Set up my 40 dies today on the Lee four hole press. Have loaded 38's and 45's on this press with very little problems. Went right by the directions with the die's, as usual. Expander and powder thru die, in till it touches shell holder then 3 turns out. For some reason my cases are not being flared quite enough, upon seating sometimes shaving lead. What am I doing wrong.
expander die
- Thread starter trooks
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au_prospector
Member
Adjust down slightly until you get the flare you need.
Probably wont take much. Only a small flare is needed to hold the bullet while you seat it.
Or are you using a new bullet with a slightly larger diameter? But probably above.
Probably wont take much. Only a small flare is needed to hold the bullet while you seat it.
Or are you using a new bullet with a slightly larger diameter? But probably above.
Mike 27
Member
I guess I am not following the exact instructions on the expander anymore. I put a case in and run the ram up. I then screw the expander in until I feel contact, lower the ram and give it a turn and check the result. If I want more I turn it in a little more until the desired amount of flare on the case. I found this to be an easy way to not over do it and split brass.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Stop reading the generic directions.
And adjust the die so it flairs the right amount in your press.
Nobody nowhere ever wrote the exact amount of turns it takes to set a die correctly in every reloading press ever made.
It would be impossible.
rc
And adjust the die so it flairs the right amount in your press.
Nobody nowhere ever wrote the exact amount of turns it takes to set a die correctly in every reloading press ever made.
It would be impossible.
rc
If they are Lee dies. Adjust the expander die body down until it misses the shell plate by about 1/8". then adjust the threaded plug over the expander plug until you get the expansion you want. If not, the expander will be one part, just screw it up or down after adjusting the die body.
higgite
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Don't know where you got your instructions, but the ones that came with my Lee dies say this http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/powthru.pdf for the PTX die,
and this http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/90798.pdf for the universal expanding die. Basically just what Walkalong said.
and this http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/90798.pdf for the universal expanding die. Basically just what Walkalong said.
RealGun
Member
It takes significant force to push the case onto the plug far enough to reach the flaring base. That is the expanding operation prior to flaring or belling. Adjusting the die to where there is resistance with the lever can be a long way from home. Take the die apart and drop the plug out, and you will have insight into how it works and how to set it up quickly and confidently.
gamestalker
member
I've never set up a die by number of turns in or out. I adjust the dies to properly perform the function I need, for the cartridge which I am loading.
Example, I don't crimp rimless cartridges at all, cause I don't bell the mouths at all, so I only use the powder trough die to charge the cases. With rimed cases, I still don't bell the mouths, but I do use a roll crimp on them.
GS
Example, I don't crimp rimless cartridges at all, cause I don't bell the mouths at all, so I only use the powder trough die to charge the cases. With rimed cases, I still don't bell the mouths, but I do use a roll crimp on them.
GS
ArchAngelCD
Member.
As you can tell form all the above posts all you need to do is turn the expander down until you get the desired flare.
Yes it really is that simple to cure...
RealGun
Member
When you do that, you are not sizing the inside diameter of the case or cleaning up any burrs on the case mouth inner surface. I think you could get by as long as you weren't loading lead bullets soft enough to be swaged by a tight case.
Without any sizing or belling, you must be holding bullets in place until the press is about to pinch your fingers.
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