were fitting to tightly. I really dont have any problems with the powdermeasure. it works great and does work fine with the powderfunnels expander. i've reloaded several thousand on it and have never used the ptx powder stop, but i just wanted to give it a try to see how it works. I did call and told them i had a press and was using a powder through expander and they gave me a price quote for the ptx stop. i figured for ~10 bucks including shipping it wasnt worth arguing.

 

[Otto]

I bought the Powderfunnel but realized that it just flared the case mouth with little or no expanding. I got rid of it and went back to using the Redding expander die which seems more precise.
Also, if you have a hundred bucks laying around buy the Redding Comp. Pro seater, it seats bullets straight with little to no bulging.

 

[mohunter55]

yeah, the powderfunnel works for me, but not with the egw dies. i either have to do one or the other. I prefer the egw dies, so what im doing until the hornady ptx gets here is this: first stage is resize & deprime, second is prime & expand (with hornady expander), third is powder drop, 4th is powder cop, 5th is seat. then i put a crimp on them on my rockchucker.

 

[mohunter55]

i decided to buy the ptx's for all my hangun calibers. I ordered the 451a, 452a, 358a, and 400a. Those all arrived already from midsouthshootersupply (super fast shipping). When i typed the above post i had ordered the 355 ptx and the ptx stop from hornady. the 355 ptx shipped, but hasn't arrived yet. the PTX stop is on back ordered. I am able to use the 358 in 38 special and the 451a for 45acp with great success. I was kind of a dummy and thought the 452 was for 45 lead. Turns out its actually for 45 long colt (which is a longer case, and will never work right with 45 acp. Anyways, i had an issue with 40 s&w. turns out i need just a little more to push it down to flare properly, so looks like i need to wait for ptx stop to come. Will let everyone know my results when i get the 355 and the ptx stop. By the way, I know this is strange, but i found out that if i put a philips screw bit on the top of the powder drop where the measurement turn knob bottoms out a the top of the stroke it give the 40 s&w a perfect flare. looks like the ptx stop is the key to the ptx's working properly.