PowderApe
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I've been reloading for well over 40 years using single stage presses. Recently was talked into going for a progressive press.. Considered seriously the big blue Dillon and hesitated due to the cost- not only for the press itself, but everything else needed for caliber conversion. I chose the Lee 1000
It's pretty slick but having lots of problems with the primer feed system! Cant really bypass that step as I used to when using the single stage by hand priming the whole batch all at once.....
Any tricks?? I've done about 600 .45ACP's with not too much problems with the large primer setup, but having a hell of a time with the small primer set up for .38's and such.
I even tried the small primer setup from a new conversion kit and still having problems (tipped, absent or even upside down primers)
Additionally, it's that same stage as priming that I've also encountered powder drop issues! It's very difficult to peer down into a .357 or .38 case to insure the powder was delivered. I've never in 40 years rolled a squib load, but lately, I've had about a dozen squibs (pound-em-out type) out of about 400 rounds of .38/.357 and a few who's *bang* sounded markedly "different".
I use a relatively fluffy high volume powder so there's no real chance of double / over charging the case and the loads are nowhere near maximums- just mid-range plinker fun rounds- hence the desire for the progressive press
I just don't trust it. :banghead:
I don't know if it's my technique- I do know that each press has it's ideosyncracies and one learns to "finesse" the lever over time, and that I'm just not used to it..... or I've got a defective press, or what...
Any ideas or suggestions. Any similar experiences? Does it eventually get better ....or should I have drunk from the blue Cool-aide fountain!!
It's pretty slick but having lots of problems with the primer feed system! Cant really bypass that step as I used to when using the single stage by hand priming the whole batch all at once.....
Any tricks?? I've done about 600 .45ACP's with not too much problems with the large primer setup, but having a hell of a time with the small primer set up for .38's and such.
I even tried the small primer setup from a new conversion kit and still having problems (tipped, absent or even upside down primers)
Additionally, it's that same stage as priming that I've also encountered powder drop issues! It's very difficult to peer down into a .357 or .38 case to insure the powder was delivered. I've never in 40 years rolled a squib load, but lately, I've had about a dozen squibs (pound-em-out type) out of about 400 rounds of .38/.357 and a few who's *bang* sounded markedly "different".
I use a relatively fluffy high volume powder so there's no real chance of double / over charging the case and the loads are nowhere near maximums- just mid-range plinker fun rounds- hence the desire for the progressive press
I just don't trust it. :banghead:
I don't know if it's my technique- I do know that each press has it's ideosyncracies and one learns to "finesse" the lever over time, and that I'm just not used to it..... or I've got a defective press, or what...
Any ideas or suggestions. Any similar experiences? Does it eventually get better ....or should I have drunk from the blue Cool-aide fountain!!