Flare question

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MGRAY

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New to loading, so have a question I'm sure can be answered here. 38sp being pulled from the expander die, feels like it hangs up on the die. The flare is just enough to start the bullet and they have been crimping really nice. Is this resistance normal? Lee press and dies on 38sp. Thanks...Marty
 
I have found the same on some cases but not consistently. Deburring/camfer has helped, especially with new cases.
 
Some cases are harder than others. They spring back more. They tend to hug the expander.
 
Are you using new cases as they can sometimes have rough areas around the inside of the case mouth that will cause resistance when removing from the expander. Same thing can happen if you trim brass and don't completely deburr the case mouth.
 
Once fired brass. It feels like the flare is too large and rubbing on the die. I backed off on the flare till it did not grab, but did not put the flare in enough. Maybe they will be better the second time around. Thanks all....Marty
 
I have that with the Lee powder through dies. I think it is that they flaten off at the top of the flare so it is more like a swage instead of the flare like the RCBS dies do. I would say this is to keep it from turning a lip down on the mouth when it lifts the powder drop.
 
If it is a lee expander die it's designed to have that litle hang up or bump to it. This is supposed to knock off any powder that has stuck to the inside of the die after you have charged the case.
 
The Lee expanders are rough, and new brass is stickier than used. Polish the expander and it will go more smoothly.
 
I get that with the only two Lee expanders I have and the Hornady PTX for .355,I hate it on the proggressive because it knocks powder out of the other charged cases.I don't get that with any RCBS expanders.I am making my own expanders for my LNL with a slight taper on the part that goes into the case to aleaviate this .
 
I made this two step Lyman style expander for my Lee .32 ACP expander die. Nice and smooth. Works great. I have also polished all my Lee expanders, which works well.

I am running an LNL, but I use regular expanders in station two.
 

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That slight resistence that makes a very noticable click, is a built in feature with Lee powder thur dies. It is there to prevent powder jams and to assure a complete powder drop is made upon lowering the press ram. I don't have any Lee rifle dies but I would assume this feature is only in the Lee handgun powder/flaring dies.
 
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