odd issue with my press/loading today

[scythefwd]

OK.. I'm running some pre-tumbled but not decapped brass through the dillon today.

I'm using a Dillon RL550 and RCBS 9mm dies, varied headstamps.

On a few.. and i mean a few, like 5% (too high), it feels like I complete the stroke, but no decapping happens. I am paying attention to the clink of primers, so I've caught it pretty much every time. I needed to do a second strok and they decap just fine and prime like normal (no extra effort required).

It seems to be random head stamps doing it.

Yes, I have plenty of decapping stem protruding, these primers dont look like they were even attempted to be decapped..

any suggestions?

 

[Blue68f100]

Sounds like the primer is sticking to the pin. I've had this happen many time before. Remove the de-priming pin and polish the end. I put a slight dome on it too if it does not have one.

 

[scythefwd]

I dont see how it would be able to reseat the used primer though if that were the issue.. These still look like a freshly fired case.. fully seated in the pocket still

I do plan on pulling it apart and cleaning everything tonight though...

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I don't decap on my Dillon, but it would seem to me the only way you wouldn't show some sign of the decapper hitting the primer is that you didn't complete the sizing stroke or you don't have the primer pin extended enough to remove the spent primer. Also, aren't you getting a double powder dump in case you moved to the next station?

 

[TBH]

Make sure your sizer die is adjusted correctly. I had this problem before, but never when die is correct and using quality brass.

 

[scythefwd]

Parker, no as it would overflow my case. I feel the problem when trying to seat a new primer, so I remove that case in station 2 and run the ram again

Tbh, the mouth of the die is just off the shell holder on the platform, about 1/8th turn backed off from touching at full extension, and decapping pin is extending well below that.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Parker, no as it would overflow my case. I feel the problem when trying to seat a new primer, so I remove that case in station 2 and run the ram again

And the decapper removes the spent primer the second time you run it up? If yes, then is has to be that it wasn't ran all the way up into the sizing die the first attempt. Were these piece crimped? If yes, they could be getting stuck in the primer pocket and when you try to insert the new primer it is pushing the spent primer back into the case. If you figure it out please let us know.

 

[scythefwd]

Parker.. Could be a possibility... I caught two by the lack of spent primer falling out...

Yes, invariably it pops out on second run through

 

[Lafitte]

Does your shell plate come all the way up to the base of the size die? I am making the assumption that you are using Dillon dies. Dillon dies "pre-load" the decapping pin the push the primer out. If the dies are not fully adjusted to touch the shell plate, the "pre-load" alone may not push the primer out. (Sequence, pre-load, push primer out, snap: the snap pops the primer off of the decap pin.)
Other brands do not use the pre-load spring, sequence will not apply.

Confused?
Lafitte

 

[scythefwd]

Rcbs dies.. No spring.. Just good old steel rod through and through. Normally I decap before cleaning on my Lee with a universal decapped. The crud I'm seeing on the used primer chute, primer slides is enough to justify the continuance of that process to me.

Looks like I get to pull the conversion kit out and clean it with some solvants and relube it tonight.. Man them.spent primers make things dirty

 

[gamestalker]

I've had that happen before, but in every single instance it was caused by the decapping pin not being adjusted down far enough, and always with Lee dies, cause of that collet style decapping assembly getting pushed up.

I can't stand those Lee resizing dies. And I know a lot of reloaders like them cause they help prevent bent or broken pins. But in all the years I've been reloading, I've never bent or broken one anyway, so it's just an annoying design for me to deal with. I've replaced all but one die with RCBS, I've just got the 9mm left to dispose of. But I do like the expander / belling die Lee has, because I can charge my cases in the press.

GS

 

[41 Mag]

I have the same issue and only with 9mm, about one in 30-50 pieces using mixed cases.

I think that this is quite possibly whats going on,

Sounds like the primer is sticking to the pin. I've had this happen many time before. Remove the de-priming pin and polish the end. I put a slight dome on it too if it does not have one.

With mine the primer sometimes does as yours does and is fully reseated, sometimes it is hanging down just enough not to allow the shell plate to turn.

I'm using a RCBS 4x4, and Lee dies. The sizing die is set just touching the plate with the pin sticking far enough down to clear plate and the bottom of any case by plenty. I usually try and separate my cases by headstamp but I still end up with a bag of mixed cases that I use for blasting ammo at the range so I don't have to root around in the grass to find them.

I'm going to pull the pin and see if rounding it off might help out. Hadn't thought of that being an issue, figured it was just some of the off brand cases I was using.

 

[joem1945]

Blue68f100 has it correct IMHO. Happens to me quite a bit until I replace the decap pin with a smooth new one.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Check to see if the collet holding your decapping pin is loose. It will cause the pin to miss the center of the anvil and go beside it.

If it's not loose than just adjust the pin lower. I have had these issues and ended up using a RCBS universal decapping die (spring loaded punch pin) to punch them out. It never misses. I punch them out before I clean them so the primer pocket get's cleaned also.

Don't know what the difference is but it works. I use a Hornady LNL-AP and had the the same problem with 9mm.

 

[scythefwd]

well, I pulled it apart. everything looked fine.. reassembled and reset the die, time to see if it works now...

Edit #1 - still sticking a little bit

Edit #2 - I think Blue was right after all. I've checked the decapping pin into my drill and ran it against a 1000 grit Arkansas stone, we'll see if I still have issues later. It is shiney on the tip and a little back at the side now.. I dont see any sharp edges to catch either.. just hope I didnt over do it on the stone... Really didnt believe ya man, but I gotta give ya the props, looks like that might have been it. Havent done enough testing to 100% check, but I can see how it could be now.. Was paying a LOT more attention to the primers popping out today when running it..

Edit 3 - did about 50 rds.. and after the first fine tweak of decapping rod, perfect running. Had to do a bit more polishing on that decapping stem than I expected..