380 dies

[oink]

Without going gormet does anyone have a recomended 380 die. I have an old Lee set somewhere but I never liked it as it sized down much too tight. Maybe the Lees are different now but I don't know.

I don't shoot 380 much but the wife has one she needs practice with. She has a G27 and shoots it fine but rarely carries it due to it's size and or shape.

She has a lot of trouble racking the slide on the new micro 9s although she manages the G27 with some difficulty.

Anyhow, getting side tracked - 380 sizing die suggestions please.

 

[fordson]

I use the RCBS carbide sizing die, RCBS seating die and a LEE FC die. They all seem to work as I haven’t had any issues with the rounds. Load them on my Dillon 650. Biggest issue there is the case feeder. 380 brass is so small that they can jam up under the case plate. My wife has the same issue as yours trying to rack her Ruger 380 LCP. I’m thinking of get her a revolver.

 

[Sevens]

I have an old Lee set somewhere but I never liked it as it sized down much too tight.

Unless you would like to get more specific... I can only assume that your complaint is that the sizing die you got with your Lee set is sizing down the brass more than you feel you would like?

I'm not certain if I have deciphered your complaint correctly, but in the event I did, that is EXACTLY the .380 Auto size die I would want no matter who made it.

When it comes to working pistol brass, it's good to have needs, wants and goals. I'm not sure why you'd be bothered if your sizing die really squeezed down the .380 brass, but this would be my absolute number one priority with this cartridge because what I wish to avoid absolutely more than anything is unintended and unnoticed bullet setback.

.380 brass has shown me perhaps more than any other pistol brass that a fair volume of it varies from head stamp to head stamp as much/more than anything else I load, and I have a huge laundry list of stuff I load.

That sizing die is your BEST line of defense against bullet setback, which can be a catastrophe.

If this sizing die is doing what you believe and say that it's doing, I would specifically shop for exactly that one.

 

[Imissedagain]

We have a set of 380 Lee Loaders and a set of Redding 380 Steel dies. Never had a problem with either set.
Tight is Right.
380 is the caliber of choice in the Conch Republic, when water balloons are not available.

 

[Skeet 028]

Teach her how to rack a slide. Don't pull the slide back. Hold it and push the frame forward. Usually easier than the other way

 

[max503]

I have an old Lee set somewhere but I never liked it as it sized down much too tight.

NOE makes these expanders that fit into Lee dies. I use them because I shoot lead boolits. Your typical die is designed to work with jacketed bullets.
Expanders | NOE Bullet Moulds
You put these expanders into a Lee expander die and use it for the belling operation (right after you size your brass).

I will size a whole mess of cases, then run them through the inside expanding operation with the Lee Expander die and the NOE expander. Then the cases are ready to be reloaded.

Call NOE and they will set you up with the proper size expander.

 

[mtgianni]

Lee also updated their powder through expander dies to have appropriate expanders on them.

 

[oink]

I use the RCBS carbide sizing die, RCBS seating die and a LEE FC die. They all seem to work as I haven’t had any issues with the rounds. Load them on my Dillon 650. Biggest issue there is the case feeder. 380 brass is so small that they can jam up under the case plate. My wife has the same issue as yours trying to rack her Ruger 380 LCP. I’m thinking of get her a revolver.

I have a Lee factory crimp die. I may try a RCBS die. I've liked every RCBS product I have. I'm using a Dillon 550 mostly. I don't have feeding or shell plate issues other than just the 380 being small and harder to grasp. You can't beat a 44 or 45 for ease of loading, or even 38/357.

I do have J frames she can try including an airweight. She's shot J frames in the past but not much. Maybe I'll see how she likes one. She would need a good safe purse holster. I doubt she'll like shooting an airweight. Plus we do look after a very inquisitive 3 year old who is big and strong for his age.

... I can only assume that your complaint is that the sizing die you got with your Lee set is sizing down the brass more than you feel you would like?

... I'm not sure why you'd be bothered if your sizing die really squeezed down the .380 brass, but this would be my absolute number one priority with this cartridge because what I wish to avoid absolutely more than anything is unintended and unnoticed bullet setback.

If this sizing die is doing what you believe and say that it's doing, I would specifically shop for exactly that one.

I thought I was clear enough. It sizes down too much. I have enough wasps building nests under eaves. I don't need to make more. I understand case neck tension and setback is far from being an issue. If you really want this tight die I'll be happy to trade for one not so tight.

We have a set of 380 Lee Loaders and a set of Redding 380 Steel dies. Never had a problem with either set.
Tight is Right.
380 is the caliber of choice in the Conch Republic, when water balloons are not available.

As you're referencing the Conch Republic I won't address your "Tight is Right" comment. I've been to the Conch Republic several times. I don't really have any desire to revisit. Maybe I'm not yet woke enough.

Teach her how to rack a slide. Don't pull the slide back. Hold it and push the frame forward. Usually easier than the other way

Been down that road many times. The hand and arm strength just isn't there.

NOE makes these expanders that fit into Lee dies. I use them because I shoot lead boolits.

That might be an option worth trying. Yes, I use mostly cast bullets.

Lee also updated their powder through expander dies to have appropriate expanders on them.

That is an option. My Lee dies have to be approaching 40 years old.

My thanks to those that made construcive relevant suggestions.

 

[Rule3]

Been using LEE for many years and thousands of rounds.

 

[Sevens]

Hand and arm strength failing. Jaw and fingers seem top of game. I’ll lose sleep trying to figure out how to be more “constructive” next time.

No good deed goes unpunished I guess.

 

[oink]

Been using LEE for many years and thousands of rounds.

Yeah, me too, mainly in 38/357, 44 and 45acp. A fair amount of 9mm also but much less than the others. Well the 38.357 are RCBS. But the only ones I haven't liked are the 380. My 40/10 dies are Lee also and work fine but I can't claim to have loaded many of those, yet. The only other ammo I've experienced setback with were the old original silver tips but they were factory. Well I have experienced it a little with factory 9mm and 45acp that got chambered too many times. Gotta watch that.

 

[Alk8944]

You could try Redding, RCBS or Forster dies, but I will bet any of them will size your brass to within .001" to .002" of what the Lee dies you already have do! If you are that curious you can buy just the size die from any of them instead of an entire set.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I have RCBS and I’m very satisfied. I’ve used RCBS for 40 years and inherited several sets from my day and he used the for probably 20 or so years. I also have several sets of Lee and they’re quality too.

 

[rwsmith]

I'm using the Lee Carbide set.....

... that's about 6 months old and they seem to work just fine.

Could you set the Lee die a little higher so it doesn't squeeze down quite so much. Maybe make a few dummy rounds to see how they feed and chamber?

I got my wife a .380 Shield EZ and she not only likes it. She's darn good with it.

 

[rwsmith]

And try...

Teach her how to rack a slide. Don't pull the slide back. Hold it and push the frame forward. Usually easier than the other way

...holding the gun against her right side when she does it and reach across to grab the slide. It seems easier close to the body and you get a little leverage, too.