broke lee 223 decapping pin

[trigga]

i was decapping and resizing some 223 cases the other night and came across a berdan primed 223 case. I accidentally bent and broke the decapping pin. before i order a new one, just to be sure is this the right product? it looks about right.

i'm ordering an extra just in case...

http://leeprecision.com/223-ez-x-exp-decapper.html

 

[cowtownup]

That looks right... Order 2... LOL

 

[Hondo 60]

Why not call Lee?
They may send one free & that way you'll know for sure you're getting the right part.

 

[rcmodel]

When you get the new one.

Don't tighten the collet lock so tight.

The rod should slip before it breaks unless the collet was too tight to let it slip.

rc

 

[trigga]

yeah i think that was what happened, i tightened the collet too tight. i thought it was a stuck case for a minute.. just ordered two.

 

[Xfire68]

I will second that! I am surprised you were able to break the Lee decapping pin.

 

[Schwing]

I am not surprised that it broke at all. When I first started reloading, I did not know about military crimped primers etc. I had a 3 pin pack and broke 2 of them the first time I used the bloody thing. A quick Google search helped me wise up and lighten the collet up substantially... Here it is a long time later and the third pin is still running strong

 

[plodder]

Happens to me occasionally. I pick up range brass and my eyes aren't what they used to be. Sometimes a Berdan case or two gets into the batch.

I ordered up 6 of them from Lee the last time. That should last me a while.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's almost impossible to break a Lee decapping pin if adjusted correctly. The collet is designed for the shaft to slip before the pin breaks as long as you don't over tighten the nut.

 

[RussellC]

I have broken NUMEROUS Lee decapping pins. The little Unbreakable set that comes with the brass holder, usually black in color is the worst. They have no collet to tighten. I have never had one go more than 5 or 6 cases without failure.

The universal decapping die set is way better is way better, but I have broken 2 of these. The strongest one seems to be the one in the sizing die, I used it to finish a load of 1000 military .223 brass, after breaking 2 unbreakable ones, and the one in my universal decapper.

No problems with pistol brass...trust me, with military brass, at least .223 they are fairly easy to break, bend whatever. I buy them several at the time. Like others have said, its a balancing act on how tight to tighten it. Too loose, and you will have to stop several times to loosen, push back down, re tighten. Too tight, it will break or bend, then you have to remove, replace, retighten.

Russellc

 

[dickttx]

I have broken two in my sizing dies.
Take a photo, attach it to an email to Lee and one will be in the mail the next day.

 

[moxie]

Photo not even needed. Just call and they'll send a few for free. Very friendly.

 

[greyling22]

It's almost impossible to break a Lee decapping pin if adjusted correctly. The collet is designed for the shaft to slip before the pin breaks as long as you don't over tighten the nut.

that whole adjusted correctly thing is the sticky part. Most of the dies I have from the factory are overtightened and break before they slide. After breaking 3 over the years I moved to adjusting every die set that I open.

Lee needs to give the guy at the factory a shorter wrench.