Sweet! I like it.
New Auto Breech Lock Pro
- Thread starter Rule3
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LiveLife
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OK. Testing done for 124 gr FP bullets - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-affect-on-oal-variance.833604/#post-10779640
RealGun
Member
I note that on my Pro1000, which is what bds is using for testing, mine also setup for 9mm but not run for nearly 10 years into my revolver phase, the case is supported by the shell plate rather than any subplate, as on the Hornady. I can make the shell plate rock enough to feel it with just my finger. I think it runs on bearings.
LiveLife
Member
Actually no.
Pro 1000 shellplate carrier uses offset ram mount similar to the new Pro 4000 (see picture below). When the shellplate is indexing (rotating without load), the bottom of shellplate does not contact the carrier/subplate as there exists a very small gap (the shiny wear circle you see on bottom of shellplate is from the ball bearing which applies tension to shellplate to "lock" into station). But when the shellplate is under load, limit of shellplate tilt/deflection is set by the bottom of shellplate contacting carrier/subplate (either Station 1 when resizing or Station 2/3 when seating bullet/flaring only).
This is demonstrated when sizing effort is harder (which pushes the entire shellplate down) and produces slightly longer OAL while when seating/flaring only (with no brass in Station 1), OAL is shorter.
No, the shellplate carrier is firmly mounted to the ram but the shellplate 'free-floats" inside the carrier attached to the center hub that hex "action rod" goes through and when you rock the shell plate, you are feeling this play. If you look at the picture below, there is no bearing the shellplate/center hub turns on as they were meant to "free-float" when there is no load on the shellplate.
So it's the top of carrier surface that is providing travel limit for the shellplate which determines the OAL variance of the loaded rounds.
Advantage of mounting the ram under Station 1 where resizing takes place, although more effort is applied on the ram, bottom of shellplate under the brass being resized contacts the carrier/subplate limiting further travel, theoratically will have less affect on tilt/deflection of the shellplate. Whereas, progressive presses that mount ram under the center of shellplate can tilt using the subplate as the fulcrum.
The new Pro 4000, which also off-set mounts the ram under Station 1 (with long case slider), looks to use similar principle but until we actually load some rounds, we won't know how much OAL variance the new press will produce.
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RealGun
Member
Since reloading is a hobby in itself, and I already own many of the items that would hang on the new press, I went ahead and placed a backorder for the new press. Funny, on the same day I shipped my Loadmaster to someone who wanted the challenge of making it useful and to play with the various mods.
LiveLife
Member
I already placed my pre-order along with shellplates.Well, that's at least two "beta testers" for the new press we have here.
Looking forward to testing the new press.
GW Staar
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I'd rather be number 500. Waiting to hear back from you two.
I am interested in this offset ram business.....would that allow for more flex on the bullet seating side? Must not matter?
RCBS Pro 2000 is dead center.....I thought all the progressives were....Now how many are offset over the sizer?
I am interested in this offset ram business.....would that allow for more flex on the bullet seating side? Must not matter?
RCBS Pro 2000 is dead center.....I thought all the progressives were....Now how many are offset over the sizer?
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LiveLife
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Pro 4000 won't ship until April
But it will be my birthday present!
But it will be my birthday present!
1KPerDay
Member
I may order one also. Best thing about this new press is they apparently gave up on the gravity-feed primer chute system from the Pro1K, which has been giving me fits. I'm about ready to give up on it. I'm getting about 20% failures after doing all the recommended mods, using CCI primers. It's kinda not worth the hassle.
Maybe I'll do a bds and start pre-sizing and priming on the LCT and then finish loading on the Pro1K. Not sure if that would actually save me any time or effort over just finishing the process on the LCT or not.
/hijack
Maybe I'll do a bds and start pre-sizing and priming on the LCT and then finish loading on the Pro1K. Not sure if that would actually save me any time or effort over just finishing the process on the LCT or not.
/hijack
LiveLife
Member
1KPerDay, 20% failure rate is not acceptable.
Sent you a PM to help you troubleshoot primer feed issue with Pro 1000.
Sent you a PM to help you troubleshoot primer feed issue with Pro 1000.
Well, that's at least two "beta testers" for the new press we have here.
I'm on the fence. I've stated in a couple threads I can barely keep up feeding 3 different 9mm. This would help. Maybe not a best choice for a first progressive. I guess progressive could be debated, but supposedly closer than my current turret.
BDS does such nice write ups I may wait and have him tell us the good and bad.
I feel myself getting sucked in. I've got plenty of Lee stuff I could outfit it quickly.
Jeff
thomas15
Member
That was quite interesting and a lot of clever little ideas involved. It was hard to tell from the schematics as they rotated the views
1. Now I know that that strange notch in top of the upper platform is for
2. Interesting way of rotating the shell plate and how the Index Rod is retained
3. Clever way to tighten the shell plate in a small press
4. The case pusher looks cleaned up, compared to the Loadmaster, but still wondering is it uses the same case feeder system
5. Haven't quite figured out how the primer feed works (is attached) yet
6. Answers my question about the strange looking piece (Case Ejector) that looked incomplete
7. How the Spent Primer Tube is attached isn't what I expected at all
8. If this roller is anything like what Lee has offered previously, I'll be replacing it shortly. Hopefully Inline Fab will offer an Ergo handle for this press.
Looks like this could be an interesting project to disassemble to clean up the flash and polish
RealGun
Member
4. The case feeder assembly works fine on the other presses.
5. Wouldn't we expect that it would be very much like on the turret?
7. Strangely negative. Doesn't it work?
8. Yes, if it is Lee it must be crap, right? Of the several Lee presses I have/had, none had a roller handle, so this is an upgrade.
I have had one of each press Lee makes and none of them required any flash removal or polish.
Like Walkalong, I deprime, size, and then clean the brass. Then, I prime off of the press using a hand primer. In my case, I started on a single stage breech lock Challenger press, got into the habit of it, and then when I got a LCT, simply continued the practice. Clean brass is easier for my poor eyesight to detect flaws, by depriming and sizing on the single stage, I also keep the dirt and primer grunge on a easy to clean single stage. I'm sure that it is slower, less efficient, etc. but when I reload, I prefer it to be a relaxing and fun activity.
The benefit for me is a easier operation when actually loading powder and bullets so that I can concentrate on those and the additional station lets me put a powder checker die as well.
I'll probably get the new press down the road, if nothing else, for reloading 9mm and perhaps .223.
That would leave my LCT for rifle and lesser used pistol rounds.
I thank the other posters above for giving things to think about regarding OAL, etc. I've always found 9mm to be more persnickety to reload especially as 9mm chambers in pistols seem to vary a bit.
For myself, I actually like the old Lee round ball handle as I have arthritis in my fingers and wrists and the round ball is easier for me to grasp than a roller type handle when the arthritis is flairing.
The benefit for me is a easier operation when actually loading powder and bullets so that I can concentrate on those and the additional station lets me put a powder checker die as well.
I'll probably get the new press down the road, if nothing else, for reloading 9mm and perhaps .223.
That would leave my LCT for rifle and lesser used pistol rounds.
I thank the other posters above for giving things to think about regarding OAL, etc. I've always found 9mm to be more persnickety to reload especially as 9mm chambers in pistols seem to vary a bit.
For myself, I actually like the old Lee round ball handle as I have arthritis in my fingers and wrists and the round ball is easier for me to grasp than a roller type handle when the arthritis is flairing.
LiveLife
Member
These ultimately are the essentials to pursuing a happy hobby ... relaxing and having fun.
All the available reloading presses and tools in different colors are simply ... reloading toys we get to play with. If resizing separately and priming off press make reloading relaxing and fun, that's what matters.
As long as we are having relaxing fun, what does it matter what toys and how we play with them?
And if we are producing more consistent rounds that result in greater accuracy, even better!
These ultimately are the essentials to pursuing a happy hobby ... relaxing and having fun.
All the available reloading presses and tools in different colors are simply ... reloading toys we get to play with. If resizing separately and priming off press make reloading relaxing and fun, that's what matters.
As long as we are having relaxing fun, what does it matter what toys and how we play with them?
And if we are producing more consistent rounds that result in greater accuracy, even better!
BDS,
I particularly appreciate your experiments that improve our knowledge of reloading techniques and their effects on accuracy. I always learn something from your posts. Thanks.
Over the years I modded how I did things to keep it as enjoyable as possible. I hated priming on the press, and I don't mind hand priming. I also think hand priming does a better job for me, maybe not others, and plenty of people prime on progressives with no issues, but for me, I'll continue to hand prime. I also liked having the sizing out of the equation when loading, and it showed advantages as well. So for me, that is the way to go.
YMMV
Have you had a chance to work with the new one?
Don't know, haven't seen one attached to the new press
Why "strangely"?
Haven't heard if it works yet. I thought it would handle spent primers as they are handled on the Classic Cast or the Classic Turret, but the manual, linked above, makes it more akin to the RCBS RC with 3D printed catcher. That was a deciding factor in my going with the Classic Cast over the RCBS.
It appears to be similar to the handle that comes on the economy model turret and the Pro-1000. Having used both of those presses, and considering their position in the Lee lineup, I wouldn't characterize them an upgrade .
The Ergo handles from Inline Fabrication are certainly an upgrade to just about any factory handle being offered
Either you have been very lucky or you are willing to accept the factory offerings.
I liken it to folks who are satisfied with a factory revolver because they have never been exposed to one which had been tuned. What they perceived as a smooth trigger stroke was perceived by myself as gritty...it was just a matter of how discerning or demanding the owner is. I don't own any revolvers which haven't been tuned, but it is a product of how I was introduced to handgun shooting
I understand that "good enough" really is for some people. But at the price point of this press and the ease of performing a little cleanup prior to use, I don't see a reason to not do it...especially if you enjoy it
someguy2800
Member
I was just reviewing the quick start guide. I believe the spent primers go down through the ram about half way down and exit the back of the ram into the plastic chute, so it will still have through ram primer catching, just not going all the way through the bottom. The last picture in the startup guide shows the top plate made of 3d printed polycarbonate and the pictures on there website are a solidworks rendering so it looks like they are still working out the final details as the parts in the manual appear to be pre-production pieces.
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