Lee Classic - a bit left over !

[allserene]

Slowly building my Lee Classic up and figured that a lot of the bits are spares for other Lee presses or configurations and I don't need em.

The instructions are just awful so thank goodness for the online community.

I finally found out that the tiny black plastic square is a spare for the twirly register rod !

Now I have another bit that I can't figure

It's a shiny metal rod or tube exactly 1 and 5/32 inches long. It is solid at one end and hollow inside with an open end

the diameter is 5/32 inches

It could have fallen out of one of the dies (223 - three die set) or the LEE auto powder feeder

Anyone know what it is and how it fits where it's supposed to ?

thanks

Alan

 

[gary dennis]

Maybe a rod for the Lee hand primer. Sounds real close to the desription.

 

[Hondo 60]

Not sure what it is - a picture would help

 

[flashhole]

Sounds like it might be the stem for the seating die.

 

[allserene]

Thanks guys .... I have tried it a few ways up but noluck yet

At least I have mounted the press nicely with thick wood which is countersunk for the bolt heads underneath and then clamped to the work table

I have the deluxe 3 die set for 223 and two of the dies have the primer cap removal rod ? eh ?

How does that work ? Surely, once the primer has been popped on the first travel, the other 2 dies don't need a primer removal rod ?

Sorry to be so wooden. When I bought my AR-15 I had to ask what the charging handle was ! I can strip the gun right down to the firing pin in the dark with my fingernails now so I am a slow starter but I really get with it later. These instructions for the dies have me totally foxed. The Lee Classic is fine and I understand the register and all the rest and took it all to bits. But the dies - I am lost.

Lee just bangs on about how wonderful it all is in comparison to other brands and wasts a page and a half saying how good it is when they could be telling me how the dies are stripped and what the components are and how they function. The photos on the instructions look like they have been done on a cheap North Korean photocopier set to 10% magnification !

Despite all that I know I am going to love it once I have it figured but it's aaarrggghhh ! right now.

 

[awgrizzly]

I have the deluxe 3 die set for 223 and two of the dies have the primer cap removal rod ? eh ?

How does that work ? Surely, once the primer has been popped on the first travel, the other 2 dies don't need a primer removal rod ?

The three die set gives you a choice of a full case sizer or a neck sizer. You select one of the two pinned dies, not both. The third is for seating the bullet.

The full sizer reshapes the entire cartridge to factory specs. The neck sizer just shapes the neck of brass fired in your gun, which will not be used in another. Neck only sizing reduces the stress on the brass so it will last longer, and it's said to produce more accurate loads since the case doesn't expand when shot.

Check this link to see which is which.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=776391

 

[allserene]

ok that explains that !

I have a 'full length' sizer and a 'collet neck sizer'
I guess i will use the neck sizer and not use the full length
So first position is the neck sizer which also pops the primer out

That leaves me with one die which is the dead length bullet seating die

the thread in the top of that die actually takes the auto powder dispenser very nicely and I think that is confusing me...do i need another die to take the auto powder dispenser - that is, one that isnt in this 3 die set ?

I have the 4 hole turret and I have ordered a crimping die

I thought the three die set would have a sizer/decapper and a neck flare/powder filler and a bullet seater

Getting there but i dont see how the powder dispenser fits on of my 3 dies if the collet sizer is just that..

thanks

ps expanding die ? is that what i need -sometimes called a charging die

I went through my list with the girl at midway and she missed the primer dispenser which i had to order later and the crimper - and she sold me two lots of auto powder measure rings as one was included in the auto powder measure.. She sounded about 16 and had less idea than me and that is saying something.

 

[Sport45]

I guess i will use the neck sizer and not use the full length

You mentioned an AR-15. If you are loading for the AR I highly recommend using the full length sizing die and NOT the neck sizer. Make sure the full length sizer frirmly contacts the shell holder when the ram is at the top of the stroke.

You can try skipping the full length size, but eventually you'll find yourself at the range trying to pogo a stuck cartridge out of the chamber. (You won't be the first, trust me. )

A case gauge is also good to have and use when reloading for AR's and M1's.

 

[allserene]

I will take your advice on that ! dont want a bullet stuck in the barrel on my ar-15

I have a CZ 223 bolt action 527 arriving tomorrow so i will be trying my reloads on that first

I should be done and have my first round ready by easter at this rate

I think I am short a powder loading die -- it isnt in the auto disk kit or in the 3 die set

 

[awgrizzly]

You do not want an expanding die. That's used for shells like pistol cartridges. If you want to use the autodisk powder measure you need a "Lee Auto-Disk Rifle Powder Charging Die 22 to 30 Calibers" (link: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=792057 ) The powder measure screws into the top of it and is activated when the cartridge pushes up on a tube on the inside.

You said the girl sold you "two lots of auto powder measure rings". This may be the double disk set, which you might need to load 223s. There should be a spacer for attaching the measure hopper to the lower part that enables you to stack two disks on top each other (smaller hole on top) to dispense the amount of powder needed.

Be sure to read the instructions carefully for this stuff dude, and read the books I hope you've got. You want to do this right or you might lose a gun and some body parts. Guys here will recommend good books and try to find a local reloader to help you.

 

[allserene]

many thanks

getting there slowly

I have some good scales and the book and i will proceed slowly and back test the loaded powder weights etc... I will buy the powder locally and take the gunsmiths recommendation on primers and powder

glad I mounted the press to a board which is clamped to the worktop as I can quickly unclamp it and take it up to the range for advice if anyone has one of these..

The stuff I am getting is obviously for all kinds of different versions of presses and upgrades and they just send it all out together...like the brass chain thing which I reckon i dont need on the pro autoloader...

Still haven't identified this small thin tube which came with the dies or the auto powder dispenser

I wonder if it goes inside the bullet seating die...the open end of the little tube lets a 224 bullet in to a quarter inch or so

I wish I had gone to my local gun shop now and paid their margin rather than going to midway as the whole thing is a nightmare where all the options for all the various extra parts and how they fit together and how they operate is not explained. The little black square plastic thingy for the index rod is nor referred to anywhere so I am learning from people online....

Lesson learned, unless its simple - dont buy from midway. Simply figuring out the dies is not for a novice and the girl at midway was worse than unknowledgeable and just sold me everything I asked about whether I needed it or not - and left out things I did need

I have a sinking feeling that I wished I had just kept buying bulk from AIM - but I am sure it will pass when I figure this heap of parts out one day

I rate myself as pretty good with mechanics as I can take a car to pieces totally and rebuild it - but this Lee stuff leaves me baffled...

I am not prepared to use any of it until I have stripped eveything and found out how it works - so thats a positive thing and means I wont be running blind when I do finally get it going...

How can a really techy computer guy who can strip a car or a motorbike get beaten by a Lee Press ? I am frustrated and angry at the thing but I shall overcome.

 

[noylj]

Some would say that Lee has lousy instructions.
They only mention the things that Lee considers essential. They tend to assume you can figure out the "obvious" things for yourself.
1) Read every word in the Lee instructions and follow it.
2) Go to the Lee site and watch their videos
3) Go to YouTube and watch videos on anything you don't understand.
4) Ask questions.

 

[allserene]

many thanks

I am in no rush so I will certainly dig and dig until the problems give in. The thing has gotten me worked up now so I will spend time and energy to understand it.

I think I will have one turret with both the 'full length' and the 'neck sizer' dies mounted and seat the primer in at the end of the second stage. Then I will have the rifle auto disk charging die and then the dead length bullet seating die

That is 4 dies in the 4 dies turret


At the end of the run I will put the second turret on with the crimp die in only and no indexing rod - and run the batch through that

Does that sound good ? or am I over doing it ?

I just popped my first primer out and it sounded great as it dropped down the tube. Encouraging !

 

[Sport45]

Did you take the dies apart? The seating plug won't just fall out of the seating die. The plug floats under the threaded stem at the top of the seating die. You may be able to hear it rattle in there if you shake the die.

If it's the seating plug, just unscrew the stem from the top of the seating die and drop the plug in, open end first. Screw the stem in until you can't see the o-ring and stop. You'll screw it in further when you adjust the seating depth.

 

[mdemetz]

They only mention the things that Lee considers essential. They tend to assume you can figure out the "obvious" things for yourself.
1) Read every word in the Lee instructions and follow it.
2) Go to the Lee site and watch their videos

Also check thier FAQ section.

 

[flashhole]

Here's an alternative approach to charging the case. You might consider something like this until you get the hang of reloading. I use the cut down funnel with the Lee Dipper Cups. This is set up for 45-70. In fact, you may want to remove the indexing rod and just use the press in single stage mode until you are comfortable with the process. As a single stage it is common to batch load. Do the same step to all the cases then move on to the next step. You can index the turret by hand so you can have all your dies set up in the turret.

 

[RandyP]

When I bought mine I found this article was very helpful, as were all the Lee videos:

http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp

 

[allserene]

yes i took the dies apart..

My mother used to say that if I had a pig, I would kill it to see where the squeal came from..

I reckon you have this tube identified and it is the bullet seating die insert

I have put it in there with the open end down to accept the bullet tip and yes it rattles.

I reckon that problem is now solved !

 

[allserene]

Flashhole and Randy P that is great advice too..

The hand charging looks a quick way to do a small batch of my 303 Brit when I get some dies.

I will read and learn and no way is the wrong powder or too much powder going in there. I will fill and refill my test case (after cleaning) and measure and measure again and feel my way.

Think I am getting the hang of it now...

 

[flashhole]

What kind of case lube are you using? I think Imperial Die Sizing Wax is the best on the market. It's now sold by Redding.

 

[allserene]

I bought some lee resizing lubricant...it says use it inside the case neck using a cotton swab..

I just called Midway and asked whether the powder fulling die needed a riser to be bought separately to actuate the lee pro auto disk measure

After a long time and input from the back office , she reckons the riser is only needed for progressive presses and there should be a riser of some sort inside this die as supplied. Seems customer service is not very tecky and its hard to get through to the backroom boys who might know what I am talking about. The lady on the phones knew about as much as me

I am using a full length sizer die so do I need to get a lee case trimmer as well ?

jeez this must be the 4th order I have put on this week - I could have had a weekend in las vegas for 2 for this price. Slap wrists and think of the next 10 years shooting !

 

[flashhole]

Can't help with the riser question as I don't use that method for charging cases.

Yes, you will need he case trimmer ... they are not expensive. You will need the Lee Case Length Gage and Shell Holder (one set for about $4) specific to your cartridge case and a Lee Cutter and Lock Stud. A word of advice. Get the ball handle cutter ($5). It saves a lot of hand cramps. You can chuck the Lock Stud in a drill and power trim. I like their 3-jaw chuck better than the lock stud and I mount mine in a drill press. A hand drill works too.

Power version



Manual version - I like to use a short nut driver to hold the lock stud. I also like the Lyman or RCBS 50 BMG chamfer tool ... again ... less hand fatigue. The small black tool is a Baby Crock-O-Gator for cleaning primer pockets.



A good discount house for Lee stuff is Factory Sales. http://www.factorysales.com/

Just make sure they have what you want in stock before you place an order.

 

[flashhole]

Another comment. I'm not a big fan of putting lube inside a case neck with a Q-Tip. I find it pays dividends to get the brass chucked up in a drill and use a brush inside the case neck. Getting rid of the coarse residue goes a long way in reducing friction when the expander ball gets pulled up through the neck when sizing. That's another thing I like about the Imperial Wax. You can wipe a very small amount across the opening of the case neck and it works well to lube the expander ball. If you haven't already figured it out, 80% or more of making accurate quality ammo is in brass prep. Some will argue it's even more than that.

 

[allserene]

ok looks good - I already had the chamfer tool and the primer pocket cleaner

I have a vari speed drill so this looks good.. hopefully I am near the end of the beginning.

I suppose a full length sizer just means it sizes the full length of the case 'for width' and cannot adjust the case length as that involves cutting.

Glad I bought 2 turret heads as I reckon I am going to need em

I might do the length sizing and neck sizing as the first two die operations which included popping the old primer.....

then switch turret heads and do the new primer, powder filling die , bullet seating die and crimping die

5 dies in all...

will that work ?

 

[allserene]

Another comment. I'm not a big fan of putting lube inside a case neck with a Q-Tip. I find it pays dividends to get the brass chucked up in a drill and use a brush inside the case neck. Getting rid of the coarse residue goes a long way in reducing friction when the expander ball gets pulled up through the neck when sizing. That's another thing I like about the Imperial Wax. You can wipe a very small amount across the opening of the case neck and it works well to lube the expander ball. If you haven't already figured it out, 80% or more of making accurate quality ammo is in brass prep. Some will argue it's even more than that.

yes it's like painting or replacing roof shingles - it's all prep...

Looks like a lot of lot of preventing rifle damage is getting all the case dimensions right and having it clean with no swarf

just seated a test bullet with no powder /primer in...

I compared to a commercial unfired cartridge and it looks lower - but my bullet is a hollow point and quite stubby pointed - the commercial one is longer and more pointed. they may both be seated the same distance. I guess i need to measure my bullets first and then calculate how deep they are seated ?