--Solved-- Loadmaster powder-thru expanding die seems misaligned for 9mm

[mactroneng]

Forward: I am relatively new to this and I know the Lee Loadmaster is known for having issues, but it's been working great for me up until now (even now it works, it's just really annoying with the following problem).

So I've been loading 357 magnums and 500 magnums on the Loadmaster without issue and last night I started into 9mm as I acquired a new handgun.

Got the new turret and all the dies set up (after a frustrating bout of trying to figure out why the powder thrower wasn't working - apparently 9mm cases are a lot shorter than I'm used to and I didn't have the die screwed in far enough) and everything is working flawlessly except the cases hit the powder-thru expanding die almost every time and I have to stick my finger in there to get the alignment right. Never encountered this with my other calibres, nor do I have any issues with the 9mm cases aligning with any other dies nor the priming system (no flipped/bad primers inserted so far).

So far I've considered removing all the dies from the turret and rotating the hole I'm having problems with over the priming station, figuring that maybe the hole placement in the turret is slightly off.

I've checked the die and the chamfer looks comparable to my 357 and 500 dies, but I don't have another 9mm die to compare to.

EDIT: Upon closer inspection the chamfer on the 9mm die actually looks much less than the 357 or 500...if anyone else has these and could post a picture I'd appreciate it.

Any discussion on possibilities of what's going on and suggestions for solutions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

EDIT: After a visual comparison with another 9mm powder-thru expanding die, I'm reasonably certain it is an issue with the way the die body was machined and sending a side-by-side comparison photo to Lee, they have agreed to send me a new die body free of charge.

EDIT 2: New die body arrived a couple days ago (after being dropped off at the neighbours two doors down, thanks Canada Post!). It has a much bigger chamfer than the original one I got has and it appears to work much better after having put a single piece of brass up and down a few times, but I will know for sure in a couple weeks when I go to load up 3-400 rounds.

FINAL EDIT: Works flawlessly!

 

[VinnyQC]

There are small nickel things all around the shellplate to keep the case well within the shellplate (the part# is LM3246, there's 4 of them, look them up on Lee's website if you don't know which part I mean).

The retainers come set correctly for the cartridge you bought with the press. If you use a cartridge with a larger head, the retainers will expand with the cartridge when it cycles through in order to accommodate that cartridge. When you get back to a smaller head, then it'll be sloppy, and the brass will move within the shellplate. So probably yours is expanded for 357/500, and the smaller 9mm isn't in place so well. The retainer is probably a bit more loose at the powder station than the others, and that's why you have more problem at that station. Just loosen the screw a bit, push the retainer a bit further in (while there's no brass at that station), tighten the screw (not too much, just enough to give it some tension), then run the press. It might just be that.

 

[mactroneng]

I thought I tried that but I'll give it another shot. I know some of the retainers were loose and I tightened them but can't remember for that one in particular

 

[VinnyQC]

I thought I tried that but I'll give it another shot. I know some of the retainers were loose and I tightened them but can't remember for that one in particular

Youi have to push them in a bit before tightening.

 

[mactroneng]

Yep, I know.

Tried tightening it last night and it actually seems like the retainer pushes the case too far in. Also tried rotating all the dies around in the turret in case it was that particular turret hole.

Did some research and I guess the alignment issues on the 19S shell plate for 9mm are well known... just it's usually primer not powder-thru expanding.

 

[VinnyQC]

Yep, I know.

Tried tightening it last night and it actually seems like the retainer pushes the case too far in. Also tried rotating all the dies around in the turret in case it was that particular turret hole.

Did some research and I guess the alignment issues on the 19S shell plate for 9mm are well known... just it's usually primer not powder-thru expanding.

Possible. I made a ton of 9mm with my loadmaster before I bought the Hornady. However I've always hand-primed, so I've never used either priming system.

It's still weird though, it means the powder-through requires tighter tolerances than the other dies.

 

[mactroneng]

It's still weird though, it means the powder-through requires tighter tolerances than the other dies.

I agree. I think the sizing die is a little looser because it is meant to have expanded brass go into it and the seating die has a large chamfer on it so it works with the Lee bullet feeding system properly. I'm not sure about the FCD die but by that point in the process it'd have the round/slope of the bullet to push the case into position if it were out a bit, so you wouldn't need much chamfer to get past the rim of the case, even being flared a bit still.

I'm kinda tempted to try taking that powder-thru die to a lathe and increase the chamfer a bit. Or maybe I'll contact Lee support first.

 

[BigRobb]

I thought I remembered seeing a video about this. Something about the same shell plate used for .40 as well. It’s a bit sloppy on 9mm. I run 9mm through mine without issue. Could just be an alignment issue? (Rotational) Maybe you’re running everything a bit too tight? (Centre nut and plated shell retainers) Just the way you pull the handle on a loadmaster can make a difference. Too slow and you don’t have centrifugal force helping align the brass.
In the video, I believe they stuffed the shell holder with something. I never had to go that route. I’ve reloaded a 1000 9mm in one sitting without a single flipped primer and minimal adjustment.

 

[mactroneng]

I've also read about the #19S shell plate also being made for 40 S&W and as a result being a bit sloppy for 9mm. Part of it may be just getting the lever pull "just right", although I don't feel like I'm doing anything different than what I do for 357 mag or 500 mag. I will try checking the center nut again, wipe off the shell plate and re-apply some lube.

In the meantime I've contact Lee's support so we'll see what they come back with. And since tonight is bullseye night at my club, I've asked a fellow club member to bring his 9mm powder-thru expander die so I can do a visual comparison.

I don't really want to try any shell plate modifications yet as I don't want to throw it out of whack with the stations that do work properly. Ans Surprisingly, given the amount the internet has complained about flipping primers, that's not an issue I've ever had.