decapping stem adjustment

[webrx]

The stem on my decapping/resizing die moved, so, I reset the stem to flush as described in the instructions

I Feels like it bottoms out on the primer pocket, and the stem wants to setup about 1/16 of an inch above flush

I snugged it up pretty good and it continues to move up that little bit on the first resize or it kind of feels like it is flexing the primer pocket if I lock it down so it cant move from flush.

Is there a better method for setting depth on the stem? i.e. snug it up but not so tight it cant move, run it into a case, let it self adjust, and then tighten? Or, measure how far the pin extends beyond the bottom of the die and set it at a specific depth?

Any help is always appreciated.

d

 

[witchhunter]

Adjust it so that it just pops out the primer. Run your ram up so that the ball is still in the brass neck and lock it down then. This will keep it centered in the die.

 

[webrx]

Thanks, measuring the decapping 'extension' I am getting about .25 extending below the die. I read that 3/16 should be enough to decap so being at 4/16 I am pretty sure this stem has either been replaced or is just too long to be seated flush with the top of the die.

My reloads chamber and decap, so, I think I am going to leave it at this and try it a while before I mess anything up.

thanks again.

d

 

[Archie]

Like witchhunter said, just so the primer comes out cleanly.

If the decapper stem is too deep, one can bend it, or worse. I once broke a Lee small "C" press as a result. It probably doesn't do anything good to the brass, either.

 

[ants]

First clarification, is this straight-wall pistol/revolver/rifle? Or bottle neck rifle?

Bottle neck rifle mandrel must be adjusted so you don't size down the neck and expand the neck at the same time, that's bad juju.


Does the mandrel (the decapping stem) also expand/flare the case mouth like old-fashioned dies, or just decap? If also the expander, adjust the mandrel for the amount of case mouth expansion you want, regardless of how deep the decapping stem goes.


For ordinary modern sizing dies where the mandrel stem only decaps straight wall cartridges, just adjust it so it cleanly pops the spent primer out of the pocket as the other folks mentioned above. No need to go any deeper. That 3/16" measure is usually from bottom of die body, not bottom of cartridge case. But you can adjust as necessary to avoid bottoming out on the case web.

 

[webrx]

Thanks,
The .25 measurement I took was from the bottom of the die body,

These are Lee dies, for 243 bottleneck cases, and I did lube them

d

 

[Reloadron]

Thanks,
The .25 measurement I took was from the bottom of the die body,

These are Lee dies, for 243 bottleneck cases, and I did lube them

d

That would be correct, you want the decapping pin to extend about 0.250" beyond the bottom of the die.



You do not want the rod supporting the decapping pin crunching into the case web.

Ron

 

[Morrey]

Good info, Ron. A quick and handy tip I saw was to adjust the pin tip to extend below the die body the width of two quarters on top of each other.

 

[Reloadron]

Good info, Ron. A quick and handy tip I saw was to adjust the pin tip to extend below the die body the width of two quarters on top of each other.

Good convenient example and that would work. Two quarters, that would be Fifty Cents so I have to wait till my social security comes in. Big money you know.

Ron

 

[Morrey]

Good convenient example and that would work. Two quarters, that would be Fifty Cents so I have to wait till my social security comes in. Big money you know.

Ron

Ron, last time I adjusted my decapping pin and needed two quarters as a gauge, I had to borrow them from my wife. I had just spent my last 50 cents on a "Senior Coffee" at McDonalds.

 

[Reloadron]

Ron, last time I adjusted my decapping pin and needed two quarters as a gauge, I had to borrow them from my wife. I had just spent my last 50 cents on a "Senior Coffee" at McDonalds.

That was seriously funny. You hands down win.

Ron

 

[webrx]

Thanks all, and exactly my concern Ron, it felt like the pin was hitting the priming pocket when flush, and I did not want to deform that pocket. All seems to work fine now that it is adjusted at .25

d