WCChapin | Expanding the Options – Testing a “Stepped” 45 Auto Powder Through Expanding Insert
William C Chapin
There’s been quite a bit of renewed interest in “stepped” expanding inserts for LEE Precision Powder Through Expanding Dies recently. TinMan and I have been discussing some of the previously available and upcoming options – including the inserts that I have made in the past.
I have found that variance between individual dies makes it a challenge to make “universal” inserts that work well in any one die (they’ve been made for *many* years) – it seems to be best to custom fit an insert to each die.
I turned this “stepped” expander based on the dimensions of one individual die – and may try it in multiple 45 Auto Powder Through Expanding Dies to test how well it works with others.

I am Curtis from Jackson, Michigan. My firearms interests include shooting, reloading, casting, a bit of collecting, and occasional competitive shooting.
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