.45 ACP expander issue

[Steve]

I have a pair of pump pliers that work perfect, the tips just clear things nice so they work good to tighten that nut.

[Fyodor]

For what reason do you tighten that nut with a pair of pliers?

[Steve]

For what reason do you tighten that nut with a pair of pliers?

I load so much the nut starts working loose which lessens the amount of flare. The 380ACP is the only round that I still use this measure on.

[Fyodor]

Wow, I never heard about this problem before.

[Steve]

A quick check of things works too. I'm just naturally lazy, so I just tighten the heck out of everything.

[6Gears1Speed]

I think I still have a problem. The bullet still tips if I'm not precise. The die is set all the way down and the thumb nut is tight. I can't adjust it any more than I already have so I don't know why it won't make the flare wider. I have to assume there is not enough force to push the expander into the shell. I am going to try inserting a spacer inside the die on top of the expander to take up any slack that might be in there. A washer or something about that thickness just enough to give me a touch more expansion.

[6Gears1Speed]

OK I know what the problem is I just don't know why...
I have another autodisk from my old turret press and put that on the new rig. It works perfectly.

When you use the autodisk on the turret press you replace the actuator arm with a different arm and then add a spring from the arm to the base of the autodisk. This takes up the slack inside the die that forces the expander into the shell and opens the mouth.

When you use the autodisk with the Loadmaster you use the other actuator arm with no spring. When I raise the ram to expand the mouth and drop the powder there is no pressure so the case just pushes the expander up and does not expand the mouth. There is slack in there. Something needs to prevent the expander from moving up but I don't know what. Could I be missing a part? I've compared the two autodisks and they are the same. I also have a second 45ACP die set for the turret press and they are both the same. Something's missing but I don't know what.

In the photo, the one on the right is for the turret press. The spring is heavy and forces the expander into the shell. The one on the left is for the Loadmaster and has no way of forcing the expander into the case. The expander just lifts up when the case comes in contact with the expander.

[6Gears1Speed]

I just spent 20 minutes on the phone with two guys at Lee and they are baffled as well.
My solution is to add 4 washers inside the expander plug that's inside the powder through expanding die. The rod that comes down from the autodisk hits the washers and that takes up the slack which then allows the expander plug to do it's job. Why there is so much slack is a mystery.

[62chevy]

If that doesn't work this might be what you need.

http://www.titanreloading.com/specialty ... anding-die

The Lee Universal Expanding die.

[6Gears1Speed]

I actually already have one of those and used it to troubleshoot this problem.
I was going to use it like you suggest but I really wanted to figure this out since it SHOULD work.
I had it in the second turret hole where it primes the shell. I'm out of projectiles now but next time I load 45's I'll play around with it as a permanent solution.
But I REALLY would like to know why this doesn't work for me.
I think I'll go over to my friends house and look at his to see how it's different than mine.

Thanks.