setting up lee 4 die set

[glock19gen4]

Hi, I recently purchased a lee classic turret and i'm setting up the lee 4 die set.

When I deprime the case itworks fine except I don't hear the normal ping that I hear on every video that I ever watched on youtube??

Also when I tried to set the expander/powder drop die I opened the case too much to seat the bullet. So I adjusted the expander so now it's semi difficult to manually put the bullet into the case before it goes to the seating die followed by the crimping die. If I'm not careful the bullet can be easily pushed too far in the case. ANy suggestions?? Thanks, Jeff

 

[CBMC]

Is the bullet getting pushed on during the seating/crimping process? Are you using the fcd and the crimp that is in the seating die?

 

[rcmodel]

Take the powder-through expander stem out of the die and measure it.

Without knowing what caliber you are loading?
I can't tell you what it SHOULD measure.

But it should be .002" - .0025" smaller then the bullet diameter so it doesn't over-expand the case while belling it.

Measure it and tell us what caliber you are talking about.

rc

 

[glock19gen4]

the 4 die set has a separate seating die and separate crimping die. I'm talking about after I flair the case and drop the charge when I physically set the projectile into the case. Before using the seating and the crimping dies.
The projectile wants to fall too far into the case even though it's difficult to manually set in case.

 

[glock19gen4]

ok I'll measure that and i'm setting it up for 9mm luger

 

[Jlr2267]

Are you sizing the brass before you flare?

 

[rcmodel]

Your expander stem should be no larger then .350" or so then.

It should do nothing more then act as a tightly fitting guide to keep the bell portion of the stem centered in the case during belling.

If it's too big, chuck it in a drill and work it down with a strip of emery cloth.

rc

 

[JamieC]

i don't get the 'ping' on every primer removal, don't worry about it.

 

[nevadabob]

No ping here either. Go to the Lee site and watch the instruction videos for each of the 4 dies. Very informative yet brief. I expand my case mouths slightly to accept the base of the bullet. When you seat the bullet, there will be a noticeable "push" as you raise the ram. I then lightly crimp with die #4.
What bullets are you using?

 

[Walkalong]

So I adjusted the expander so now it's semi difficult to manually put the bullet into the case before it goes to the seating die

You don't want to be able to push the bullet in the case at all, just bell the first 1/16 or less of the case so the bullet can be pushed in with the seater without shaving/scraping.

 

[SASS#23149]

I don't think it's possible to bell a case to the extent a bullet 'falls all the way through',but then I"ve never really tried.Talking straight-walled handgun cases,or nearly straight,9mm has a small amt. of taper.

Is your sizing die touching the shell holder with the ram raised? Incorrect sizing or not sizing can make a bullet fit very loosely.

some people don't size new brass,but I always do.I"ve had new brass allow a bullet to almost fall into it.

No 'piing' is not a problem. Walkalong is correct on the amt. of flare necessary.

 

[Potatohead]

i don't get the 'ping' on every primer removal, don't worry about it.

That's what Im thinkin. I think the ping has more to do with the case having a tight primer pocket or something...either way, I dont get the ping every time.

 

[Potatohead]

Sometimes, when using a FMJ, I dont have to flare at all. And it doesn't take much when you do.

Hang in there, you'll get it soon and will be kicking yourself for even posting if you're experiences are anything like mine.

Oh yea, if you have Mr Lee's book, it goes into a bit more detail on setting up your dies. Better than the instructions that come with the dies.

 

[trixter]

Go back and re-do the initial set up again very carefully. The only thing I changed was to run the decapping die in a little further that the directions say to get the safety prime system to drop primers without incident. This is a very fine adjustment.

 

[Vol46]

I do not think you can expand the case mouth enough for a bullet to fall all the way in. All the expander die does is flare the mouth of the case a bit to help get the bullet started when you seat it.
For a 9mm or most other straight walled cases, the bullet should not fit into the case mouth before flaring - if you seat the bullet by hand, & then turn the case upside down, the bullet will drop free. After flaring, the bullet will go into the case a small fraction of an inch - enough that if you invert the case, it will not fall out if the case mouth has been flared properly.
It sounds to me like you are not fully resizing the case enough. Try screwing the resizing die down until it touches the shell holder, & then lower the die & screw it in a fraction of a turn further, according to the die instructions.

 

[glock19gen4]

ok, I reset the decapping/resizing die, which should be the easiest die to set.
I did the same thing i did the first time. raised the ram so it was touching the die and then put in the case holder that i plan on using for this turret.
I then adjusted the flaring die and everything is working perfect. Thanks for all the replies. Jeff

 

[ky8]

I too had a little difficulty setting all four dies exactly. I don't mean to sound
tacky but I would do each die again and do one at a time until each one is
working as you wish. The videos are great. If you have the Richard Lee's Modern reloading manual 2nd addition read the part about how the dies work and it clears up
a lot of questions.
The 9mm is not a straight walled case. It has a slight taper.
Good luck.