Case stick to powder through die on Lee Pro 1000

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Cliveaw0

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Hello
I have been reloading since last summer to ease the cost of ammo for cowboy action shooting. I purchased a used Lee Pro 1000 press with the 38 spl. / .357 mag dies. I have reload 38 spl with no problem. I have decided to change to .357 mag cartrides. I purchased 1000 case of starline brass in .357 mag. I adjusted the powder die and crimp die up about 2 full turns and then did fine adjustment. I loaded up the press and started cranking out rounds. After about 30 rounds the cases started sticking in the powder die on the cone that flares the mouth of the case. On a couple of rounds I have had to hit the handle to pull the case free.
I did not clean the brass before starting to reload it.

What could be causing the case to stick?
 
At the outset, I put a thin film of Redding wax on the powder thru expander. IIRC, the expander is supposed to “pop” out so that it ensures powder doesn’t get held up.
 
pull the die and check for burrs. This should not happen at all, I have 4 pro 1000's and that is something I have never encountered. You should ALWAYS run clean brass through the press. Dirty brass will ruin your dies very quickly
 
Thanks for the reply. The brass is new right out of the box but I have started cleaning it just incase there is a wax or some kind of coating on it. I have run a couple of the clean cases and they still stick.

Looking at the flare once I pry the case off of the flaring cone I see that the flare is quite small and the 130 gr RNFN BB on seats only so the bevel inside the case. I don’t know if there is a minimuim flare or not.
 
Cliveaw0 said:
Thanks for the reply. The brass is new right out of the box but I have started cleaning it just incase there is a wax or some kind of coating on it. I have run a couple of the clean cases and they still stick.

Looking at the flare once I pry the case off of the flaring cone I see that the flare is quite small and the 130 gr RNFN BB on seats only so the bevel inside the case. I don’t know if there is a minimum flare or not.
Click to expand...

I will be setting up a Pro 1000 in the very near future. In the past, when loading lead or polymer in my old Lyman Turret, I set it to the minimum required to ensure the bullet feeds without shaving; when using copper plate or jacket bullets, I have found I do not need it. Since it is the powder through die, I will be setting it up on the Pro-1000 but to the absolute minimum for bullet feeding and reliable charging.
 
Thanks Meroh. That is what I had figure too. During my initial adjustments I was getting to much flare so that the flare mouth was wider than the bullet crimping die entrance. Crumpled the one case pretty good.
 
Did you adjust it when changing from 38 to 357?
Back it out till the flare is just enough to push a bullet in without it shaving the sides.

I've loaded thousands of 9mm and 45acp with mine and never polished or oiled my dies.
I take it completely apart to clean and lube the press every few thousand rounds and I've never had any problems.
 
Brand new brass can be quite "sticky" when coming off the neck expander die.I find the second loadings much easier(probably carbon from the previous firing acts as a lubricant).What helps is a bit of case lube dabbed on your finger and rubbed on the case mouth every 5th case or so_Or else spray the whole batch of cases with light film of case lube,enough will go onto the mouths to make loading much easier.
 
Meroh said:
I will be setting up a Pro 1000 in the very near future. In the past, when loading lead or polymer in my old Lyman Turret, I set it to the minimum required to ensure the bullet feeds without shaving; when using copper plate or jacket bullets, I have found I do not need it. Since it is the powder through die, I will be setting it up on the Pro-1000 but to the absolute minimum for bullet feeding and reliable charging.
Click to expand...

Cliveaw0 said:
Thanks Meroh. That is what I had figure too. During my initial adjustments I was getting to much flare so that the flare mouth was wider than the bullet crimping die entrance. Crumpled the one case pretty good.
Click to expand...

Mine is working great; I have been loading 9mm CamPro copper plated 115 gr. Next batch will be 125 gr. hard cast lead. Don't foresee any problems there either. I do give a light mist of case lube, then roll them around in a plastic bag. There are other quirks as well, but I'm getting it figured out. Reworking in the press is almost impossible if you have a primed case you can hand index it through but the primers sensor triggers a primer in the process. and you have to pick it out before proceeding. Same if you forget to seat a bullet. I have left a set of 9mm dies
 
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