Lead Shavings

[Jumping Frog]

First time reloader with a brand-new Lee Loadmaster (Big Thanks to Shadowdog and and Darwin for their setup viedoes.)

I am loading .45ACP using 200 grain lead SWC bullets. Quite a few of the rounds have a small lead shaving like the attached picture (or at least I hope there is an attached picture -- I have had multiple upload attempts fail.

1. Is this something to worry about? (I would assume it is not desirable. How can I have consistent, accurate ammo if the bullet weights differ.)

2. I think I am supposed to correct this by screwing the expanding die a little further into the press so that I get a bigger flare. However, I am also worried about over-flaring. How can I avoid the Little Red Riding Hood, "too hot, too cold, just right" cycle and recognize when the case has the correct amount of flare?

 

[Jumping Frog]

Well, I can't upload an attachment. File size is a JPG with 146kb. The message is:

Lead Shaving.JPG:
Upload of file failed.

 

[EddieCoyle]

Flare just until you stop getting lead shavings. Don't worry about too much flare; you'll take it out with your taper crimp.

 

[Asherdan]

Honestly, my best answer would be to fart around with it to the point where it just stops, like EddieCoyle said. You want to walk the fine line of belling the case mouth enough not to shave your bullets while working it as little as you can get away with to extend case life.

 

[bfox]

Hi
You are using the Factory crimp die right ?
If you are , back out your bullet seating die
so its not trying to crimp at all .That might stop the shaving . Then just crimp it in the Factory crimp die .

Bill

 

[loop]

Station 4 seat bullet only. Back crimper all the way off. Use a sizing die or factory crimp die in station 5.

You will still get some shavings, but they won't be melded to the case. I tumble loaded ammo to get rid of shavings. Some say that is a no no, but it's a lot faster and easier than peeling it off each round by hand.

Make sure no lead sits on the case mouth. That will result in a failure to go into battery as will lead on side of case.

It's a fine tune. You may have to go a tenth of a turn on dies.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Only time I have ever had trouble loading 45 is with semi wadcutters. No matter what I tried they still left little slivers of lead. I switched to RN and that ended the problem.

 

[Wilburt]

I had the same problem. i searched all over this forum and only thing i found was just flare a bit more. then i was talking to MASTERCAST (great guy to talk with) and he said that with lead bullets you never want to seat and crimp in the ame operation b/c it usally closes the case mouth too quickly and will shave lead. i swiched to seat and crimp in two seperate opertions and the problem went away.

 

[brickeyee]

A Lyman 'M' die for flaring is designed to bell brass for lead bullets.