Larger Powder Funnel For Coated Bullets?

[Forrest r]

.353 is about right for jacketed bullets. That gives .002 bullet tension grip on .355 bullets.

+1^^^^^^^^

Most reloads don't understand what a expander is, what the dimensions should be for the size diameter bullet their trying to reload. Let alone what the flare should be compared to the amount expanded for consistent neck tension.

A link to a company that makes/sells custom expanders.
Expander Plug (Pistol) | NOE Bullet Moulds

They give you 2 sets of numbers. The 1st number is the amount of flare. The 2nd number is the amount of expansion the expander body will do.

They also sell powder thru expanders that have 2 sets of numbers also.
Pistol - Powder Through Expanders | NOE Bullet Moulds

most factory expanders are designed for jacketed bullets

 

[reddog81]

Powder coated bullets and lubed lead bullets should have the same diameter, so if it works for lead it should work for PC.

FWIW I use different expanders for most of my jacketed versus lead bullet reloading. The "depth" of the expander doesn't need to be any different. The diameter should be about .001/.002 larger for lead bullets.

 

[BE Mike]

Most pistol caliber reloaders who use coated lead bullets would never notice any difference with an after market powder funnel/ expander die for their Dillon presses. Most don't consider shooting any handgun beyond 10 yards. The possible use might be for those serious precision pistol shooters who shoot out to 50 yards. Having said that, it would take some side-by-side comparisons of the original part to the aftermarket part to convince me of the value of the aftermarket part. That would mean shooting groups from accurate pistols from something like a Ransom machine rest at 50 yards.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Lyman M-type dies are great...!

Cheers!

 

[max]

Tennexplorer pointed out to me, the M die and the after marked powder funnel have a very similar shape.

Lyman M-type dies are great...!

Cheers!

 

[Paul in Nevada]

I use the Uniquetec funnels and they work great, though they are a bit pricey. Ignore all these old codgers who reject anything they haven't heard of before. "Why would anyone want to set the clock on their VCR? The blinking is fine."
I use the HTC coated funnels, and I also use their wadcutter funnels. The HTC funnel definitely feels like an upgrade though I wouldn't consider is "essential". Now the wadcutter funnels on the other hand just make better ammunition. There is a similar product for single stage made by NOE. My biggest complaint with the Uniquetec funnels aside from the cost is the fact that they are not labeled.

 

[BE Mike]

Ignore all the young gadgeteers who recommend products without any hard proof that they actually improve ammunition accuracy.

 

[tmd17]

I would love to sit between Paul in Nevada (a.k.a. The Young Gadgeteer )and BE Mike (a.k.a. The Old Codger) for a few beers to discuss this further. You two are killing it. I consider my self an Old Codger that believes every task is an opportunity to buy a new gadget. I even have lights and cameras on my 550!

 

[teletech]

This is interesting for me since I've been plagued with poor cast/coated accuracy in my .45 ACPs at 25-50 yards. I mean, it's a known thing that the 1917 tends to like larger bullets, but unintentionally swaging down softer bullets might be part of my problem.

 

[max]

I ordered one of these today. I will report back after I use it.

 

[ken158]

My thoughts are that your site research regarding powder funnels and bullets are not on a site worthy of frequenting.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My thoughts are that your site research regarding powder funnels and bullets are not on a site worthy of frequenting.

Why is that? What's wrong with the site? If it's bad tell us why so we can avoid it.

 

[max]

I first heard of them on the 1911 forum.

My thoughts are that your site research regarding powder funnels and bullets are not on a site worthy of frequenting.

 

[muddocktor]

max, did you ever order and receive the oversize powder funnel for your Dillon? If you have, what do you think of how it works? I saw them referenced in the past, but cringed at the price, since they are $44 plus shipping for the oversize powder funnel from UniqueTek.

 

[max]

Yes, I did. I haven't done any coated reloading in some time and and just recently installed it and am now doing some testing and trying to get things adjusted properly.

max, did you ever order and receive the oversize powder funnel for your Dillon? If you have, what do you think of how it works? I saw them referenced in the past, but cringed at the price, since they are $44 plus shipping for the oversize powder funnel from UniqueTek.

 

[muddocktor]

Be sure and post up what you think about them. I might go ahead and get me one for 9mm if you find they make a big difference with loading .356 diameter coated lead bullets. The other calibers I load lead bullets don't seem to be very bothered, but it seems my 9mm ammo look to be slightly wasp waisted when loading coated bullets.

 

[max]

Mine is for .45. I have no experience with coated bullets in 9mm. I still have a lot of fmj's left for 9mm.

Be sure and post up what you think about them. I might go ahead and get me one for 9mm if you find they make a big difference with loading .356 diameter coated lead bullets. The other calibers I load lead bullets don't seem to be very bothered, but it seems my 9mm ammo look to be slightly wasp waisted when loading coated bullets.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The other calibers I load lead bullets don't seem to be very bothered, but it seems my 9mm ammo look to be slightly wasp waisted when loading coated bullets.

I had very "Wasp wasted" 38's & 357's from a set of 1980's Hornady loading dies. The claim was the dies sized to the absolute minimum of specs! The problem went completely away when I went to a first generation RCBS carbide sizing die I got used for $3 about 7 or 8 years ago. Only problem with it is, It was made to decap and flair on stage two!

I consider the Hornady sizer to be junk, the flaring die is fine, and it came with a Taper Crimp die which I can use on many 9mm & 38 sized cartridges. I think the crimp die is with the 380ACP tool head.

Ivan

 

[Chubbs103]

The problem went completely away when I went to a first generation RCBS carbide sizing die I got used for $3 about 7 or 8 years ago. Only problem with it is, It was made to decap and flair on stage two!

RCBS has an adapter that allows running their standard de-cap pin in the sizing die of those old sets. Call them up and I bet they can help you out.