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Maximum Case Length
I have put 100 factory rounds or so through my .45 andam starting to load my own .45s for my Sig. I am using a Used Lee Loading Die for a .45 Auto. It did not come with any directions. Anyhow, I only loaded 20 rounds just in case I did something wrong. I had two out of the 20 not chamber all the way. I pushed the slide forward to seat the bullet and it shot fine. I noticed that when I de-prime &sized the cases, they were nice and round. After I put them through the other sizing die, therewas a little flare onthe edge of the neckto make the bullet seat easier I guess. After I seated the bullet into the case, the flarewas still there. Is this what may have caused my rounds not to chamber or could it be due to the case being too long? All the factory rounds had no problem.Didthe caseflare in the die because the case was too long? I know, I know, I should havemeasured the cases but they were only shot once factory cases and I didnt think they would stretch being only shot once. I will measure every case from here on out.But what may have caused the problem? Any answeres? The round nose factory bullets are longer than the hollow points that I reloaded. So, the overall size, if I seated the hollowpoints all the way to the shoulder would have been shorter overall compaired to the factory round nose FMJ. So I did not seat them all the way. I left them so they would be the same length. Was that my problem? Does it matter if they ar shorter overall as long as the case is the right length? I am all messed up.
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RE: Maximum Case Length
After discussing this with some of my friends, all beginner re-loaders, I should have trimmed my cases even after one round. That may be what caused the cases to (flare) as I sized them. The flare may have inhibited the bullet from seating 100%. Well, back to the bench.
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RE: Maximum Case Length
ORIGINAL: Powerfisher After discussing this with some of my friends, all beginner re-loaders, I should have trimmed my cases even after one round. That may be what caused the cases to (flare) as I sized them. The flare may have inhibited the bullet from seating 100%. Well, back to the bench. 1. ) The charging die is set too deep producing a pronounced bell, and 2. ) You don't have the seating die set for any crimp. What you want to do is back that charging die out until it just barely bells the mouth, you should just barely be able to set a bullet in the case mouth and it will hold it. You also will need to adjust your seating die by using a factory loaded round that you know will feed in your gun. To do this back the seating plug out and back the die out of the press several threads, then insert the loaded round and lift the ram to the highest position and screw the die in until you feel it touching the case mouth and tighten down the lock nut. Then screw the seating plug in until it touches the bullet. From there you can screw the die in 1/4 turn at a time until you get the desired amount of crimp to allow reliable feeding. For 45 auto I like to use a light to moderate crimp, for 38 and 357 they get a fairly heavy crimp. |
RE: Maximum Case Length
No that is not the case. After one firing, your 45 ACP cases are not too long. I've loaded straight walled pistol cases many times and they never needed trimming. They ususally split at the case mouth and need to be discarded.
Trimming is usually necessary for bottle necked cartridges. I don't know what brand dies you have but I will assume they are RCBS. The first die is a sizing/decapping die which brings the die back to spec and removes the primer. The second die is adjusted so that the expander plug flares the case mouth just enough so that the bullet will be easily started without crushing the case. The bullet seating die is adjusted so that the it removes this flare and seats the bullet to the proper depth. My guess is that you do not have the seating die down far enough. So you will have to back out the bullet seating plug a bit and srew the die in farther. I suggest you read the directions that came with the die or go to the RCBS site and print them out. |
RE: Maximum Case Length
You can also download a copy of the instructions from www.leeprecision.com
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RE: Maximum Case Length
Thanks for the info. I have a Lee .45 Auto Die. Three dies in a red round plastic case. I got it used with no instructions. I have been to the Lee website and I guess im not too bright because I can not find instructions for the .45 Auto Die. It has instructions for thefollowing:
90064 ClassicTurret Press 90064.pdf 90495 2008 Catalog 90495.pdf AD2302 Auto Disk AD2302.pdf AP1704 Perfect Powder Measure 1280 KB BF3498 Bullet Feed Kit 924 KB BM1206 Bullet Mold 1188 KB BS2003 Lube and Sizing Kit 212 KB CF1391 Lee Reloader Press 2764 KB Dippers Lee Dippers 13 KB EL3469 PRO 20 Melter 807 KB EM1142 Electric Melter 1118 KB HP2520 Hand Press 2772 KB LA1070 12 Gauge Charge Table 283 KB LA1071 20 and 16 gauge Charge table 289 KB LA1088 Load-All 2311 KB LM3231 Load-Master 3673 KB Load-Fast Load-Fast 2908 KB Mold Design Mold Design Pg 1 383 KB Mold Design 2 Mold Design Pg 2 250 KB OF1219 Challenger O Press 2982 KB PP2165 Auto Prime II 664 KB PT1023 Auto-Prime 578 KB RE1422 Rifle Lee Loader 1071 KB SA2056 Safety Scale 1183 KB SC1334 6 Cavity Bullet Mold 1598 KB SM3529 Slug Mold 1174 KB TP2131 Turret Press 2261 KB TR2441 Pro 1000 Instructions 2682 KB VMD'S POWDER VMD'S VMD'S.pdf I cant find instructions for a .45 Auto Reloading Die at all. I will follow the above mentioned advise and see what happens. It seems like just a few simple adjustments and I will be OK. Thanks again. |
RE: Maximum Case Length
I had the same problem. The above advise is correct.
Set your expander die to expand just enough. It doesn't take much, as long as the bullets seat you are good to go. On my .44 mag I quit using the expander with jacketed bullets because I can seat bullets without it. |
RE: Maximum Case Length
You can give them a call, their customer service from my experience has been very good. I'm sure that they have copies that they can either send you or email. The # is 262-673-3075
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RE: Maximum Case Length
Good idea. I have spoke to them about other topics and they were always professional and answered my questions. Thanks.
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RE: Maximum Case Length
Get a good reloading manual that explains the process and gives the dimensions for loading for a .45. The previous advise about belling the mouth and then crimping is correct. Now for lead bullets the bell is important as otherwise the brass will shave the bullet base when you try to seat it. With jacketed bullets, I often do not set the die to bell the case at all and I can seat them just fine while working the brass less so it will last longer.
The other thing that is important is overall loaded case length. There is a max length for the .45 and it does not sound like you are actually measuring yours with a caliper. Make sure you do this, you are affecting the chamber pressure if you are seating the bullets too deep. |
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