ordered Expanding Die how to?

Potashminer has a great idea for improving the tool, I think I may try that. HOWEVER…. I’ve used mine for many years and “flared” thousands of cases for cast bullets to complete satisfaction. I just flare enough to allow the base to BARELY start so it doesn’t shave any lead. Also, I’ve never had to crimp. Actually, I’ve fired tens of thousands of cast bullets and NEVER crimped.
 
Rick said:
oldrodder said:
To my mind, the LEE Universal Expanding Die is mis-named. It is a "belling die". It does not expand the neck to a given ID the way that other expanding dies do. It only bells the mouth of the case. Having said that, it can be a versatile piece of kit, when you combine it with parts from N.O.E. They make true expanding plugs that replace the belling plug, that will expand the neck to a given ID and put a bell on the mouth of the case./QUOTE]

That man right there. Exactly so.

Probably falling on some deaf ears, however, while useful to others.
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haha you have your nose out of joint ay- cheerio fella
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big boar said:
Potashminer has a great idea for improving the tool, I think I may try that. HOWEVER…. I’ve used mine for many years and “flared” thousands of cases for cast bullets to complete satisfaction. I just flare enough to allow the base to BARELY start so it doesn’t shave any lead. Also, I’ve never had to crimp. Actually, I’ve fired tens of thousands of cast bullets and NEVER crimped.
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Thanking Nelson for his input- an also thanks for your info above-
 
Potashminer said:
The Lee Expander die that I have, came with two inserts - for two ranges of inside neck diameters. They do nothing inside the case neck - certainly do not "round it out". But they do create a flare at the very front end - so, if you have a good fit bullet seating die - that one bends that flair back to straight as the bullet slides home. But, on mine, the Lee Expander die only touches the very inside of the front rim - does not go down inside like a Lyman M-die. So if you have squashed, dented or otherwise out-of-round necks, need to run them through a sizing die - even with that sizing die's expander ball turned way out - do not need to resize the outside of case neck - the expander ball forced through from front will make the inside of that neck "round". The Expander die then creates a flair. And yes, sort of trial and error to get it set just right - and need your brass pretty much exactly the same length to get consistent flairs.

The one that I got came with instruction sheet - I just did what it said to do - seems to work to create a flair. With more experience at it, I preferred the Lyman M Die, since it creates a nice "seat" to hold the bullet before pushing it down. Then used my lathe to turn an insert for my Lee Expander Die - sort of made my own M-die, except it goes into a Lee Expander body - amazed even myself that I could do that!!!
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ha ha You're a good man and a cluey fella.
i cant go to that extent, but nice to know the manual/sheet has basic enough steps to set it up- ill then see how i go from there an if any Questions i will email you direct Potash..... upsetting a few Blokes here with my 21 questions-

appreciate it
 
WhelanLad said:
ha ha You're a good man and a cluey fella.
i cant go to that extent, but nice to know the manual/sheet has basic enough steps to set it up- ill then see how i go from there an if any Questions i will email you direct Potash..... upsetting a few Blokes here with my 21 questions-

appreciate it
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Iffen they aint flapping their hands like mad you aint asking the question right ;).
Before I sold the set up I had I was watching this guy.
Good Luck and Tight Groups.
Rob
 
FLTCHI that is Awesome thank You!!

brighter note- for the Cast in the 375win, my Redding die set has an Expander! so thats neat- ive not used it before but its time... i also have a Crimp die for that.

watchin the Video now!!



yeh herom, my first reply back at you was a cheeky one in gest regarding the knowledge of the regulars on this particular CGN..
cheers jethunter!

thanks-WL

Edit- FLTCHI that explains all i needed! Cheers fella!!
 
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Hey, WL - for us old guys - gotta watch the words - in this case "expander" versus "flair". I notice that the expander on the RCBS 458 Win Mag sizing die, and the various .44 cal pistol dies, all seem to have a flaring stage to the expander, if it is allowed to go in far enough, and a Lyman set for the 41 Magnum has an actual "M" die included. Seems to be a "theme" in the straight walled cases. I managed a trade a year or two ago - traded off a .30 Lyman M die (that i didn't use) for a .31 Lyman M die - to use on 303 British cast bullets. Also have the Lee "Factory Crimp Die" for the 303 British, to "finish then off", if I think they need it.

Now that I "tripped over" how to make a wannabe "M" die insert for that Lee Case Neck flaring tool,I will likely be making my own as I want them - only takes bolts - got lots of them - usually two or three (or four or five) tries before I get one to size. I have time...
 
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Potashminer said:
Hey, WL - for us old guys - gotta watch the words - in this case "expander" versus "flair". I notice that the expander on the RCBS 458 Win Mag sizing die, and the various .44 cal pistol dies, all seem to have a flaring stage to the expander, if it is allowed to go in far enough, and a Lyman set for the 41 Magnum has an actual "M" die included. Seems to be a "theme" in the straight walled cases. I managed a trade a year or two ago - traded off a .30 Lyman M die (that i didn't use) for a .31 Lyman M die - to use on 303 British cast bullets. Also have the Lee "Factory Crimp Die" for the 303 British, to "finish then off", if I think they need it.

Now that I "tripped over" how to make a wannabe "M" die insert for that Lee Case Neck flaring tool,I will likely be making my own as I want them - only takes bolts - got lots of them - usually two or three (or four or five) tries before I get one to size. I have time...
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Another way to do that is to buy the NOE expander plugs that fit on the Lee Universal Flaring Tool. Quite a good price and a selection of sizes for jacketed and cast bullets: Expanders | NOE Bullet Moulds (noebulletmolds.com)
 
To quote an old tradesman from Austria that I apprenticed under - and he did interesting things to the English language "Jimmie Cripes!!!" You mean I can just buy the thing that I want, instead of making it - what is the fun it that???
 
Potashminer said:
To quote an old tradesman from Austria that I apprenticed under - and he did interesting things to the English language "Jimmie Cripes!!!" You mean I can just buy the thing that I want, instead of making it - what is the fun it that???
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I agree with the sentiment but reality is I find it hard to find the time and I can buy off-the-shelf cheaper than I can make them.
 
flaired my first necks slightly to around .314 an slid a few cast boolits in this evening.

change of powder , so see what goes on with leading, as it appears no coating has been skun off!

Thanks for all the help here- i got sorted :)

see how they shoot, no breath holding please
 
WhelanLad said:
FLTCHI that is Awesome thank You!!

brighter note- for the Cast in the 375win, my Redding die set has an Expander! so thats neat- ive not used it before but its time... i also have a Crimp die for that.

watchin the Video now!!



yeh herom, my first reply back at you was a cheeky one in gest regarding the knowledge of the regulars on this particular CGN..
cheers jethunter!

thanks-WL

Edit- FLTCHI that explains all i needed! Cheers fella!!
Click to expand...

Looking forward to reading your reports with pictures too of course.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
On the subject of making the LEE Universal Expander Die more useful, I mentioned in a previous post that N.O.E. made tooling for this die. Track of the Wolf make both compression plugs and expanding plugs for the popular BP calibers. $3.95 for either one! I waste more material that that trying to make this stuff......and I like making my own kit!!!
 
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