Loading 10mm on Lee 40SW/10mm dies

[Lone_Gunman]

I am having a problem with Lee 40s&w/10mm dies. I am trying to load 10mm. I am using the Lee Classic Turret press. I have the dies set up as it describes in the instructions, but this seems to be mainly directions for 40s&w.

When I attempt to run the cartridge case into the powder through expander die, the cartridge only seems to go in about as much as I would expect a 40 s&w cartridge to go. The case stops moving in the die before the lever is pulled all the way down. If i continue to pull the lever, I end up crushing the case about .15 of an inch.

Since the lever is not being pulled fully, the Lee Pro Auto Disk is not being fully activated, so the amount of powder being dropped is too low. I was trying to get 6 grains of Unique, but am only getting a little over 5g.

I hope this makes sense. I can't see how to adjust this to correct the problem. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Black Snowman]

With my LoadMaster I have to back the whole powder-through die out the differance in case lenght between the 40S&W & 10mm. I'm using the Deluxe Auto-Disk that came with my LoadMaster kit and I've had the problem of it not lifting enough to throw a full charge with the 40, but it hasn't been an issue with the 10mm. But my problem is the 40 not being long enough to fully lift the thrower and so I added an o-ring as a spacer and it started behaving fine.

If you're crushing cases, the powder die should be doing it's full movement. So something is stoping the belling insert before it it's reaching full travel and causing the crushed cases. Make sure there isn't a chunk of something in the powder-through die keeping the insert from going all the way to the top.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I dont think I have anything stuck in the die, and have everything set up as described in the instructions. I tried backing the die out about the difference between the 40 s&W and 10 mm cases, and now the cartridge doesn't go in far enough to even activate the pro auto disk powder dispenser as much as it was before, so I am still not getting enough powder.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

anybody else gotta clue?

 

[Black Snowman]

There has to be something that's keeping it from moving and causing the case to buckle. It shouldn't hang up that bad unless something is seriously wrong. I wish I could see what was going on. Any way I could get some pictures of the setup?

 

[ElKabong]

If you adjusted the dies according to the directions it is probably set up for .40,
Back it out by the difference in case length between .40 and 10.
I did the same thing :banghead:

ElKabong

 

[Run&Shoot]

Not sure how this can be a problem. MOst expander dies are set thusly (but re-read the Lee instructions tomake sure):

* Back the expander stem almost all the way out.
* Screw the die into the press just a little way.
* Rise the ram all the way to the top position.
* Screw the die body into the press until it just touches the shell holder or is just shy of it.
* Now screw in the expander stem until you feel it just touch the case neck rim.
* Lower the ram
* Screw in the expander die a small amount (usually about 1/2 turn or so)
* Run the ram up with an empty (non-primed case for testing)
* lower the ram and inspect or measure the amount of flare.
* If not enough flare keep repeating the previous three step until you get just enough flare to allow the bullet to enter without shaving the jacket or lead, or crunching the case. You don't need a lot, just a slight bit of flare.

* Once you have a good setting then tighten the lock ring on the die to keep it in place.

The sequnce may vary slightly depending on the make of the die, but it should be pretty similar to this.