Why buy a compression die?

[wildman1]

I know why they are used but why buy one? If ya have a set of dies fer yer caliber and a sizing die ya don't need ta buy or make anything. Take yer expander die and remove the expander plug, clean and drop in the bullet punch from the sizing die (small end down) into the die and screw the insert that holds the funnel back in. Works like a charm. WM

[Grapeshot]

I know why they are used but why buy one? If ya have a set of dies fer yer caliber and a sizing die ya don't need ta buy or make anything. Take yer expander die and remove the expander plug, clean and drop in the bullet punch from the sizing die (small end down) into the die and screw the insert that holds the funnel back in. Works like a charm. WM

One, I'm lazy and two, it saves deforming the bullet, three the compression is consistant.  I can't envision your scenario.  Unless you change out your expander and put in a compression plug you have tp buy the compression die and several plugs for the different calibers you have.

Since when do sizing dies have bullet punches??  Or do you mean the ram from the bullet sizing die that Lee Makes?

[Wolfgang]

Wildman, . . . what calibers are you loading ?   For pistol calibers the powder can just be compressed by the bullet as it is seated.  If you are loading long range calibers . . . the compresion . . . and putting your powder in with a "drop tube" give greater consitency to the load and improves accuracy.  For information on loading for long range shooting. . . have a visit over to the "Billy Dixon Long Range Shooting Society"

http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?board=8.0

[wildman1]

One, I'm lazy and two, it saves deforming the bullet, three the compression is consistant.  I can't envision your scenario.  Unless you change out your expander and put in a compression plug you have tp buy the compression die and several plugs for the different calibers you have.

Since when do sizing dies have bullet punches??  Or do you mean the ram from the bullet sizing die that Lee Makes?

Scenario is after I load the powder into my 45/70 it is vibrated, a thin hard cardboard wad (cut from a 12 pack coke case) is inserted over the powder. I still need some compression to fit the bullet in (in order to not deform the bullet). I take the insert out of my expander die and drop in the "bullet punch" (quote from Lee's instructions for their bullet lubricating and sizing kit) the "bullet punch" is the same size as a compression plug would be and compresses the powder to what ever depth ya set yer die. It takes no longer to insert the "bullet punch" than it would to change dies. I am using a single stage press and each cartridge is carefully constructed for long range shooting. You have to change dies for every different caliber ya use and I already have sizing dies for every thing that I cast and shoot.

Wildman, . . . what calibers are you loading ?   For pistol calibers the powder can just be compressed by the bullet as it is seated.  If you are loading long range calibers . . . the compresion . . . and putting your powder in with a "drop tube" give greater consitency to the load and improves accuracy.  For information on loading for long range shooting. . . have a visit over to the "Billy Dixon Long Range Shooting Society"

http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?board=8.0

Some people use a drop tube, some people use vibration to get compression. For pistol caliber close range shooting I don't worry about deforming the bullet, I just load it and shoot it. What I'm saying is Ya don't have ta buy a separate die for compression if ya have an expander die and a sizing die, ya have all ya need. WM

[john boy]

I take the insert out of my expander die and drop in the "bullet punch" (quote from Lee's instructions for their bullet lubricating and sizing kit) the "bullet punch" is the same size as a compression plug would be and compresses the powder to what ever depth ya set yer die

When I load any BPCR reload, there are 3 dies in the turret, but the FL die is used only if needed - same with seating die if bullet is not finger seated:
*  The FL resizing die, in case I have to squeeze the neck only back to the SAMMI diameter.  Why? Shooting different sized base diameters ... use a 378 base bullet and the case formally was used for a 380 or 381, need to squeeze the case back to 375 before it goes in the neck expander die with the proper size plug for 0.001 - 0.002 neck tension
*  The expander die with the proper size plug for belling and neck expansion ... used for every reload
*  The bullet seating die to seat the bullet (with no crimp) if the bullet is not finger seated

OK, primed case is powder charged and compression is needed after vibrating the powder.  The expansion die with the expander plug still in the die is adjusted to the proper travel length for the desired powder compression depth.  Then wad the case, seat bullet and done

Why buy a compression die?

I don't for every BPCR caliber that I load up to 50-70 ... just use the expander plug in the expander die that never has to be removed from the die.  The Lee expander die and assortment of different size plugs are what I use.  Some I have to custom diameter size on the lathe

[wildman1]

Don't know about yer expander die JB but mine has a hole in the middle of it fer the powder to drop thru. I can only get one die at a time in my single stage press that I use fer loadin 45/70. WM

[pony express]

I just use the my Lyman "M" expanding die to compress the powder &wad.

[wildman1]

I'm thinkin that the wad I use is so thin that it might bulge into the hole in the expander die. But that is a good idea if yer wad is thick enough.  I posted this because I have read other posts where people have talked about makin their own compression dies and I tried the bullet punch from my sizing die in my expander die body and it worked perfectly. WM

[pony express]

Lyman "M" die doesn't have a hole in the expander plug, and on the .45 cal one, it's mostly flat on the end with just slightly rounded edges. I'm not using a thin wad, but a 3/8 one, to load 45-55-405 loads. I don't think the rounred edge of the expander is a problem with that thick of a wad.

[wildman1]

OK, I'm not familiar with Lyman Dies but the Lee Die also is used ta dump powder thru. At any rate the expander die does a good job of compression of BP. WM

[john boy]

but the Lee Die also is used ta dump powder thru

Only if one uses it as a powder charger.  With the plugs always used in the die for proper neck tension/belling and the Lee Perfect Powder Measure to drop the powder ... it can be used also as a compression die without having to do anything else

[rickk]

Ive got a special purpose compression die for 45 colt... played with it for a few hours... decided it was unnecessary.

[sail32]

I got a 0.430 inch " neck expander plug ", from Track of the Wolf. I use it to compress the black powder and expand the .44-40 case neck so I can finger seat my lead bullets without distorting them. This also sets the overall length and then it's just a matter of crimping.

[w44wcf]

I know why they are used but why buy one? If ya have a set of dies fer yer caliber and a sizing die ya don't need ta buy or make anything. Take yer expander die and remove the expander plug, clean and drop in the bullet punch from the sizing die (small end down) into the die and screw the insert that holds the funnel back in. Works like a charm. WM

Wildman 1,
Great idea if one needs to compress and does not have a compression die.  
I find that the Lyman "M" die does a nice job of compressing as well.

w44wcf

[Pulp]

Or you can take a short piece of 3/8ths dowel, mark it to the depth you want to compress, put in in the case, then raise the ram  back into your expander die.  When the mark lines up with the case neck you're done.

[Springfield Slim]

I assume you are going to fill all the cases at once because you will have to reset the expander die once removed if you want to get the same belling of the case.

[wildman1]