45 Colt flaring question

[tss106]

When expanding/flaring a resized 45 Colt case, how do you know when you have it "just right"? Or, how far in should a lead bullet start easily by hand after flaring correctly? Seems I have to expand/flare mine quite a bit to be able to insert the Lee case length gauge/trimmer due to the small "shoulder" on the case length gauge. This allows the bullet to go in a 1/16" or so.
Loading 255gr LRNFP bullets, using a standard RCBS carbide 3 die set.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

When expanding/flaring a resized 45 Colt case, how do you know when you have it "just right"?

When it's just so that the bullet will not tip out of the case. I just go by trial and error until I can get the bullet to "stick" with a little finger pressure.

I'm a big fan of using as little flare as possible.

I don't use the Lee tool, so I can't really help you out there.

 

[Tellico]

I do he same as Slim. I set a bullet on/in the case with a little finger pressure and turn the case upside down if the bullet stays in the case thats good to go. Less is better for case life. Too little is bad as you can damage the bullet or case when seating.

 

[Cholo]

As far as the Lee trimmer, you never bell/flare a case mouth when trimming no matter what's causing it. If you're having to, then the trimmer lip is probably oversized. I'd gently put it in a drill and polish it down with some emory cloth just to the point of it fitting snugly in the resized case mouth. Measure with a dial caliber or micrometer before and after. A little can go a long way. I use these inexpensive trimmers on about 12+ different calibers and I got a bad one once that trimmed the case way too short. LEE sent another and I was out one case. If it had been oversized, I'd have fixed it myself in about 5 minutes.

Good luck!

 

[JohnM]

Does 45 Colt stretch?
I've never trimmed anything for a revolver.
Thought about it to get a more even crimp, but never get around to it.

 

[wizofwas]

There's no need to trim a straight walled revolver round as they don't stretch enough to even worry about. That is, unless you're shooting competition, but that's a whole other story. As others have said, flare just enough to get bullet started, no more and no less. The less you bend the cases, the longer the case life.

 

[JohnM]

I use Redding pistol dies, the expander/belling die is just like the Lyman M die.
You can feel the expander portion run into the case and stop at the swell for the belling portion. When doing a setup, I'll run the belling part of the button in a little at a time till I can just push the bullet in and have it stay.
It's usually somewhat less than a 1/16th.
I used a Lee set before, but their expander has no provision for belling.
I was never able to seat cast bullets with it without some shaving.

 

[Olsherm]

I understood he was asking about flaring a sized case not trimming??

 

[tss106]

Thanks for all the tips....., sounds like I've been flaring a tad too much. I'll cut way down on that. Also, polished my Lee cutter/length gauge just slightly as recommended - works good now even though I reckon I don't really need to be trimming the cases. I had some time on my hands so thought I'd trim a batch all to the same length. Thanks again!

 

[Tellico]

Does 45 Colt stretch?
I've never trimmed anything for a revolver.
Thought about it to get a more even crimp, but never get around to it.

Ive never had any straight walled cases stretch. When you get new brass it varies in length and to get even crimping it should be trimmed once. Guess I am just picky.

 

[Cholo]

I trim all new brass, then after every 5 loadings or so. Thinking back to my Psychology class in college, I guess I'm what's refered to as anal retentive :wink:

 

[JohnM]

New rifle brass gets the whole 9 yards.
Never bought any new handgun, but I do buy a lot of range brass.It all gets a good inspection and preparation before the first reload.
The only thing I do special is do a light bevel in the mouth of each one.
I shoot almost nothing but cast and that does help.
Only done one time.

 

[tss106]

One more question...., after resizing, sometimes I end up with the "snake that just swallowed a fat gopher" look after bullet seating, a slight visible bulge in the case near the base of the bullet - sometimes all the way around, sometimes just partially. Are they not going in straight? Do I need to expand/flare a bit more? Thanks again!

 

[wizofwas]

I have that all of the time with my cast bullets and it doesn't seem to be a problem. It's just that the cast is a little bigger after the resizing of the shell.

 

[JohnM]

Pretty common and not a big problem unless they won't chamber.
One cause id the bullet not going into the case square, if they start crooked they'll end up that way.
That's why I like enough of a bell to get the bullet in straight to begin with.
Another is just different wall thickness and brass hardness.
I never sort by head stamp for hand gun ammo and just see some making nicer looking loads than others.

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

I've seen this happen more often with cast bullets than jacketed.

But like others said, it is very common.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I most highly recommend the Lyman 'M' flare die, particularly when loading lead bullets.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

I trim all new brass, then after every 5 loadings or so. Thinking back to my Psychology class in college, I guess I'm what's refered to as anal retentive :wink:

I tend to be the same way. Since I do not sort by headstamp save for Remington cases on my 44Mag brass, I just like to check the cases for anything seeing as to how I shoot anywhere between powder puff loads with American Select as well as full house screamers with H110. Since it takes me a while to go through 500 cases, it is not a big deal to sample some cases after sizing. That does not mean they are stretching. It is just something I like to do so see for myself.

Now I do have a couple cases that are a few thousandths longer and it shows up in how deep the bullets seat and where they crimp while in the crimp groove/cannelure. But methinks those are cases that must have been ignored when trimming all my cases to a common length a while back.