Lee 4 Hole Turret Press & Upside Down Primers

[Werewolf]

I've been using the Lee 4 hole turret press for well over a year. During that time I'd heard of it turning primers upside down but never experienced the phenomenon until now.

I've been reloading a .45ACP load that calls for Federal 150 primers instead of the Winchester Large Pistol primers.

And it is just the Federals that flip upside down or worse go in sideways. I've not had the problem with WLP.

I can minimize the problem by turning the case insertion slot 90* to the left so the brass is inserted from the side but that just gets me down to 1 in 7 or 8 primers turned upside down instead of 1 in 3.

What gives? Is there a solution to this? Primers are cheap but throwing away even 12% of them just isn't right.

Why would the problem exist with Fed primers and not Winchester?

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

If you are really set on using those primers, you could hand prime them before taking them to the press. That's what I do with all my priming duties. You can also try e-mailing Lee, they have been helpful with past problems I have had.

 

[plateshooter]

I used to have that problem, it was caused by the spring loaded primer cup hitting the bottom of the shell holder and kind of "snapping" and flipping the primer. I polished the outside of the cup and the inside of the shell holder where it was catching a bit. That took care of it. Hope this helps for you.

 

[SgtMaj]

Beginning with clean fired cases I deprime and size in batch mode, then hand prime that same batch of cases (I use an RCBS hand primer). My next step is to charge all the cases with powder at one time (I use an RCBS Uniflow measure). Then I reinstall the index rod and finish loading as quickly as I can keep cases and bullets inserted when the dies come around.

I've timed the TOTAL loading process (start to finish) both ways and find that 'batching' certain portions gives me loaded ammunition much quicker. I normally reload in batches of 100 even if I load a total of 200-300.

Regards,
SgtMaj