Wrong Die Set & other noob questions...

[aridan]

Well, I finally took inventory of the stuff I received, and realized that I ordered a wrong Hornady New Dimension die set from Graf&Sons. I got a 9X18 Makarov instead of 9X21 Luger - since they are listed on the same page for 9mm 3-die sets, I must've had a brain f*rt and ordered 546512 instead of 546515.
- Sorry, I took out the BS question I had, since Makarov is .364 and Luger is .355... I'll just exchange the set...

2nd question: since I have a RCBS Lock-out die, I think I'm running out of free stations on my Hornady LnL AP:
1. Resizing die.
2. Expanding die.
3. Powder measure.
4. RCBS Lock-out.
5. Seating die.
OOOPS...
6. Lee factory crimp die.

Obviously, I am one station short. Should I invest in PTX (powder through expander) to get rid of the expander die & keep my sanity??? The potential problem with that would be having to re-adjust the expander for every caliber, instead of having a calibrated expander die for each.

 

[sunray]

"...can I use the 9X18 set?..." Not for 9mm Luger/Parabellum. The Makarov is a wee bit smaller in all dimensions. The case mouth diameter is 10 thou bigger though. Luger's case taper is quite a bit more as well.
http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm
I'd almost bet that you'd be able to sell or trade the 9X18 set without too much trouble. Mind you, having the dies is a dandy reason to buy a Makarov.

 

[aridan]

I sent it back. Just getting into reloading, I think I'll have my hands full with .45ACP & 9mm Luger just trying to learn the trade. Makarov would be a distraction at this point...

Could someone with positive PTX experience please comment on the 2nd question? Should I look into PTX (I saw some negative comments) or do something else instead? Not sure what this 'something else' should be. TIA.

 

[SandRoad]

What press are you using?

Lee and Dillon have been using the PTX for years and their die sets are designed and set up to use a PTX so no fooling around. In fact Lee had the patent on it and Dillon licensed it from Lee. Best way to go because it makes it very difficult to double charge a case.

 

[corney]

I have the powder thru expanders that Hornady has for the powder measure. I prefer the separate die because it puts a fair bit of pressure on the linkage on the measure to get it to expand. This is on the LNL AP.

I had the RCBS powder lockout but found the Hornady measure quite accurate and its hard to put a double load in so I ditched it. I said hard but not impossible. Its easier to forget to fill the measure with powder and get squibs!

 

[aridan]

What press are you using?

Lee and Dillon have been using the PTX for years and their die sets are designed and set up to use a PTX so no fooling around. In fact Lee had the patent on it and Dillon licensed it from Lee. Best way to go because it makes it very difficult to double charge a case.

I am using Hornady LnL AP, with Hornady Titanium 3-die set for resizing, expanding & seating - plus RCBS lock-out (like Powder cop I guess) and Lee factory crimp die. RCBS lock-out will catch the no-charge, but I don't know about double charging.

 

[aridan]

I have the powder thru expanders that Hornady has for the powder measure. I prefer the separate die because it puts a fair bit of pressure on the linkage on the measure to get it to expand. This is on the LNL AP.

I had the RCBS powder lockout but found the Hornady measure quite accurate and its hard to put a double load in so I ditched it. I said hard but not impossible. Its easier to forget to fill the measure with powder and get squibs!

Me too, I'd like a separate expander die if I can help it - but I don't want to chuck the lockout die because of potential squib loads...

 

[SandRoad]

I have the powder thru expanders that Hornady has for the powder measure. I prefer the separate die because it puts a fair bit of pressure on the linkage on the measure to get it to expand. This is on the LNL AP.

There shouldn't be any excess pressure on the linkage.

In all powder through expander dies, the top of the expander bears against the powder drop tube (or bottom of the powder measure, depending on setup) and not on the powder measure linkage.

That means the only force on the powder measure linkage should only be enough to work the measure. It could also mean that your linkage wasn't adjusted quite right and excess pressure was being transfered to the linkage, when it that should have been transfered to the die.

 

[corney]

That may very well be the case Sandroad. I will look at that closer. I did fiddle with that some time back.

When I get things rolling and working well with a progressive I just don't mess with it.

Think I'll pound out another 1000 rounds of 38's and see what I can do with the next caliber.

 

[corney]

I am using Hornady LnL AP, with Hornady Titanium 3-die set for resizing, expanding & seating - plus RCBS lock-out (like Powder cop I guess) and Lee factory crimp die. RCBS lock-out will catch the no-charge, but I don't know about double charging.

At which station does your powder go in?

sizing
expanding
seating
powder lock out
crimp die
5

 

[aridan]

At which station does your powder go in?

sizing
expanding
seating
powder lock out
crimp die
5

Not exactly:

1. Sizing
2. Expanding
3. Powder measure
4. RCBS Lock-out
5. Seating
6. Lee factory crimp die

I mean I haven't done it yet, but I assume it will be station 3... I could combine 2 & 3 if using PTX and then I'm down to 5 stations, but I'm concerned that PTX will give me more grief than a dedicated expander die. I'm a noob - I need to keep it simple.

 

[corney]

I SUPPORT POLYGUNY!
Love them all and have them often.

More than one at a time will make you old fast!

I'm going to check out Sandroads idea but I sure like the expander instead of the powder lock.

Its the same powder thru system I used in my Lee 1000 for alot of rounds and that was half the press the LNL is.