Looking for advice on my situation.

[GeorgeG4]

Hello all

My name is George from Maine.
I’ve been reloading almost a year. I initially got into it to do with my dad, but it ended up me being the one doing it all. Lol.

I am using a lead precision classic turret press. It has four stations I’m reloading .223 ammo.
Myself, my dad, the kids we all like to target shoot and we have a lot of fun, plinking etc.

I have reloaded over 1000 rounds. I’ve been adding to my press to make it more efficient and faster, etc..

The most recent thing that I have done is, I have added a Mr. bullet feeder, and my last station is a bullet seating and crimping die combo. Everything works great, except my issue is my neck on the case isn’t being flared enough so when the bullet feeder drops the bullet, and I try to cycle to the next stage the bullet falls off the brass.
Obviously, my lead precision die that is in stage one. It is for sizing and decapping. It is not expanding the brass enough so the bullet will not fall off when placed on the brass and cycled to the next stage. What I’m hoping to do is replace that die with a neck expanding and decapping die ( like the Lyman M die but also do decapping) if that is possible that will solve my bullet feeder issue other than that everything works great.

If not, it appears that I would have to do my decapping separately. I’d really like to keep everything on this one press for ease-of-use and efficiency so other than this hiccup, I am very happy with everything.

Thank you all very much

 

[762plinker]

IMHO prep brass first, and then load in a second process.
or buy processed brass

 

[RegionRat]

This suggestion may or may not help with your Lee Classic Turret process unless you are willing to do multi stage processing since you only have four stations per head.

Many folks will use multi stage processing to do bottleneck rifle cartridges in progressive loading.

The staging method allows for clean prepped cases to be fed into the final loading toolhead, such that Station 1 is a Lyman M Die, which opens the case mouth. These Lyman M dies are typically used to protect cast lead or poly-coated coated pistol bullets from damage, but they are an improvement over a simple flare neck expander. If a rifle bullet base isn't stable on its own the same method helps for rifle loading. Many boat tail bullets do not need the expansion or flare, but some do.

The main advantage of staging is that the break between stages is used to clean the lubricants off before the loading stage. The majority will even have a decap operation ahead of any loading where they run the batch through with just a decap die in order to be able to clean the primer pockets. Some folks will also do a dedicated pass for just the trim.

Because most automatic powder dispensers for pistol cartridges flare the case mouth, but rifle cartridges do not, the flare or M Die is an option that adds some stability for bullets with flat bases.

 

[GeorgeG4]

So I think my easiest route would be to get a set up just to do my resizing and decapping. What would be a good little unit for doing that portion before moving to my Lee classic turret press to do the rest of of the reload?

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Since you have quite a few shooters, how about everybody pitch in and get a Dillon 550 or 650. Then you can load lots of ammo without much trouble.

 

[RegionRat]

So I think my easiest route would be to get a set up just to do my resizing and decapping. What would be a good little unit for doing that portion before moving to my Lee classic turret press to do the rest of of the reload?

Since you have quite a few shooters, how about everybody pitch in and get a Dillon 550 or 650. Then you can load lots of ammo without much trouble.

I would do what Pawnee Bill suggests, but I am known to spend other people's money very well....

For now, you can just add tool heads to your Lee press to break up the stages.

When/if you decide to upgrade, keep in mind that adding tool heads and calibers is a baked-in cost based on the decision you made when you selected the press platform.

Sharpen the pencil early in life and make your decisions for the long term.

 

[GeorgeG4]

Since you have quite a few shooters, how about everybody pitch in and get a Dillon 550 or 650. Then you can load lots of ammo without much

I would do what Pawnee Bill suggests, but I am known to spend other people's money very well....

For now, you can just add tool heads to your Lee press to break up the stages.

When/if you decide to upgrade, keep in mind that adding tool heads and calibers is a baked-in cost based on the decision you made when you selected the press platform.

Sharpen the pencil early in life and make your decisions for the long term.

Upgrading right now is not feasible for me.
I’m happy with the press and everything it does for me. And the amount of money I have into everything isn’t to much. Just trying to figure out this one hiccup.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

The case has to be resized and deprimed before you can use the M die. If you replaced the sizer/deprimer die with an M die, The case may not fit in the chamber, especially if you have multiple guns .Either pick up a single stage press for brass prep or an second head for prep work. Ideally, clean the brass, lube and resize/deprime, clean the lube off, then move to the other head to finish. You could replace the case feeder with the M-die and just insert bullets by hand.

Frank

 

[RegionRat]

An extra tool head for that Lee press is inexpensive. And... so is a Lee APP if you want to just quickly decap a batch and throw them in a tumbler without the primers.

In any case, this isn't a cheap sport in general and reloading introduces more questions about costs than it answers too.

 

[GeorgeG4]

Thank you all!

 

[jelenko]

The case has to be resized and deprimed before you can use the M die. If you replaced the sizer/deprimer die with an M die, The case may not fit in the chamber, especially if you have multiple guns .Either pick up a single stage press for brass prep or an second head for prep work. Ideally, clean the brass, lube and resize/deprime, clean the lube off, then move to the other head to finish. You could replace the case feeder with the M-die and just insert bullets by hand.

Frank

I'm also a Frank and I support this idea.

 

[GeorgeG4]

I'm also a Frank and I support this idea.

Yeah I’m just going to do my depriming and resizing, cleaning etc. then just pull that die, insert my M die then run through my 4 station press to complete a finished bullet.

 

[std7mag]

First off George, i think you mean Lee Precision, not "lead" Precision. Lol

The Lee dies for 223 do not flare the neck. Actually they don't for any bottle necked cartridges.

The flare your thinking about is for straight walled pistol cartridges.

I take it from your problem your loading flat based bullets.
These you kinda have to hold while raising up into the die.

While even flat based bullets usually have a radius on the base, you may want to increase the chamfer on the inside of the neck mouth.

ANY chamfer tool other than the Lee is a HUGE improvement!!

 

[Mike Lum]

I do all of my reloading on a chucker so I can feel anything that is off. Still haven't gotten into the progressive systems.

 

[Ringostar]

Don’t pull and change the die. A second turret for your press is very reasonably priced. Have one for initial sizing/depriming dies. Then clean lube from cases and prime. Then change out turret with dies for loading.

 

[Andy Work]

These may be an improvement if you're using flat base bullets.

22 Caliber .224 Diameter 55 Grain FMJ Boat Tail

 

[The German]

Agree with Andy - try some boat tail bullets. .223 flat base bullets are almost impossible to seat with a bullet feeder.

 

[JMayo]

Seems like it would just be easiest to hand place the FB bullet ...
BT's are next maybe.

 

[GeorgeG4]

These may be an improvement if you're using flat base bullets.

22 Caliber .224 Diameter 55 Grain FMJ Boat Tail

Yes, I have some just like that. Those sit in to the brass much better than some of the other bullets I have that don’t have that knurled piece on them.

 

[Texas Solo]

Usr boat tail bullets & add more chamfer