No shoulder bump on my Lee press

[Metal God]

I agree with you totally however he did state he bumped the shoulder .0045

I'll have to go back but I thought that measurement was trim length . If he in fact bump the shoulder .0045 from fire formed , that "should" be enough . I'll add using a 40cal case or what ever should work fine as long as he ALWAYS uses the same case ( you can't use one case this time and another 40cal case the next ) . it's deprimed and it's NOT touching the the case mouth of the 6mm case he is measuring .

 

[dellet]

I'll have to go back but I thought that measurement was trim length . If he in fact bump the shoulder .0045 from fire formed , that "should" be enough . I'll add using a 40cal case or what ever should work fine as long as he ALWAYS uses the same case ( you can't use one case this time and another 40cal case the next ) . it's deprimed and it's NOT touching the the case mouth of the 6mm case he is measuring .

But if he used a Sized 9mm which should have close to a .350” diameter we would have a base to datum measurement that might answer the “bumped far enough” question.
Diameters seem ok but without the exact reamer, no can tell.

 

[Metal God]

I think as long as he's using the same case measuring with either 40 or 9 they both should work as a comparator . He's not looking for an absolute but rather if the case is going from this to that . It shouldn't matter where on the shoulder he is measuring off of as long as it's the same place before and after sizing . Now he can't be at the neck to shoulder junction or the shoulder to body junction but as long as he's somewhere in the middle there , that should work for comparative purposes . I might be wrong but that's my understanding of how measuring a case this way works . The one caveat would be if the chambers shoulder has a different angle then the die's shoulder does , that would throw everything off .

 

[dellet]

I think as long as he's using the same case measuring with either 40 or 9 they both should work as a comparator . He's not looking for an absolute but rather if the case is going from this to that . It shouldn't matter where on the shoulder he is measuring off of as long as it's the same place before and after sizing . Now he can't be at the neck to shoulder junction or the shoulder to body junction but as long as he's somewhere in the middle there , that should work for comparative purposes . I might be wrong but that's my understanding of how measuring a case this way works . The one caveat would be if the chambers shoulder has a different angle then the die's shoulder does , that would throw everything off .

Not a cartridge I shoot, but looking at the drawings the biggest difference between a 6BR and 6BRA is the shoulder angle.and about a .010" difference where the .350" line would be on the shoulder. If I'm reading the chamber prints correctly.

Changing a shoulder angle is generally tougher than just sizing.

Is it possible it's a BR die?

 

[MarkO76]

I just want to say thanks to everyone that put out the effort to help me figure this whole thing out! I figured out what the problem was, unfortunately breaking my press in the process. When there was nothing in the vise, there was no gap at the top of the stroke, but when it had a case in it the gap was always there. Finally, I pulled hard enough to snap the press, but that case chambered perfectly when I tried it in my rifle. I was really trying not to break it because the buddy I bought it from passed away earlier this year, so that's why I was being kind of easy on it. Thanks for jumping in here to try and help me figure it out guys!

 

[Rat Rifle]

Metal God and John have told You right. Even if You get enough shoulder bump with that press, You won’t get the straight case form Your BRA deserves for maximum accuracy.

 

[Metal God]

Oh man sorry about that . I didn’t think that would really happen . I feel bad i was pushing you to keep cranking on it .

 

[Metal God]

Any chance you live in southern California , I have an old lyman single stage I could give you . I I think it's a Lyman , I don't remember it was a yard sale find for cheap . I've never actually used it so it wont be missed haha . It's odd how it sits at an angle a little but I assume it would work , likely much stronger then the Lee was . PM me maybe we can work something out

 

[bozo699]

I just want to say thanks to everyone that put out the effort to help me figure this whole thing out! I figured out what the problem was, unfortunately breaking my press in the process. When there was nothing in the vise, there was no gap at the top of the stroke, but when it had a case in it the gap was always there. Finally, I pulled hard enough to snap the press, but that case chambered perfectly when I tried it in my rifle. I was really trying not to break it because the buddy I bought it from passed away earlier this year, so that's why I was being kind of easy on it. Thanks for jumping in here to try and help me figure it out guys!

Sorry you broke the press Mark but glad you figured it out I’m guessing it was sprung anyway since your die was bottomed out and still not hitting. I have a couple Lee hand presses and there aluminum as well there dedicated 22 hornet one has the sizing dir one has the expander die and the other the seating die there not much but good enough for what I use them for. I think any good cast iron o style or similar press will do you fine and you won’t have to break the bank doing it, I really like my Redding presses and my Rockchuckers but Lee’s big cast iron press is good as well
Wayne

 

[bozo699]

Any chance you live in southern California , I have an old lyman single stage I could give you

That’s also a c press but that big old cast iron monster won’t deviate!…
Good on you Metal God that’s cool buddy!
Wayne

 

[MarkO76]

Oh man sorry about that . I didn’t think that would really happen . I feel bad i was pushing you to keep cranking on it .

Thanks man, it's not your fault, I knew you were only kidding when you said to break it.

Any chance you live in southern California , I have an old lyman single stage I could give you . I I think it's a Lyman , I don't remember it was a yard sale find for cheap . I've never actually used it so it wont be missed haha . It's odd how it sits at an angle a little but I assume it would work , likely much stronger then the Lee was . PM me maybe we can work something out

I do appreciate it, but South Mississippi is a far cry from SoCal hahaha!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I'm using Hornady Unique case lube.
I have screwed the die down past where the press cams over, it still maintains a gap.

Pick up a can of Imperial wax case lube to compare against the Hornady lube.

 

[Metal God]

Pick up a can of Imperial wax case lube to compare against the Hornady lube.

No amount of lube is going to help now :-O

 

[JMayo]

Take ejector out of bolt and try closing on the case.

The ejector will give false senses.

Cocking will also give false feelings of hard bolt opening.
Lube up bolt well

 

[MarkO76]

Take ejector out of bolt and try closing on the case.

The ejector will give false senses.

Cocking will also give false feelings of hard bolt opening.
Lube up bolt well

I had the bolt stripped while I was trying to figure it out, but thanks!

 

[boltfluter]

I had to replace my first Lee press for the same reason. Way to much spring and no shoulder bump. Good riddance! Got a Rockchucker 25 yrs ago and still going strong to this day.

Paul

 

[ronemus]

I have a Lee C press that I only use for depriming while watching TV - I don't trust it for sizing. A modern press like the Rockchucker or Lyman Victory will do well for you. I like the Hornady Lock-N-Load bushing system for quick die changes, so the Hornady Classic or the Rockchucker would be my recommendation; either can use the Hornady bushings.

 

[pdhntr]

I just want to say thanks to everyone that put out the effort to help me figure this whole thing out! I figured out what the problem was, unfortunately breaking my press in the process. When there was nothing in the vise, there was no gap at the top of the stroke, but when it had a case in it the gap was always there. Finally, I pulled hard enough to snap the press, but that case chambered perfectly when I tried it in my rifle. I was really trying not to break it because the buddy I bought it from passed away earlier this year, so that's why I was being kind of easy on it. Thanks for jumping in here to try and help me figure it out guys!

I knew you were eventually going to figure this out, and it would likely happen in exactly the way it did.

A good friend of mine has exactly the same press. It is made of aluminum and will bend if too much stress is put on it. If it continues to bend back and forth while you are trying to resize brass, it will eventually break.

You would have had to get or try a different press to find out yours was not performing as it should. But you figured it out with what you have, and that is often important in reloading.

Invest in a better press and as time goes on, you will find it will be money well spent.

Jim

 

[MarkO76]

I talked a local friend that runs a shop, he's got me a Big Boss 2 on order. That should solve the issue. Haha!

 

[Metal God]

I talked a local friend that runs a shop, he's got me a Big Boss 2 on order. That should solve the issue. Haha!

Yep , problem solved !!!