Redding Big Boss II

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Hey everyone. New to reloading here. Just got my bench built and bolted to the wall. Redding Big Boss II is mounted. I have deprimed a bunch a cases using a Lee universal decapping die.

Now it is time to move on to reloading. But I am running into two issues with the press itself. I purchases Hornady lock and load bushings and want to install but I cannot remove the stock Redding bushing. Anyone have experience with this? Do they use loctite?

The other problem I am having is swapping from small to large primer or vise versa. The instructions say to use a paper clip through the little hole on the priming pin. I did that and tried going counter-clockwise but again it can get it to budge. Can anyone advise?

Thank you so much.

 

[918v]

Get a Hornady priming tool, or two.

Call Redding for a custom wrench.

 

[Shmackey]

I think you need a bushing conversion kit to use the Hornady LnL system in a BB2.

 

[TB2Blazer]

I just bought the big boss II and its awesome. To change the pin out for the first time I had to slide the little collet down and hold it with my fingers so I could grip the actual pin and unscrew it with needle nose pliers. I tried for a while to get it off the way you did and it was impossible. After you get it off with the needle nose for the first time and break the seal you can use the clip to take it off. I got tired of changing them out so I went and bought a RCBS universal primer and I'm very glad I did. Its a million times faster and extremely easy to swap out the priming pins.

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

TB2Blazer,

I was gonna try that as soon as I find my needle nose pliers

Thanks for the post. Which size primer cup came installed from the factory on your press?

Like I said I am new to this. I actually think that the primer cup that was installed is the same size as the extra one that was package with the press. I don't know if I got a large and a small one.

 

[TB2Blazer]

My press came with the large rifle primer on it. You can definitely tell the difference in the two just by looking at them. I wanted to prime some .40 with it and tried my best to get it off with a paper clip and it just wouldn't budge. Finally got out the needle nose and got it off. Keep an eye on your primers the large and small primer punch/pin that actually pushes the primers had a very slight ridge in both of them. I couldn't see it by looking at it but when I went to prime I had a crease all the way across the direct center of every primer. I took a very fine file and a polishing stone and flattened them back out and they work fine now but it was a pain. Just a heads up.

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Thanks again Blazer,

Now that I got it off and looked at both more closely I can see what I am doing. The large primer cup was installed by factory. Got small on there now.

Hey, when I put the primer arm in place under the ram (empty without primer) and then lower ram as if I was priming, the cup seems to come up pretty high through the hole in the middle of the shellholder. Is it going to seat my primers too deep? It isn't adjustable is it? Is it going to somehow seat to correct depth?

 

[TB2Blazer]

You will just have to go by feel. Just put pressure on the ram till you feel it stop. It takes a good bit of pressure. You shouldn't have to worry too much about over seating it.