On most presses you have two ways to expand pistol cases....either an expander die, or a PTX (powder-thru expander) The PTX idea came later when people wanted to consolidate more functions on less stations.....mainly to allow crimping to be a separate function..... Lyman created M-dies later too, to create square cavities 1/16" deep so bullets could be dropped straight and true, without the tendency for a bullet to tilt on the otherwise typical flare or bevel.
Lee Universal expander is not made to drop powder through....it just expands necks, coming with several sizes of plugs, but they only flare. Noe company even makes an "M" style plug in any diameter you need for Lee's universal.....which is what I would prefer. But what I don't know is the answer to your question: if Lee makes a powder die where the p.m. can drop powder directly without expanding, or if they have to have a PTX under it. Here's the two products Lee Universal on the Left, NOE plug on the right. (Noe sells both):
Notice the 1/16" ledge on the Noe rather than a angle as on the Lee plugs.
Noe link:
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/prod...ory/expanders/
Awe! Now I know.....Lee does make powder thru dies that don't expand necks....a long one and a short one. Here's a link to the short one:
https://leeprecision.com/short-charging-die.html
Just place the powder measure on top.....
So then in a nut shell:
0: Deprime brass on the APP and wet tumble
1: Size deprimed brass (no priming rod)
2: Expand with the Universal and proper sized Noe plug
and prime (if the universal will work to align the primer pocket)
3: Charge with powder measure over the short or long charging die
4: Seat a bullet
5: Taper crimp.
or
0: On the APP deprime then tumble then prime on a bench or hand primer
1: Size primed brass (depriming rod removed)
2: Expand and Charge with PTX
3: Bullet Feeder
4: Seat
5: Crimp