RepackboxInline FabricationWidenersLee Precision
RotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters SupplyLoad DataReloading Everything
Titan Reloading
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: 45 expander problems

  1. #1
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,367

    45 expander problems

    My 45 dies that I load 45AR ammo with are acp dies and they will roll crimp. The problem, I think, is an expander button that is a bit too large in diameter. Here are the pics of the expander and my boolits in the mic. The bullets shoot pretty good out of my 625-3 S&W but when I place the boolits in the case, I can push them to the seating depth with finger pressure. The throats in this revolver are a tight .432 and these boolits are sized to .4515 as you can see. My question is: is this expander button excessively large ? Does anyone have a set of dies that you can mic to see? I have a new set of carbide dies ordered. These old Lyman dies I'm using are steel. Thanks MurfAttachment 291463Attachment 291464
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  2. #2
    Moderator


    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Just outside Gun Barrel City, Texas
    Posts
    9,484
    I had a similar thing happen with using an old, non carbide die set .38Spec. dies for .38S&W.
    The expander went in too far before it flared.

    I was going to grind it off so the flare part would hit sooner, or higher up on the case.
    Instead-- For them, I dug around, and made a 9mm expander work.

    If the same thing is happening in your case-
    I'd wait for your new dies to come in before I started chopping on the old ones.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  3. #3
    Moderator



    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Oregon Coast
    Posts
    10,248
    Murf,
    I believe that's a typo on the cylinder throats (.432").

    What brand of .45 AR brass do you have? I've found a little variation in wall thickness between brands of both .45 AR and .45 acp brass.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,367
    Fred you are correct. I should have typed .452. Thanks. The brass Is Starline.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Char-Gar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Deep South Texas
    Posts
    12,820
    If I can read the mic correctly, the expander is .450 and that is not too large. My question is how large are the inside of the case mouths after they come out of the sizing die and before expanding. If the expander is .450 there should be about a .0005 springback, leaving the mouths .4495 or so. A .4515 bullet should not be able to shoved down with thumb pressure. I am questioning if the expander is doing any expanding at all.

    Also how old (times fired) is the brass. Brass as it gets older and need annealing often does this kind of stuff.

    BTW....My old Lyman expander is .452 and I shoot .452 bullets and all is good.
    Disclaimer: The above is not holy writ. It is just my opinion based on my experience and knowledge. Your mileage may vary.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,837
    RCBS .450" Dillon .449"

  7. #7
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,367
    I measured the brass as it came out of the sizer and it is .469 outside and .470 outside with a .4515 boolit seated in it. The brass has 2 firings on it. 45 AR brass is pretty scarce right now or I would try some new stuff.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  8. #8
    Moderator



    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Oregon Coast
    Posts
    10,248
    That's not a lot of neck tension, so it's no wonder they slip in. I size all my .45 bullets to .452", which gives good neck tension in .45 acp, .45 AR and .45 Colt.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn't do it. - William S. Burroughs.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    DHDeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    636
    Sounds to me like the sizer is a little large.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,367
    I am starting to believe that the sizer is indeed too large. It wouldn’t be the first time an older Lyman sizer was too large. My 358 Norma Lyman sizer doesn’t size the neck with enough tension either. I have to use a 350 Rem die (RCBS) to get a snug fit in the neck.
    Last edited by murf205; 11-10-2021 at 07:35 AM.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  11. #11
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,367
    Well, $32 worth of new Lee dies fixed that problem. BTW, Midwayusa got it here in 3 days.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check