New Lee ABLP for me!

[tightgroup tiger]

With my method of loading on my ABLP, I run my .357 cases through it twice. Once to resize and they go in the ready container. Then when I reload them I use M-die in station1, PAD in station 2, seat in station3, and taper or roll crimp in station 3. I seat my bullets in station and it is effortless to do so.
That is why I'm interested in the Pro 6000, I could still use my die arrangement and do it in one pass.
I don't shoot as many .357magnums as I do 9mms so I'm only shooting about 100 a week and even with two passes and 500 cases, it's very easy to keep up. In fact sometimes I wish I had more to load.
But I want a dedicated press for 41 magnum so the ABLP would be a shoe in for it. Pro 6000 for .357. That would be a nice setup for me.

 

[drband]

Case feeder mod parts ready late today. I’ll pick them up on Wednesday.

 

[f.g]

youpi !!! I hope you will give us some pictures of your upgraded press !!!

 

[drband]

I picked up the parts. I told the 3-D print guy to use whatever material that would be flexible but durable. He chose carbon fiber-infused nylon. Should be tough. He printed 1 at 100% size and 4 at 99% because I noticed on the maker site the original developer experienced tightness with full size prints. The full size in this material would require much sanding. The 99% goes in the bullet feed tube on the tool head about 1/4 of the way. A little sanding should fix that.
One note, this material feels sort of fuzzy to the touch—probably a result of the carbon fiber component of the material.
Will post pics later.

On to my next appointment.

 

[f.g]

The ideal size of the room is therefore 99% ... I'm saving this information for later!!!
It's a good thing that the material used is a bit soft.
When I had received this piece, I had also sanded it so that it would slide in its place.

 

[drband]

The ideal size of the room is therefore 99% ... I'm saving this information for later!!!
It's a good thing that the material used is a bit soft.
When I had received this piece, I had also sanded it so that it would slide in its place.

The material is not soft really, just seems to have fibers exposed. The pic may help explain. I’ll try to get a zoomed pic that shows.

 

[drband]

Here’s a zoomed pic of the surface of the part.

if you enlarge it you can see the irregular part vs the smoother part I was able to insert into the tool head. Pics follow of the tool head to show where the mod is placed and it’s function. I’m going to sand the cylinder to fit it to go all the way in.

 

[RashQuestion]

drband, Do you have a diagram that you forwarded to your 3D guy that you can share? I would like to try that mod as well! I couldn't find it in this discussion or perhaps, my old eyes just missed it!

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[f.g]

Good drband !!!
you already start upgrading your press!!! If you want the links for other improvements, don't hesitate

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Here’s a zoomed pic of the surface of the part.
View attachment 1107146
if you enlarge it you can see the irregular part vs the smoother part I was able to insert into the tool head. Pics follow of the tool head to show where the mod is placed and it’s function. I’m going to sand the cylinder to fit it to go all the way in.
View attachment 1107148
View attachment 1107149

I don't understand what that is for. It doesn't look like it is attached to the case feeder. It looks like it's stuck down the manual case feed hole. What does it do?

 

[drband]

I don't understand what that is for. It doesn't look like it is attached to the case feeder. It looks like it's stuck down the manual case feed hole. What does it do?

It prevents cases from slipping under the tool head and getting crushed at the top of travel. It is a fail safe thing. I’ve had that happen and it really dented up the slider ramp. @f.g put me onto this mod. (When using the case feeder)

 

[drband]

Updates…
Got time to work on the press a bit tonight. I have been smoothing the case feeding ramp with a fine file but was still having issues with hang ups, so I decided to take the carrier cover/ramp off the press. Lee has a great video on changing the part. You don’t have to unmount the press or disconnect the handle/ram linkage either. They still have written instructions to do that but the video is obviously an update over the written instructions.
With the ramp off, I was able to inspect under the plastic ramp. It was deformed and had a sideways twist that was hanging up the case pusher block. I heated it up with a heat gun and reformed it by twisting it the other way and tweaking it with pliers. 10 minutes of rehab yielded a smoothly sliding pusher/ramp!

I reassembled everything and adjusted the case feeder. I realized the spring has to be anchored in the rear hole in the pusher block to have the block travel far enough to allow cases to drop. Question answered.

Got the case feeder positioned to clear the new part (mod) I installed on the tool head.

Pics follow.

 

[drband]

Mod in place.


clearance is important


part indexes on the tool head/die


top view


all set up again/ready to load

Note the new bracket for the bullet bin mounted on the end of my homemade LCT riser.

 

[drband]

drband, Do you have a diagram that you forwarded to your 3D guy that you can share? I would like to try that mod as well! I couldn't find it in this discussion or perhaps, my old eyes just missed it!

Thanks for the help!!!

@f.g guided me to the web site with the part and file needed. Here’s the link:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4683770


My 3-D print service chose carbon-fiber-impregnated-nylon for durability. It was somewhat expensive @ $12.50 per part. Other plastic types are probably cheaper, but less durable.

 

[drband]

I loaded 50 rds tonight with no issues. My mantra now is “go slow and don’t forget the primer” which I did once and spilled out a powder charge through the bottom of a case!

My new carrier cover/ramp will be here from Lee probably tomorrow or the next day, so I’ll switch it out and be good to go. I’ll keep the old one for a spare and possibly use some JBWeld on the ramp surface to smooth it out.

One observation: I really like the Lee lock-ring-eliminator-bushings! Makes removing and replacing dies a matter of a few seconds while preserving settings.

More later.

 

[Radom Guy]

I loaded 50 rds tonight with no issues. My mantra now is “go slow and don’t forget the primer” which I did once and spilled out a powder charge through the bottom of a case!

My new carrier cover/ramp will be here from Lee probably tomorrow or the next day, so I’ll switch it out and be good to go. I’ll keep the old one for a spare and possibly use some JBWeld on the ramp surface to smooth it out.

One observation: I really like the Lee lock-ring-eliminator-bushings! Makes removing and replacing dies a matter of a few seconds while preserving settings.

More later.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing all that. I know that the tips were from fg, that's awesome of him too. If I were to "do it all over again" I'd be all over that 3D printed part. But as I mentioned previously, I just manually feed cases nowadays, and use my other progressive press.

I had actually tried a completely different 3D printed case feeder that mounts differently to prevent the case ramp crush issue, but it was a bit too finicky for me. Maybe I'll try it again onw day, who knows.

Good luck with the upper carrier plate swap tomorrow. My tips on that are to take pictures before each step for ease of reassembly. Those three little case stays are not all the same, one is different shape. Don't lose the little o rings that go underneath them. Pay attention to where the ball bearing goes and its direction with its spring. Lastly, it will probably look like all the screws underneath the carrier do not need to be removed to replace the upper carrier plate. They all do in fact need to be removed. Actually one more which is probably obvious to handy folks like yourself: screw the screws in slowly and just make them snug. That's important because you are screwing into plastic (if the threads are ruined then you'll need another carrier plate).
Enjoy your progressive!

 

[LiveLife]

I loaded 50 rds tonight with no issues. My mantra now is “go slow and don’t forget the primer”

I really like the Lee lock-ring-eliminator-bushings! Makes removing and replacing dies a matter of a few seconds while preserving settings.

Nice ... Life is good.

 

[RashQuestion]

@f.g guided me to the web site with the part and file needed. Here’s the link:

Thanks for all your help @drband for including the link!!! @f.g sent me a PM for it as well yesterday!!! Thanks!!!

Thanks to all who contribute here! These mods along with others help everyone fine tune their presses, smoothing out each of our loading approaches which makes things easier for all and keeps people in our hobby!!! Helping all of us in the long run!!!

Thanks Again!!! God Bless!!!

 

[f.g]

Bonsoir @drband an other reloaders

you have just added the part named "ABLP case Feeder Adapter" and you will quickly realize the advantage that this upgrade will provide you ...

For an optimal functioning of the case feeder, I had also incorporated reducers to the case collator because they avoid finding cases of 9x19, 38Sp ... in the wrong direction !!! ...

I had also added tube clips to stiffen the case Feeder which was pitching when the tubes were full !!!


Thanks to these three upgrades the case feeder of my ABLP is working at 100/100 without defect !!!

I recommend you these upgrades

Cordialement
f.g

 

[drband]

Still waiting on the carrier cover/ramp from Lee. Not their fault. USPS tracking has the pkg at my local PO out for delivery since Thursday. Maybe tomorrow!

 

[drband]

PO “found” my pkg. out for delivery today!

 

[drband]

Finally received my new carrier cover/ramp from Lee. USPS at its finest. 2-day shipping took 5 days to get to me.

Switched out the part. ABLP is good to go. It’s all smoove operating now. Loading time in my future. But first, UGA/Auburn FB game!

 

[drband]

Note the package insert withe the new carrier cover…

 

[drband]

Loaded a few this morning. I managed to not do anything stupid! Press runs very smoothly as long as I do my part. No spilled powder, no damaged cases, just alot of finished 9mm.

Thanks to all for your tips and encouragement.

 

[RashQuestion]

Loaded a few this morning. I managed to not do anything stupid!

Happens to the best of us!!! Good Job!!! Hang in there, everything gets better the more you work it!!!

God Bless!!!