Why is my Lee Turret Press Deforming My Brass????

[Bear2000]

I wanted to reload .380 tonight, something I've done before without a hitch. I pulled the .308 dies off my Lee Turret Press, put the .380 turret on, began resizing, priming, and throwing the powder. But the powder charging die started to deform the case openings. Strange, because this didn't happen last time I reloaded .380. So I backed off the die more and more, until it wouldn't throw, in fact. Same problem, although 1 out of 3 won't be deformed. (This constant die adjustment is also a royal pain, because it moves the auto disc out of position so that it hits the priming disc.)

Anyway, I just can't figure it out. Eight months ago I would have chalked this up to inexperience, but since then I've learned to reload four calibers effectively. I don't know what is causing this tonight!

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

Bear

 

[38 Super Auto]

I looks to me as if there is misalignment between the powder charging die and the case. The die and case have to be in the same vertical axis.

It looks the powder charging die is hitting the case off center and folding part of the case mouth over.

 

[Bear2000]

Do you know how I might bring them into alignment again? I've taken the die out completely, cleaned it up, and reset it. The strange thing is that one out of every three our four cases will not be deformed by the charging die.

I've now wasted 20 cases and 15 primers - it's driving me nuts!

 

[Wildfire]

Go slow.

Hey :
Try going slow and see what is happening. The shell holder could have something in it tipping the brass , something is loose ?
Is the case being flared at the end ? If not that could be the problem.

 

[Bear2000]

Wildfire - I think you hit the nail on the head. I went through the movement VERY slowly and see what the problem is. The charging cylinder (which flares the cases and pushes up to engage the autodisk) is indeed catching the edge of the brass if it is not absolutely perfectly aligned, which is only possible if I guide the brass very slowly and carefully into the charging die.

Hmmm....

 

[Bear2000]

Stop everything - I'm an idiot.

Okay, so, I was using a #19 shellholder, which is what I use for 9mm. I forgot to change to a #4 for .380. As Homer Simpson would say, "Doh!"

I've loaded a lot more 9mm than .380, so when I switched shellholders, I just reached for the 19, thinking it would fit the .380. Boy was I wrong.

Oh well - it was a headache, but I only lost $1 in supplies.

Sorry for bothering you guys!

 

[Wildfire]

I didn't want to ask that.

Hey:
Glad you found it. I really did not want to ask if you were useing the right shell holder. So I kind of beat around that bush a little. soory about that.
Been there done that.

 

[Bear2000]

You know, when I switch from .308 to .223 to 9mm or .380, I usually switch them. But 9mm and .380, well - I just had it in my head that other than the length of the case, they were pretty much the same! Ooooyy...

 

[rondog]

That's why I keep my shellholders with the dies. The dies are mounted in the 4-hole ring, just drop the shellholder down in the middle of them so it's always with the dies.

 

[SSN Vet]

This highlights one reason why I like Lee die sets with the cylindrical plastic case and the turret press set up...

the die set comes with a shell holder....and the plastic case will hold a fully loaded turret.

So I just drop the shell holder in to the top of the powder through expansion die (after I remove the Auto-Disk) and store it with the loaded turret. So the correct shell holder is always with the loaded turret and ready to go.

It's such a no brainer, that I couldn't even tell you what number plate holder goes with what case....I just use the one that came with the die set and is stored with the turret.

I like easy!

 

[jfh]

I'll bet all reloaders with presses that have interchangable shell holders have done this at one time or another.

There can be another reason, too, however--and that is not having a perfectly level press installation, in both axis.

I don't have one, and haven't got around to shimming the (Lee) Turret press level yet. When I set the bench in place, I neglected to level it on the slightly-pitched basement floor. As a result, the tolerances in the shell-holder / case rim allow the case to pitch forward slightly, and can miss / bind / damage the mouth on insertion at the PTED. It's most problematic with the long cases, like 357 Mag or 10mm (I don't load rifle much).

I have developed a left-hand movement to push the case back as I insert it. This works fine, until one has a brain fart / poor coordination, and the thumb gets pinched....

In sum, also get the press level to minimize this sort of problem.

Jim H.

 

[RustyFN]

Stop everything - I'm an idiot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, so, I was using a #19 shellholder, which is what I use for 9mm. I forgot to change to a #4 for .380. As Homer Simpson would say, "Doh!"

I've loaded a lot more 9mm than .380, so when I switched shellholders, I just reached for the 19, thinking it would fit the .380. Boy was I wrong.

Oh well - it was a headache, but I only lost $1 in supplies.

Sorry for bothering you guys!

Your not alone. I have never done that but have done other dumb things. Glad you got it figured out.
Rusty

 

[another okie]

I did the same thing last weekend. I thought I had installed the right shell holder in the auto primer and kept getting poor primer seating. It took a while for me to fact the fact that I had done such a stupid thing.

 

[Bear2000]

I'm glad I'm not the only person to make this kind of stupid mistake.

I have a little screw drawer for my shell holders, but I think they're going to go in the Lee cylinder case now.

 

[brickeyee]

Put the correct shell holder in with the dies.
They are cheap enough to just have one for every set of dies, even if there are duplicates.

It saves finding the correct one after looking up which one to use.

When changing calibers strip the press of dies and holder, put them away, then put the new dies and shell holder on the press.

 

[RustyFN]

When I change die sets I unscrew the auto disk riser to put it in the set I'm changing to and put the shell holder in the top of my powder die so I won't forget to change it.
Rusty

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Rusty, I do the same exact thing as you. Even though the shell holder for my .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .38 S&W are exactly the same I still change them so as not to forget when using other dies. Trouble is, I have been getting the same problem when reloading my .38 S&W rounds and still haven't found the problem. I can load 10 or 12 fine and then I can crush 1 or more. It even happens when I go slow. I'm about to give up on loading that caliber since the brass is so expensive. (although I should send the dies back to Lee before I give up)

 

[benzuncle]

Here's how I store my shell holders:

Notice my 45short! That was the first round I ever produced. A wee bit too much seating goin' on there! So, to keep some symmetry I did the same for my first 380 even though I now knew better. The casings and case gages are sitting on dowels.