This is my first time reloading 380 ACP, but I've ran well over 20k on my LNL AP. Getting the Lee dies all set up with shellplate 16 this evening and all is well until I go to use the FCD in the last station. The first couple cases go in then get totally mangled. I take a much closer look and realize that the final station in the LNL has the retainer spring starting to shift down into the groove to clear the case for ejection. On a larger case, this doesn't seem to be an issue, but with the little 380's it is enough to tilt the case at a slight angle as the outboard edge of the brass ends up sitting on the top of the spring. It then enters the die slightly crooked and proceeds to get torn apart against the flat base of the carbide sizer portion. It's tearing streaks down the case from the mouth on the inboard part of the case as it is at enough of an angle to not catch the angle entry cone on the die.
The solution seems to be moving everything back a station. Since I'm not running a feeder and am using a PTX on the powder measure, that is fine, but I'd be in trouble if I was trying to run a separate expander or a feeder. The ergonomics to place the bullet aren't the best but I'll survive. Has anybody seen this or heard of a solution?