difference between reloading rifle and pistol rounds?

tj1231 · January 7th, 2007, 01:29 PM

I've decided to start reloading .45's, and I have a few questions. I'm familiar with reloading .22-250, and 30.06 Ackley's, but those are 2-die sets. What is the 3rd die used for when reloading pistol ammo? Of course I will do my own research before attempting it but can someone give me a really basic run-down of how to reload pistol ammo?
Thanks!

Bud White · January 7th, 2007, 01:31 PM

first die is the decappin and sizer second is belling die and 3rd is Seating and crimp

P95Carry · January 7th, 2007, 01:46 PM

In fact a fourth can be added too sometimes - an extra that will serve rifle and pistol - the factory crimp die.

The third stage seating with pistol ammo can be less than ideal for crimp and so it can be beneficial to back off crimping at seating stage and then go thru the factory crimp die to get the ideal crimp.

With rifle - the decapper when withdrawn after resizing and decapping will leave case mouth ready for bullet - so no flair stage needed - just charge case and seat bullet in die #2.

Furthermore, the flair stage with pistol rounds is when often a powder hopper can be used to drop the charge weight. Much more amenable to fast thruput whereas rifle often tends to be a slower ''one at a time'' deal.

Colin · January 7th, 2007, 03:12 PM

By the way if you pick up once fired Winclean .45acp brass, it uses a different primer than regular 45 brass, apparently the primer hole is different also, you might want to talk to someon that has reloaded it before to get there reciepe. I have put mine aside for now and just using regular brass.

tj1231 · January 7th, 2007, 03:15 PM

Ok, thanks. So how do you know when you have enough flare and crimp? I don't think I've ever seen a factory crimp die, are they common?

Bud White · January 7th, 2007, 03:17 PM

lee makes the factory crimp die

the flare is when you can just start the bullet in the case with out it falling off

crimp is up to you

P95Carry · January 7th, 2007, 03:25 PM

To expand on Bud's post - as he says, flair is enough if bullet will start OK - but sometimes if loading lead bullets you have to flair a bit more to avoid shaving lead.

It's a compromize too - each time you flair you work harden the brass and so speed up the time to failure (splitting). You have to experiment and set up to suit the set of components you are working on.

Crimp - another thing to try and get right - ''enough but not too much'' - which means squat really! Thing is - roll crimp for instance on hot loads (357/44 etc) may be needed to be fierce to hold bullet when under recoil inertial forces. However - this is like the reverse of flair - it work hardens the brass, so - try to keep to minum that does the job.

Taper crimp on headspacing rounds like 9mm and .45 etc - needs to be firm and sometimes neck tension after resizing does most of the hold - but again - not to be overdone.

I think Lyman or RCBS do a factory crimp die too but the Lee is maybe best known. Go to http://www.leeprecision.com/ where you can read a bit about it. I use mine most for hot loads and rifle - the plinking std loads just get crimp at seating stage.

tj1231 · January 7th, 2007, 03:26 PM

Do lee die sets fit in RCBS presses?

pistola · January 7th, 2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tj1231

Do lee die sets fit in RCBS presses?

YES.They are the same Thread size.

P95Carry · January 7th, 2007, 03:30 PM

Yes - they are the universal size thread pitch and diameter.

January 7th, 2007, 01:29 PM	#1
tj1231 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 191	difference between reloading rifle and pistol rounds? I've decided to start reloading .45's, and I have a few questions. I'm familiar with reloading .22-250, and 30.06 Ackley's, but those are 2-die sets. What is the 3rd die used for when reloading pistol ammo? Of course I will do my own research before attempting it but can someone give me a really basic run-down of how to reload pistol ammo? Thanks!

January 7th, 2007, 01:46 PM	#3
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,339	In fact a fourth can be added too sometimes - an extra that will serve rifle and pistol - the factory crimp die. The third stage seating with pistol ammo can be less than ideal for crimp and so it can be beneficial to back off crimping at seating stage and then go thru the factory crimp die to get the ideal crimp. With rifle - the decapper when withdrawn after resizing and decapping will leave case mouth ready for bullet - so no flair stage needed - just charge case and seat bullet in die #2. Furthermore, the flair stage with pistol rounds is when often a powder hopper can be used to drop the charge weight. Much more amenable to fast thruput whereas rifle often tends to be a slower ''one at a time'' deal. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

January 7th, 2007, 03:25 PM	#7
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,339	To expand on Bud's post - as he says, flair is enough if bullet will start OK - but sometimes if loading lead bullets you have to flair a bit more to avoid shaving lead. It's a compromize too - each time you flair you work harden the brass and so speed up the time to failure (splitting). You have to experiment and set up to suit the set of components you are working on. Crimp - another thing to try and get right - ''enough but not too much'' - which means squat really! Thing is - roll crimp for instance on hot loads (357/44 etc) may be needed to be fierce to hold bullet when under recoil inertial forces. However - this is like the reverse of flair - it work hardens the brass, so - try to keep to minum that does the job. Taper crimp on headspacing rounds like 9mm and .45 etc - needs to be firm and sometimes neck tension after resizing does most of the hold - but again - not to be overdone. I think Lyman or RCBS do a factory crimp die too but the Lee is maybe best known. Go to http://www.leeprecision.com/ where you can read a bit about it. I use mine most for hot loads and rifle - the plinking std loads just get crimp at seating stage. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

January 7th, 2007, 03:30 PM	#10
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,339	Yes - they are the universal size thread pitch and diameter. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

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January 7th, 2007, 01:31 PM	#2
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	first die is the decappin and sizer second is belling die and 3rd is Seating and crimp

January 7th, 2007, 03:12 PM	#4
Colin Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,247	By the way if you pick up once fired Winclean .45acp brass, it uses a different primer than regular 45 brass, apparently the primer hole is different also, you might want to talk to someon that has reloaded it before to get there reciepe. I have put mine aside for now and just using regular brass.

January 7th, 2007, 03:15 PM	#5
tj1231 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 191	Ok, thanks. So how do you know when you have enough flare and crimp? I don't think I've ever seen a factory crimp die, are they common?

January 7th, 2007, 03:17 PM	#6
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 17,476	lee makes the factory crimp die the flare is when you can just start the bullet in the case with out it falling off crimp is up to you

January 7th, 2007, 03:26 PM	#8
tj1231 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 191	Do lee die sets fit in RCBS presses?