Still having trouble getting enough flare from my expander die reloading 40 cal. on the Lee turret press. Never had any problem with the 38 or the 45 dies. Have tried screwing the die in slightly but just can't get it right. It is a hit and miss. Every 5th or 6 round will have to much bulge and will not pass the plunk test. Any suggestions.
Flare
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James2
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The sizing die is screwed in till you get the amount of sizing you want. For full length sizing the shell holder should bump the die in full up position. There is nothing you can do with the sizing die that will change the flare.
The decapping die is the one that does the expanding and flaring. You have to screw in the decapping rod to adjust the flare. I assume the decapping rod and expander/flare tool are on the same stem? They are on the dies I use.
You only need enough flare to get the bullets to go in easily and on lead not shave the bullet. Not passing the plunk test may have something to do with your crimp. If you crimp in a ring set the crimp to just lightly turn the brass into the ring. If you are not crimping in a ring, just barely push the flare out of the casing so it touches the bullet.
Overdoing the crimp may bulge the brass causing the problem you are having. Case length differences will give crimp differences. Do you check your brass for length?
The decapping die is the one that does the expanding and flaring. You have to screw in the decapping rod to adjust the flare. I assume the decapping rod and expander/flare tool are on the same stem? They are on the dies I use.
You only need enough flare to get the bullets to go in easily and on lead not shave the bullet. Not passing the plunk test may have something to do with your crimp. If you crimp in a ring set the crimp to just lightly turn the brass into the ring. If you are not crimping in a ring, just barely push the flare out of the casing so it touches the bullet.
Overdoing the crimp may bulge the brass causing the problem you are having. Case length differences will give crimp differences. Do you check your brass for length?
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Check your case length. If you are not trimming them you probably have short to long cases and it sounds like your expander die is set up for short or about the right length case and every once in a while you are getting a long case that gets expanded to much. Though this shouldn't effect chambering unless you are not removing the bell with a crimp die.
FROGO207
Member
I would take the time to take the expander die apart and clean it well. If this die has some crud floating around inside it the seating stem could be moving up and down depending on where things settle each time after the brass pops out. There could be differences due to case wall thickness but this has never been a problem to me using Lee dies in 40 S&W mostly loading lead. If you have a handle on the 45 ACP this one should be assembled the same way. There could be length differences or whatever due to case bulge using brass from unsupported chamber firearms not being sized the same way each time. I would try to drop a bunch of the sized brass of various brands in the barrel before doing anything else to see if they all fit fit, then load some and try them again. There has to be something that will stand out as a problem.
I am betting you are not removing the bell enough on some brass when seating/taper crimping. You could try doing these as individual steps if it is so to make it work but should not have to do this.
I am betting you are not removing the bell enough on some brass when seating/taper crimping. You could try doing these as individual steps if it is so to make it work but should not have to do this.gamestalker
member
Brass that has not been trimmed will result in some that are longer than others, thus causing the inconsistent belling of the case mouths. So in regard to this, if you want consistent mouth belling, and consistent taper crimps, it is necessary to trim your brass. Many, and by that I mean most, who reload pistol do not trim their brass, ever. I personally don't like to cope with any inconsistencies at the bench, and therefore, trim all of my brass.
GS
GS
My RCBS 3 die sets have a seperate die for expanding. The nose of the expander enters the case but does not flare the case until it enters the case about as far as you would seat a bullet. At this point there is a tapered upset in the outside diameter that is very sensitive to adjustment. Adjust it to get just enough flare to seat bullets without too much effort or shaving lead.
Now this is the kicker to pass the plunk test. Always always always use a taper crimp die on auto pistol cartridges, never a roll crimp die. The taper crimp is very forgiving.
Now this is the kicker to pass the plunk test. Always always always use a taper crimp die on auto pistol cartridges, never a roll crimp die. The taper crimp is very forgiving.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
IMO: The Lee powder-through expander plug is a bad joke!!
It goes from none, to too much with every case length variation.
You can see there is very little taper at the belling portion of the plug.
SO you either get none, just the right amount, or way too much with minor case length variation.
Other brands of dies pretty much do a good job handling various lengths of cases because the expander / belling plug is more gradually tapered.
rc
It goes from none, to too much with every case length variation.
You can see there is very little taper at the belling portion of the plug.
SO you either get none, just the right amount, or way too much with minor case length variation.
Other brands of dies pretty much do a good job handling various lengths of cases because the expander / belling plug is more gradually tapered.
rc
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