How to set up handgun reloading dies
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- In this video I’ll show you how to set up new handgun reloading dies. It is fast and easy, if you know what you’re doing.
Mike Beliveau links:
Patreon - / duelist
Website - mikebeliveau.com/
I wish I'd had a video like this when I started loading 9mm. I bought a Lee kit and a lee manual. I highly recommend the lee book. I really helped a lot. I also recommend getting a bullet puller because you will need it to correct mistakes. I also recommend GO SLOW. Take your time, check your rounds, pay close attention to every single detail until you get comfortable with the process. I never had a bad round in all the tens of thousands of rounds because I took my time.
Lee put out a book years ago called the ABC's of reloading, a fine book for beginners and all levels for reference. It's not a loading manual, but about the process
@@independentthinker8930 I was not aware of that book. Thanks for the heads up. When I got started I had the reloading manual and I used a lot of online videos. CAUTION: when looking up info online check as many sources a you can find. There's a lot of great info out there but there's also a lot of bad stuff.
100% If I was to do it again I would have done much differently.
Wish I had a video like this 40 years ago when I started handloading! Am still using my original Lee Classic single stage press that I bought at the Berlin Rod and Gun Club in West Berlin in 1982. Started out handloading 44 magnum for a Super Blackhawk in 44 magnum that I also bought at the Rod and Gun Club while stationed in West Berlin, still have that pistol, also still using the original Lee dies I bought at that time. Best money ever spend. Now I handload for over 16 calibers using mostly Lee equipment with a few RCBS die sets.
Whether I've needed help starting off as a novice with my new Uberti blackpowder pistols, or setting up for my first time reloading 45 Colt with my Lee Die Set, I find your videos extremely informative and easy to understand. Please keep them coming.
Excellent, I am a reloader, but this is still of interest, there is always a tip one can use or an opinion one can find of interest .👍🏻
I talked to a guy about four years ago that said I would eventually get into reloading. Still haven't taken up the hobby. I think about it now and then, but just don't want to make the commitment. The work is too tedious, and I just have a feeling that I won't pay attention long enough to get every cartridge right. I still enjoy watching these videos because there may be a day I just might buy a single stage press and give it a try. I doubt it, but you never know. Glad you're feeling better Mike.
Get a lee hand press see if you like it start with pistol its more forgiving 😄
I’ve been reloading for years. It’s always good to review the process for setting up the dies and adjusting everything by making a dummy rounds to spec. Great video. I’m glad to see you are feeling better and the covid didn’t treat you badly. I had a mild case last July and also recovered quickly.
Thanks!
Thanks Mike. Good video for the beginning reloader
Nice to have a refresher course. Especially with the adjustment of the seat and crimp die. I have a Lee single stage that utilizes their "Breech Lock" system. Easy to change the dies, but one forgets how to adjust them after a while.
Thanks!
I hate setting new dies 😬😬🥴 i gotta 50-95 wcf i gotta set 🥴🥴🥴
@@Bucky1836 I feel your pain. I have a .50-70 set that I need to dial in.
@@duelist1954 but hey...i gotta 50-95 1876 rifle 😎😎 peak flex 😎 ....is it wrong to ponder a 50-70 lever action 🤔 im suprised they neved made a 38 lc 41 colt 44 russian and 45 schofield lever gun 🤔 but it could have been more trouble than worth 😅
@@duelist1954 oh you ever mess with 44 evans in your travels ? 🧐
Great video, Mike. When I started it was all trial and error as it was for you I am sure. You gave any new person a great head start.
Also, I think this type of videos are needed more then ever as many gun stores and most box stores don't have a person there that know how to do things like this.
Tip - I make a mark in the Knurled part of the die, also on the bullet seating adjuster, to give me a reference point for when I have to adjust the dies position.
My vote is to go into the tips and tricks of the oldest and most obscure black powder cartridges. You cover some items here but do more on like the 44 WCF and issues with different brass. Starline is the DeFacto standard now but is thicker than R-P brass, this can require different expansion, seating and crimping. In fact all the older WCF cases have peculiarities. Then there are the Colt rounds 32, 38, 41, and 44 with heeled bullets and varying case length. Old balloon head cases and their different shell holder requirements and the effects of mercuric primers on older brass. I think you have a wealth of subjects to cover and you are well suited to do so.
Id love to see a 44-40/44WCF video like this with tips and tricks, another one is to crimp in a different step instead of with the bullet seating die! Learned that one the hard way
Despite having a good selection of loading manuals, books, etc. already on my reference shelf, it's really nice to see it presented in a video as well.
Thanks for posting your tutorials.
It's great you're keeping those old guns going. New loaders might want to check their rounds with a vernier caliper. Glad you're recovering.
Thanks!
Thanks this type of video is great for folks like myself that are trying to get started with reloading.
Great to see more tutorial content! I really like seeing how different reloaders start their die setups. Good to know you're doing better!
Thanks!
Glad that you are feeling better Mike 🤧👍👍
Thanks!
thankyou...that was more helpful than any other reloading demo I have found on CZcams...PS love all of your vids
Good video
Glad you are feeling better
Thanks!
Watching a thorough reloading vid like this always makes me wonder about the next change over to the polymer casings...
Thanks Mike! Great video. Learned a lot.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Best damn video I have seen, thank you I am just starting and have the classic Lee press and dies and will be reloading pistol ammo starting with 9 mm. Your explanation is easy to understand and the video work is spot on. I have the Lee 4 die set that I bought 4 year’s ago- I know , and it has older locking ring but just ordered the new rings, they come in 4 varying colors.
Just used your dummy round method for my new 45 colt hollow point load. Wish I would have done this years ago. It’s super easy to seat a bullet to far or give an accidental large crimp. No need to mess with loose powder when pulling bullets or in the past crushing cases with a primer in it.
I’m glad it worked out for you.
I’m fighting COVID too. Glad to hear progress from you.
Thanks!
Thanks for all the great videos. My favorite gun is the 1861 Colt conversion.
If only I could have found this video months ago. Would have saved me a ton of trouble.
Wasn't expecting you to upload this week, Mike. I thought you'd be out of action for a while. Great that you're on the mend. Thanks very much.
Thanks!
Nice to hear you've feeling better. This series is instructive. Thanks for breaking this down for all of us!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
@@duelist1954 keep doing these they are great for beginners i send lotta people to your channel to learn 😃
@@Bucky1836 Thanks Justin.
@@duelist1954 😇🤓
I love your videos sir, I have been collecting equipment to cast round ball, semi auto pistol and rifle and load my own ammo. I am fascinated by the whole process, love it. Your videos have helped me so much, yours is 1 of 3 channels that I have notifications turned on, I never get tired of them and I always learn from them.
Thank you so much, keep them coming!
This was exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks.
Sir, I really appreciate your video. I’ve learned a lot from your videos over the last 10-12 years or so, when I really got into black powder and 19th century firearms.
Glad to hear you are felling better Mike, one day at a time buddy.
I just picked up a second-hand Lyman setup at a great price, I just need to learn how to use it. This video answered my most basic questions and I now at least know where to begin. Thanks for the great explanation!
Thanks Mike I enjoy your videos, glad you are feeling better.
Great basic video. Takes me back to my ABCs of Reloading by Dean Grennell when I started in the mid 1970’s. Hay Mike, a future subject might be firearms care in the “pre-peteoleum” era. Our founding fathers didn’t have Hoppe’s #9 or Break Free, but their front loaders needed plenty of care.
Loved the video - keep them coming. I am new to this field and appreciate all your help. I will begin with the Lee Deluxe Pistol Die 9mm LUGER set.
Good video for die setup. I’ve been reloading since the1960’s, and have had occasion to instruct several beginners in the craft. The single hardest thing for a beginner to understand in setting up pistol dies is the relationship in the seating die between the bullet seating stem and the crimp shoulder. The procedure outlined here is great, and if followed should eliminate any chance for a problem.
Thanks!
This is a great video for folks getting into reloading. Thanks for taking the time . I have been reloading for 20 years but still enjoyed this
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
Great stuff Mike!! Would love to see more!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Excellent as always !!!
I picked up an H & R or Hopkins in 32 S & W a couple years ago. I bought my supplies then has sat idle.
Very helpful as always - keep it up sir.
Have a wonderful day.
Thank you, Mike tips are always welcome.
Thanks!
Good job. Happy to see you on the mend
Thanks!
This is the best video ive seen for setting up dies.
For me a great refresher class. THX Mike.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
This was great Mike! I'd like to see more 101 type videos and anything else on reloading you feel like doing. Glad you are feeling better!
One of the best videos i have seen, especially for new loaders. Great job!
I'm a seasoned reloader but still love reloading content of all experience levels. Mostly i like seeing others setups for bench ideas.
Great intro video. I love Lee's equipment for beginners. It is inexpensive, good, and all the parts you need to run are in the box. Like their turret press. If I didn't start with a single stage I wouldn't even own one.
This was greatly informative. I have considered reloading but was afraid of screwing it up. Thanks very much.
Just wanted to say I glad to hear you are recovering Ok from being unwell. It can be an unpleasant illness as I know from my own experience. All the best and keep on shooting.
Thanks!
Great info as always, especially for those of us who have never done reloading, thanks!
Excellent information, Mike, thank you very much. I had the edges of a couple of cases crumple, and I thought it was because I over-flared the case mouth, but now I see I had too much crimp. So much to learn!
Thanks Huge
Great tutorial! Enjoyed being refreshed on setting dies.
Yes, yes more please. Great video, thanks for the information.
You teach many subjects very well. 👌🤠👍
Thanks James
I am one of the types that likes the long detailed explanation. I watched the whole thing, in normal speed (not 1.5X, etc.) even though I am a seasoned reloader. I guess I’m not the only one who fits this category, as I can see in the comments.
If I want to give someone an introduction to reloading (not at my bench) I’ll send them here!
It’s nice to watch a seasoned reloader with no mistakes in the reloading process, instead of the newbies who are excited to reload but make potentially dangerous errors or omissions at their bench. It’s awful how many of those there are online, and countless make the most dangerous mistake of all and incorrectly state that one does not need a reloading book. Augh!
I actually learned something here, too. Whenever I set my Lee powder through expansion die, I always lock the die ring at every trial of die depth. It’s really an annoying method. I don’t know why I have been doing that, when I only need to lock it down when I have the appropriate flare. I guess because it feels tighter when raising the ram, but I saw you hold the die in place when raising the ram, when you were still fine tuning the flare. Once you had the right flare, you locked it down.
I think you forgot to mention one thing, though. Since you were crimping at the same step as seating the bullet, did you forget to mention that when doing it like this, you need to ensure that all the cases are the same length? That’s not necessary with the Lee Factory Crimp Die, as I am sure you know, which is what makes that particularly inventive die so awesome.
I really liked this video, as well as your other long format videos, thank you!
thank you for this great video. I would like to get back to reloading but unless you know a secret some of us can't get primers or powder to do much reloading.
Excellent tutorial, my friend
101 on pistol crimping using 4 die sets and also something on setting up "auto droppers" on the lee 4 turret (plus maybe discussion about powders for it).
...wish you were around in 1974 when I got back from the Army in Germany with my Rockchucker and taught myself everything for loading for my S&W Mod 29 (both mag & spl)
I've always used Lee! Started with a turret press.
Great video, thanks! I just started out and this was excellent...
excellent teaching video. thanks
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. I had Covid also and it was just a bad cold for me, took about 2-3 weeks to feel normal
I'm glad you're feeling better.
Immensely helpful, thank you very much.
Great stuff, Mike. I always enjoy your videos, and this included some nice refreshers and tweaks for me. I especially liked the crimping advice. And, of course, it’s great to hear you’re on the mend.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
Thank you sir for making this video hopebyou get well soon!!!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Great video, Please make more, very informative Thank you!!
Thank You, Yes, please more of this!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
@@duelist1954 I lookt the Videos every week, Vou make them perfect, I can smell the smoke of black powder, even across the pond!
Good video, keep them coming. I am just starting to reload (inherited my Dad's old stuff) and need the info. I was glad to hear that you are doing better and to see a new video so soon!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
I like all your videos . Your flint lock fowlers are my favorites . Your guns of the Texas Rangers , your swords , your holloween special , are U.S.A. treasures !
NOW I understand how a turret press and associated dies should work!!! I do have a favor to ask though. Assuming you own one or more of them, could you go through the process of reloading any given handgun or rifle cartridge with the Lee Hand Press? I've dabbled, off and on, in handloading since the early 1970s but have never had the room to really get into it. Now that The Lovely Bride and I have our own home in our beloves home state of South Carolina, I have a smallish room that I think would make for a decent "reloading space", but I'm somewhat limited by finances to either the Hand Press or a turret press set up at best. I'm a visual kind of guy when it comes to understanding how some things work and I trust you and your videos to give me a clue. Thanks for yet another excellent video! Take care and I hope you feel 100% better soon.
Try this czcams.com/video/FAAbpjYs_G0/video.html
Yeah that would be excellent I have several suggestions but I'm sure you'll probably cover them anyway, 357 Magnum 38 Special and my all-time favorite 4570. Now I've been told if you single shoot 4570 that they don't really need to be crimped but if you lever-action shoot them then they do need to be crimped because of course they would bump each other in the the tube and possibly come loose anyway look forward to more on loading thank you so much I learned an awful lot from you I really do appreciate it. Only thing I don't really understand is you don't really answer questions two individuals but that's okay I'm still learning from you. Have a great day stay safe and keep your powder dry!
Terry, I answer a lot of questions I get here, on email and FaceBook. If I missed yours I’m sorry.
When I started reloading on 1974 everyone msde both standard AND Magnim dies...had them until 2002 when I lost most of my dies..I miss them even if they were plain steel dies
.
Good one mike! Very helpful
Absolutely brilliant, always a cracking video..... best on CZcams. Thanks Mike and im glad your feeling better 👍
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Great video. Thanks.
Excellent tutorial thank you
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Lee stuff is great, and all made in the US. Not many of the other makers can say the same. They are cheaper because their engineers are smarter and design with utility and efficiency.
Outstanding video yes liked it very much please do more like this
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Thanks for the video
My hand loading mentor told me about the “dummy rounds” but I rarely see anyone else mentioning it. I always make 3. Two for testing and (hopefully) the third to put in the die box for future reference. Of course it’s bullet specific. I don’t always use the same press, so that sample dummy cartridge can save me time on setting up dies if I switch presses. It also a good reference for COAL, a taper crimp measurement, etc. When I set up a sizing die for neck sizing in a bolt action rifle, I can label the sample for that specific rifle and it makes setting up the neck sizer easy.
I must respectfully disagree about all dies being pretty much equal. I have purchased 2 Lee dies. The finish on the contact surfaces is rougher than other brands. Do they work? Yes. However, I have certain preferences after trying dies from Lee, Hornady, RCBS, Redding, Forster and Lyman. For a new pistol cartridge I get a Lyman 3-die set plus a Redding crimp die. Lyman dies sets cost a bit less, and they come with their special expander die that simply does a better job. Also Lyman includes 2 seating stems that seem to cover all of the bases, plus a shell holder. The Redding Profile crimp die combines a taper crimp with a roll crimp so it’s more tolerant of variances in case lengths.
For bottleneck rifle cartridges, the Forster Bench Rest Seater simply is a better mousetrap. There’s a floating sleeve inside the seater die that mimics the inside of a chamber so it does a great job of seating bullets on center with less runout. Redding makes a die that uses the same expired patent but it costs more.
Great video
Brilliant !!!!
Wonderful video and great instructions.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
.32 S&W Long is the only thing I reload besides shot shell's.
Good to see you on the mend.
Interesting to see a 101 tutorial.
How much difference is there between bp and smokeless in terms of fps and lb/ft reloaded using same type of projectiles etc.
That depends. B-P is constrained by powder capacity. Smokeless is only constrained by how much pressure the gun can withstand.
That's pretty cool
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
My Dillon 550C, at station 2, expands the case AND drops the powder on one stroke. No need to remove the case until it's finished.
Nice video Thank You
Yes, more reloading obsolete cartridges videos would be great.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Great vid very informative 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Excelent video! But, what is the advantage to seating and crimping in two separate steps?
Thank you!
ever use the classic sets from Lee? great value when starting out and when doing a low volume caliber loading!
Grew up using them on dads press table they are good 😄 esp at range or in field
Dad had me reload pistol ammo with the classic set its fun 😄made me appreciate the press more 😅🤣
I have a Lee pro1000, it's a nightmare if its not super clean and you realy have to know how it works, I have an old Lee 3 hole turret press and that is the one I like the most, leave the helix rod out of the midle and turn it by hand and the 4th factory crimp die is in the rcbs single stage press, I never use the primer thing in the turet, I use a handheld primer setter because you can do it faster with it and you realy feel if a primer doesnt want to go into the case.
Newer reloader here. In the lee instructions that come with a die set they tell you with the resizing die to screw in the die with the ram all the way up until the die touches. Then back off the ram and go another 1/4 to 1/3 turn with the die. It works but that last little bit of stroke on the ram is rough. Should I back off until they just touch then?
That's what I do, and it works fine.
I think the idea of the extra 1/4 turn is to protect the mechanism of the handle and ram from being stressed or damaged. That is, you stop pushing on the handle when the shell holder meets the die and stops. This prevents the moving parts of the press from being jammed hard together. Obviously you don't want to push on the handle past this point since this would damage the press or die, defeating the purpose of the technique. Note this applies for straight wall cases but not necessarily for bottle neck ones.
Thank You!!
Thanks!
Great!
Excellent
Thanks!
I've found Lee dies more forgiving, when trying to get the case mouth right for .45 auto on my Hornady dies, I ended up belling quite a few.
Explained as only the duelist 1954 can do! Thanks!!
Great video very educational 👍
What is your powder charge for this caliber?
Would be interested to hear how you deal with developing loads/powder charges for both black and smokeless powder in the same cartridge (where applicable and safe).
I have a video where I show how I determine the correct black powder load for a bullet/case combination.
czcams.com/video/cKaT8NsJlq0/video.html
For the smokeless load I check the reloading manuals and use this procedure
czcams.com/video/DTCnzcWBywE/video.html