New Lee inline bullet feeder/rotary magazine for SPP/Pro 6000 - Beta testing

[wannabefree]

I finally got around to ordering a 35cal bullet feeder kit. The first thing I noticed is like others have said its really crowded with all stations full. I had play around with it a lot to get it ti clear my powder feeder and there is almost no clearance on the die lock rings. To me its kind busy looking but so far it seems to work

 

[ReloaderNoob]

Got my 44 die set this morning, everything works as advertised, have set for 223, 300 BO, 35, 40, 44, and 45. Still inclined to use the never-fail DAA mini feeders, but time will tell. Both sure beat the Hornady jam with cast bullet dies!

 

[curlysir]

Got my 44 die set this morning, everything works as advertised, have set for 223, 300 BO, 35, 40, 44, and 45. Still inclined to use the never-fail DAA mini feeders, but time will tell. Both sure beat the Hornady jam with cast bullet dies!

The problem I had/have with the DAA mini feeder is the bullet magazines interfering with the primer holder. The Lee bullet magazine is smaller in diameter and does not interfere with the primer holder. Otherwise I would have stayed with the DAA mini feeder. So far I have not had any major problems, did have to change the balls to the lower hole to prevent an occasional double feeding.

 

[GW Staar]

Having played with Feed and Seating in one station using RCBS's feeder and window seater, and finding it works really well, I've come to the point where I think RCBS and/or Lee is missing a big opportunity.

Since they have their new inline bullet feeders in both rifle and pistol, they ought to start making both rifle and pistol SEATERS with bullet drop-in windows. NOBODY makes such seaters for pistol, they'd have such, all to themselves, and the existing brands rifle seaters with windows are expensive.

What I see in such a move, is giving everyone with plain Jane 5 station presses the effect of have 6 stations, or six pack owners, 7 stations, or ProChucker 7 owners 8 stations! now .... IF one of them were to make a coupler for sale to use them both in one station. My coupler design works, but someone may come up with a better idea, or they are welcome to mine....I won't be patenting it.
It's almost like Lee designed their six-pack sub-plate for just such a thing....it made it almost too easy!



I used a 9mm shell plate (because it was on there) and .223 wobbles because of it....but it stilll works good enough for testing. My hand in the video was to close one of the shell plate "gates" that I forgot to swivel up to the shell plate. I much prefer RCBS's springs to do that.

The following shorter video shows how Lee's sub shellplate, with it's ledge and bolt holes is perfect to support the part that pushes the feeder from the bottom releasing each bullet....almost as if they planned it for that option.



This allows me to use an "M" expander (which RCBS already has, and Lee is developing) on the SixPack.

1: size; 2: prime and "M" expand; 3: Charge; 4: Powder cop; 5: FeedANDSeat; 6: Taper Crimp.....for rifle. For pistol with PTX's you can save another station for pistol....if they'd just make a windowed Seater.

You can ignore the Red printed part.....that's my home-made LED lighting. Does not effect the feeder.

 

[LiveLife]

= Conclusion of "beta testing" =

Remember the R&D sample of bullet feed die and rotary magazine that were beta tested? https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...agazine-for-spp-pro-6000-beta-testing.913099/

With input from beta testing and suggestion for production color choice (All red vs all black vs I suggested doing red and black) along with suggestion for improved documentation/installation instructions, bullet feed die and rotary magazine went to production - https://leeprecision.com/inline-bullet-feed/

Here's the final production sample of .35 caliber (.380 Auto through .357 Mag) bullet feed die and rotary magazine kit Calvin sent (R&D sample in white in back). As I discussed with Calvin, bullet feed die is shipped with locking ring .

I want to thank Calvin Katzfey who reached out to me regarding this beta testing (And other Lee Precision product testing) and John Lee who immediately responded to our THR request for "M" style powder through expander R&D to augment testing of SPP via Calvin (Along with early production issues identified with SPP to resolution) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-through-expander.916523/page-2#post-12709566

I will continue product testing of production model of bullet feed die and rotary magazine in a new thread.

 

[RashQuestion]

Thanks again for all your contributions here @LiveLife !!! Very Helpful!!!

I'm sure it's appreciated greatly by many who visit here on a regular basis!!! I know it works for me!!!

God Bless and thanks again!

 

[LiveLife]

Update: I received my Ultimate Turret Press kit for testing and when I disassembled the .223 bullet feeder die, I noticed the ball bearings that hold the bullet are larger than 9mm bullet feeder die and therefore not exchangable.

 

[GW Staar]

Most interesting! I now have my first Lee inline......in .243 caliber. It also comes with the bigger ball bearings. So it appears Lee has determined the bigger bearings work better for smaller diameter bullets it appears.....I doubt that it's arbitrary. Wondering if anyone other than Lee makes a feeder for that caliber......not that I shoot it as much as .22 and .308, but I already have feeders for those calibers in RCBS, and a .22 in a 3D printed one. All work great as far as I can determine.

For comparison, RCBS only makes two sizes.....both rifle calibers, one in .22 the other .308......four, not two ball bearings, are used in both calibers, 4.5mm diameter. Different design...both work fine.
TylerR 3D printed ones.....most pistol, and even the latest .22 all have just 2 ball bearings 3.5mm diameter.

DAA's feeders use 3 bearings equal distant around the barrel.....but I don't know the bearing diameters.

I REALLY like Lee's internal spring. Cleaner, effective. A real leapfrog over other designs.

RCBS uses no springs...depend only on gravity for function. Works, but easier to lose ball bearings....I know, had to order some. What can I say, I forget a lot of things. External springs work great, but Lee's internal one is simple and clean. Of course steel is superior to PLA plastic, but the printed ones seem not to wear, and the $2 price tag is impossible otherwise.....and if it does wear, in several thousand rounds, one can always part with another $2 to print another. But without a 3d printer, the obvious answer is Lee's new Inlines, no question.

 

[Kaldor]

I REALLY like Lee's internal spring. Cleaner, effective. A real leapfrog over other designs.

This is what I have found too. I have DAA, and 3d printed drop dies. This is clearly a better design and credit where credit is due, Lee has the best product of all the manufacturers right now I feel.
And the price is unbeatable at $36.

 

[GW Staar]

Update: I received my Ultimate Turret Press kit for testing and when I disassembled the .223 bullet feeder die, I noticed the ball bearings that hold the bullet are larger than 9mm bullet feeder die and therefore not exchangable.

View attachment 1196120
View attachment 1196121

Out of curiosity, I looked at Titan's site and found lots of ball bearings:
1/8" D on .40 caliber
2.5mm D on .45
5mm D on .24
5/32" D on .35
3/16" D on .26 and .30
No Diameter spec on the .22 package
All are price $5/bag of four......good for klutzes like me......but TylerR's 3D printed ones all use 3.5mm....and they all work in my testing.

I bought my .243 version for $50 at Lee........Titan didn't have them then......maybe now I don't know, but all of what they do have is selling at $35.25....nice.

$44.95 for the triple 5-tube feeder kit

 

[Gillie Dog]

Most interesting! I now have my first Lee inline......in .243 caliber. It also comes with the bigger ball bearings. So it appears Lee has determined the bigger bearings work better for smaller diameter bullets it appears.....I doubt that it's arbitrary.

Of the 5 LEE inline bullet feeders I have there are 4 different ball sizes, 2.5mm to 3/16" but all are "Pistol Bullet Feed Body" and the "Rifle Bullet Feed Body" feeders look to have larger balls used. 45 Cal uses 2.5mm balls. I bet the Pistol and rifle bodies are all the same and the sleeve and balls change per caliber, just guessing here.

These feeders are a little sensitive to some specific bullets and need precise adjustment to work well as well as changing between upper and lower holes even with cylindrical sides outside recommended length for specific ball locations. Other bullets/shapes of bullets just fall into place with adjustment as stated in instructions. 38 Spl in the 35 CAL die has been trickiest.

But they do work..... So all is good......

GD

Opps, answered back/posted again as I was typing, slowly.........

And 22 is rifle body with 6mm balls. Instructions are on Lee site for all but 44 Cal which uses 1/8" balls.