Redding 40 S&W Sizing Die Issue

I've been having some trouble with a new Redding Die set that I bought, in the off chance that I started loading for 40S&W. Since I had the die set, I may as well get some cases, so I ordered cleaned and polished Once Fired brass and went to depriming and resizing the 1500 cases. I'll skip that history, but in essence, "Glock" bulge. But even after passing through a Redding Push Thru 40 S&W die, and resizing again, these cases still don't fit in my Lyman loading block. I never went any further.
Last night I decided it's time to start loading some 40 S&W. I sorted out all 1500 cases (anal, I know), then attempted to flare/expand and prime a few. As I was testing the fit of my Berry's 40 Cal (.401) 155gr Flat Point bullets, I discovered that I could push the bullet all the way into the case. In other words...with just the smallest expansion I can seat bullets by hand. So I resized the case again, but didn't flare the case...and I can push the bullet to the bottom of the case by hand. Is there a way to tell if my Redding Die is an OVERSIZED die?

I measured multiple bullets from this newly opened box. They all read exactly .401...every one I measured. Is this the wrong bullet for 40S&W?

bds said:

Make sure you are full length resizing the brass (bottom of die almost kissing the top of shell holder/shellplate without daylight showing). If you are not fully resizing the brass, case neck/mouth may not be resized small enough to provide sufficient neck tension hence why you are able to push the bullet into the case.

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What is OD measurement of resized brass at case mouth? .424 for cases that don't fit in the Lyman block, and .4215 for cases that DO fit in the Lyman block. Both cases went through the same Redding Resizing die.


Can you check to make sure you didn't leave the push through die in the press? This die has its own case, and looks like nothing else. And, I only have a single stage press. One task at a time.

Will resized brass drop in the barrel freely with a "plonk"? Yes...all resized brass, the .4215 and the .424 plunk, though only the .4215 passes the Lyman loading block test.

There's some forgiveness in the Berretta APX Storm barrel I'm using. I've learned that if the case will fit in the Lyman Loading Block, then the case requires a very slight expansion to .4225 to accept a bullet, and I cannot push it deeper into the Brass. However, these cases are rare and random.

At this point I'm stumped and will need to call Redding. I should expect every case to resize to the same mouth diameter, and then I shouldn't be able to push a bullet by hand into a just-resized case. Clearly, there's no neck tension with this brass...and the Redding die isn't helping. This is the only Redding die set I have...except for my 9mm Lee set, all my other dies are Hornady. And after this experience, looks like I'll be buying additional Hornady Locking Rings...these Redding rings are ridiculous.

bds said:

Something is not right.
My RCBS 40S&W sizing die will resize the brass to .417"-.418" at case mouth.

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I checked, I double-checked. And yes...I triple checked. I took lots of pics to pass along. It's likely moot. As it turns out...my Redding Resizing Die inside diameter is 0.4205". So...there's no way that my brass would resize to .417"-.418" anywhere. I know that the caliper isn't the best test for that. By the way...I pulled the decapping pin to make handling the die easier. It doesn't look this short fully assembled.

I should have answered this earlier...yes...I am absolutely certain. I've tried this out multiple times, without any change in circumstances. I've even tried setting it too low, where the press ram actually hits the shellholder (slightly) and cams over...this is a genuine no no, unless you want to continually replace dies or shell holders...but I did it to see if it made any difference at all...it didn't. I am even using a Redding Shell Holder #5, actually Part No. 11005. I don't have any other shell holder for 40 S&W to try. You're right about the inside diameter...I was told to do this, and then told that wouldn't work...but I did it anyway. I don't have anything to measure further up the case...no pin gauges.

Mowgli Terry said:

The case was sized in the Redding FL die and the Redding push through die?

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Not every case...a few cases. Once I determined that the GRX Die, followed by FL Resizing Die was having little affect on the cleaned and decapped cases (as to plunking in the Lyman Ammo Check block) I quit using the GRX. That die’s sole purpose is to remove the “Glock Bulge”. Every case shouldn’t need it. Nonetheless, I discovered that it had no impact on whether cases fit the Lyman Ammo Check block or not. As it turns out...if the case does not fit in the Lyman Ammo Check Block, I can push a bullet to the case bottom without belling the mouth. If the case DOES plunk in the ammo check block, I need to open the case mouth 5/1000” and then, when testing fitting the bullet, I can push it all the way to the bottom of the case. It is not my practice to push bullets into cases by hand...I have a seating Die for that. Sadly, I’m not making it that far...if the bullet pushed into the case by hand, rather than sitting pretty and snug, there’s no way I’m dropping powder into that case.

Mowgli Terry said:

Normally, I need to size my cases before using the push through die. Be doing this the past week.

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That's exactly my sequence. I bought once-fired cleaned, polished, and waxed brass (380ACP and 40 S&W). Resized while decapping. Dropped into Lyman Ammo Check - FAIL. Bought ridiculously expensive G-Rx die (more than the 3 die set cost). Push thru, resize, Lyman...no avail. SO the full sequence quickly: FL Resize and Decap. Lyman block. G-Rx. FL Resize. Lyman. G-Rx. FL Resize. FL Resize. Lyman. Reset sizing die. FL Resize. Double Reset FL Sizing Die. Lyman. ad nauseum.

Redding contacted, pictures sent. We'll see!

Searching web for Hornady 40 S&W dies.(www.vizardsgunsandammo.com) $36.74, great price...shipping too high ($14.75 flat rate). Need to add items to the cart...but October reloading budget already used.

Mowgli Terry said:

I'd have suggested you pack the dies up send um' back to the home planet with cases.
Addendum: Have you checked out the Lyman block?

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I'll give Redding a chance to respond. Don't want my dies to show up unexpectedly. Nonetheless...I'll get Hornady Dies as soon as it's feasible.
Haven't checked out the Lyman block. From my experience...and what this trial is telling me...it's spot on. In every other caliber, if it doesn't plunk in my Lyman, it won't load into my guns. At this point I trust it more than I trust any of my dies.

[email protected] said:

Midway offers Lee undersized sizing dies for 40 S&W. Works great and leaves a nice little coke bottle appearance with the seated bullet. Plenty of neck tension. I use the undersized dies to size brass for plated and FMJ bullets.

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I saw that today and considered it...and then realized that my Redding die can't do it's job...what else won't it do? Failure to expand? Failure to crimp? I don't want to patch a die problem. There is a use for undersized sizing dies...but my 40 S&W situation isn't it.
Given problems I've had with tight magazines in my Baby Rock .380 ACP, I think an undersized sizing die may be just what I need for that. My loads work perfectly in my Bersa Thunder 380...but hang up tight in several of my Baby Rock magazines.

I wasn't sure how well this would turn out. Two pics attached. Inside die from top to bottom and bottom to top. My point...only one ring...that at the bottom of the die...and the one that measures 0.4025". The smallest measure of the die is the opening. I should've looked at this earlier. It's almost as this should be a final sizing die...as in a Lee Factory Crimp Die, but without the Crimp.

The brass is guaranteed Once Fired...and even if it wasn't that way from AmmoBrass.com...I have my own Once-Fired brass from factory ammo...which is all I had before splurging on the large 1000 case order...which turned into 1500...another story. Last night, after multiple back and forths on messaging, I went ...duh! I have my own once fired ammo to check...and just for grins, fired 200 rounds of Federal and Magtech new ammo. Doesn't make a difference...of course that was done before I took the die apart. Who knows...maybe the resizing ring fell out?

Packing up the dies, 10 cases, and 3 bullets to send to Redding. Communicated with Aubrey (A.J.) Ferris, Redding Engineer...who had me doing all the same things as you folks, as well as asking all the same questions. Finally..."Mark, Without having the Die in hand I’m not sure that I am going to be able to diagnose the problem very well. Can you send the Die to us with some samples of your brass to examine and test with? If we find that your die is defective in material or workmanship, it will be replaced under warranty."

So...letter written, bullets and cases included in die case, ready to hit the USPS in the A.M. Luckily, I'm on vacation in Tennessee next week...so they can take all the time they want to figure out where my resizing ring went.

Nonetheless...new Hornady Dies arriving Tuesday from MidwayUSA. So I don't care how long Redding takes.