I started last night.
One worked - One crimped (folded in). 50%
Today I did Six and two crimped. 70%
Out of Eight tried got six all totaled. 75% success rate so far.
Here is what happens if you go too quickly.
If I anneal them before I start them thru the Die, they crimp like the one on the right.
If I don't anneal, then it is harder than Hell, but they don't fold or crimp.
I turn the case constantly in the shell holder. My elbow is hurting from the strain....
Tried polishing the leading edge with a metal polish (Mother's).
Seems to help (I think) getting that sharp edge going into the shoulder portion of the Die.
If I catch one just starting to fold, I put a large Phiilips Head Screw Driver in my
vice and tap the fold flat with the end of a small wrench.
If you hold it correctly, you can tap a starting fold back out semi-smooth
and maybe save it from folding any more.
I go REALLY slow until the neck just starts to form.
Once the neck is forming, that keeps the folding from occurring.
Then anneal the center of the body as I showed previously and it goes easier. Much.
A lot of time consuming work and noise from the case sticking in the Die - lubed or not.
I grind off the excess Brass down close to the desired length, then use a LEE 45-70 case
length trimmer clamped in a vise and push-spin the case on that to the right final length.
A final chamfering, outer burr cleanup with a file and a spin on some steel wool and the
case is squared off and clean and pretty like the one in the photo above.
Any hints, time savers and work-arounds would be appreciated.
DoctorBill