Expanding 45ACP Redding dies

[Oldschool1]

I've full length sized new Starline brass but expander plug to flare the mouth seems to have more resistance than expected before the flare engsges (no lube on plug).

Should this require a dry lube to be easier on the brass.

I don't recall my RCBS for 44 mag having this much resistance?

Thoughts?

 

[MGYSGT]

no lube, should hear the expander opening up the shell with a little woosh like sound

 

[jerseyjoe]

I use Redding dies for 45 acp, 357 mag and 38 spl.

I polish the the expanders with 600 grit paper to remove the tool marks.

This reduces the size of the expander as much as .001", .depending on the depth of the tool marks, but provides a much smoother and gall free sizing.

Resizing pistol brass is the only time I use Hornady One Shot and is well worth it, not only for expanding/flaring, but for sizing.

I tumble the brass in corn cob before loading.

Eta: I use Starline exclusively for my pistol brass.

 

[seymour fish]

I use Redding dies for 45 acp, 357 mag and 38 spl.

I polish the the expanders with 600 grit paper to remove the tool marks.

This reduces the size of the expander as much as .001", .depending on the depth of the tool marks, but provides a much smoother and gall free sizing.

Resizing pistol brass is the only time I use Hornady One Shot and is well worth it, not only for expanding/flaring, but for sizing.

I tumble the brass in corn cob before loading.

Eta: I use Starline exclusively for my pistol brass.

One of those “M” dies can be useful

 

[Sniper338]

you dont have to flare that much... are you over flaring the case mouth? sounds like the die isnt set up right..

 

[Oldschool1]

you dont have to flare that much... are you over flaring the case mouth? sounds like the die isnt set up right..

Just checked my RCBS and 44 mag resized - I can slide the resized case over the expander mandrel by hand and feel when it positively hits the flaring shoulder - perfect and easy to set up the die in the press.

On the 45 ACP Redding dies - there is not a chance I can push the case over the first part of the expander by hand w/o a press - this is well before contacting the flare shoulder.

The redding mics at 0.448 until about .0.060 prior to the flare ramp and then it steps up to 0.451" for 0.060" then the flare ramp begins.

Does this sound normal - I bought these here used from a feller that said they were in excellent condition.

The RCBS has a very nice fit - just what you would expect while the Redding feel like they are damaging brass.

 

[Sniper338]

Just checked my RCBS and 44 mag resized - I can slide the resized case over the expander mandrel by hand and feel when it positively hits the flaring shoulder - perfect and easy to set up the die in the press.

On the 45 ACP Redding dies - there is not a chance I can push the case over the first part of the expander by hand w/o a press - this is well before contacting the flare shoulder.

The redding mics at 0.448 until about .0.060 prior to the flare ramp and then it steps up to 0.451" for 0.060" then the flare ramp begins.

Does this sound normal - I bought these here used from a feller that said they were in excellent condition.

The RCBS has a very nice fit - just what you would expect while the Redding feel like they are damaging brass.

does the redding flate die have a ball type expander flare like the RCBS do?

if it has that expander ball flare it should not to up over it. the die shoulde be set and the expander high enough in the die that the case mouth just touches that expander ball enough to flare it, no more..

that expander ball shouldnt go all the way into the case..

 

[cw308]

The RCBS expander is a post , the ball is on rifle dies. I would stick with the RCBS die. RCBS is the only dies I use , except the Redding competition seating die for 308 reloads.

 

[Iowa Fox]

I'd chuck it in a drill and polish it with flitz, lots of polish gotta feel the heet in your fingers. Then I'd give it a couple coats of wax like the Lee sizing, let dry and buff it out. Anything with grit won't give the mirror surface you need. Its real common for a new expander to do that, Dillon, Redding, Lyman, ect. The ploish just helps break them in quicker.

 

[243winxb]

From Starline website FAQ.

 

[Oldschool1]

I polished the expander - it is about .0007 less diameter now and with a micrometer I get .4493" diameter ( previously with a cheap Chinese dial caliper I stated it was .448 - which I believe to be a inaccurate measurement - calipers).

So even still with the polished and waxed plug there is still considerable rssistance. The base diameter of the expander plug before it gets to the flare geometry has to stretch the case about 0.004" before it gets tonthe flare geometry.

 

[243winxb]

Could the fl die be sizing to much? Measure a sized case outside diameter before expanding. Compare to a loaded round.

I have noticed 45 acp brass will spring back to almost the fl sized OD after using the expander.

 

[Oldschool1]

Could the fl die be sizing to much? Measure a sized case outside diameter before expanding. Compare to a loaded round.

I have noticed 45 acp brass will spring back to almost the fl sized OD after using the expander.

Perhaps it is, and that is one of my suspicions. The case wall of starlines comes out right at 0.010" according to my calipers. The O.D. of the sized case is .4455" so that's about a 0.004" stretch just to get to the flare geometry.

As polished as i can make the madrell - it still leaves brass tracks on the plug mandrel.

Personally i think it may be that Redding (or others) make the die dimensions to work for all the variations out there of bullet diamter, case thickeness, and there sizing die / springback tolerance.

At very minimum i believe this over works the brass. Perhaps Star line is on the thickers side of wall dimensions.

I did measure a RCBS 45ACP and it was 0.4493" so exact compared to Redding dimensions.

I have an email out to Redding to see their take on it? Probably won't hear till Monday at best.

thx

 

[divingin]

Perhaps Star line is on the thickers side of wall dimensions.

Haven't bothered to measure anything, but I know from experience that Starline's 32SWL brass is a tad thicker than R-P 32SWL brass. Wouldn't surprise me if 45ACP is as well.

 

[Linko]

Polish the expander, my Dillon die is tight also with starlight.

Here is the explanation from the starlight website :

There are two situations that create this problem. The first is one we have just recently identified. It seems to be associated with the dillon powder funnel and only a couple of calibers (45 Auto and 40 S&W). The land for expanding case mouth is too long and when you begin to bell mouth the bottom of expander gets into the thicker taper of case and wedges causing it to be very hard to get back out. We have modified several by increasing radius on end and slightly shortening expanding land and this eliminated the problem completely. Call Starline and we will take care of it if you wish. One other cause can be a burr at case mouth created by the final trim operation, which grabs onto expander as it comes back up. This situation does not often appear and can be fixed by deburring case mouth or inside lubing cases.