.45 ACP Reloading Help Req'd

[yardie]

Very new to reloading for handgun, in fact you could say this is my first kick at the cat.

Using:
- Winchester cases
- Unsized boolit dropped at .450 245gr FB
- Lee Deluxe Pistol Die Set for 45 ACP & 45 Auto Rim

As you can see from the pics I`m not having much luck...

Yes, I`m using the powder through expanding die but it seems it`s not enough of a `bell`on the lip of the casing as it's still shaving.

You can also see the noticeable 'bump' in the case where the base of the boolit sits.

Do I need to make the 'bell' more pronounced?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Cheers!

 

[dakotamar]

does the bullet sit in the bell and drop in a bit? looks like your crimp is shaving off the lead from the bullet down to the brass.

I am just starting out too. using 230Gr copper clad bullets. my bullet will just sit in the flared brass and get pushed down by the seating die and then gets a crimp.

 

[ben hunchak]

Could be either not enough bell or your die is not set up right and is crimping before the proper seating depth is reached, I don't understand why your dies are roll crimping, at least that is what it looks like. The .45 Auto should only get a "tapered crimp"...IMHO

 

[yardie]

Sits shallow in the bell/flare.

Thinking I don't have my die set up right as Ben posed...

*back to cursing*

EDIT: Ben is correct...die wasn't set properly...thanks Ben!

...derp.

2nd Edit: All good! Thanks again Ben and thanks dakotamar!

 

[zuke]

LEE include's a set of instruction's with nearly every set of die's they sell.

 

[dakotamar]

LEE include's a set of instruction's with nearly every set of die's they sell.

Yea, and I always refer to youtube, because lee's instructions are pretty vague.

[youtube]OPtdEFS2CAo[/youtube]

 

[thump_rrr]

For lead boolits I generally don't bell the cases but I chamfer them heavily.
It works well for me but YMMV.

 

[yardie]

Yup...after I realised I was on a 'break away without the puck' and corrected my tardation, it was smooth sailing!

 

[OneBarfly]

Bell bigtime and taper crimp big time = no worries with the .45

 

[nada]

bell just enough to start the bullet without shaving [ max .020], taper crimp as a seperate op for best results [ .004, .468+/-] unless you trim all your brass & use matched headstamps. .450 is a little small for most 45acp, you will likely get better acc @ .452. happy crunching

 

[sunray]

"...I chamfer them heavily..." Doesn't do squat for a pistol case. Chamferring is for bottle necked rifle cases.