What is wrong with my Lee expanding die?

[Walkalong]

Walkalong

Maybe they did need polished but the OP never told us. I believe he was just using it wrong. If someone is asking for help what good does it do to tell them you don't like there tool?

I suppose he could have been using it wrong, but I wasn't addressing that. I never said I did not like the "tool" (die). I did say some of them come rough as a cobb and need polishing. That's a fact, not bashing. Obviously, according to posters, some come machined well enough not to need additional polishing. I never doubted or argued that. I cannot be responsible for what anyone else posts.

I'll admit, how it could be used wrong eludes me, short of having it screwed down too far.

 

[icanthitabarn]

None of my several Lee expander dies have ever had powder thru them. They don't seem to be doing anything at all. No sticking or shaking.

 

[kingmt]

Walkalong

I'm not argueing your point ether. I was agreeing it is possible. Mine are not rough. I have seen this same problem on here a few times & those good enough to post back has said that backing the die off fixed the problem.

 

[Walkalong]

Backing off the die will help if it is rough since less of the expander will be in the case neck, with less belling going on where the expander is pressing hard against the inside of the neck. Backing off will decrease the amount of pull needed to release the case from the expander. As long as backing off leaves enough bell to seat the bullet, all is well.

Polishing also helps.

I still use some Lee dies (Mostly sizers), but over time have done away with all my Lee expanders.

 

[kingmt]

If they are belled to the extreme it catches on the die body causing the jerk. Not just more then needed but really over flared.

 

[Walkalong]

it catches on the die body

Yea, that would be over flared alright.

 

[jacksgd]

After reading some of this thread I went and polished the expanders on my Lee pistol dies.

What a difference it made!!! Smooth as silk coming off of the expander and now just a little shake as the expander sleeve hits the die body, just as it is designed to do.

I realy do not think that you can expand a 9 mm case enough so that it will drag on the die body when lowering the ram with the Lee expander die.

 

[kingmt]

I took some pictures the other day & posted them to a thread about a 380 die. I was using my 9mm die.