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Lee .003 under sizing die

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October 31, 2021, 09:27 PM
p08
Lee .003 under sizing die
Ok, I have a Springfield Ronin in 9mm with a super tight chamber. My hand loads will most of the time not chamber properly, but factory is no problem. Will this die make that much difference? It's either that or I have the chamber reamed a red hair?


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Always the pall bearer, never the corpse.
November 01, 2021, 01:11 AM
92fstech
What dies are you currently using? I use Lee carbide dies, including the factory crimp die. My rounds chamber just fine in my EMP4...which I realize isn't the same gun as the Ronin, but they're both SA 1911s....ish. Might be worth giving it a look if you haven't already. I believe you can buy the FCD as a standalone unit.

The only chambering issues I've ever had in any gun using that setup were related to the OAL being too long for some guns with tighter throats, and those were resolved by plunk testing and seating the bullets deeper.

If factory ammo is chambering fine, I definitely wouldn't ream the chamber on your gun.
November 01, 2021, 05:26 AM
sourdough44
I wouldn’t think of messing with the chamber until a very last resort. I’d start with the basics, barrel out, do some ‘plunk’ testing. Try to find out what part is hanging up, resized case or that particular bullet.

The bullet could be a factor, mic them, compare to others. Maybe even a Lee FCD if needed. I’m just thinking properly sized & loaded rounds ‘should’ cycle.

Is the COL correct with that bullet? What bullet? Only one type or any? Not all bullets are the same, even with brass, thickness can vary.
November 01, 2021, 10:41 AM
rmfnla
Have you had the chamber mic-ed?

If it's under spec perhaps Springfield will correct it for you.

I'd rather have the gun be right than chase oddball solutions to a problem that's not that hard to just fix.


*****
Today, my jurisdiction ends here…
November 01, 2021, 03:25 PM
GT-40DOC
If your reloads nearly chamber correctly, I might be tempted to use a dremel and some jeweler's rouge to polish the chamber a bit. It may just have a rough finish in it.
November 01, 2021, 07:45 PM
jdshank
When you reload do you seat and crimp in separate operations?
November 05, 2021, 07:12 PM
sns3guppy
The u-die is what you want. It has the added advantage that you shouldn't be getting any setback once the case is pressed down undersize. Light bell on the case enough to start the bullet, press, and use just enough taper crimp to remove the bell, no more.

If your factory rounds are feeding just fine, then clearly it's not the chamber.
November 05, 2021, 08:42 PM
rburg
One answer or measurement would be to use a micrometer on a fired case (obviously a factory.) It will give you a picture, maybe, of where the problem is.


Unhappy ammo seeker
November 05, 2021, 11:47 PM
Bisleyblackhawk
…Slotted…well worth the extra dollars…lets you see the resized brass first hand Cool…I use them for EVERY round I reload Smile …I think these are a must have for reloaders…but that’s just me Smile

https://sheridanengineering.co...mm-ammunition-gauge/


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"we've gotta roll with the punches, learn to play all of our hunches
Making the best of what ever comes our way
Forget that blind ambition and learn to trust your intuition
Plowing straight ahead come what may
And theres a cowboy in the jungle"
Jimmy Buffet
November 06, 2021, 08:00 PM
sns3guppy
If small batches of ammunition are what you're doing, its worthwhile to use a single-cartridge case gauge. I use a shockbottle gauge to do 100 at a time. It's handy, because a 100 round case fits against it; turn the gauge over, all the rounds drop into the case upside down, Hold another case against that and turn over, and now all 100 rounds are in a plastic storage container correctly oriented, no need to take time putting them into slots...only once for the case gauge.

https://benstoegerproshop.com/...auge-anodized-black/
November 11, 2021, 04:53 PM
Jim Watson
What hand load?
Suggest blacking one and trying to see where it sticks.

If it accepts factory loads, SA will probably tell you it meets specifications.
November 15, 2021, 08:01 AM
Flash-LB
Three different people I shoot with every week own STI handguns and they too have tight chambers.

The Lee die was the answer to all their problems.

Edited to add:

Talked to all 3 and the dies they replaced in all 3 cases were Dillon sizing/decapping dies. Seems they radiused the mouth too much for "easier indexing" and that created a sizing problem for tight chambers.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Flash-LB,