38 special, 25g. xtp's too easy to seat?

[lordpaxman]

This DID, seem to do the trick.. I can't bench press the bullet back in now, and that is without applying any crimp. The expander portion of the flare die must be the problem, backing it out to just before the bell, is keeping the expander portion from dropping in to deep.

You could try a very minor amount of flare and see if that works. Or a very minor amount of chamfer will allow jacketed seating without issues.
Lyman (and others) make what they call an “M” die that will expand the correct dimensions and are great for lead or coated bullets. Good to hear you at least have an idea on what the issue is.

 

[Walkalong]

I did back out the flare die to a point where there really isn't a bell on the mouth, I had to carefully set bullet on top of the case and guide it up into the seating die.
This DID, seem to do the trick.. I can't bench press the bullet back in now, and that is without applying any crimp. The expander portion of the flare die must be the problem, backing it out to just before the bell, is keeping the expander portion from dropping in to deep.

Nice to find the issue.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012580233?pid=642578

 

[RealGun]

I did not think about using cam over, I can though with the T7. Maybe I should give it a whirl, not sure though if it's going to help.

The M.A. TNT die I have can take it, and I thought the Lee carbide die was not supposed to be allowed to do that.

I did back out the flare die to a point where there really isn't a bell on the mouth, I had to carefully set bullet on top of the case and guide it up into the seating die.
This DID, seem to do the trick.. I can't bench press the bullet back in now, and that is without applying any crimp. The expander portion of the flare die must be the problem, backing it out to just before the bell, is keeping the expander portion from dropping in to deep.

I have a Lee universal expander, Thanks for that tip, I'll give that a go. I would like some sort of bell on the mouth, as I think I may crush a case or two without it.

This doesn't sound right. The sizer and expander diameters are in question, once the case wall thicknesses have been sorted out and not one of the variables. Could you measure the outer diameter of a case after sizing and again after expanding (at and just below the mouth), so that the rest of us could compare that to our own measurements that are working for us?

 

[JD Fla1]

OK
it seems as though the combination of case and seater and expander would have to be --- sizing is good - Lee seater is good - use the Lee universal flare die to only bell the mouth enough to start the bullet I am working with. - Lee F.C.Die is good to go.
Now, Loading a small pile up for new range debris. Thank you all, WE CAN DO IT ! LOL... errrr. with your help..

 

[FROGO207]

Good for you! Hey, we all had to learn at one time so don't sweat it! Have fun.

 

[RealGun]

OK
it seems as though the combination of case and seater and expander would have to be --- sizing is good - Lee seater is good - use the Lee universal flare die to only bell the mouth enough to start the bullet I am working with. - Lee F.C.Die is good to go.
Now, Loading a small pile up for new range debris. Thank you all, WE CAN DO IT ! LOL... errrr. with your help..

Relying on the universal flare die would mean the expander is too big, given standard diameter bullets. A thin wall case would have an easier time with the expander, maybe a good opportunity to use the thin wall cases like Remingtons (R.P. headstamp).

 

[JD Fla1]

Nice to find the issue.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012580233?pid=642578

I had to buy the Redding expander for the .356 bullets I was loading for 9mm. The Lee and Mighty Armory expander/flares I had, were a bit on the small side for that fatter bullet.