Bullet seating problems with Lee Hand Press

Red Baron

Red Baron

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Regina, Sask
Can anyone give me any tips for seating a bullet using the lee hand press? I almost dropkicked the press out the window last night. Every bullet i loaded into the shell, came out slightly uneven, and in some cases, gouged the brass. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
Sounds like an issue with your dies - either damaged or not adjusted properly. Also, it's probably worthwile chamfering your brass slightly, especially with thin necked cartridges like the 30-30
 
Flat base bullets or boat tails? Is your brass chamfered? Is it bullet jacket that is scraped or case that is gouged? If you didn't "dropkicked the press out the window last night", that would be where I would start.:p
 
It's the case that is getting gouged. The calibre I am (trying to) loading for is .44mag with a flat based bullet. It's a hand press, so it's extra awkward to try to seat the bullet and hold onto the thing at the same time.
 
weird. I use my hand press for seating bullets all the time - I pretty much only use the bench press for sizing nowadays. Hornets, 45-70, 30-30 and more. I've never had any issues with it. Maybe I don't have a clear idea of the issue - got pics?
 
Flareing or belling straightwall cases, as A1 asked you is verry important :D I just found this out the hard way a couple days ago, along with taking the time to properly set the seating/crimp die :D

At least they were "dummy" rounds :rockOn:
 
Thanks guys! I'm such an arsehole:bangHead: ! I didn't flare the cases enough. After a little adjusting, the bullets fit like condoms:p

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
Grizz Axxemann said:
Flareing or belling straightwall cases, as A1 asked you is verry important :D I just found this out the hard way a couple days ago, along with taking the time to properly set the seating/crimp die :D

At least they were "dummy" rounds :rockOn:
Click to expand...


Cheers Grizz!
 
Red Baron said:
Thanks guys! I'm such an arsehole:bangHead: ! I didn't crimp the cases enough. After a little adjusting, the bullets fit like condoms:p

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Not enough? You shouldn't have to crimp at all. Unless you ARE belling the cases, then you do need crimp to remove the flare
 
Red Baron said:
Cheers Grizz!
Click to expand...

I have tons of brass floating around... I didn't want to waste powder or primers, so I used some empties to set up the dummies. Had one that looked and measured good, so I did another, and they'll probably end up being my home made snap caps/drill rounds, and I'll get around to pulling the foulups eventually, so I can salvage the slugs :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom