Some more Projector questions

[martinbr]

I picked up this projector press a few days ago and have a few questions. I want to use my Lee dies off my Pro 1000. (9mm). But the expander die is a powder and expander die. So in order to use it you have to have the Lee powder hopper on it to use it. But I want to try the Projectors powder setup instead. Do I have to go out and buy a expander die only? Also in the box came some brass sleeves. I think they go in the powder drop somewhere, but I can't figure out how they go. It's basically the same thing that is in my Lee die powder expander die but has a flare on the top. I am kind of confused here because the instructions are a lot to be desired for detail. I have everything else set up for 9mm and ready to go but the powder and expander problem. Maybe I should just go out and buy a whole set of Hornady dies, but if I could use mine I would rather do that. Any suggestions would be greatful.
thanks,
martinbr

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

"But the expander die is a powder and expander die. So in order to use it you have to have the Lee powder hopper on it to use it."

And you still can, but you have use the Lee Pro Auto Disk to use it. You didn't mention you had this before, but using the Lee powder hopper would be a good choice, as it will give you powder through expansion on that press.

"But I want to try the Projectors powder setup instead."

Then you'll have to use your power through/expander die in the station before the powder measure in order to get case expansion.

"Do I have to go out and buy a expander die only?"

Remember when I posted to you and said if you bought the Projector, if you wanted powder through expansion you'd have to buy the Hornady Case activated powder drop? To get powder through expansion with that press and that powder measure, you'll have to buy the case activated powder drop, an expander insert and then I'm not sure if that powder measure will work with them. You may also have to buy the newer LnL powder measure as well. Hornady doesn't offer a powder through expanding die.

"Also in the box came some brass sleeves. I think they go in the powder drop somewhere, but I can't figure out how they go. It's basically the same thing that is in my Lee die powder expander die but has a flare on the top."

Sounds like case activation parts for the powder measure, but you can give Doug at Hornady Tech Support a call and he'll tell you what those are.

"I am kind of confused here because the instructions are a lot to be desired for detail. I have everything else set up for 9mm and ready to go but the powder and expander problem."

If you want to get going, just use your Lee powder measure and it'll work fine on that press.

"Maybe I should just go out and buy a whole set of Hornady dies, but if I could use mine I would rather do that."

Hornady dies are different than Lee dies and won't help you with the problem. If you want powder through case expansion with that press, you'll have to buy at least the case actifvated powder drop, appropriate expander insert and possibly a LnL powder measure, if that one can't be adapted. So, wiht shipping, $70.00 or so for the CAPD and insert and more if you have to buy the newer powder measure.

"Any suggestions would be greatful."

Use the Lee powder measure since you have it. It works fine and you'll be money and marbles ahead.

BTW, these kind of problems is why I was suggesting you get the LnL instead. It comes with the case activated powder drop and all you'd have to buy would be an insert for 8 bucks or so, which you could have had shipped with the press.

Dave

 

[martinbr]

lock n load vs Projector

That just isn't in the cards for me to go out and buy a lock n load. It's just too much money that I want to invest in a press. As a matter of fact if this doesn't work out, I probably will just put it up on Ebay and sell it. I'm sure I could get my money back. It's practically brand new. I still have my Lee Pro 1000.

Now on the Lee die. I found out you can add a funnel adaptor onto the top of the powder thru die so I am in business. I am going to try it out this weekend.
martinbr

BTW, these kind of problems is why I was suggesting you get the LnL instead. It comes with the case activated powder drop and all you'd have to buy would be an insert for 8 bucks or so, which you could have had shipped with the press.

 

[Walkalong]

Hello martinbr
I have been loading on a Projector for a long time now. I had a love/hate relationship with it for years. The older style shellplates suck and caused indexing problems. Once I quit trying to prime on it things were OK, not great though. The newer style shellplates made a world of difference.

I want to use my Lee dies off my Pro 1000. (9mm). But the expander die is a powder and expander die. So in order to use it you have to have the Lee powder hopper on it to use it. But I want to try the Projectors powder setup instead. Do I have to go out and buy a expander die only? Also in the box came some brass sleeves. I think they go in the powder drop somewhere, but I can't figure out how they go.

The brass sleeves are powder drop tubes basically. They slide down into the black powder adapter that came with the press and you can see mounted it on mine. The brass drop tube on mine is homemade and will work with all pistol calibers and many rifle calibers. . I have to switch it for .223 etc. (.22 cal stuff).

If you have the white box that the powder measure hook up rods, spring, etc came in it has some directions in it. I can make a copy of mine and email it to you if you wish. You can mount most measures on the top of the black powder mount. I used a Hornady pistol measure with bushings for a while. I made a couple of parts to convert the up/down of the rod to back and forth to activate it. I now have a Redding 10X mounted. I had to reverse the drum and make a part, but it works fine. You can mount ANY measure on it and hand activate it of course. What measure do you have besides the Lee or is that it?

You don't have to buy other dies as they wont help here. Put the sizer in the first station where it will knock out primers through the drop tube. Put your expander die in the second station. Setup your powder measure/black drop tube with brass sleeve in the third station. Put your seater/crimper in the fourth. ( I like to only seat here and crimp in the fifth station).

This will work fine even if you have to activate the measure manually. It is up to your imagination to set up a way to work the measure automatically.

I am not real familiar with the Lee measure, but if it is soley activated by the case pushing up the hollow expander plug you can set it up in the 2nd or 3rd station and not use the Hornady measure adapter parts at all.

I hope this helps and can try to answer any questions via PM or email. Anthony

 

[wally]

The Lee Auto Disk powder measure works great on the Hornady Projector and Pro-7 presses.

The Lee "Deluxe" I'd avoid unless you are sure you've got a way to hook up the "safety-return" chain. The original needed no such thing.

I've a pair of Hornady progressives and a Lee Autoindexing Turret, each with a Lee measure. Two are the original style and one the newer "Deluxe". Only the new Deluxe model has given me problems with failure to return (causing no powder loads should you fail to notice it) and the feature I thought would be worth it, the powder cut off, is so "leaky" as to be worthless.

--wally.

 

[OLD DOMENION]

LEE Dies on a Projector

I am not hot on Lee dies. When using Lee dies on a Proojector, a few years ago, I had to use the last thread to get the dies to function.

Shortly after gettiong my 1989 ventage press I found that an automatic powder drop was what I needed. I got the proper caliber Lee POWDER THROUGH THE EXPANDER and what is now an older model Disk Powder measure. I loose a little powder but, everything works nicely.