NOE Expanders for Auto Cases

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Hey All,
Question about using NOE expanders on auto cases: Specifically 9mm w/358 bullets and 45ACP w/452 bullets. Hopefully, using 360X356 and 454X450 plugs in a Lee Universal Expanding Die. Are expanders NOT designated “Auto Pistol” too short to bell these cases? I load auto cases for Blackhawk revolvers.
Thanks for your help!

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[arthurdalcorso]

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Some clarification: I don’t own any NOE’s expanders and hope they will solve a problem. My goal is to use 358/452 bullets in 9mm/45ACP cases in Blackhawk revolvers with the extra auto cylinder. Hopefully, light loads in small cases, using bullets of the right diameter for the chamber mouths/bore, will be more consistent/accurate than in the larger 38/357 and 45 Colt cases. My 9mm expander doesn’t expand cases enough and the 357 expander won’t reach the case. Also, the 357 expander won’t fit in the shorter skinner 9mm die.

So the question: Do you need expanders designated “Auto Pistol” to reach short auto cases? If ALL expanders are long enough to reach short auto cases, the 360X356 and 454X450 expanders might be the solution. If you need auto pistol expanders to reach the short case, I’ll need to keep searching.

Please let me know if this isn’t clear!

UPDATE 4/17:
Got a set of expanders including:
360X356 (P) to load 358 bullets in 9mm
453X449 (P) to load 452 bullets in 45 ACP

The question was, would expanders made for 38/357 and 45 Colt expand and bell shorter auto cases. They do just fine.

There’s a problem with cylinders for these two Ruger revolvers though. If bullet shoulders stick out of the case at all, they won’t seat. Chamber throats must be too tight. Even factory rounds won’t chamber unless bullets begin tapering at the case mouth. Need to push bullets deep, being careful not to compress powder. Might eventually have chamber mouths opened up a bit. This seems to be a common issue with Ruger cylinders.

Comments/suggestions?
Thank you

UPDATE 4/19: There may be other issues loading .358 bullets in 9mm. Tried some dummy rounds and they dropped right into the 9mm cylinder after running through a Lee carbide factory crimp dies for 357 mag. (Don’t own a 9mm FCD.) Looked better too. However, bullet lost neck tension. So, need a 9mm FCD and will fiddle more with this “project” then.

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