Newby pistol reloader question

[Notalentbum]

I’ve been reloading .308 and .223 for years. Have never really loaded for pistol with the exception of 20 rds of .40 in a class I took 8-10 years ago. I’ve been saving my brass for a few years and decided to do some processing today. On rifle cases both the neck and body get sized as well as the ID of the neck. I was depriming a bucket of .45 ACP as well as sizing since it is the same die. I noticed a good number still had irregularities in the ID. None of the dies in my sets have anything to correct the ID so the bullet can be seated properly. What do you do with these cases? Toss them?

Thanks, Matt

 

[yetti462]

expand them (bell) the mouth and load

 

[VERT]

You sized the brass? Next die should slightly flare the brass so you can seat the bullet.

I have loaded 10s of thousands of pistol rounds. Never checked the inside diameter.

 

[Levergun1]

Not sure what you are seeing, as far as "irregularities" on the ID.
Perhaps a pic or two would clarify.

 

[Notalentbum]

Thanks to a few of your comments, I looked a bit closer at my die sets. One of the dies in my set is a powder through expanding die. I was expecting a solid pin similar to my rifle dies. Did not recognize the expander for what it was. One of those duh, face palm moments!

Thank you all!
Matt

 

[VERT]

Ah….Lee Dies. I have never seen any type of mandrel to size the inside of brass on any pistol dies.

1. Size and decap
2. Bell and drop powder
3. Seat the Bullet plus can crimp
4. Optional crimp die. I personally run all of my pistol ammo through the 4th crimp die. Even my .223 goes through a Lee FCD.

 

[STFU]

Thanks to a few of your comments, I looked a bit closer at my die sets. One of the dies in my set is a powder through expanding die. I was expecting a solid pin similar to my rifle dies. Did not recognize the expander for what it was. One of those duh, face palm moments!

Thank you all!
Matt

Yep PTX die makes the process *much* easier. Make sure it is adjusted correctly. It doesn't take much expansion on a 45ACP to get the job done. And...just enough tension on the neck when seating to keep the bullet from getting pushed back into the case.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

Definitely don't "over do" the flare prossess. Less is best. Just enough to set the bullet

 

[Notalentbum]

Definitely don't "over do" the flare prossess. Less is best. Just enough to set the bullet

The expanding die can go into the case as much as 1/4”. Should I not go that far? Just enough for the bullet to start? Thanks again, Matt

 

[Levergun1]

The expanding die can go into the case as much as 1/4”. Should I not go that far? Just enough for the bullet to start? Thanks again, Matt

Yes, bell the mouth just enough for the base of your bullet to fit in without much fuss.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

The expanding die can go into the case as much as 1/4”. Should I not go that far? Just enough for the bullet to start? Thanks again, Matt

Exactly just enough to start the bullet.
As you know from rifle brass. The more you work it the more weak it gets

 

[Bill2905]

The expanding die can go into the case as much as 1/4”. Should I not go that far? Just enough for the bullet to start? Thanks again, Matt

For jacketed bullets, just enough to get it started. For lead bullets or coated lead bullets, flare the mouth enough to prevent shaving off any lead or bullet coating.

 

[Firehawk]

I’ve had that before. I reload a lot of range brass that is often in rough shape. If mouth of the case is seriously out of round as in crushed or creased, I throw it away. Usually the sizer die will make it round again. If not, use the expander die. It will touch the inside of the case mouth and force it round.