Help for someone using a lee hand loading kit...

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Willybuch

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Hey guys,

I recently picked up a lee handloading kit on the weekend and am starting to use it to deprime cases... the only thing is the hammer I am using... I went freakin EVERYWHERE! And the best thing I could find was a rubber mallet from RONA. It doesn't work... I tried banging the damn primer out for two hours and didn't really have any luck until I turned the entire setup upside down and hit the depriming chamber onto the rod instead of the rod into the case inside the depriming chamber if that makes any sense.... My question is best way to get over this issue? It just seems like there simply isn't enough surface area with the rod using it rightside up for the hammer to distribute the force (I suspect right side up, the rod is just sinking in to the hammer).

Would it be best to try and get a different type of hammer, or just use a block of wood on top of the rod to act as a better surface to strike with the hammer.

Also kinda non-related question, where is the best place to find .308 Hornady brass.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide to someone who is new to reloading.
 
Willybuch said:
Hey guys,

I recently picked up a lee handloading kit on the weekend and am starting to use it to deprime cases... the only thing is the hammer I am using... I went freakin EVERYWHERE! And the best thing I could find was a rubber mallet from RONA. It doesn't work... I tried banging the damn primer out for two hours and didn't really have any luck until I turned the entire setup upside down and hit the depriming chamber onto the rod instead of the rod into the case inside the depriming chamber if that makes any sense.... My question is best way to get over this issue? It just seems like there simply isn't enough surface area with the rod using it rightside up for the hammer to distribute the force (I suspect right side up, the rod is just sinking in to the hammer).

Would it be best to try and get a different type of hammer, or just use a block of wood on top of the rod to act as a better surface to strike with the hammer.

Also kinda non-related question, where is the best place to find .308 Hornady brass.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide to someone who is new to reloading.
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I hate to say so, or even think it, but it sounds like you were trying to pound out the primer with the case on a flat surface with no place for the primer to go!
As has been said, only a light tap would normally deprime the case.
 
There are actually quite a few good you-tube vids on using a lee loader. Have you viewed them to check your technique? Shouldn't be nearly that hard. Is the depriming rod centered?
 
H4831 said:
I hate to say so, or even think it, but it sounds like you were trying to pound out the primer with the case on a flat surface with no place for the primer to go!
As has been said, only a light tap would normally deprime the case.
Click to expand...

this ^, you have to put the shell in the little black cup and let the primers drop into it. I deprime on my 'tactical log' punch the primers out into the crack and they all bounce into the cardboard box with any bad shell casings I find.


.325WSM said:
There are actually quite a few good you-tube vids on using a lee loader. Have you viewed them to check your technique? Shouldn't be nearly that hard. Is the depriming rod centered?
Click to expand...

or this ^ are you missing the primer! I did that.. missed the primer.. pin broke after giving it tooo hard a smack with a steel headed hammer. then I waited in shame for lee to ship me a new primer punch as I knew what I did... you will know when you are in the right spot to punch it out as the punch will get a ring wear mark on it at the exact spot when you've done enough of them. I just de-primed about 1000 .223 cases with 1 last week, and then did the 60 I fired over the weekend in not much time at all.
 
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What make of brass are you depriming? If its surplus or euro it could be berdan primed. If you shine a light to the bottom of the case and see two holes instead of one, its berdan, and therefore not reloadable with conventional north american means!
 
tigger said:
What make of brass are you depriming? If its surplus or euro it could be berdan primed. If you shine a light to the bottom of the case and see two holes instead of one, its berdan, and therefore not reloadable with conventional north american means!
Click to expand...

YUP! there's the OTHER final option that it could be...
 
It's hornady brass, once fired superformance 308. I think I might deprime and then try to sell it and just use winchester brass for new stuff I reload. I'm pretty sure that I am hitting the primer, and I'm pretty sure that it has a lot to do with the rubber **Hammer I am using, sounds stupid, but I am pretty sure that's what it is.
 
Use a plastic mallet. Rubber is too soft. Mind you, as mentioned, it shouldn't be difficult to whack out a primer. Even one that is crimped should just pop out with a relatively light tap.
 
Some european made brass has undersize flashholes. Does your depriming pin slide easily into flashhole? A wood hammer handle or 18" piece of 2x2 lumber should work(don't like steel hammer).
 
I honestly use a regular hammer for de-priming, priming and seating the bullet. I tried a rubber mallet and plastic mallet but it just didn't work the same. I can feel everything very easily with the metal hammer, albeit not the recommended tool. Light taps over heavy whacks seem to work for this lol.
 
I had the same trouble with a rubber mallet. You need to get one with the plastic face on it the rubber has too much give.
 
The 4 piece die set is what you need and a hand primer cause its way faster to prime by hand then with the hand loader.
 
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