Decapping/resizing 45acp

[xjtflyr]

I just bought a Leeman carbide 4 die set to start reloading 45acp. When I try and resize/decap the shell I can only get in the die 3/4 of the way. It does knock out the primer but leaves a little grove where the shell stopped in the die.

What do you guys think?

 

[rcmodel]

If the primers are popping way before the case is fully in the sizing die, you may have the decapper screwed in too far, and it is hitting the base of the case.

Back it out and run a case in all the way, then keep screwing it back in until the primers are knocked out just before full ram travel.
Then lock the locknut and go for it.

It also will help to lightly lube your brass until the dies get broken in & smoothed up.

I try to at least lube every 10th or 20th. case or so, just because it makes resizing with carbide dies so darn easy.


rcmodel

 

[xjtflyr]

The problem doesn't seem to be from the decaping.. The fit of the shell into the resizeing die is so tight, it wont go all the way in.. There by leaving a grove 3/4 of the way down.. The samp on the die says 45acp. Anyway is could just be a bad die?

 

[Ol` Joe]

Are the dies carbide? If not you need to lube your cases. Failure to lube with non-carbide sizers will make for sticky sizeing and guarenteed stuck cases if one does make it all the way in the die.

I`ve the Lyman 4 die carbide set and they work very well for me.

 

[rcmodel]

I suppose it could be a bad die, but I doubt it.

Try lubing a case, sizing it, and then measure it with a mic or dial caliper and see if it is way undersize. It should measure about .476" at the head and .473" at the mouth.

But most carbide dies don't allow for this taper.
Lyman, RCBS, and other carbide dies often leave a ring on a sized case due to the way they are made with a carbide ring insert.

Lee carbide dies are about the only ones that don't.


rcmodel

 

[xjtflyr]

Im getting about 4.65 at the mouth.. And since the shell wont go all the way in. It's still it's post fired size 4.75... I tired using lube. And no luck.. I have this same Carbide set for my 40sw and the cases are sized with no problem at all... My biggest concern is the groove that it seems to make where the shell stops..

Maybe I'd better call MidwayUSA and see if they will ship me another set.

 

[Walkalong]

Measure the inside diameter of the carbide ring.

My Redding is right at .460 +or - .0005

My two RCBS are .461 and .466 + or - .0005

RCBS replaced the one at .466 because it would not size some brass enough. They just sent me a new one when I called and told them the problem.

 

[xjtflyr]

Do any of those dies leave a ring or groove towards the base? It is deffinatly shaving brass from the case.. I called Midway.. They are shipping me out a new die tomorrow!!

 

[Ol` Joe]

Likely a silly question on my part but, these are brass cases and not steel correct?
Have the empties been fired? Was it in your pistol?

 

[O.S.O.K.]

could be normal

but you mentioned that they are shaving brass off of the cases? That's definately not normal.

Here are some rounds that I just reloaded - notice that they are only resized about 80% of the way down - this is normal.

They fed and chambered normally.

The 45 ACP is a low presure round - no need to worry about sizing that part of the case as the brass is rather thick and the presures of the round do not cause any expansion there under fire.

 

[xjtflyr]

All cases are brass.. Some shot from my gun, some not... All are brand named headstamps.. (R&P, Win., ect.)

Midway took great care of me.. They are shipping out a new die right away no shipping charge, and I don't have to send back the defective die..

O.S.O.K. Just wondering, do those reloads have a crimp? I've havn't reloaded lead yet and am not sure if I need to crimp or not..

 

[SilentArmy]

In 14 yrs of loading .45 ACP I have never crimped in a bullet. I know that some do in the Long colt, I suppose to keep the bullet from walking back in the case during recoil of previous rounds. I taper crimp in the last stage of my 650 for lead especially. Using a combination seat/crimp die for lead will build up shavings of bullet lube and cause you all kinds of hell! I remember reading that you are using a 4 die set so you should be good to go though.

 

[ftierson]

I use a Lee Factory Crimp Die on all handgun ammunition that I load that the dies are available for...

Including .45 ACP...

The die also post-sizes the cartridge case so that you'll never have problems with chambering rounds that are too fat.

The Lee die is designed so that you can't overcrimp the bullet on cartridges that headspace on the case mouth, like the .45 ACP.

Some other dies could over-crimp the case, so use some care when crimping. Ideally, with a cartridge like the .45 ACP, you want to have enough 'neck' tension on the bullet and just enough crimp so that the bullet isn't set back in the case when it's chambered, and so that the slight belling of the case mouth from the expanding step is removed and doesn't leave any 'edge' for the cartridge to get stuck on when being chambered.

Forrest

 

[birdbustr]

It sounds like you need to learn how to adjust your dies. Someone can show you or you'll have to figure it out. I know the directions aren't very good that comes with the dies.

I had the same issue when I first started reloading. Make adjustments until "that groove" goes away. You are giving up too easy! And yes, you need to use case lube or you'll have stuck cases.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Loosen the decapping pin so it will slide freely in the die. Adjust the die with the ram up until the die just touches the shell holder. tighten it in place. Place a decapped case in the shell holder and run the ram up all the way. The ram should be touching the shell holder again. Now push the decapper pin down until it contacts the case head (inside) and pull it back up about 1/16". Tighten it down real good. Now try resizing/decapping a spent case...Again the shell holder should contact the die and the primer should pop out...The case should be resized as much as it is going to be and may look like O.S.O.K.'s photo above...

 

[strat81]

Is it possible a 45 GAP die was mislabeled? I'm unsure about the decapping rod because if these are Lee dies, the rod should have popped up through the collet.

 

[zxcvbob]

Do you have a .30-06 or .308 sizing die? Give it a try (with lube, of course) to see if the problem is the die or the brass.

 

[P-32]

I think your de-capping pin is set too far down and the case is being stopped by the de-capping pin shank. This would cause your case to be only partly sized.

I set my decapping pin to punch the old primer out when the ram only has a tiny bit more to go before it's all the way up. I also set my the bottom of my dies just kiss the shell holder in the full up position when there is a case in the die. When setting up the sizing die I run the de-capping pin up so no primer is punched. I then lower the de-capping pin until I get primers punched when the ram is all the way up or very close to it.

 

[ftierson]

If you have any A-MERC cases, throw them away before even bothering with trying to reload them...

You'll always have a problem with them...

Forrest

 

[rcmodel]

30-06 & .308 dies are .006" undersize near the head for sizing .45 ACP cases.
Probably will be a problem even if there isn't one.


rcmodel