Trouble with Lee expanding die.......

Status
Not open for further replies.
45 long

45 long

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
192
Location
Central Massachusetts...
I just started using my new Lee breech lock classic cast. I sized 500 Starline 45 Colt brass, then tried to expand the mouth of the cases. I'm just expanding enough to barely get the bullet to sit in the mouth, but the cases are getting stuck in the die. I have to pull up on the handle with both hands & the shell comes out with a "snap".
I used to have this trouble when I started out with the Lee Hand Press, but figured it was because I wasn't getting much leverage with this small press.
Should it be necessary to use lube for the expander die ? I'm using the Lee deluxe Carbide 4-die set. I also have a universal expander that I haven't tried yet.
 
I had the same issue when loading 45 ACP, using my the expanding die that came with my Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-Die Set. I tried using a light coat of Hornady's One Shot case lube prior to sizing, and the next step of expanding is much smoother. This is the first time I have used the One Shot case lube on straight wall pistol cartridges, but it makes a huge difference. And since it is not harmful to powder or primers, I do not worry about wiping it off. Give it try.
 
I don't like Lee dies for specifically this reason. I use Lee dies on a couple of pistol calibers (.380 and .38 S&W) that I shoot in VERY low volume....and I just wanted minimal cost.

I've read this is normal for their expanding die, but I can't figure out why they'd find it acceptable.
 
Last edited:
Yeah Lee makes that expander plug rough on purpose. It is designed so you will rattle any propellant out of the measure or tube and into the case if a bridge has occurred. Polishing it like above post instructs will stop the problem if you so need.
 
Just asking:
Putting any kind of lube on the case and then pouring powder into it - is this really a good idea?
Powders gonna stick all over the case in my experience.
 
FROGO207 said:
Yeah Lee makes that expander plug rough on purpose. It is designed so you will rattle any propellant out of the measure or tube and into the case if a bridge has occurred. Polishing it like above post instructs will stop the problem if you so need.
Click to expand...
It feels like it could knock the primer out, too. I'll try the 600 grit in the drill press, see how it goes.
I appreciate the help, I was starting to think I should find a new hobby !
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ej3
This has only happened to me with brand new brass. So I started running my new brass in the tumbler with corn/walnut prior to loading which resolved the issue.
 
I use the Lee Universal Expanding Die and the thru powder die for 9mm, 38/357 and 45LC, new and tumbled brass and have never experienced that problem. I also use Hornady One Shot on all my brass, carbide dies or not. I do notice that the expander does build up some brass and other "stuff" over time but I clean it now and then. Polishing it up as suggested is probably a good idea.
 
call1911 said:
Just asking:
Putting any kind of lube on the case and then pouring powder into it - is this really a good idea?
Powders gonna stick all over the case in my experience.
Click to expand...

I use the Hornady One Shot on straight wall pistol cases. What I do is lay some paper towels in a box, lay the brass on the paper towels on their sides, and spray liberally. Then I shake it around a bit, spray it again, and walk away for a while to let it dry. I don't intentionally spray it inside the brass, but don't worry if some gets in there. It's a dry lube, and none of my rounds have failed to fire.

45 long said:
Could be part of the problem. They're brand new Starline cases. So tumbling would get a little grit on there to break the tension ?
Click to expand...

Whenever I open a bag of new brass (Starline is what I buy also) I always chamfer and deburr to get rid of any rough edges left from machining the brass.

chris
 
I only have used new brass once (Starline) for 45 Colt. The company that sells them mentions that dents at the case or casemouth can happen on the transport.
So this one time I fullsized, chamfered and deburred them all.
No problems with the Lead Roundnose Flatpoint bullets when seating.
 
call1911 said:
I only have used new brass once (Starline) for 45 Colt. The company that sells them mentions that dents at the case or casemouth can happen on the transport.
So this one time I fullsized, chamfered and deburred them all.
No problems with the Lead Roundnose Flatpoint bullets when seating.
Click to expand...

For new brass, my process is to chamfer and deburr, then tumble in the vibratory tumbler (with a small bit of car wax mixed in with the media), then they get the One Shot treatment, then I size and load as normal. They are so slick sometimes they slip out of my hands, lol!

But they do load nice and easy:)

chris
 
Sorry, I was unclear here.
Before seating I do expand just a little/as much as needed.
 
I must have gotten a different style of dies, the Lee powder through-expander dies that came with my pro-1000 presses in .38/.357 and .44 Spl-Mag haven’t ever had an issue like you describe.
I wonder if the newer Lee dies are cut differently now?
Stay safe.
 
My lee expander dies aren't a two handed pull to get em back out, but definitely comes out with a thunk that rattles the brass in the containers on the bench. Some pieces seem to grab more than others.
I have some hornady dies and much prefer them to the lee , but they arent powder though dies. Lee's seem to shave the brass expanding and those dont. Plus seems to be easier to seat the bullets straight with the hornady ones.
I bought a lyman m die to try next time for 45 after reading people loving on it.
Been meaning to look into those NOE inserts. Saw a post about them before and they sounded good.

James
 
I don't have anything to add regarding the OP. Frogo207 covered what I read about the Lee expander. I agree that some of those cases seem rough. At this point I load most of my handgun ammo on a Dillon but used Lee for years.

Thanks for the link to NOE Walkalong. I had not heard of them.
 
I have found that I need to polish almost all the parts in most Lee dies to get them to work smoothly. I hate to give up on the hollow powder expander because I really like throwing charges that way. But...I might switch to the Lyman M expander. The cost is that I will have to buy another powder measure since I do not have a pistol powder measure other than the Lee auto drum and an auto disc. Or maybe there is a way to turn the expansion part down on the Lee die and just use it to move the powder measure after doing the expansion with another die. Has anybody tried this? Or buy both the Lyman m expander die and the through the powder feed station?
 
Last edited:
I've used the 9mm lee expander with the the lee powder drop after expanding with my hornady 380 when loading 380 on my lee classic turret. I either sized and primed first or used FCD after separately on single stage, cant recal which. Wasnt sure it would work without expanding brass more while sufficiently working the powder drop ,but it seemed to do fine. Just play around with it and make sure it works for you if you go that route. Didnt do any modification to the lee die.

James
 
irishlad said:
I then polish with Flitz. No more problem.
Click to expand...
Flitz is so fine, I don't think it counts as polish. I'd use (and have used) 800 grit for the rough ones, and 1000 for the shine.

You are likely also experiencing NEW clean'n'shiney brass. Tumble it in Walnut for a minute, and it'll handle much more easily.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Lee Die Question
2
Replies
46
Views
2K
The Bushmaster
The Bushmaster
DMF38
  • Locked
Lee Universal Expander vs Lyman M
Replies
10
Views
2K
Noffsinger
N
C
  • Locked
300 BLK Expanding Die
Replies
9
Views
885
redbullitt
R
C
  • Locked
Expander Die for 9mm?
Replies
9
Views
6K
rcmodel
R
Crazy Horse
  • Locked
Lee Expander die vs Cop die on Hornady LnL AP
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
greyling22
greyling22
Back
Top