I have a Lyman .45 ACP, TC 4 die set and I pulled the ball out of the expander die. I was having trouble with this die, it didn't seem to be opening the case mouth enough and was very hard to operate. I miked the ball and it was only .450", it seems to me that it should be bigger about .452 to be able to start the bullet into the case mouth without shaving lead. What is the correct diameter of the expander ball and what is the correct ID of the case mouth of the .45 ACP after expanding. I am using a very good set of Brown and Sharp dial calipers for the measurement and I am getting .452" for my LSWC 185 gr cast bullets.

Also, with TC dies do I need to lube the brass, my instructions say not to?

bentrod

I have a Lyman .45 ACP, TC 4 die set and I pulled the ball out of the expander die. I was having trouble with this die, it didn't seem to be opening the case mouth enough and was very hard to operate. I miked the ball and it was only .450", it seems to me that it should be bigger about .452 to be able to start the bullet into the case mouth without shaving lead. What is the correct diameter of the expander ball and what is the correct ID of the case mouth of the .45 ACP after expanding. I am using a very good set of Brown and Sharp dial calipers for the measurement and I am getting .452" for my LSWC 185 gr cast bullets.

Also, with TC dies do I need to lube the brass, my instructions say not to?

bentrod If they're carbide you don't have to but if they aren't you have to.

Luman expander balls should have three steps. For a .45 ACP, the first about .450", the next at .454" and the last .500". You need a tight grip on the bullet to stop setback when it hits the feed ramp. The narrow .454" step lets you start the bullet straight and the widest part is usually not needed. I think you aren't getting the expander in deep enough.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/images/neckexpa.jpg

While you don't need case lube, a whiff of Hornady One-Shot makes it easier on the handle.

Bye
Jack

Luman expander balls should have three steps. For a .45 ACP, the first about .450", the next at .454" and the last .500". You need a tight grip on the bullet to stop setback when it hits the feed ramp. The narrow .454" step lets you start the bullet straight and the widest part is usually not needed. I think you aren't getting the expander in deep enough.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/images/neckexpa.jpg

While you don't need case lube, a whiff of Hornady One-Shot makes it easier on the handle.

Bye
Jack

You are right, I was not getting deep enough because the cases were sticking as it was. I ordered an RCBS die and I will lube the case mouth more this time. I used a little Imperial powder last time, but not enough. Maybe the Star brass was too thick.

You have, along with Redding's copy of it, the BEST expander die for lead bullets available. Just push it in and withdraw it. A little lube inside the case mouth may help but it isn't neccessary.

The sizer die has a TC ring, the expander does not.

and you donot want the expander any bigger than it is neck tension is extremely important
for a good powder burn

. . . Also, with TC dies do I need to lube the brass, my instructions say not to? bentrod
TC dies do not need lubed cases but in spite of that, a tiny bit of case lube makes the press handle move a lot easier. I put a dab of case lube on the tip of four fingers, smear it a bit, then stir it through the empty cases just before sizing. That's all you need.

That expander you already have is actually the best, as Ranger said. The reason is that it does a better job of shaping the case mouth to keep the bullet started straight into the case than a standard flaring expander does. If you feel the effort is too great (and I have felt withdrawal stick a bit on these dies), you can polish it with a felt bob on a Dremel tool and some Dico Stainless Steel grade buffing compound (not that your die is stainless, but just that this stuff works really well on hardened die steel, too). It can further be treated with MolyFusion (http://www.shooterssolutions.com/mfdiykits.html) to give it a permanent lube layer. That will make the cases go on and off as if the expander were waxed, though it won't come off on the case at all.

I called Lyman and I will be sending the expander die and one of my cases back to them. In the mean time my RCBS expander die arrived and I fumbled around and loaded a box. I set the expander too deep and in order to get a smooth crimp I may have crimped too much, I am getting about .460" on the case just below the bullet. Are these rounds safe to shoot with increased pressure and poor headspacing? Also, using 185 gr LSWC I have a COL of 1.260" I am having some FTF problems in my gun, the last round in my mag doesn't want to feed. Should I shorten my COL?

Jim