Lee case collator 9mm upgrade

[Shadow500]

I just made a video that shows how to improve a Lee case collator so that 9mm cases fall into the feed tubes with the proper orientation.

Before this simple upgrade I would usually get 4 inverted cases per 100. After the upgrade, I haven’t had an upside down case since (several thousand cases)

Here is the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm3sK3qE05M

Chris

 

[Eric F]

good job thanks

 

[wally]

I don't think you need this if you follow the instructions Lee provides. Looks like it also needs a lot more shaking and slows down the feeding of the tubes too.

I grab a handful of empties and roll them around the edge of the collimator like I was starting the ball on a roulette wheel while shaking the tubes and repeat one handful at a time until the tubes are full.

--wally.

 

[Shadow500]

I was still getting some inverted ones using that method. Perhaps I was not rolling them around the ridge correctly. This method works for me.

I will try your roulette suggestion, If I can make it work, I'll post a video.


Update: I tried several times and could not get any better than two inverted cases per 100 cases.

Can you post a video of the roulette method? I really want to learn this method.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[evan price]

I just watch the cases as they come into the case slider and pick out any that are upside down.
Simple, quick, easy. KISS in action.

 

[PsychoKnight]

Wish I didn't delete the pic when I sold the LM - but I had a solution also. The problem was keeping the cases out of the entry holes until they had a chance to slide in butt-first.

I took a 3" acrylic disc from a local plastics shop (every major town has these, just don't see'em cause they are often in the industrial areas). Drilled a 1/4" hole in the center. Spun the disc onto a standard length brass toilet anchor bolt (because I just happened to have on around, you can use a regular 1/4x2 brass or stainless st round top or hex bolt). Then spun the disc/bolt into the center, non-functioning molding hold of the collator. Less than two minutes and works great to place a clear drop-shield about 1-1/2" above the entry holes.

 

[The Bushmaster]

A bit of confusion, but easy to correct...A 1/2" gasket "hole punch" instead of a "center punch"...NEVER MIND...Went back to check on something and noted that he had written in over the video "hole punch"...Missed that...

 

[Shadow500]

For some reason I said center punch instead of hole punch. I tried dubbing in the word hole but It didn't sound too good. So I decided to just add the words "Hole punch" to the screen.

Chris

 

[wally]

Update: I tried several times and could not get any better than two inverted cases per 100 cases.

Can you post a video of the roulette method? I really want to learn this method.

I've only done it with .40S&W cases as that's all I load on my LoadMaster. I have yet to have an upside down entry. Perhaps its 9mm vs. .40 issue or your hands are bigger than mine and you are adding too many cases at once. If a case falls directly over the hole it'll enter upside down if its pointed that way, but if it has to roll over the holes it'll only fall in heavy side down.

The trick as I understand it is to not insert too many cases at once, and to keep swirling the collimator to keep the cases rolling over the holes. Too many cases in it at once will hold some cases vertical and ~50% of these will be pointed the wrong way should they slide over one of the holes instead of rolling sideways over them to fall in.

I almost didn't even install the thing as it looked so cheesy, but I'm glad I tried it, works surprisingly well.

Let me know if using fewer cases per handful helps. I can try to make a video after the Holidays when I'll be taking some time off to have Lasik done.

OTOH its possible I'd have the same issue if I was loading 9mm.

--wally.

 

[FieroCDSP]

after hearing all of this, I thin kI'll stick to hand loading my feeder.

 

[wally]

after hearing all of this, I think I'll stick to hand loading my feeder.

I thought this initially, but try it, it works for me and is time saver. I did manually work the case feeder for the first couple of hundred rounds, partly to get the hang of the LoadMaster press, and partly while waiting for LEE to replace a defective crank slider -- which they did in a timely manner.

--wally.

 

[philbo]

after hearing all of this, I thin kI'll stick to hand loading my feeder.

The collator is the best money I spent after buying my Lee presses. Like you I doubted it could be effective, but after using it once I put one on both my presses.