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

[LiveLife]

Got an email reply back from Calvin on inline bullet feeder/rotary magazine product launch and stepped "M" style powder through expander R&D:

Hello John,

We are shipping the first Inline feed dies out now. They are shipping with an aluminum cap and a flyer to contact us for a new cap in March. The nylon cap will be required for compatibility with the Magazine feed.

Continuing to try to get together "M" expanders, seems like there are bigger fires right now unfortunately. I am still spending a little time each day on it but not enough to make serious headway. Hope to make more progress soon!

Calvin Katzfey
Lee Precision​

 

[wannabefree]

I am confused, What do you mean by the needing a plastic cap for the magazine feed. Are you referring to the rotary bullet feeder . It looks like you can use a single tube feeder for now.
Also do you know if they are shipping these to retailers yet or only inhouse customers online only.

 

[LiveLife]

What do you mean by the needing a plastic cap

Cap is the threaded "cap" that holds the internal spring as shown in white 3D printed part in the picture

looks like you can use a single tube feeder for now

Yes

do you know if they are shipping these to retailers yet or only inhouse customers online only.

You would have to contact customer service.

 

[Gillie Dog]

The eagle has landed.

Titan has kits and dies only in stock as of this morning.

GD

 

[wannabefree]

Yep , I received an email notice today from Titan. Good price but shipping seems a little steep @ $16.49 to Ca. I might wait until Midwayusa has them with free shipping over $49.00. Even with shipping Titan is cheaper than Lee online though.

 

[GW Staar]

Yep , I received an email notice today from Titan. Good price but shipping seems a little steep @ $16.49 to Ca. I might wait until Midwayusa has them with free shipping over $49.00. Even with shipping Titan is cheaper than Lee online though.

I added 2, a .40 and a .45 in my Midway Shopping cart.......the final price with free shipping is $80 minus a few pennies. 9mm,.357 size is out of stock of course. Now I just have to decide whether that's worth being a guinea pig one more time. Not like I don't have those in 3D printed feeders already .... that work great......

I do love Lee's steel and internal spring.....it's only money?

My feed and seat in one station coupler attempt does work for rifle.....but they don't seem to make 'windowed' seating dies for pistol after all. Disappointing.....

Now if Lee could start making windowed seaters for pistol.......... Not holding my breath......

Pictures of the rifle die coupler final configuration:

 

[curlysir]

Ordered 3 Kits - .35, .40, .45. Just got shipping notice. Good service from Titan.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Ordered 3 Kits - .35, .40, .45. Just got shipping notice. Good service from Titan.

They were out of the .45 kits by the time I cold get to the site. However, I could order the .45 die and the large magazine separately

I received an email notice today from Titan. Good price but shipping seems a little steep @ $16.49 to Ca.

$18.95 on my order. Ordered the .35 kit , .45 die and large magazine

 

[Bartojc]

Out of the .35 kits today .

 

[2 Horse]

Ordered 3 kits, should be here on Monday. Waiting on the new "M" style case expanders to
be released, any news LiveLife ?

 

[LiveLife]

Waiting on the new "M" style case expanders to be released, any news LiveLife ?

Still in R&D phase and I am waiting to test the next version.

 

[GW Staar]

Still in R&D phase and I am waiting to test the next version.

None of my RCBS "M" style dies, leave marks inside like the Lee prototype. I think they left too sharp an edge. But I'm sure they will fix that in the next stage. They just gotta hit the edge a little.....If I had the prototype, I'd put in in my drill press and hit that edge with a fine file or maybe 400 grit sandpaper....probably would try the sandpaper first.

Below, is the RCBS Rifle "M" die on the left side of the picture.....then the rifle bullet feed die on the right. Their Rifle Tube feeder product comes with both.

I'm putting all my efforts with the bullet feed/seat coupler now on this feeder with the Gold Medal Window seater....to feed and seat in one station. I couldn't find ONE pistol window seater anywhere. Oh well. 223 is working pretty well, next I'll try .308.

I hoped to try Lee's new inline bullet feeders on this 2fer concept. But again no windowed seaters for pistol.....that I can find.

 

[LiveLife]

If I had the prototype, I'd put in in my drill press and hit that edge with a fine file or maybe 400 grit sandpaper....probably would try the sandpaper first.

I am beta "tester" not "engineer"

 

[9mmepiphany]

Titan, actually the USPS, says mine will be here in 2 days. Figure I'll yank out the Powder Check die when I get it set up. I've been pretty happy with the consistency of the powder drops with my Autodrum...dropping 4.2grs Clays under a 200gr SWC

 

[curlysir]

Just receive mine today (3-27-2023) 35,40, and 45 Kits . Unboxing and getting ready to install and test drive it. Currently have the DAA Mini Mr.Bulletfeeder which works fine. The bullet tubes have a smaller footprint which I like. More details to follow.

 

[Tilos]

None of my RCBS "M" style dies, leave marks inside like the Lee prototype. I think they left too sharp an edge. But I'm sure they will fix that in the next stage. They just gotta hit the edge a little.....If I had the prototype, I'd put in in my drill press and hit that edge with a fine file or maybe 400 grit sandpaper....probably would try the sandpaper first.

yep, just adding a few lines of G-code to the program to break the sharp edge is all that's needed.
A close look at the profile of other brand "M" expanders will show this.
not a big mystery...
jmo,
.

 

[R44 flyer]

Just receive mine today (3-27-2023). Unboxing and getting ready to install and test drive it. Currently have the DAA Mini Mr.Bulletfeeder which works fine. The bullet tubes have a smaller footprint which I like. More details to follow.

Hope you can start a new thread.

 

[curlysir]

Up and running. So far I like it. Set up was relatively easy. Instructions are not the best. I have only done a short run but so far no problems, works as good as the Mini Mr. Bulletfeeder at half the price. The bullet magazine is smaller in diameter and fits the press better and does not interfere with the primer tray. All metal construction except for the feed cap. Only complaint so far it that the bullet magazine has a sloppy fit on the die, I put a single layer of thin metal tape on the die and that helps. Trying to find a nut or something to screw on to the magazine locator bolt that goes through the feed cap to secure it better. Have had no problem with double feed or failure to feed yet. Adjustment was easy, screw it down uptil the bullet drops and than another half turn is working so far. That is my Two Cents' Worth based on a very limited run. I am loading 357 Sig using the 35 Caliber Kit.

 

[Gillie Dog]

Up and running. So far I like it.

Same here. Set it up per instructions including which holes the balls go in for length of bullet. Ran 100 each 9mm random range brass as a test, just NOE "M" die and Inline Bullet Feeder. No missed, dropped or leaning bullets. All stayed in place indexing all the way around to drop into bucket.

And 35 kit came with yellow tubes for 30 cal feeding with the 30 cal die (I just happened to order just a die) and medium magazine along with the clear tubes. Nice touch.

So far so good.

GD

 

[9mmepiphany]

Was surprised to get mine this morning also. Interestingly the Kit comes with two sets of tubes, while the magazine I purchased separately for .45" (because they were out of the .45 kit, but not the parts) only comes with one set. The .45 magazine has four tubes with each holding 20 Brazo 200gr SWC bullets. The .35 magazine has five tube with each holding 20 147gr RMR Matchwinner bullets. The Feeder die holds 4 bullets.

Though the instructions weren't very detailed, I thought they were clear and pretty straightforward. Got them both, .35 and .45, set up on different presses and the only thing that took a little "figuring out" was the fit around the other dies. The SPP is pretty tight to begin with and the Spline Drive bushings take quite a bit of rotation (compared to the Hornady bushings) to install...wanted access to the tension screw on the lock ring during adjustment.

Once set up, I loaded 80 .45ACP rounds up with very few tipped bullets. I think my expander needs to be increased a bit. But the bullets dropped straight and they tipped due to the abruptness at the end of the plate rotation (not as bad as a Dillon 650/750)

I mounted the .35 kit on my Hornady LNL AP. Was very happy as bullet drop is at the front where is was very easy to see into the case to check powder before the bullet dropped. The kit worked even better with the jacketed bullets securely being placed in the casemouth between stations

On the whole I'm pretty happy with my purchase

 

[9mmepiphany]

Only complaint so far it that the bullet magazine has a sloppy fit on the die, I put a single layer of thin metal tape on the die and that helps. Trying to find a nut or something to screw on to the magazine locator bolt that goes through the feed cap to secure it better.

I noticed the same issue. It is due in part to the active tube (the one feeding) and the location screw/pin being on the same side of the magazine. I certainly won't be adding my 36" tubes to this...just not stable enough. I tried a nut I had on the locator pin and it didn't work as the pin is too close to the threads of the die.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it as I hope to have an electric collator feeding bullets soon...which will also address the tight fit issues

 

[curlysir]

I noticed the same issue. It is due in part to the active tube (the one feeding) and the location screw/pin being on the same side of the magazine. I certainly won't be adding my 36" tubes to this...just not stable enough. I tried a nut I had on the locator pin and it didn't work as the pin is too close to the threads of the die.

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it as I hope to have an electric collator feeding bullets soon...which will also address the tight fit issues

I found out that you can NOT just put a nut on this screw because during bullet feeding the middle part of the die has to go up - DUH . I put a nylon cap nut on the screw and discovered I was bending the arm on the die cap during operation. I plan on putting a spacer on top of the bracket for the location screw, I have ordered some nylon spacers and will experiment with that method plus the cap nut on the bottom of screw which hopefully will stabilize the magazine and not interfere with the movement of the die.

 

[Gillie Dog]

Interestingly the Kit comes with two sets of tubes, while the magazine I purchased separately for .45" (because they were out of the .45 kit, but not the parts) only comes with one set.

The way it appears is only the medium magazine uses "large and small" tubes for different dies/diameter of bullets, all of the others only use one "size" of tube. Nice they send both sets of tubes with medium magazines even in the kits.

GD

 

[GW Staar]

Only just a little jealous that you guys are already playing with these, only just a little because I am busy with the RCBS rifle ones for a few days. But I'll get around to ordering them.

Though the instructions weren't very detailed, I thought they were clear and pretty straightforward. Got them both, .35 and .45, set up on different presses and the only thing that took a little "figuring out" was the fit around the other dies. The SPP is pretty tight to begin with and the Spline Drive bushings take quite a bit of rotation (compared to the Hornady bushings) to install...wanted access to the tension screw on the lock ring during adjustment.

On that note I can relate.....the screw tight bushing I'm using on my feeder die wouldn't give me the tight presentation I needed. Was thinking about adding a shim so it would tighten sooner, but just for kicks I decided to try another, hoping the threads would not be started in exactly the same place. WORKED! So now you all know.....if one won't tighten in exactly the right spot you might want to try another bushing sample, if only to get the set screw a direction where you can tighten it.

Remember I showed you guys the autobody door handle remover tool I have from early years.....I really didn't think I'd use it that often, mostly because it can mar the pretty anodized colors on the spine nuts. But I have needed it so often on the crowded Six Pack, I've decided I don't care that it mars them....too handy and means I don't have to take other stations a part to get at another. At least it doesn't show up on the silver ones!

Showing the vid again in case people don't know what I'm talking about....

 

[Gillie Dog]

Only just a little jealous that you guys are already playing with these, only just a little because I am busy with the RCBS rifle ones for a few days. But I'll get around to ordering them.

I'm printing an adapted drop tube now.........

GD