Help a confused newbie out

[Adamg_55]

Hey guys, i just got into reloading and ive been stumped and feel stupid about it, so here it goes.

I bought the lyman expert reloading kit: so far ive had two problems.
First i dont know if im properly using the scale, its the lyman m-500. i just dont get the adjustments. im starting off with a pistol load of 5.2 grains and i dont understand the two poise things. the larger one on the left doesnt line up to the numbers very well, and i have no way of verifying it is the correct amount of powder. I know someone who has a digital scale that measures in grams, is there anyway of using that to verify my lyman scale? I kinda want to go out and get a digital scale, but i would rather not spend the money unless its really worthwhile.

Also the second problem im having is with the universal priming arm. I gave up on the auto-feed system, it seems like total garbage,, so i put primers in one at a time, and after resizing and decapping, all im supposed to do is push it forward to go under the shell holder and raise the press arm. Ive done this successfully twice with two seperate cases, but i cant seem to get it consistant, most times the primer wont go in all the way and i cant get the case out, i have to send it back up into the die to get the half seated primer out. So how do i do this properly? and how do i adjust the seating depth of the primers using this method?

Also the last thing is, i bought the lee .40 S&W reloading dies, and there are 4 dies. But no where in my manuals or with the info that came with the dies, does it explain what they are all for.

Sorry for the dumb questions, help me out please guys.

Thanks in advance

 

[mooncoon]

dont get the adjustments. im starting off with a pistol load of 5.2 grains and i dont understand the two poise things. the larger one on the left doesnt line up to the numbers very well, and i have no way of verifying it is the correct amount of powder

all im supposed to do is push it forward to go under the shell holder and raise the press arm. Ive done this successfully twice with two seperate cases, but i cant seem to get it consistant, most times the primer wont go in all the way and i cant get the case out,
Also the last thing is, i bought the lee .40 S&W reloading dies, and there are 4 dies. But no where in my manuals or with the info that came with the dies, does it explain what they are all for.

First the balance; I assume it is a standard beam balance like the RCBS one that I use. On mine the arm has notches with a big weight for the 10s, a smaller one for the numbers 1 thru 10 and a tiny one for tenths of a grain. All fit into notches in the beam and the weight you are measuring is the sum of the numbers. It is important to level the balance first so that when empty it shows 0 weight. There is a leveling foot at one end of the balance.

your problem with the primers is that they are going in a bit diagonally and not seating completely which prevents you taking the shell out. Try holding the shell into the shell holder with your finger while pushing the primer piece with your thumb. That should get the shell further into the base holder and centered over the hole in the base holder and should center the primer better

If you have a 4 die set, I would expect one to be a deprimer but possibly not a resizer, one to be a neck expander, one for seating the bullet and the fourth is possibly a full length sizer. If you are shooting cast bullets you need to adjust the neck expander to put a very small flare to the case mouth so that you do not shear lead as the bullet goes in. On further thought the fourth die might also be a crimper for putting a crimp in the case mouth after loading

cheers mooncoon

 

[looch]

Edit: Realized you are doing progressive / pistol - my post was not relevant.

 

[JD Spanner]

Sounds like you've got the same unit I have used for years
Starting with your scale you have to calibrate it first by putting it on a level surface set both indicaters to 0 with pan installed adjust til pointer to mark , For 5.2 grainsset large marker to 5 and small one to 2 = 5.2.
As for your primer arm. I use the primer tubes and they work ok
If your having troubble with pushing the primer into the pocket it could be the Primer Pocket's or possible incorrect shell holder
Pics of you set up would help
Spanner

 

[Nybez]

I know someone who has a digital scale that measures in grams, is there anyway of using that to verify my lyman scale?

Hahaha! I know someone like that too, currently serving 5-10.

 

[rudar]

One pound = 453.59 grams = 7000 grains. Hopefully you can do the math from there

Or, you can open google in your favourite browser, and type "5.2 grains in grams" into the search box, and it will tell you that 5.2 grains = 0.336954332 grams.

 

[kbracey]

The four lee dies for .40 S&W are probably: Resizer/Decapper, Powder Charging/Expander die, Bullet seating die, and finally...the famous Lee factory Crimp die.