Lee Universal case expanding die

[buggybuilder]

Is the Lee Universal Case Expanding die worth buying ? Or....is it better to buy all the individual expanders for each caliber I want to load?

[jmort]

Yes. It is really a Universal Flaring die. But it is also an excellent die body and you just add the expander plugs that NOE makes for them and it is a most excellent expanding die. For sure, get a couple and the get the expander plugs from NOE. No better way to expand cases for cast bullets in my opinion.

[fryboy]

The flaring tool comment is spot on as that's really all it does,the plugs from NOE or the Lyman m dies are far superior to merely flaring the case mouth but the Lee does flare exceptionally well ( but only the mouth )

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Yes. It is really a Universal Flaring die. But it is also an excellent die body and you just add the expander plugs that NOE makes for them and it is a most excellent expanding die. For sure, get a couple and the get the expander plugs from NOE. No better way to expand cases for cast bullets in my opinion.

This is the way to go. You can get the expanders and the Lee Universal Expanding die from NOE at a very reasonable price.

[gwpercle]

I like it. It gets old buying individual expanders for every caliber, not to mention expensive.
I use a dedicated Lyman M die for 30 cal. rifles , but since getting a Lee universal expander have not had to buy any other M's, the lee handles all handgun flaring chores . It works, it's handy and one of Lee's good little gadgets.
Gary

[Tackleberry41]

I bought the Lee a while back when I started casting. Mostly for rifles as lee dies will give a flare to a pistol case. But then discovered the NOE expanders, went and bought a second die so I don't have to switch them out so much.

[noylj]

If you expand your cases, then it is NOT the die for you. If all you want is to flare the case mouth, it will do the job, and only that job.
For me, it is used for flaring bottleneck cases prior to seating lead bullets--and that is all it is good for.
I find that lack of real case expansion leads to lead bullets being swaged down or bullet being seated crooked and causing a bulge to one side of the case where the base of bullet pushes the case out.
I wrote to Lee years ago about truth in advertising and the fact that the Universal Expanding Die does NOT expand, it only flares.

[longbow]

I like mine and yes, it is only a flaring tool... or case mouth expander maybe?

I size so that the necks are correct for my cast boolits then use the Lee universal case mouth expander/flaring tool to do just that and it works very well.

As a side note, my lee Enfields all want a boolit of about 0.315" and my RCBS sizing die sizes to SAAMI specs to suit a 0.311"/0.312" bullet. Well, that much squishing then expanding is hard on brass and cast boolits if the case neck is not expanded first and certainly the Lee tool does not do that.

I went to a Lee collet sizer to neck size only and set that to size to 0.313" then use the flaring tool to flare the case mouth. Most calibers run tighter chambers than Lee Enfields though so unless you have a milsurp with over size chamber that part may not be an issue.

Anyway, I digress. It is a terrific tool for flaring case mouths.

Longbow

[odette]

I watched a video from FortuneCookie45LC on you tube on having an expander die to bell cases in the 1st position and having a powder through expander die and powder measure at the 2nd station, then the bullet seater 3rd and crimp die 4th. This is on a Lee Turret Press with Lee dies and drum measure. He sizes and primes separately. My question is, can the Lee Universal Expander die be used in position 1 and the 45-70 Lee powder through die and expander be used at position 2. I am doing 45-70 with a Lee 4 set dies and trying to eliminate the chatter or catch in the downstroke from the powder measure and expander. Should I get a 2nd Lee powder through 45-70 die or get the Universal Expander die.
Do the NOE expanders specific for each caliber, or are they universal?

[sigep1764]

The NOE expanders are size specific. So if you need a 358 expander for 9mm, you could used it for 38 Special, 357 Magnum, etc, anything you load that needs that size boolit. You will need a different expander plug for say 40SW or 45-70. Good thing they are only around $6 apiece, pretty inexpensive. Yes you can use the Universal Expander in station one, I do for 223 on a Dillon 550b. I would change the plug that comes with it from the factory, it does not expand, it just bells the case.

[MrHarmless]

I am doing 45-70 with a Lee 4 set dies and trying to eliminate the chatter or catch in the downstroke from the powder measure and expander.

For the record, the Lee Powder Through Expander is supposed to do that. It shakes any loose powder granules from the tube on the downstroke. Helpful for light flake powders.

[Dancing Bear]

I originally bought one when I was playing around with Bator bullets for the .223. Worked well and I have used it for other calibers as needed.

[KenT7021]

I use one for loading 43 Mauser ammo since Lyman doesn't make an M die in that size.It works well enough.

[Shawlerbrook]

Another fan of the Lee Universal expander as well as the Lee Factory Crimp Dies. Lee has N important place on my bench.

[sghart3578]

I like my Lee universal dies. I have several, one for each rifle caliber (except 45-70).

I have 4-hole turrets set up for several rifle calibers. (They aren't caliber specific, just the same dies in different turrets.) I size, trim and prime separately. I then move to my Classic Turret press.

Station 1 has a flaring die, station 2 has the powder drop, station 3 has the seating die then station 4 has the crimp die.

Works for me in 30-30, 30-06, 7X57, 308W and a few others I can't remember off hand.


Steve in N CA

[nun2kute]

Yes, it's worth it IMO. I think you'll use it more than you first think.

[GhostHawk]

While the Lee Universal may not do exactly the same thing than a "M" die does. It does flare the neck enough to allow you to load cast easily.

I started out with a tapered center punch and a light hammer. Compared to that the Lee is a precision instrument.

In part I suspect it depends on your needs. But I have used mine a lot in the last 4-5 years since I got it. I wouldn't be without one.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Handy to have. If you lack the 'right' diameter 'M' expanding die or NOE expanding plug. Also used to hold the NOE expanding plugs. Must be used carefully as it can (will) put a large flare on cases. Uniform case length is especially important when using the Lee flaring/expanding plug.

[RegCom7]

The Lee expanding die and NOE plugs don't cost much either.

[3006guns]

First of all I'm no champion of Lee products but darn it, they DO come up with some pretty clever little gizmos. I purchased the expander die on the advice of a forum member and frankly I use it MORE than my M die. Works on just about any case where a little mouth flaring is a good thing, and it's surprising how often I use it! Not familiar with the NOE plugs, but will look into them.

Another good gizmo is their Factory Crimp Die.......yeah, I know, there are many opinions on that one too but I find that it provides a uniform crimp. This maintains a good shot to shot pressure, more than I get with regular dies, and allows rougher handling of cartridges if the need arises.

Okay, you got a lot of opinions and information.........now just buy the thing. You won't regret it. Oh, be sure to save the little instruction sheet inside for future reference!

[JBinMN]

I am completely satisfied with my purchases of about 12 or so Lee Univ. Exp. dies & the NOE plugs I then purchased to make the Lee Univ. Exp dies do what I wanted to do.

I would be surprised if anyone else who did the same had much trouble after getting the two paired together to take care of the expansion of cases for cast lead alloy boolits. If there was troubles, it was likely due to not knowing how to pair the two to mate with the caliber one wanted to expand the cases for, when they were reloading.

YMMV, of course... I think the dies paired together with the right plugs are great!

[Tmaloy]

The Lee expander with NOE plugs is the way to go. I size all my pistol and rifle brass on my RCII. Swage out the pockets if need be for military brass and tumble to clean them up. I set the Lee expander with the appropriate NOE expander in station one of my Dillon 550 and load as normal. No flaring on the powder drop on station 2 since the NOE has already included the second step for starting a bullet seat straight. Seat the bullet and finish with a Lee FCD.