What the heck . . .

P

Prof Young

New member
Loaders:
Over the last couple days I've run about 400 rounds of 380 through my Lee Turret using my Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure for the first time. On the expand and charge stage I had this happen about a dozen times, and I can't figure out why.

Help?

Life is good.
Prof Young
 

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The why is simple, the case was not correctly centered when you raised the ram.

I'm not familiar with your specific tools, but the result is obvious. Either your die was not in the proper position (Turret press has a rotating tool head, doesn't it?) or the case was loose in the shellholder and happened to "flop" the wrong way at the wrong time.

The expander caught the edge of the case, instead of being centered inside, and folded the brass over.

I've done it a time or two, over the years on a single stage press with a solid expander. its an alignment issue, and stroking the ram before you know you have a problem. For me it was always a signal to slow down.

And check each case as I run it into the die, to make sure its "square" and not finishing the ram stroke if anything "feels" different...
 
Yes it is quite common, due to overly thin case rims not allowing the case to fit snugly in the shell holder, resulting in the case to tip during rotation to the sizing or expander station and the expander button or die catching on the case rim during that operation. Different case brands can have different rim thickness. This was recently obvious with various brands of .30 carbine brass and it turned out that Starline brass had thicker rims than most and remained properly centered at each station on a progressive press. With certain brass where that problem is common, it may become necessary to manually guide the case into the die. Check your cases to see how much wobble is present while in the shell holder/shell plate.
 
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Could be a couple things. Your either going so fast that the turret is over rotating and misaligned, or your short stroking and under rotating and misaligned. Or another possibility is the indexing rod isn't set quite right causing a misalignment. Or as previously stated its wobbling in the shell holder. Double check to make sure your using the correct powder through die also.
 
Thanks and . . .

Thanks for all the thoughts.

It clearly is a case of mis-alignment which could have multiple causes.

I noticed that it happens less when I move the expander die with the powder measure on it into place by hand rather than relying on the rotating spindle.

Not a big deal but a touch concerning.

Life is good.
Prof Young
 
condor bravo said:
Yes it is quite common, due to overly thin case rims not allowing the case to fit snugly in the shell holder, resulting in the case to tip during rotation to the sizing or expander station and the expander button or die catching on the case rim during that operation.
Click to expand...

^^^This. I had a similar problem when sizing .380 brass using Lee shelholders. Had to make sure the case was all the way in and stayed there by holding it in place with the fingers of my other hand as I raised the ram or it ripped the side of the case like in the OPs pics. Tough to do with those tiny cases without pinching my fat fingers. Bought a RCBS shellholder that held the cases tighter and the problem was solved.
 
I noticed that it happens less when I move the expander die with the powder measure on it into place by hand rather than relying on the rotating spindle.
Click to expand...

Prof, on a Lee Turret, you don't want to move the dies by hand....it will quickly deform the little square plastic piece that rotates the indexing rod correctly and ruin it. (Unless you removed the index rod and are doing it all by hand).
 
Berettaprof:
Thanks. That is good to know.

Buck:
Will RCBS shell holder work in my Lee turret press?

Life is good.
Prof Young
 
I use a Lee shell holder in my decapping setup BECAUSE it is sloppy, and the cases are dirty with crud on the heads of range brass I have scavenged. But I have to hold the case as I raise the ram. If I get going too fast, this happens:

IMG_20170827_225932484.jpg
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I suggest a better/tighter shell holder
 
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