Ok! Stupid Reloading Question; Lee Dies

[GLOOB]

Easy solution for Lee sizing die:

Size a case, hold the lever down, and tap on the top of the decapping pin with a hammer until you see the primer fall out. That's when you know the decapping rod is set correctly.

If the pin slipped for no reason, tighten it using two wrenches. But chances are pretty good that there was something wrong with the last case you sized. It might have had an offcenter primer hole, berdan primer, rock in the flash hole, or sealed/crimped primers. So give it a try before you tighten it up anymore. The pin is DESIGNED to slip when there's something wrong.

 

[Reloadron]

will they work in this press?

Yes, with the exception of dies like 50 BMG all dies that are current new production have 7/8 - 14 threads to mount on the press. Dies are a matter of personal taste pretty much.



Each set of dies have their good and bad points as far as the hand loader is concerned. I like RCBS but also have and use plenty of Lee dies also. I like the allen set screw on the RCBS lock nut and I like being able to replace the decapping pins. A word to the wise is regardless of the dies used, always have a spare decapping pin or rod (RCBS / Lee).

Ron

 

[FROGO207]

I leave the die in the press and gently tap my Lee decap rods down as well. I just tap them down using a BRASS punch to avoid damage so that about 1/8 inch is sticking out and try it. If the brass or a blockage is not the problem and the rod pushes up again then tighten more. Note, that the rod will self adjust if pushed in too far. These instructions are for Lee dies only!

 

[Elkins45]

I've never broken the pin on a set of Lee dies. The collet has always done its job. I have broken the pin on RCBS and Hornady. That's one of the reasons I prefer Lee resizing dies.

My experience with the new Hornady dies is that the zip spindle doesn't work---it's either too tight and the pin breaks (or the rod bends) or it slides up with every moderately tight primer. I've had two sets on Hornady dies and neither decayer would find a middle ground where they worked as intended.

 

[JamieC]

Looking at the picture in the first post, the de-priming pin is poking out the tightening nut at the bottom of the picture, there's your problem.

 

[notaglockfanboy]

I am definitely having fun once I get chugging with it.

Careful, you are liable to get hooked on reloading if you start having too much fun. There is no cure for the addiction!!!

 

[Grim Peeper]

I'm on to bell necking the cases and primering them. One question I've had all along was is it important that with the hand press that you set you dies depth so the the handle does al the way down or can you just let the dies contact and stop each other because it seems like it's working fine like this. See link to pic.
http://i.imgur.com/TFGCy2Bl.jpg

 

[rcmodel]

If the press has a stop, you should use it for consistent sizing & seating.

rc

 

[Grim Peeper]

I mean that it can either stop when clamp edges meet or when the dies hit the base of the bullet guide and does it even matter?

 

[Lost Sheep]

will they work in this press?

Yes, RCBS dies will work in the Lee Press (and vice-versa). virtually every die set uses the same thread size. Lyman, Redding, RCBS, Lee, Hornady. But none will work substantially better than the Lee dies. In a few cases, the length of the die body might give problems, but this is vanishingly rare.

Yes, DO clean the cases before resizing. Any grit on the case will leave scratches, which does not help the case strength. They don't have to be pristine clean, just free of all foreign material. I always felt a little soot (clean soot) waslike graphite lubrication, but did not actually measure the difference in effort. When I started shooting and reloading I just wiped my brass down with an old t-shirt, terrycloth or paper towels. My brass was ugly, but shot well. Now I hve a brass tumbler that leaves then very clean and shiny. Ammo is prettier, for sure, but does not shoot any better.