Lee Six Pack Pro - Ram pulled out of carrier - Short Review

[mactroneng]

Just because the Lee Six Pack Pro is still pretty new, sharing this story:

Got this pretty about 6 months ago and it treated me very well, up until the weekend. It's like they put all the best parts of the Loadmaster and Pro 4000 together with a decent primer system (not that I had big issues with the Loadmaster, but this one is definitely better) and 6 actual stations (not 4 stations + a fake station like the Loadmaster). The machine itself is pretty darn simple, as I learned when taking it apart. I also got the bullet feeder die and it works pretty well, looking to get a powder check die soon. My only real complaint (up until the breakage) is that I feel like seat the primer takes way more force than it should (ex. compared to a hand primer)... I think it's something about the geometry of the handle/leverage. But I have also not used another progressive loader other than the Loadmaster, which is completely different and obviously inferior, so I can't compare.

So far I've loaded 50x 45-70 rounds (lubed cases with steel sizing die, they are too big for the case feeder but such is life) and just over 500x 9mm (using a carbide sizing die). All brass was tumbled first.

Not sure if I hit a particularly bad piece of brass, it obviously got stuck in the sizing die. But what happened next astounded me: rather than the brass rim being mangled by the shell plate, the whole ram just pulled out of the carrier. Ended up taking the depriming pin out of the sizing die and using a brass rod to hammer the case out, freeing up the shell plate & carrier.

Ended up taking much of the press apart. I am about to butcher the following description so see my photo at the link below, hopefully it helps.

Ram with shell plate carrier removed.

Turns out the top of the ram is knurled, cut into 4 sections and taper threaded on the inside. It is inserted into the shell plate carrier and a "nut" (I don't know the proper term) is threaded into it and torqued in to make the knurled part of the ram spread and tighten against the carrier. Not sure if this is a machining issue, an issue of not being torqued enough at the factory, or just incredibly unlucky on my part with a particularly bad case.

For what it's worth, I used the same sizing die and resized another ~500x 9mm brass (no lube) on a single stage press (ugh) and never had any stuck case issues.

I was going to attempt the repair myself but I've been emailing back and forth with Lee (they have been extremely responsive) and they said they have a jig setup they use for these things, they basically assemble the entire press frame, ram, carrier, handle, secure it all together then torque the hell out of these to make it work. The guy said if I attempt it myself it's highly likely that I either won't get it tight enough or will bend the ram/press/handle assemble to hell while doing so.

So I am sending the press in for repair, ideally I'd like for them to give me a new ram and carrier in case machining/fabrication is the issue, and then have them put it all together. We'll see how it goes. I haven't been able to find another example of something like this online, nor has it been issued as any sort of bulletin on their website (they've already released a couple minor changes to the design). Hopefully I'm just unlucky and don't have to deal with anything like this again.

In the meantime, 500 9mm to load single stage in anticipation of doing my Black Badge...

 

[Meroh]

They are a good company. Good luck.

I am always leery of buying something new when it first comes out.

 

[mactroneng]

Update:

Press went to Lee, was fixed within 2 days of arriving there and has apparently been sent back. In the warranty form I included in the box I requested updates to any parts that received design revisions since my particular press was built; according to the list of stuff being sent back that they emailed me it seems that provided the upgrades parts + a bunch of spares free parts free of charge. Now just waiting for it to arrive back home, set it up and see how it goes.

 

[ted_dent]

Update:

Press went to Lee, was fixed within 2 days of arriving there and has apparently been sent back. In the warranty form I included in the box I requested updates to any parts that received design revisions since my particular press was built; according to the list of stuff being sent back that they emailed me it seems that provided the upgrades parts + a bunch of spares free parts free of charge. Now just waiting for it to arrive back home, set it up and see how it goes.

While I have a ton of Lee stuff (presses, dies, priming tools, moulds, melters, etc.) I have had very few warranty issues and have found that they usually resolve them quickly and satisfactorily.

 

[slug]

My only real complaint (up until the breakage) is that I feel like seat the primer takes way more force than it should (ex. compared to a hand primer)

Many years back, I had the same problem with my Dillon. I called Dillon and the techie immediately asked what brand of primer I was using. I told him CCI. His response was " CCI primers aren't round. Try Winchester and if you still have the problem, call me back."

Well, I switched to Winchester, and had no further problems.

Primer selection can be important in progressive presses, where there isn't a lot on energy directed to primer seating.

 

[mactroneng]

Many years back, I had the same problem with my Dillon. I called Dillon and the techie immediately asked what brand of primer I was using. I told him CCI. His response was " CCI primers aren't round. Try Winchester and if you still have the problem, call me back."

Well, I switched to Winchester, and had no further problems.

Primer selection can be important in progressive presses, where there isn't a lot on energy directed to primer seating.

Huh, interesting note. I've used a small amount (<50) of CCI primers, otherwise I've been using Ginex/Campro.

 

[mactroneng]

Finally got my press back (haven't set it up to use yet), after having it stopped at the border twice. The second time was a US export issue, I suspect the first time was as well.

Has anyone else had issues getting reloading tools over the border within the past few months?

 

[Butcherbill]

While I have a ton of Lee stuff (presses, dies, priming tools, moulds, melters, etc.) I have had very few warranty issues and have found that they usually resolve them quickly and satisfactorily.

Yeah they’re great to deal with, I had a technical question and a product warranty problem I contacted them about in dec and they were real helpful. They sent out a replacement did the next day. Rcbs is just as good to deal with I’ve found.