Neck expansion

[Guest canebreaker]

I picked up a bunch of brass at a local range, mixed cal., 3 different times.

I loaded some 9m and 380s for the kids for christmas, to see how they liked them.

I'm on my thrid loading session of the 380s, loading about 100 at a time.

For some reason the neck splits on about every other one, on this session.

The good cases are taking the bullit about 1/32 to 1/16th. That shows me that I'm not over expanding the necks. I haven't changed settings since I loaded the first.

Lee 380 ACP, 90625

I guess I need to take it apart, clean and lube.

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canebreaker

[Guest 1shot]

It is just that the cases are work hardened from too many times being reloaded. The brass will get hard and brittle over time from the flexing in an out of the sizing and expanding. There is nothing wrong with your dies.

[gregintenn]

You could try annealing the brass before you attempt to load any more.

[Guest canebreaker]

What I used the first 2 times was fresh oncefired brass. This range brass, I haven't a clue about. I picked up another 150 cases this morning, 14 cracked while expanding. They are all cracking in the 7 o'clock position of the press. Looking down on press with handle at 6 o'clock. Everything is going great til there is about 1/8" left to go into die, and snap.

[Guest canebreaker]

I was looking over the expansion die this morning. I saw something moving inside the neck port. About that time flutterby's son walks in and wants to know what I'm doing. Then he tells me, he was showing his girlfriend some about reloading. He doesn't have a clue what's going on with reloading. The case started crunching as soon as it made contact with the die. He said only about half of the case came out. That was a week ago. Was afraid I'd B!&@% if I found out that he messed with the reloader. I have only 76 messed up .380 brass, why get mad!!!!!

[Guest canebreaker]

Well pretty much told to pack and leave the nashville area tonite. I'll post for the memphis area. Leaving my brass connection here. Should be able to find something soon.

Will post when settled.

[Guest canebreaker]

I broke the lever on my Lee auto primer today.

Good thing I'm here and have 2 primers.

Ordered 2 from Lee tonight.

Might as well get a spare.