ric426
Member
My current setup is a stock Lee Pro1000 (say what you will, it's all I have and for the most part I like it) with .38/.357 dies and Pro Auto Disk. I like the Pro1000 but have lost faith in the priming and charging functions and am having expanding and seating issues.
With Speer 148gr. HBWC's I can't get the Lee expansion die set to where I can start the bullet into the case straight enough that I don't have to guide each one into the seating die by hand. Plus, there's enough lead shaving that it causes problems with build up inside the seating die. Believe me, I've tried every set up and adjusting procedure I can find.
Is there something like a Lyman multi-expanding die that will allow easier bullet placement and reduce the shaving and still work with a case activated powder measure? If a multi-expanding die with solve the seating and shaving issues I'll activate the powder measure by hand if necessary.
I'm already decapping with a single stage press and cleaning first so that I can keep the dirtiest parts of the process in the garage and out of the house. I quickly lost trust in the priming system on the Pro1000 and starting priming by hand. Now, after dealing with a squib yesterday, I've lost all confidence in the Pro Auto Disk and am considering changing my reloading procedures to the point that I'll basically be doing everything in single stages in batches of 50 or so. Here's the revised procedure I'm thinking of and would welcome any suggestions and/or critiques from those with more experience.
1. Decap with single stage press.
2. Clean
3. Prime by hand
4. Size, expand and charge on the Pro1000 if I can find a die that will multi-expand and charge simultaneously. If I can't multi-expand and do case activated charging, change to a better powder measure that will handle small (2 -2.5 gr.) charges reliably and activate it by hand.
5. Remove charged cases and place in reloading tray for inspection before seating.
6. Seat and crimp on single stage press.
About the only thing "progressive" would be sizing, expanding and charging in one pass, but at this point I prefer confidence in my ammo over speed and convenience.
Any comments, criticisms or suggestions?
With Speer 148gr. HBWC's I can't get the Lee expansion die set to where I can start the bullet into the case straight enough that I don't have to guide each one into the seating die by hand. Plus, there's enough lead shaving that it causes problems with build up inside the seating die. Believe me, I've tried every set up and adjusting procedure I can find.
Is there something like a Lyman multi-expanding die that will allow easier bullet placement and reduce the shaving and still work with a case activated powder measure? If a multi-expanding die with solve the seating and shaving issues I'll activate the powder measure by hand if necessary.
I'm already decapping with a single stage press and cleaning first so that I can keep the dirtiest parts of the process in the garage and out of the house. I quickly lost trust in the priming system on the Pro1000 and starting priming by hand. Now, after dealing with a squib yesterday, I've lost all confidence in the Pro Auto Disk and am considering changing my reloading procedures to the point that I'll basically be doing everything in single stages in batches of 50 or so. Here's the revised procedure I'm thinking of and would welcome any suggestions and/or critiques from those with more experience.
1. Decap with single stage press.
2. Clean
3. Prime by hand
4. Size, expand and charge on the Pro1000 if I can find a die that will multi-expand and charge simultaneously. If I can't multi-expand and do case activated charging, change to a better powder measure that will handle small (2 -2.5 gr.) charges reliably and activate it by hand.
5. Remove charged cases and place in reloading tray for inspection before seating.
6. Seat and crimp on single stage press.
About the only thing "progressive" would be sizing, expanding and charging in one pass, but at this point I prefer confidence in my ammo over speed and convenience.
Any comments, criticisms or suggestions?