Removing depriming pin from Lee Die???

[Visionairy]

I sometimes find myself with a handful of primed, but not properly resized .45auto brass. Is there a way to remove the depriming pin from a Lee Resizing die so I don't have to fire off all the primers before resizing?

Thanks!

 

[SSN Vet]

All the Lee sizing dies I have, have the de-priming pin held in place with a collet at the top.

Take two open end wrenches and loosen up the collet nut and the pin should drop right out.

Be sure the pin and the collet bore are totally free of oil when you put them back together, as any residual oil can lead to the pin slipping within the collet when resizing.

I swipe the top side of the pin through speedy dry or kitty litter (clean, of course) before putting it back in, as the micro-fine clay grit helps the collet grip more tightly.

Don't be afraid to tighten the collet nut up good and hard.... it needs it.

 

[Visionairy]

Thanks, I sorta gave that a half-a$$ try but I wasn't sure so I didn't crank on it very hard. Will try again, I'm sick of Firing off 30 primers at a time into a towel in my living room, plus it's a waste and you know us handloaders hate waste.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Clamp the die body (large Hex nut) in a vice and using the correct size end wrench loosen the small hex nut using the box end (not the open end of the wrench). The pin should drop out of its own weight. So have something to catch it that is soft. If it does not just fall out pursuade it with a drift pin punch and a hammer. Use gentle blows.

Make sure that when you reinstall the pin that you tighten it securely. The best way is to mount the die body in your press. Run a deprimed case into the die and set the pin so it barely extends past the primer pocket and that the sizer plug is just not quite touching the inside of the case head. Tighten securely.

 

[Red Cent]

OK, I'm lost. How did you do that?

And, get a LEE fcd.

 

[dagger dog]

Might have been foolhardy but I have deprimed plenty of live primers without any discharging . I have never deprimed any crimped primers although I think it would take quite a quick and heavy slap on the press handle to set one off if you could!

 

[jcwit]

Once again, primers ignite from sudden impace not from pressure. I\ve deprimed 100's of primers with no discharge. Even if by chance one dropped the press handle and smacked a primer hard enough for it to go off, so what, its all enclosed, nothing is going to fly out at you.

 

[greyling22]

I've deprimed live primers and sideways primers and upside down primers. they didn't detonate. but to remove the decapping pin (at least on a lee die), eat your spinach, invite the hulk over to help and unscrew the collet at the top. I had to use a vice and a cheater bar to get one unscrewed one time. it's not for the faint of heart or the flabby.

 

[Sport45]

When you put the collet back in use a smidgen of never seize on the threads. Make sure it's only on the threads and the rod and inside of the collet stays dry. That way you'll get plenty of grip without having to horse down too hard on the collet.

 

[Mule]

It only takes two wrenches. 3/4 and 1/2. Pull 3/4 CW, 1/2 goes CCW. Eventually you will break a pin and have to replace it. Same procedure. It might be convenient to leave the die in the press when you do this.