What am I doing wrong?

Prof Young · November 13, 2017, 11:39 AM

Okay, so I'm using a Lee Turret Press, Lee Dies and a Lee Auto Powder Drum to reload 9mm. Occasionally, say 2 or 3 percent, on the expand and charge stroke, the case gets stuck in the die so tight that I have to use a lot of force to dislodge it usually jarring the case out of the holder and, of course, spilling the powder out of the shell. I backed the die out a little to no avail. Have not run into this before with these same tools and caliber. What did I do wrong?

Life is good.
Prof Young

ZuluWarrior · November 13, 2017, 12:04 PM

Are you using enough lube?

I've switched over to One Shot spray lube and have found that I have to be pretty judicious in it's application or I will get stuck cases.

Just a thought...

Todd

Chainsaw. · November 13, 2017, 12:21 PM

Also are the cases that are gettimg stuck the type that have a step on the inside? Something to watch for.

jdc606 · November 13, 2017, 01:18 PM

I've used the same Lee products to reload many thousands of 9mm rounds with zero issues. No lube is required during the case belling/powder charging stage. In fact, no lube was ever required even while using the carbide sizing die. I did use a bit of NuCar polish in the tumbling media and maybe that was all the slick required.
Anyway... as to your issue. It sounds like a cartridge brand specific issue. Have you noticed if the problem occurs with only a certain manufacturer's brass?

T. O'Heir · November 13, 2017, 02:33 PM

Cases getting stuck in the sizer die are usually caused by insufficient lube on the case. It should not happen with carbide dies though.
Like jdc606 says, there shouldn't be any need for lube in the expander/charger die. The case shouldn't be touching the sides of the die. You sure it's the right die?
Shouldn't be any need for car polish in the tumbler either.

David R · November 13, 2017, 02:43 PM

Are your cases clean?

David

reddog81 · November 13, 2017, 02:52 PM

I have bought old RCBS die sets or Lyman M expander dies to replace the Lee sizing and expander dies for a lot of the calibers I load - 9mm, 10mm, 38/357, 45 ACP and probably others. The floating expander die would cause similar problems for me. Thankfully I'm not using a press that requires the powder through expander setup.

BBarn · November 13, 2017, 03:05 PM

My guess is that the troublesome cases are a bit long and/or thick and are worked more by the expander. As a result the expander has a tighter grip when you extract the case.

hounddawg · November 13, 2017, 04:02 PM

like David said in post #6 first make sure the cases are clean and then grab the calipers and check case diameter and length and see if the numbers are correct

sserdlihc · November 13, 2017, 04:07 PM

switch to Carbide dies or use more lube.

k4swb · November 13, 2017, 04:09 PM

Used to be that the grab the case and shake the press was considered a plus for the Lee powder thru expander die while using any of the Lee powder measures. It was even on some of the earlier die sets.

This ensured that the powder was always shook out of the measures and no hangups occurred.

This required that all cases be trimmed to the same length to ensure that the die could be adjusted to ensure that the problem the OP has wouldn't be a problem from short to long cases.

std7mag · November 13, 2017, 04:29 PM

If he's using the Lee 4 die set there is no need for lube.

Prof,
The expander does stick some on the Lee dies. It is made to do so. Theory is that when you give a little tap to get it moving, the jolt helps shake loose any powder sticking in the measure or the die.

That is straight from Lee.

Don't just put a constant force on the handle. Give it a little tap.
Also the more you expand them the more it sticks. Try adjusting your die some.

Instead of Nu Car i use a little Blue Diamond lense cleaner in my media.

snakeye · November 13, 2017, 08:52 PM

This sometimes happens to me and my Lee dies once in a while

Remove the die and completely disassemble the die and thoroughly clean the die with a good oiless cleaner then lube with powdered graphite usually fix my problems

Russell P · November 14, 2017, 06:39 AM

Dies get dirty over time. Especially the powder thru die. Take your turret off and flip it over and clean them with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and a Q tip.

Russ P

TJB101 · November 14, 2017, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell P

Dies get dirty over time. Especially the powder thru die. Take your turret off and flip it over and clean them with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and a Q tip.

Russ P

Ditto... disassemble that die and clean it good. If you are using the carbide die you should feel a little pop on downstroke but it should not get stuck. How much of a bell are you putting on your cases? Are you installing the die according to instructions or are you screwing it in further to increase the bell?

jetinteriorguy · November 14, 2017, 08:23 AM

Take the drop tube/expander out and polish the expander part. I use Flitz and a soft wheel on my Dremel tool. This helps a lot, and about once a year I pull it out and polish it again.

mikld · November 14, 2017, 11:21 AM

Some of you fellers need to rereaad the OP. The cases are "sticking" in the flaring die (or as Lee calls it "powder through die".). This is common with clean brass in Lee's PT die. Several threads around reloading forums recognise new or very clean brass grabs the die and can be difficult to remove. Most will use some type of lube on the case mouths and/or a dry lube but most just live with it. I've found brass tumbled with an auto polish or wax additive will have enough left on the case to alleviate the "problem"...

Prof Young · November 15, 2017, 12:35 AM

Hmm . . . thanks for all the info. For whatever it's worth, these cases were "steel pin and liquid tumbler" cleaned and they are SERIOUSLY CLEAN. Sounds like that might be part of the cause. Anyway I'll take it all apart, clean the die, watch that I don't flare too much and have at it again.

Life is good.
Prof young

Stats Shooter · November 15, 2017, 01:32 AM

A down side to wet tumbling is that you can get the Brass clean to the point where things going into the neck get sticky.
A while back I started a thread on lubing bullets when I seated them. This was necessary in .223 because the necks had been cleaned to the point where the friction between neck and bullet was causing some issues.

I stopped lubing bullets and simply tumbled the brass in some walnut shells for 20 min and the addition of the residue from the dry media made lubing bullets no longer necessary.

Stainless steel wet tumbling is a great way to quickly and completely clean the dirtiest brass, especially old range brass dug out of the mud, and bring it back into service. But it comes at a cost.

m&p45acp10+1 · November 15, 2017, 08:24 AM

A cheap quick fix is to take the expander out, and rub it with a pencil lead. Or if you have pwxered graphite use that. Also a snapping motion on the handle at the powder die tends to help. I had the same prblem when I used some gifted to me new Starline brass. Use the snap to get it out. Being easy is counter productive.

jetinteriorguy · November 16, 2017, 06:04 AM

Seriously, polish the expander. It makes a world of difference. Takes a couple of minutes.

November 13, 2017, 11:39 AM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	What am I doing wrong? Okay, so I'm using a Lee Turret Press, Lee Dies and a Lee Auto Powder Drum to reload 9mm. Occasionally, say 2 or 3 percent, on the expand and charge stroke, the case gets stuck in the die so tight that I have to use a lot of force to dislodge it usually jarring the case out of the holder and, of course, spilling the powder out of the shell. I backed the die out a little to no avail. Have not run into this before with these same tools and caliber. What did I do wrong? Life is good. Prof Young

November 13, 2017, 12:21 PM	#3
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Also are the cases that are gettimg stuck the type that have a step on the inside? Something to watch for. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

November 13, 2017, 02:33 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Cases getting stuck in the sizer die are usually caused by insufficient lube on the case. It should not happen with carbide dies though. Like jdc606 says, there shouldn't be any need for lube in the expander/charger die. The case shouldn't be touching the sides of the die. You sure it's the right die? Shouldn't be any need for car polish in the tumbler either. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 13, 2017, 04:02 PM	#9
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	like David said in post #6 first make sure the cases are clean and then grab the calipers and check case diameter and length and see if the numbers are correct __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

November 13, 2017, 04:07 PM	#10
sserdlihc Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2008 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,454	switch to Carbide dies or use more lube. __________________ Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration. Aupleius If someone doesn't like you, that's their problem! Milton Childress

November 13, 2017, 12:04 PM	#2
ZuluWarrior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Location: Big Sky Country, Montana Posts: 29	Are you using enough lube? I've switched over to One Shot spray lube and have found that I have to be pretty judicious in it's application or I will get stuck cases. Just a thought... Todd

November 13, 2017, 01:18 PM	#4
jdc606 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2015 Posts: 129	I've used the same Lee products to reload many thousands of 9mm rounds with zero issues. No lube is required during the case belling/powder charging stage. In fact, no lube was ever required even while using the carbide sizing die. I did use a bit of NuCar polish in the tumbling media and maybe that was all the slick required. Anyway... as to your issue. It sounds like a cartridge brand specific issue. Have you noticed if the problem occurs with only a certain manufacturer's brass?

November 13, 2017, 02:43 PM	#6
David R Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2015 Location: The swamps of WNY Posts: 753	Are your cases clean? David

November 13, 2017, 02:52 PM	#7
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	I have bought old RCBS die sets or Lyman M expander dies to replace the Lee sizing and expander dies for a lot of the calibers I load - 9mm, 10mm, 38/357, 45 ACP and probably others. The floating expander die would cause similar problems for me. Thankfully I'm not using a press that requires the powder through expander setup.

November 13, 2017, 03:05 PM	#8
BBarn Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2015 Posts: 887	My guess is that the troublesome cases are a bit long and/or thick and are worked more by the expander. As a result the expander has a tighter grip when you extract the case.

November 13, 2017, 04:09 PM	#11
k4swb Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2009 Posts: 389	Used to be that the grab the case and shake the press was considered a plus for the Lee powder thru expander die while using any of the Lee powder measures. It was even on some of the earlier die sets. This ensured that the powder was always shook out of the measures and no hangups occurred. This required that all cases be trimmed to the same length to ensure that the die could be adjusted to ensure that the problem the OP has wouldn't be a problem from short to long cases. __________________ My posts are things I have tried or experienced. You may or may not wish to emulate them so read them with this in mind. Compromise means that both sides give something, but they never give, they just take. I'm The NRA!

November 13, 2017, 04:29 PM	#12
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	If he's using the Lee 4 die set there is no need for lube. Prof, The expander does stick some on the Lee dies. It is made to do so. Theory is that when you give a little tap to get it moving, the jolt helps shake loose any powder sticking in the measure or the die. That is straight from Lee. Don't just put a constant force on the handle. Give it a little tap. Also the more you expand them the more it sticks. Try adjusting your die some. Instead of Nu Car i use a little Blue Diamond lense cleaner in my media.

November 13, 2017, 08:52 PM	#13
snakeye Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2013 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 127	This sometimes happens to me and my Lee dies once in a while Remove the die and completely disassemble the die and thoroughly clean the die with a good oiless cleaner then lube with powdered graphite usually fix my problems

November 14, 2017, 06:39 AM	#14
Russell P Member Join Date: April 28, 2017 Posts: 56	Dies get dirty over time. Especially the powder thru die. Take your turret off and flip it over and clean them with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and a Q tip. Russ P

November 14, 2017, 08:23 AM	#16
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,176	Take the drop tube/expander out and polish the expander part. I use Flitz and a soft wheel on my Dremel tool. This helps a lot, and about once a year I pull it out and polish it again.

November 14, 2017, 11:21 AM	#17
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	Some of you fellers need to rereaad the OP. The cases are "sticking" in the flaring die (or as Lee calls it "powder through die".). This is common with clean brass in Lee's PT die. Several threads around reloading forums recognise new or very clean brass grabs the die and can be difficult to remove. Most will use some type of lube on the case mouths and/or a dry lube but most just live with it. I've found brass tumbled with an auto polish or wax additive will have enough left on the case to alleviate the "problem"... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

November 15, 2017, 12:35 AM	#18
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,404	Hmm . . . thanks for all the info. For whatever it's worth, these cases were "steel pin and liquid tumbler" cleaned and they are SERIOUSLY CLEAN. Sounds like that might be part of the cause. Anyway I'll take it all apart, clean the die, watch that I don't flare too much and have at it again. Life is good. Prof young

November 15, 2017, 01:32 AM	#19
Stats Shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2016 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,636	A down side to wet tumbling is that you can get the Brass clean to the point where things going into the neck get sticky. A while back I started a thread on lubing bullets when I seated them. This was necessary in .223 because the necks had been cleaned to the point where the friction between neck and bullet was causing some issues. I stopped lubing bullets and simply tumbled the brass in some walnut shells for 20 min and the addition of the residue from the dry media made lubing bullets no longer necessary. Stainless steel wet tumbling is a great way to quickly and completely clean the dirtiest brass, especially old range brass dug out of the mud, and bring it back into service. But it comes at a cost.

November 15, 2017, 08:24 AM	#20
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	A cheap quick fix is to take the expander out, and rub it with a pencil lead. Or if you have pwxered graphite use that. Also a snapping motion on the handle at the powder die tends to help. I had the same prblem when I used some gifted to me new Starline brass. Use the snap to get it out. Being easy is counter productive. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

November 16, 2017, 06:04 AM	#21
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,176	Seriously, polish the expander. It makes a world of difference. Takes a couple of minutes.