9mm Shell hangs up in the Expander

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Furncliff

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9mm... Lee dies ...initial set up... Hornaday LNL AP. The shells are hanging up in the expander when the die lets go of the shell there's a hitch in the press. I can repeat this issue with the die removed from the press so I don't think it's a timing problem. I've contacted Lee, they suggested polishing the nose of the expander, I had already done this with 440 grit paper but perhaps it needs more? Just concerned with taking it too far.
 
Or it is so rough it needs polishing. If your powder drop needs a jolt to drop powder, you have other problems. Polish the expander plug.
 
As said, this is an intended function of the powder thru die with Lee dies. It's purpose is to make sure all of the powder drops. Similar to tapping the funnel when powder stalls or funnels up.

GS
 
Cycle the press slower and see if that helps. You just want to go fast enough that the case glides out of the die. I have the same set up and your expierence mimics mine. The expander plug floats inside the die. As you lower the ram the expander follows the case until it hits its stop. At this point is where you get the sudden resistance as the expander plug is pulled from the case. The faster you go the more it will feel like a jolt.
 
1) Polish, but not excessively. Often, the expander (of any brand) is already slightly too small.
2) Call Lee, discuss and exchange
3) Apply graphite to expander plug
4) Cycle slower. Slower is often better.
5) Some people use Imperial Wax on expander OD for smoother operation
6) Some slight jerk is good. This goes for all measures.
 
Lee is a brilliant advertiser.
Well, there IS a fraction of an inch of free-float up/down movement on the expander ring. No matter how well machined an expander plug is, it WILL grab onto the brass. This is taken advantage of in the LEE powder-thru dies. As the brass is lowered, the expander ring lowers with the brass, while the die body remains still. If you're working the press fast, this gives the powder a little extra time to funnel into the case. Then when the expander reaches the end of travel, the "hit" will help any kernels that might be stuck to break free.

It's not like Lee couldn't make the expander ring stationary for the same cost. If you do not like this feature, you could probably unscrew it and install a shim in there. But if your expander ring is rough, it'll still stick.
 
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I think it is a good by product of an expander plug that is too rough. Yes, it gives extra time, but time that isn't really needed.

Me? I make sure everything my dropped powder goes through is slick with a long angle to it.

No matter how well machined an expander plug is, it WILL grab onto the brass.
Yes, it will, but smooth ones don't jerk the works when coming out.
 
Or it is so rough it needs polishing. If your powder drop needs a jolt to drop powder, you have other problems. Polish the expander plug.
Maybe "jolt" was too harsh a word on my part. gamestalker said it better, more like a tap. I equate it to the "tap, tap" of the handle that a lot of folks, myself included, do with a drum measure. Whether it's necessary or not is a matter of conjecture. The little tick in my Lee PTX doesn't bother me. ymmv :)
 
it's fairly normal. that said, if it was a better machined part and not so rough it could be a lot smoother. but then it would cost more........ I polished mine up some, however if you go too far you don't expand enough and the lead bullet starts getting swagged down so it's a balancing act that I probably haven't mastered.
 
I tap my press handle and it takes the place of tapping the measure handle which is operated automatically by the linkage being operated by the sub plate.
 
HI Ya, my short answer is the same as other 9mm brass issues; get a undersized sizing die from Evolution Gun Works. But I am not quite sure of where the hang up in your setup is. I hope you post after installing the Hornaday dies
 
higgite said:
If it's the powder through expander, the hitch is intentionally built in to jolt the powder dispenser to help break up any powder bridging.
which also causes displacement of the next primer going into its station for some flipped and squished results.
 
which also causes displacement of the next primer going into its station for some flipped and squished results.
I use a Lee Pro Auto Disk and PTX setup on a RCBS Pro 2000 with APS primers. I haven't had that problem. When I used the same powder drop setup on my Lee turret, I hand primed, so I was still unaware that it caused primer problems. But, I see your point if priming on some presses.
 
Never had a primer flip on my L-N-L, and I had a REALLY rough expander I sent back to Lee.
 
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