.45 ACP crimp, seating, and "securing" the bullet

[Dr.cry]

I'm a first-time reloader using a Hornady LnL. I'm using Berry's plated bullets, and Remington brass. No matter what I try, I'm always able to push the bullets back into the cases of my test rounds.

I thought I might be over-expanding the cases, so I adjusted the case-expander to where the bullet just perches right on the top of the casing and can't fall in. Also, I systematically tried adjusting the crimp in tiny increments, ranging from too loose to too tight. No luck.

With an LnL, is it possible to make rounds with bullets that can't be pushed back into the case? Do I need another die?

 

[ihctractor]

Sounds like you're not sizing the brass right or you have under sized bullets. When you size the brass make sure you run the die all the way down to the shell holder then only expand the top barely enough that it doesn't shave brass when you seat the bullet. It should take a fair amount of pressure to seat the bullet. Even with no crimp you should not be able to easily push the bullets down into the case.
Check your bullets, they should be a minimum of .451 to .452 diameter.

 

[cfullgraf]

Are you using Hornady dies? I have a Hornady expander for 45 caliber that is too large.

Unfortunately, i have not figured out how to disassemble the die so that I can reduce the size of the expander. Fortunately, i have an expander die from another manufacturer that works just fine.

If you are not using Hornady dies, the expander may still be a bit large. Chuck it up in a drill and sand down the diameter of the expander plug a little.

 

[Walkalong]

Remington .45 ACP brass is the thinnest. If your sizer or your expander is too big, or a little of both, you will not get enough neck tension with Remington brass.

Size some cases and seat some bullets without belling the cases at all. If you get enough neck tension, your expander is too large. If you do not, your sizer is too large.

 

[FROGO207]

Had a fellow reloader that had this problem and his 45 dies were for 45 Colt. He was real eager and did not read far enough when obtaining his dies.:banghead: Needless to say they would not work for his 45 ACP. If you have calipers and can get the dies apart measure things, this will tell you a lot. I am thinking you might have some 45 Colt parts mixed in from factory. Please do let us all know what you find is the problem.

 

[Dr.cry]

Thanks for all the responses. I tried backing the expander out a little more, and that helped some. I finally found a combination where bullet stay set in the casing. I can eject it from my 1911 with no problem. There is a slight bulge (.002") where you can see the bullet under the casing. I read on another post that this is OK...

One thing I hadn't realized earlier was that the sizing die stops crimping correctly after it is lowered enough to block the ram from raising all the way...

 

[BYJO4]

Based on your comments, I think your sizer die is slightly over sized. If you know anyone who also loads 45, resize a batch of cases using their sizer and then try seating and crimping with your press and dies. If bullet is secure you know what the problem is. Over the years, I have had 2 sizer dies that had to be replaced by the manufacturer for this reason.

 

[Walkalong]

One thing I hadn't realized earlier was that the sizing die stops crimping correctly after it is lowered enough to block the ram from raising all the way...

Sizer?

 

[Grousefeather]

45 acp

Back when I reloaded for 45. I used a taper crimper. Seemed to work well.

 

[PO2Hammer]

With .45 I no longer use an expander die, I just flare the case mouths ever so slightly with the Lee universal expander. It's named wrong because there's no expander section at all, just a cone shape to flare the case mouths.

 

[Dr.cry]

Walkalong, I meant seating die. Yes, I am a reloading noob.:banghead:

 

[Dr.cry]

I just made 50 rounds. Can't wait to attempt firing them tomorrow.