I bought a 3 die set from Redding #66189 .45acp to correct case bulging when loading.452 lead bullets. But I can not find anywhere any set up information for this die set. It is the premium series not the competition series! Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks…Tom

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are you new to reloading?

No I’m not new to hand loading

Did you read the instruction sheet that was included in the die set?? Setting up Redding dies is exactly the same as any other quality brand die set.

If you are having problems with case bulging with your bullets it is an issue with the bullets, not the dies. The only thing that would help is the Lee "Carbide Factory Crimp" die. Best solution is bullets that are correctly sized!

My other question is why are you concerned with case bulging? If it isn't enough to cause feeding or chambering issues with the ammunition then don't worry about it! No hand-loaded ammunition is going to look like factory ammunition loaded with jacketed bullets if you are too critical. The issue is not if you are new to hand-loading as it is about how much experience do you have? I would have to think not much!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Redding 66189 is their Premium set: the expander is much like a LYMAN M-die and should be excellent for loading lead bullets... The seating die includes a micrometer!

Cheers!

P.S. IMHO, MOST problems with bulging cases have to with improper case expansion to begin with: when having problems with lead bullets you may need to measure them as many won't actually be as close to the desired diameter as you may think.

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

Call Redding Customer Service, I'm sure they know a thing or two about their dies. I have about 15 sets of their dies, none for handgun cartridges.

Ivan

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The issue with most reloading dies is they're designed to reload jacketed bullets. The culprit is the expander die & more specifically the expander button in the expander die.

Most cast bullets are not only wider than their jacketed counter parts. In your case .451" VS .452". They (lead/cast bullets) have a longer body.

Lyman makes what's called a m-die. M-dies have a longer expander button.


A m-die button next to a lee factory expander button (45acp). You can clearly see that the m-die's button has a longer body. You can also see the "high water" mark left by expanded brass on the lee expander button. Only +/- one half of that lee expander goes into a 45acp case (+/- 1/4"). The m-die goes +/- 1/2" into the 45acp case.


The end result when using a expander that's designed/made for lead bullets is that you end up with a case that is correctly expanded to accept lead/cast bullets. Typical reloads for the 45acp made with home cast 200gr swc's. They're cast with an 8/9bhn alloy and sized to .452" and a lyman m-die was used to expand the cases.


Consistency ='s accuracy. The m-die is designed to make a consistent/uniform expanded case. The end result of consistency.


3 different bullets loaded in 45acp cases. All my cases (38spl/357mag/9mm/44spl/44mag/45acp/308w) all get expanded with either custom expanders or lyman m-dies. Using nothing more than range brass I picked up. As you can see (left) there's a piece of brass that has scuff marks on it from someone using a lee fcd die.
left: cramer #5f hollow base swc 175gr
center: H&G #69 clone swc 200gr
right: Mihec fn hp 200gr


Those bullets/reloads pictured above. 5-shot groups @ 50ft.


Lyman sells m-die expander dies separately. A Bullet mold making company, neo bullet molds makes and sells expander buttons designed to be used with a lee universal expander die. A link to the neo 45acp expander button.
.452 x .448 (P) Exp. Plug Auto Pistol | NOE Bullet Moulds

I use/shoot .358" diameter bullets in the 9mm's. I ended up making a custom expander for a lee expander die. The custom expander next to the lee factory expander.


Loaded 9mm ammo made with that custom expander & .358" cast lead bullets.


No case bulge, no wasp waist, no swaging bullets down when trying to seat them in undersized/under expanded cases.

Those .358" cast/lead bullets (125gr fn hp's 8/9bhn) loaded in 9mm cases using that custom expander pictured above.


Consistency ='s accuracy. Consistent case neck tension consistent crimp and an unmolested bullet that starts straight and stays straight when being seated makes for an accurate load. typical 10-shot groups @ 50ft with those .358"/9mm reloads pictured above shot in that 1911 pictured above.


Do yourself a huge favor and get the correct expander dies for all your cast bullet/reloading needs.

I have been loading 45 ACP with 200 LSWC and 230 LRN for five decades and they always pass the "Plunk Test".

I never give that "bulge" a second thought unless I have a feeding problem. You're stuffing a .452 bullet into a case sized for .451 bullets. It's mostly a cosmetic problem, if cosmetics bother you. You'd probably pass out if your saw one of my 9x19 cases converted to 9mm Makarov on the first loading.

Forrest R you just showed me what I need to address with your fantastic response. I thought I just needed to upgrade from the Hornady die to the Redding.the slight bulging I get plays havoc with the cylinder closing on the revolvers I load for.

Great detail Forrest.

Yes to most of the above. To me, a slight bulge is ok, as long as everything feeds well.

From this post I have the idea that you have a slight from the seat crimp die being set too low for the groove you are crimping into. This grabs the case mouth and shoves it into the groove's upper wall. Then the case wall is shoved down, forcing a small bulge in the wall.

If this is the problem, there are simple fixes.

1) Make sure the case mouth and seating groove are in alignment

2) use separate steps to seat to length and crimp

3) less roll crimp. You might try a 9mm taper crimp on 38's

4) slight chance of excessive case length variation. [usually proper die adjustment takes care of this.]

Ivan