Redding 45acp Die Set - Part Missing?

[PCCUSNRET]

A little embarrased asking this, but haven't used this set of dies since buying them off the classifieds and they have me a little confused. The photo of a 3 die pistol set on Redding's web site shows a narrow rod with pin for removing primers and no pin on the expander plug. Probably easier to show photos than to try to explain. Here is a link to Redding's web site with a drawing of what the 3 piece set should look like.

http://www.redding-reloading.com/in...t&view=article&id=18:rifle-a-handgun-die-sets

Below is a photo of my set. If this set is complete, then do I run the expander plug all the way to the bottom of the case to bell the case? I'm trying to load some 45 GAP and this set has me a bit confused. Appreciate the help.

 

[Hondo 60]

Looks like you don't have a powder thru die.

The seater stem (piece on the far right) screws into the die you use for seating a bullet.

The sizing/decapping pin (middle) screws into one of the other dies.
The 3rd one appears to be a crimp die.

Maybe someone with a lot more experience with Redding dies will let us know if I'm wrong.

 

[Vec]

I don't have that exact set... but...

For the expander I'd run the die body all the way down to the shell plate, then adjust the expander to get the right amount (minimal) of belling on the case so I could seat the bullets without issue.

The die body for the expander doesn't really do anything. You could run the ram all the way up with a case in the shell plate. When screwing in the die (w/o the expander plug) you likely won't feel any resistance until it bottoms out. The expander plug, on the other hand, you should feel resistance. Go slow and make sure you don't overdo it. Too much belling is bad since it overworks the brass and reduces neck tension.

 

[Vec]

Actually, you might even have a separate seating and crimping dies w/o an expander...

What does the printing on the side of the dies read?

On my set (not .45 GAP, but a .45 ACP Comp), I don't have an expander, but the sizer is marked "45 ACP&AR TIC 1M", the seater "45 ACP&AR COMP ST J", the crimp is "45 ACP TAPER CR 1N".

The decapper is obvious with the pin. The other rod doesn't have any outside bevels, which leads me to believe it's not an expander.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Actually, you might even have a separate seating and crimping dies w/o an expander...

What does the printing on the side of the dies read?

On my set (not .45 GAP, but a .45 ACP Comp), I don't have an expander, but the sizer is marked "45 ACP&AR TIC 1M", the seater "45 ACP&AR COMP ST J", the crimp is "45 ACP TAPER CR 1N".

The decapper is obvious with the pin. The other rod doesn't have any outside bevels, which leads me to believe it's not an expander.

The sizing die is stamped "45ACP TIC F5", the expander is stamped "EXP D81" and the seating die is stamped "45 ACP & AR ST C82". When I took the dies out of the box, the rod with the decapping pin was in the expander die and the bullet seating plug (the other rod shown in the photo) was in the seating die. There wasn't the narrow decapper rod in the sizing die as found in all the other pistol die sets I have.

 

[highlander 5]

You may have a set designed for progressive presses such as the LnL or Dillon 550,650.
These sets have no expander as that is part of the powder charging system. There's a specific name for the set in the Redding catlog but I can't remember it off the top of my head.

 

[Seedtick]

I'm not familiar with Redding dies but I believe your -

*1st die re-sizes your brass.

*2nd die pokes out the primer and expands the inside diameter and flares the mouth.

*3rd die seats your bullet and closes (crimps) the flare.

I hope this helps get you going but if I'm wrong I'll blame it on being up past my bedtime. < yawn >

Seedtick

 

[FROGO207]

I have a set of 45 LC dies that are set up the same way that seedtick explained to you. This set may indeed have been designed for a progressive press. It is not designed like the Lee sets as you size first and decap/flare as a second combined step. Some of the older companies did it that way. You should start with the decapping die center stem up some and adjust it downward slowly while observing the flair/bell on the mouth and lock the ring where it is what you want. Setting the actual die would be a guess but it probably would not matter as long as you can have some adjustment left on the center stem assy. VEC may have better explained the way you need to set it up but you might not need to put it all the way down against the shellplate.

 

[cfullgraf]

Many moons ago, some die sets were made with the decapper in the mouth expander die. I have an RCBS 45 Colt set made that way that I bought new in 1980 or 1981. Whether they were made for the progressives on the market at the time or not, I do not know. But these do pre-date the Dillon progressive presses which have the decapping pin in station 1

All of the dies that I have purchased that were made post 1980 or so have the decapping pin in the sizer die.

RCBS used to stamp the year of manufacture on the die. I am not sure if Redding ever did and I do not have any Redding dies of that vintage. The "81" and "82" you listed could be the year of manufacture.

They would work fine on a single stage or a turret. They would not work on the current crop of progressives as the decapping stem is in the wrong place.

It is quite likely the sizing die is a steel die but you can see the carbide ring in the bottom of the die if it is a carbide die.

The sizer die will work for 45 GAP. The expander/decrimp die may not without removing the decapping assembly and modifying the expander plug. The assembly may be too long to properly expand the case mouth.

The seater die should work if it has enough adjustment.

Remember, 45 GAP is a relatively new cartridge and probably was not a gleam in any body's eyes back in 1980 or so.

Hope this helps.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

It is quite likely the sizing die is a steel die but you can see the carbide ring in the bottom of the die if it is a carbide die.

The sizer die will work for 45 GAP. The expander/decrimp die may not without removing the decapping assembly and modifying the expander plug. The assembly may be too long to properly expand the case mouth.

The seater die should work if it has enough adjustment.

Remember, 45 GAP is a relatively new cartridge and probably was not a gleam in any body's eyes back in 1980 or so.

Hope this helps.

Chuck,

The sizing die is carbide and the brass fits in my Glock okay when sized. The expander plug is too long and bottoms out in the case before it flares the mouth. I am going to call Redding tomorrow and see if it is possible to just purchase the expander plug for the 45 GAP and if yes, will it fit this set of dies. I may also be missing the rounded seating plug as this one appears to be for flat nosed bullets. Thanks.

Chuck S.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Thanks to all for your help.