Problems with first loads ever - 45 ACP

I adjust the resizing die so it barely kisses the shellholder.

I adjust the taper crimp die by measuring the amount of taper crimp applied to the case neck flare.

For .451" diameter jacketed bullets, I usually use .470" taper crimp.

You might try a different seating plug, something more friendly to the bullet you're using.

davers said:

Hey gang,

I've been trying to setup my dies for 45 ACP. I bought a Redding turret press with redding dies. I bought the Redding 3 die set and then a Redding Taper Crimp Die. I don't think I have my dies setup correctly. The instructions that came with the dies are pretty spartan. I think I have the sizer die setup correctly. The expander die I "think" I have setup correctly. I'm using Blazer 230 FMJ RN. I've expanded the cases just enough so the bullet sits up on it's own. The seater die is what I think is way off. I screwed the die down until it was touching the shellholder. Then I backed it off one full turn so it wouldn't crimp. The thing is, I loaded 5 shells, and they all have a ring around the bullet a bit more than halfway up the bullet. It sure doesn't look right. The taper crimp die I setup so that it was just touching the shellholder.

Any pointers? I'm looking through my handbooks and there's nothing in them on how to setup dies.

Thanks!

Dave

Click to expand...

I don't know how a redding seating die works but a Dillon seating die has a reversable insert. one side is for RN bullets the other for FP, could that be what is leaving the ring around RN bullet?

First, your seating die may not be adjusted correctly. You should raise the ram to the top with a case in the shell holder. Then you screw the seating die down (make sure the seater plug is backed out) until you feel it touching the case mouth. At this point, back the seater die out 1 or 2 turns to insure it cannot crimp and lock the die. Now you are ready to screw the seating plug down until you reach the desired seating depth of the bullet. On the taper crimp die, you need to but case with seated bullet into the shell holder and raise the ram to the top. Next, screw the crimp die down til you feel it touch the case. At this point, you will screw the die down in small increments (about 1/8 turn at a time) and check your case each time until you obtain the desired crimp (somewhere between .469 and .471).

The ring you are seeing on the bullet is kind of normal. It should mostly be a cosmetic thing.

The seater plug should have a shape similar, but in reverse, as the round nose bullets. But, not all bullets are shaped exactly as the seater plug. The edge of the seater plug is pushing on the bullet instead of the internal surface.

The other common seater plug will have a flat in the bottom of the cavity. This plug is designed for semi-wadcutters or flat point bullets. I believe your die set should have both style seater plugs.

If the ring on the bullet really bums you out, you could take some emory cloth and sand down the edge of the seater plug to get rid of the sharp corner. It will push on a wider surface and the ring should be less noticeable.

The bulge you are seeing is from the sizer die reducing the case mouth a little more than necessary then the bullet expanding it back out. Again, mostly a cosmetic thing and may show more or less with different cases depending the wall thickness. There really no adjustments that can be done to remove the bulge.

This usually shows up more with 9x19 or 380 ACP, but can show up with any handgun cartridge.

Pull the barrel from your pistol and you can easily and safely check to see that the cartridges chamber without issue.

Other information already posted on setting up the dies is good. Don't load up the shell holder tightly against your carbide sizer die as you run the risk of cracking the carbide ring.