Would switching dies help?

COREY

COREY

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Hello gents,

I ahve been monkeying around with my new Hornady LnL AP press with Lee dies that I already had for my 9mm Luger. Here is what I have tried and what has happened:

1) Lee resizing die, Hornady powder measure with powder through expander, powder cop die, Lee seating die, Lee factory crimp die. I get a very inconsistant crimp with Winchester brass; I tried Federal and it did not get much better. I ahve also tried Frontier and CamPro bullets in .356" the case mouth does not reall open up enough to seat them easily in the case, so I have been holding them as I seat them (same issue with the old Lee Pro 1000).

2) Lee resizing die, Hornady powder measure with powder through expander, powder cop die, RCBS seating dies, Lee seating die used as the crimp die (thought somethign was wrong with the FC die). Same issue with the bullets and bras used above.

3) Lee resizing die, Lee case mouth expander Hornady powder measure with powder through expander (adjusted out so that it does no expand the case), powder cop die, Lee seating die used to seat and crimp in the same stage. Same issue with the bullets and bras used above.

There are only two thing I can think to try, one is to use Remington brass as a last ditch effort (told bras can make a difference), or switch to Hornady dies.

Does anyone have any ideas whether these options will work, or if there is something else I can do?

Thanks,

Corey
 
So your problem is inconsistent crimp? As in some loose, some tight?

Sounds like something in the press is causing inconsistent crimp pressure. I'm not familiar with your press, so I can't say what the problem is. I use Lee presses with Lee dies and powder measures with no problems....
 
You said that you can't get the cases to expand enough with the PTX expander.
This leads me to believe that there lies your first problem.
Do you have the little expander bar that fits over the powder measure return spring? That bar is what controls how much expansion you get on your case mouth.

I'm using Lee 9mm dies in my Hornady LnL AP Progressive press with no issues.

I'm using the Hornady bullet feeder die in station #4 so I can't use the Lee FCD in station #5

The week before last I loaded nearly 2000 9mm in every case imaginable then switched over and loaded 1500 .45ACP.

I'll be working late tonight but if I have time I'll post a pic of how much I can flare the casen mouths.
 
I would agree with thump rrr ...

When I first set up the PTX I couldn't get it to work at all, then after re-reading instructions and looking on the net, I put that bar in. A bit of work to get it set up, but works no issues now. There is no holding the bullet required as it sits nicely in the flared case. Maybe 1 of 200 will not expand enough for me. After getting that setting adjusted, that should solve the problems you've described.

Not sure why it would be a function of the brand of brass you are using. That could be part of it for some reason but doesn't sound right.
 
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