Help! 1st time newbee thinks I've really screwed up

[offthepaper]

Oh man!
I'm trying to make my 1st reload of 9mm (or anything else for that matter) using a Lee Aniversary kit. I think I've screwed up royaly at step 1. I'm using carbide RCBS dies and a LEE #19 shell holder. I thought I folllowed the instructions that came with the kit (they seem rather vauge to me). I set up the first die and adjusted it ti where it just touched the shell holder, and tightened doen the allen screw in the locking nut. I placed the spent shell onto the shell holder (it just sits loosely on top of the ram?), and lowerd the handle to remove the old primer. Now the case and shell holder are both solidly stuck inside of the die and I can't get it out. Should I pry to try to free it, or is there another way to release it??
I didn't use any lube because the Lee instructions said not to use lube with carbide dies. Hsave I ruined my new dies?

 

[Griz44]

Where are you? Sounds like you need some 1 on 1 to get you going.

 

[ir3e971]

did you slide the shell holder into the slot on the ram? or did you just set the shell holder on top of the ram?

 

[offthepaper]

I live in Belair Md.
I can't believe I may have damaged my equipment on the 1st pull of the lever. :banghead:

 

[offthepaper]

I just sat on top of the ram. I was a little confused about that, but the instructions from Lee were 2 words-"install shellholder" with a finger pointing at the press. Like I said the instructions seemed vauge. I didn't see how the shell holder would lock onto the ram.

 

[waverace]

Tap the handle of the press lightly with a block of wood it should come out .
Then back the die out slightly , might be a good idea to squirt a little case lube up into the die , just a little ! also make sure that your brass is clean use a tumbler or else the grit and powder residue will make em stick . good luck .

 

[ir3e971]

To clarify, the shell is in the die. Is the shell holder pinned to the bottom of the die while attached to the bullet or actually inside the die?

The ram should have a slot that the shell holder base slides into horizontally. Does your shell holder have a flat bottom or does it have a portion that comes down with a lip?

You may have used a shell holder for a lee hand primer if it does not have a piece to slide into the slot.

 

[DWARREN123]

Remove the cartridge holder and use pliers to pull the case from the die, should be able to take the die out of the press and it may be easier to remove the case.
The case/shell/cartridge holder is inserted from the side of the top of the ram.
Probably lost this case due to damage removing it but should not damage the die if you go easy.

 

[waverace]

ok looks like we posted at the same time if the shell holder is stuck on the bottom of the case take out the decapper pin and tap it out using a long punch might kill that case but.... then fit the shellholder properly it fits on top of the ram in a similar fashion that the case fits in the shell holder (unless your using a shellholder for a lee hand primer that wont work!!)make sure the shell holder has a spigot underneath it not just flat.

 

[offthepaper]

Tap the handle of the press lightly with a block of wood it should come out .
Then back the die out slightly

the handle isn't stuck, the case and shell holder are jammed into the die. The handle is back to the start position, but the case and holder are stuck in the die.

 

[ir3e971]

WaveRace probably has it then. Loosen the smaller nut on top of the die to remove the decapper pin.

 

[dreamer56]

Best advice in this thread so far - get some 1 on 1 advice - find someone who has reloaded previously - I had/have a mentor and his years of experience are invaluable and he has saved me hours of frustration I am sure - 9mm is high pressure and you want to get it right -

patience -

keep smilin'

 

[waverace]

yep ill second , reloading can be dangerous follow instructions to the letter till you get some more experience , I learned from friends its so much easier than reading a book

 

[offthepaper]

Ok,
I've loosened the small nut on top of the die and that released the shell holder. I can turn the threaded screw to raise/loer the decapping pin, but it doesn't seem to want to come out.
also yes, my shell holder is flat on the bottom, but their what came with the kit.
The case is still stuck in the die, how can I remove the decapper pin the tap out the case?

 

[SASS#23149]

most decappers come out from the same end the shell is stuck in..at least mine do.
got a vise? or a strong riend with good pliers?can he grab the case while you pull hard on the die?It should come out without too much of a struggle.
did ur shell holder come with a die set ? or with a 'kit' of shell holders.If it's the 'kit',it's the wrong shell holder.

 

[offthepaper]

did ur shell holder come with a die set ? or with a 'kit' of shell holders.If it's the 'kit',it's the wrong shell holder.

It came as a kit, included in the Lee aniversary kit. I'm still pulling with pliers, but it seems stuck really tight.

 

[SASS#23149]

here is what a regular shell holder looks like..the small part on the botttome snaps into the lock ring on tope of the ram.
if yours lacks this detail,the shellholdes are incoorect.

 

[glocksrfugly]

The shellholders that come in the Red plastic box with the Anniversary kit are for the Lee Auto-Prime hand priming tool. They will not fit on your press. You can buy a RCBS shell holder separately, #16 for 9mm luger.
One of the nice things about the Lee die sets is they come included with the appropriate shellholder in their three and four die pistol sets. Most of the other companies they are sold seperately(the other companies die sets are usually more expensive too..go figure!).
I did almost the same thing when I first got my Anniversary kit like "how the heck does this shell holder fit on this press?" finally it dawned on me that the shellholders supplied were for the hand primer only.

 

[offthepaper]

#$%#^%!!
No mine are flat on the bottom. I'm starting to think I'm screwed with this die.

 

[offthepaper]

Glock

I did almost the same thing when I first got my Anniversary kit like "how the heck does this shell holder fit on this press?" finally it dawned on me that the shellholders supplied were for the hand primer only.

That's exactly what I've done.:banghead:

 

[308sc]

unscrew the die, remove shell holder. raise ram...screw die in and try to get the case into the shell holder so you can pull it out.

 

[SASS#23149]

He has the wrong shell holders,they won't clip into the ram,otherwise that would work.
UNLESS he has both sets on hand?
or can get the right one tomorrrow,and slide it into the ram and onto the shell at the same time.

 

[jr_roosa]

If you put the die back in the press and raise the ram to the top, you should be able to simultaneously slide an RCBS shellholder onto the rim of the case and into the slot on the ram. You just have to line it up right.

Once you do that, you should be able to pull the case out without much effort. It's really hard to pull it out without the mechanical advantage of the press.

If you goober up the case rim, it might no longer fit into the shell holder, so I'd hold off on the vise and pliers approach. You can't reload until you get the right shell holder anyway.

Also, if you take the shell holder with stuck case with you to the place you got the reloading gear, they can probably show you how to install the shell holder and pull the case back out using one of the display presses.

Think positive! You screwed up in one of the only ways that doesn't involve losing fingers or ruining your gun.

I'd second having somebody come over and show you the ropes. It only takes one go-through to demystify a lot of how the process should go.

Good luck and be careful.

-J.

 

[evan price]

I would put the whole mess into a vise, then use a pair of Channel-lock pliers on the case head to twist, tug, and pull the stuck case out of the die. You will ruin the 9mm case, but those are literally a couple pennies, don't worry about that.

As long as you don't go chewing on the end of the die, you will be just fine, carbide and tool steel are a lot harder than brass.

You need to buy a set of shell holders that are for the PRESS. The ones you have are for the Lee Hand Primer tool. Lee dies come with a shell holder in the little plastic can that they come in; otherwise, check eBay for a set of shell holders, make SURE you get ones for use ON THE PRESS not in the Hand-primer.

Good luck, this is just a minor setback, not a major deal, and if you really, really can't get this fixed, you can send the die to Lee who will fix it for a fee. Don't take it too hard, you'll be loading in no time.

 

[offthepaper]

I got it out!
I put it in a vise and yes, very much goobered up the case rim and hammered, pryed, pulled and spoke many words I would never want my mother to hear me say.
My sincere thanks to all with advise and yes after making the purchase of new/correct shell holders I will seek out someone to give me a live demo before making another attempt.
I'm sure I will enjoy the loading aspect of the shooting sports once I see it done correctly. Everyone else who loads (correctly) sure seems to enjoy it.
But man, tonight has not been fun.
Again thanks to all.