Lee’s instructions can be confusing when it comes to the setup of their pistol reloading die sets. But you need to consider that these dies are used in a variety of presses.

This is our way of setting Lee pistol reloading dies…tried and tested over thousands of reloads.

As always follow safe reloading practices


Handgun Bullet Seating Die Setup.

If you are setting up on a progressive press ensure that your Sizing die is setup correctly.

 

Raise your ram/carrier to the top and hold.

Turn the die in until it touches the shell holder/shell plate.

Turn the die out 3 full turns.

At this setting the die will not add any crimp to the case mouth and only seat the bullet. If you are using a separate crimp die, secure the lock ring or breech lock bushing.

If crimp is desired turn the die in.

¼ turn in should be enough taper crimp for 9mmp. Test to check.

9mmp case mouth should be taper crimped to .380inch. You can crimp a bit more for CMJ bullets but not for Coated Bullets.

Be careful to not add too much crimp. These dies can taper crimp and roll crimp.

Bullet seating depth is set by the adjustment screw on top of the die. See note below.

The die features a floating bullet seating stem that works with most bullet shapes.

480BC Tip- Use one a completed round to help adjust the bullet seating depth.

Place the loaded round in your shell holder/shell plate and raise into the bullet seating die with the adjusting screw turned out.

Turn the adjusting screw in until you feel the stem making contact with the bullet. You can now adjust your seating depth from here.

Your bullet should be seated deep enough to work in your gun.

480BC Tip- Coated Bullets have a bigger ogive than CMJ bullets and needs to be seated deeper so that the bullet does not jam against the lands of your barrel.

Do not seat bullets too deep as you can compress your load.

9mmp is generally loaded to a Cartridge Overall Length between 27mm and 29mm.

Cartridge Overall Length is measured from the base of the case to the tip of the bullet.

 

Notes:

Lee Precision recently released a Handgun Micrometer Adjust Screw for you to replace the adjusting screw on your Lee Precision handgun bullet seating dies.

It works exactly the same as the adjusting screw but you can now record your bullet seating depth to .001” and record any adjustments.