Flaring Casings for Cast Bullets

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Hey guys,

I'm going to be using a friend's Lee Pro 1000 to load up some 9mm using cast bullets. There are three dies in the press, a de-priming and resizing die, what I believe is a powder-through die and a bullet seating die. I've been told that the neck of the casing has to be flared to accept cast bullets properly, does one of these dies perform this function? I have no instructions for the press/dies and I can't find an answer online.

Thanks!
 
The powder-through die should be the one that bells the case mouth. Just run the case up without any powder in the press and keep adjusting the nut until you get the amount of bell that you want.
 
Mercury0_0 said:
The powder-through die should be the one that bells the case mouth. Just run the case up without any powder in the press and keep adjusting the nut until you get the amount of bell that you want.
Click to expand...

Great! Thanks! I've been told that it's hard to tell as only a slight bell is required and the bullet seating die will take the bell out?
 
You should use a pair of calipers to get exactly what you need. You will be able to SEE a difference between a belled and non belled case, but knowing exactly how many thousands of an inch is much better. Not all bullet seating dies take the bell out. Mine doesn't, but I have another die specifically to take out the bell and resize the case a final time.
 
To measure the bell, try sitting a bullet on top of the case. When it starts to enter the case, that is enough.

Then seat the bullet to the correct depth, then back the seating stem out a few turns. Then screw the seating die in a quarter turn at a time and fell for the pressure of the crimping action. Crimp only enough to remove the crimp and a tad more. Then screw the seating stem back down till it hits the bullet. now the dies are set.
 
If your buddy reloads cast boolits, then he should be already set to bell the mouth with the powder-thru die. If he is set for jacketed bullets, then he will have to turn the die in a bit until you guys get the desired expansion.

Mark the die with a fine point sharpie before you start and that will get him close to where he was set for his bullets when you're finished.

There is printed material (pdf's) and videos on Lee's site if he lost the instructions for his press or if you want to read up before you head over to his press.

Yes, the seating die will reform the case to normal.
 
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Yup, it'll shave a teeny tiny bit off the base if you don't bell the case mouth first, but if you're shooting at short range, pistol, for speed, it's certainly not going to prevent A zone hits.

If you shoot bullseye, or are trying to ring the gong at 50 plus yards, bell first.-
 
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