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Posted: 10/4/2008 6:58:05 AM EDT
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I am loading 200 gr SWC into Speer brass I am using a Lee Turret press with The Lee 3 die set. The problem I am having is the case mouth does not seem to get "belled" enough for the bullet to seat in the case without crinkling the brass as the bullet is seated. I have adjusted the powder drop die to several different positions but it does not seem to change the problem. It was my understanding that is what changes the belling. Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
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I use the same setup as well and have never had a problem. How does the bullet fit prior to going into the seating die? Screw the die Clockwise farther (down) to increase the bell. You should be able to see the bell increase, it is possible to over adjust this die and bell the case too much. That being said Lee can and does make mistakes. A friend of mine bought a set of Rem 280 dies and they shipped them with a 30 cal decapping-sizing pin. 7mm bullets fell to the bottom. Determine if the problem is the die or adjustment if the problem is the die make them fix it. |
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OP- "I have adjusted the powder drop die to several different positions but it does not seem to change the problem. It was my understanding that is what changes the belling." I'm not sure about the Lee turret press dies but on most other 3 die pistol sets its the depriming die that does the belling. Turn the bolt down until you get the bell you want. |
Yes, the expander flares the case. Keep screwing the powder/expander down in 1/3rd turn increments until you get a flare. The design of the die is such that you cannot over-do it. Well, the case could buckle...there is a positive stop. |
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OK I am at work so when I get home I will check the size of my bullets. I have put the expander as far down as it would go and still don't have enough flare. If the bullets are in spec then it must be a Lee issue. Thank you all for your help I was just making sure I was not missing something. |
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Take the die apart and make sure there isn't any dirt/rust on the shoulder. Then reassemble, making sure the aluminum nut/powder measure is screwed down all the way. Then screw the die down until there is a good flare. The last bit of the stroke may take more effort. If the case buckles, back off 1/3rd of a turn on the die. |
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A photo would be nice.... However, I wonder if the crinkling you are getting is the same as I got when I first set up my .40 dies. The crinkling I got was during bullet seating. I was playing with the roll crimp and adjusted it too much and that caused a crinkle in the brass below the seated bullet. I am not at home and can't post a pic, either.  |
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Read the subject, “Powder through expander die adjustment “ www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi It’s the same principal…….as a regular die (expander/de-capper) or with the disk measure powder through expander. It just takes some “tweaking” to get it just right. Just cause some instructions may say 1/2 turn or 1/4 or 1/3 or whatever.......it's only a suggestion to start. HTH. Aloha, Mark |
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Is it the case mouth that crushing or the body? If it is the body back off your seating die. The dies lee makes has a built in crimp setup. You are trying to crimp the case to tight before the bullet is set. Back off the seating die and screw the seating stem down. Do that to set the length you want the loaded round to be. Then screw the stem back up and slowly screw the die back down to set the amount of crimp you want for your round. Then with the round all the way in the die at the set amount of crimp you want screw the stem back down untill it contacts the bullet. But like i said if it's just the bullet catching the case mouth then this doesn't apply. |
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If you're talking about the powder-through expander die causing the problem, put a caliper on the bullet and verify that they're the right diameter. If they are correct, then you can experiment with the expander die depth, but there shouldn't be much, if any resistance with that die. It should slide in fairly easy, then pop slightly as you lower the ram and the belled mouth comes back out. If it feels like it is hitting anything solid, or you get a lot of resistance, then there is probably something wrong with the die, and I would contact Lee for a replacement. |
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Ok, First thanks to all for the help. I took the powder thru expander die apart cleaned it and put it back together. I then readjusted everything as per Lee's instructions and it resolved the problem. The flare is now just right and no crumpling the case neck as the bullet seats. Again thanks to all. |
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