Anouther reloading problem

[will52100]

Well, got my new shell holder intoday, went to try it out and tried to bell a case.  pulled up gently on the press and the dang expander plug came out stuck in the case.  It was easy enough to remove, but "you've got to be kidding me!!!"  This is the first time I've ever had a problem with Lee dies.  Aparently the die body shoulder is cut a couple thou. to much and lets the expander plug slip past.  I miked the expander plug and it's pretty much the same as any I've got.  I may trie welding a bead around the shoulder and turning the expander in my lathe so it's just a bit wider.  I looked in the die body and the shoulder that suports the expander plug is almost non exsistant.

Anybody ever have this happen before?

[larryo_1]

If you are trying to make 45-75 cases, it seems to me you are going to alot of extra work.  I have and still do fire-form my cases using about 16 grains of Bullseye or if not handy about 20 grains of Tite-group and fill the case with corn-meal top it off with a plug of beeswax and shot it out the door.  With new 348 brass I first trim off about a quarter of an inch and then go through the routine.  I tried to do what you are trying to do and did have much the same problems. After I started fire-forming I had no problems.  The fire-formed cases are not the same shape as the original 45-75 brass-rather they are what the chambers are.  I only neck size to save wear and tear on the brass.  I did send two fire-formed cases to RCBS and they made a Trim and File die to match those fire-formed cases.  Since then I have had no problems.

Hope this is of some help for you.

[will52100]

Even fire formed needs the case mouth belled just a bit.  The expansion plug can be pulled out through the mouth of the die.  I can take the top off and use a pencil to shove it through.

[larryo_1]

Oooops!  Guess I misunderstood your problem.  With that lathe you should be able to take care of that problem.  I got both Lee and RCBS dies and have had no problem such as you are experiencing.  You might even consider getting hold of Lee and telling them the situation.  I got a hunch that they will take care of it for you.  As for belling the case mouths, I just barely touch the case mouth--just enough to set the bullet in and then let the seating die do the rest.  When I got started in all this with the 45-75, I got carried away and got RCBS dies-OUCH! Then went to Lee and besides the price they work pretty good.  I do like that RCBS Trim Die that I had them make for me tho.  Once fired, the cases are not like the originals but as I found out, they do hold a tad bit more powder and seem to last longer too.  I also aneal them once about every 5-10 shots or so.

[will52100]

Got it sorted out.  I went and turned a new plug that was about 5 thou. bigger.  Worked great.  I'm not a machinest, got a 3 in 1 Smithy for working on knives, mainly for a precission drill press for folder work.  Though I am learning!

New expander plug worked perfect, even though I didn't bother to bore a hole to dump powder through the die.  Managed to get 20 rounds loaded up and ready to test out in a couple days.

Next question is what is a trim die?  How do you use it? 

Thanks

[larryo_1]

Glad things worked out for you.  Now, a Trim Die is a die that is made so that when it bottoms up on the shell holder, it is the correct overall length of the cartridge.  That part of the case that protrudes out of the top of this die is then filed off and you have a case that is the correct overall length.  The RCBS die that I have also forms the case  to its proper dimensions.  So, in my case, what  I did was send RCBS two of my fired cases and they machined my die so that it lets me trim the length and also sizes the case at the same time--sort of a glorified FL die.  So now, all I do is neck size the case and slightly bell the case mouth.  As far as annealing goes, I usually do that about every 5th to 10 round to keep the case mouths from hardening and splitting as they are so darn spendy anymore.  As far as the Trim die is concerned, I am preferential to RCBS but I think that there are other outfits that make them but they may be made to emulate a factory unfired case in which case the cartridge would be formed back to factory specs and you would loose that little extra case capacity gained from using fire-formed cases.

[will52100]

OK, that makes sence, may have to get one.  I personaly like the lee pillot case trimmer, but they don't make one for 44 colt, and I dought they make one for 45-75.

Thanks, Will

[Hobie]

Those are also called "form and trim" dies because that is what they do.  E.g. you could take .50-90 Sharps brass, run it into the die, saw off the excess, file it smooth (the die is hardened to resist the cutting of the file) and then remove the case now a .45-75 except for the rim diameter.  That is the quickest way to form a case.  Neat as can be. 

[will52100]

Cool, if starline doesn't come out with 45-75 brass before too long I'll definatly have to get one.