Novice shotshell reloader - crushed hull at crimping station

[diegocn]

I've been reloading metallic cartridges for a few years now. My friend gave me a vintage Lyman Easy Shotshell Reloader to help me get into shotshell reloading.

So far it's quite a bit of frustration, as I was not able to get a proper crimp on the shell at all. This press does sizing and crimping at the same station. If I press the handle all the way, then the hull will get crushed and stuck in the crimper/sizer every time. I've tried different types of hulls and hulls contains the shot column or just empty hull. It gets crushed every time. #4 in the picture below shows some of the crushed hulls.

Backup link for the picture: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IjFsxLmzGG6SR_BS-gc6PgkTFjOv5JPF/view?usp=sharing

#1 in the picture shows a disassembled view of the sizing/crimping die. The manual said adjust the knurled piece counter clockwise to increase the depth of the crimp. It seems like this is the only adjustable piece that will affect the crimp in the die. I've tried adjusting the piece to either way but the hull still gets crushed.

Am I missing something? Base on the manual, I think every parts for the crimp/size station is present (other than the ejector which shouldn't affect crimping).

Also what is the part in picture #2/#3 suppose to do? It looks like the sizing die but no sizer ring, no thread to thread into anything. It has these internal fins inside.

 

[rembolt]

Pic 2 appears to be a pre crimp perhaps . you say it sizes and crimps on the same station . that does not sound right to me . sizing and crimping are done at complete opposite ends of the loading sequence so I don't understand why the same die would be used . pic 4 were these hulls loaded with shoot when crimped .

 

[53Izzy744]

I may be totally wrong but Number 3 looks like the wad guide as well. The wad guide goes above and into your hull and acts as a funnel to guide the wad down into your hull without hanging up on the crimped part of the hull.

Regardless, the sequence should be

1) size and deprime
2) prime and remove sizing collar
3) add powder
4) add wad and shot
5) starting crimp
6) finish crimp

I am going off Lee setup but the process is similar. Find your model number or name of that press and check youtube for tutorial.

Not familiar with your press but i dont think it should go down anywhere near that far to allow it to crush that badly.

Added: also, picture 1 and figure J dont look the same. There looks like there should be a threaded bushing or something on top of the plunger (pic 1 doesnt show the threaded part on top)

Added: sorry, but this press does the sizing at the end with the crimp? So you slide something over the brass and press down hard enough to size, but it also uses that same stroke to do the crimp?

Added: are you using 3inch hulls and it is set up for 2 3/4"?

 

[diegocn]

I have a picture with the model of the press, it's "LYMAN EASY shotshell reloader". Light blue circle shows the crimp starter station on the press.

The PDF manual is found here does say sizing and crimping is at the same station: https://www.lymanproducts.com/media/user/file/e/a/easy_shotshell_loader.pdf

pic 4 were these hulls loaded with shoot when crimped

Hulls in pic 4 were not loaded when crimped. But I had loaded hulls showing similar crushing.

Added: are you using 3inch hulls and it is set up for 2 3/4"?

Pretty sure I'm using 2 3/4". During an attempt to adjust the die, I put a loaded factory 2-3/4" buckshot shell into the die to gauge where the crushing happens, and manage to crush that one as well. See picture:

also, picture 1 and figure J dont look the same. There looks like there should be a threaded bushing or something on top of the plunger (pic 1 doesnt show the threaded part on top)

The threaded bushing on the top of the plunger you talk about was still on the press, if you look at picture #1 in the original post you'll see it on the right most station. This picture shows a complete disassembly of the sizing crimping die if that helps anything.

 

[53Izzy744]

I hope a lyman veteran can chime in because it seems to me like there is a part missing. Not having used one i cant see how the process of putting all the force down on the crimp of a plastic hull will be enough to resize the brass base WITHOUT crushing the hull. Makes no sense to me without something there to divert the force to the sides of the base.