Pistol brass resize

[Lnl45]

Hi to all, Need some help with reloading pistol specially 45 acp 9mm .40 s&w when you are in the size and decap station do you resize the entire length from the case mouth to the rim or case mouth half way down or ? Thanks for all the help.

 

[918v]

Resize all the way down.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The sizing die should just barely touch the shell holder, or shell plate. The case needs to be sized as far down as possible for proper neck tension and chambering. \

If using carbide dies, you don't want to have the die "smack" into the shell holder or it will crack the carbide insert. There should be a couple thousandths clearance between the two.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[dave from mesa]

If using carbide dies, you don't want to have the die "smack" into the shell holder or it will crack the carbide insert. There should be a couple thousandths clearance between the two.

Your kidding me, right?
All these years and I have had my dies down to far?
So I don't want carbide dies to be so tight that the handle doesn't give resistance on over center?
Well they will get fixed as I use them.
thanks
Sorry to hyjack.

 

[ReloaderFred]

That's in the written instructions that come with the dies. It's also been my experience. I purchased my first carbide sizing die in 1969 and screwed it in too tight. It didn't take long for the carbide insert to crack, since they're very, very brittle.

Don't drop one on concrete, either..............

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[GLOOB]

Modern carbide dies have a little lip of steel extending past the carbide. They're difficult to crack.

 

[murf]

best to follow the instructions that came with the die.

murf

 

[Bush Pilot]

best to follow the instructions that came with the die.

murf

Instructions are only for those who don't have access to internet reloading forums.

 

[gamestalker]

Good suggestion ReloaderFred. I didn't know better when I bought my first carbide, and ended up fracturing it on the first piece of brass I resized. So ya, don't let the die touch the shell holder.

 

[918v]

I've been camming over my carbide dies forever without any issues. My dies don't allow the shellholder to touch the carbide ring. Check your dies.

 

[Walkalong]

Must be using Redding sizers.

 

[brickeyee]

Modern carbide dies have a little lip of steel extending past the carbide.

Likely for all the folks that do not read the instructions and cracked the carbide rings.

 

[Walkalong]

The Redding sizers do, but I haven't seen any others like that. Well, I can't rememeber about the Dillon I had.

 

[918v]

RCBS carbide dies are well insulated as well. Haven't had any issues with them either.

 

[Uniquedot]

The only carbide dies i currently have are Lee and Lyman. The Instructions for Lee carbide dies are to screw them in to make contact with the shell holder and the Lyman instructions say to leave a small space between the shell holder and bottom of the die.

 

[ranger335v]

It's uncommon in straight wall cases for anything to be gained by sizing below the base of seated bullets. And it typically helps the cases last for a couple more cycles.

 

[Walkalong]

RCBS carbide dies are well insulated as well

Mine are all pretty old. The carbide inserts are flush with the steel. Are the new ones different?

 

[Uniquedot]

Mine are all pretty old. The carbide inserts are flush with the steel. Are the new ones different?

I don't know about the rcbs, but my Lyman dies do have a lip below the carbide yet the instructions say not to make contact with the shell holder or the carbide may crack. I wish they were designed as well as the Lee pistol dies inside and out.

 

[243winxb]

Tungsten carbide VS Titanium Nitride Dies

The term "carbide" is being misused IMO. There is a difference between Tungsten carbide and Titanium Nitride coated dies. RCBS Tungsten can crack if dropped or comes into hard contact with a shell holder/plate.

do you resize the entire length from the case mouth to the rim or case mouth half way down or ?

RCBS has said its possible to size just below the bullets base when seated. Trial and error. This did NOT work for me. The thickness of a nickle between the shell holder & die work for me. Read your die instructions. No lube needed with Tungsten, a little dab will do you with Titanium. Hey Walkalong , remember that Hornady 9mm die you wore out in 2000 rounds. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=327877

 

[Walkalong]

Yep. I have never bought another set of Hornady dies. I have bought some of their pistol seaters. I hate their expanders because they are fixed in the die. I can't polish them down if needed. I have never tried their rifle dies, & probably never will. RCBS and Redding work so well, there is no need to.

I have always adjusted my carbide sizers for auto calibers so they are just barely missing the shell plate (or shell holder) when sizing. They might just barely touch without any brass in the shell plate, but when actually sizing the flex keeps them from hitting. Since 9MM is a tapered case, I have my 9MM sizer adjusted down as far as I dare. Not a big deal with other auto calibers. A small gap will not hurt a thing.

 

[MtnCreek]

Modern carbide dies have a little lip of steel extending past the carbide.

I have found this to be a problem for me in 9mm. Dillon sizer w/ steel extended below the carbide and the carbide is beveled to aid in alignment. Those two factors prevented sizing some 9mm brass far enough toward the base, resulting in rds that wouldn't chamber.