Problems priming 9mm brass on a Lee turret press

Colin

Colin

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
51   0   0
Location
Vancouver
I have been having problems pressing primers into my 9mm cases. MY Lee turret press handles the large primers for 45 without problems. But with the small primers I getting flipped primers, smeared, cocked or crushed. The shell holder is the correct size, correct position and I cleaned everything, it seems like every 10th casing screws up, although I just had 4 casing in a row screw up (why I gave up tonight) I thought that my stroke wasn’t smooth enough, but that doesn’t seem to be the issue. Any thoughts, Ideas?
 
Last edited:
I have had the exact same problem. There are two causes to watch, the first is to make sure that the primer tray has primers in it and that the feed tube is always full..if that feed tube gets about half empty they will feed wrong or not at all. The second thing is to check the timing of the shell plate carrier and adjust it a bit with the screw on the bottom side of the plate.
Also make sure you have switched to the small primer feed system, the sizes are different.
Hope that helps
Cheers
 
Colin, does your primer feeder tube have a rod that goes in it after you have fed the primers down the tube?
I have this on my Dillon, and I think it helps to add a little pressure to the primers so the cant turn over.. not sure though....
 
Let me clarify what I have. The basic Pro 1000 comes with a T bar that has 2 holders on each end , one for big primers and the other for small. You put the case into the shell holder, the ram goes up and the case is de-primed, you place the primer into the holder, and push the T bar into the slot cut in the ram and bring the ram down, pushing the case onto the primer. The bottom of the case holder is slightly flared to guide the primer holder into position and allows the primer to be pressed into the case. The primer holder is spring mounted and is pushed allowing the primer to pushed fully into the case.

The first 100 bullets worked fine, but now it seems to be getting worse. I have cleaned everything, inspected things and not seen an obvious problems.
 
There is an adjustment screw for the indexing at the bottom of the press. It's a large phillips screw and I believe it's called the 'Zero adjustment'. Have you played with that? It did the trick for me. Everytime I start getting flipped or sideways primers, a quick adjustment there seems to solve the problem. The setting doesn't seem to hold because I have to adjust it every 500 rounds or so....

edited to add: my press is the Lee Pro 1000, not sure how it differs from the basic 1000
 
you haven't got a 1000, you've got a lee turret from the sounds of the primer mechanism-the 1000 feeds off a trough and gravity feed off station #2
anyway, the first thing i'd be checking is the primer pockets for a CRIMP- if there is a CRIMP there and you don't remove it , you're going to get crushing and folding- no matter what priming mechanism you use- also from what you said, it sounds like you've run about 100( 2 boxes) through which were probably either brand new ammo or brass or both and now you've got brass from god knows where which PROBABLY has a CRIMP- sometimes you can force the primer past it, sometimes you can't- anf it's not just military casings that have the crimp i've found out- some lots of commercial have it too- first thing, get a PRIMER CRIMP REMOVAL TOOL and run it through ALL your casings- then you should have very few problems-
2- get a LEE AUTO PRIME and do your priming AS A BATCH of 50 or so- there is very little chance of any primer flip with that thing and simply squeezing your hand will seat most of your primers,- it's about the best investment you can make for 30 bucks or so-
get out the lee catalogue or look on line and see if you haven't got a TURRET PRESS
i've never heard of a 1000 that has the priming set-up you describe and i've got 3 of the things
i'll give you that THEY DO LOOK ALIKE TO SOME DEGREE,but they're two completely different birds
 
Last edited:
Colin said:
Let me clarify what I have. The basic Pro 1000 comes with a T bar that has 2 holders on each end , one for big primers and the other for small. You put the case into the shell holder, the ram goes up and the case is de-primed, you place the primer into the holder, and push the T bar into the slot cut in the ram and bring the ram down, pushing the case onto the primer. The bottom of the case holder is slightly flared to guide the primer holder into position and allows the primer to be pressed into the case. The primer holder is spring mounted and is pushed allowing the primer to pushed fully into the case.

The first 100 bullets worked fine, but now it seems to be getting worse. I have cleaned everything, inspected things and not seen an obvious problems.
Click to expand...

That aint a 1000....
pro1000.jpg

That's a 1000
 
Hi Colin ;

I had the same problem on my first gen turret press except in reverse.

The small primer cup worked great but the big one didn't from the get go.

The latest version of the turret press with safety prime doesn't suffer from
this problem as far as I know (I upgraded recently)


This is how I fixed the problem (may not be your problem)

I determined that there was too much material left on the edge of the "T"

when the factory guys were cleaning up the casting marks

That means that when the "T" was pushed fully forward , the extra material

on the edge of the "T" prevented the correct positioning of the primer cup

I ground a little material off and it worked like a charm

You can determine if this is the problem you are experiencing by "feel"

without primer in the cup during the priming stroke

I felt the edge of the cup scratching/grabbing the edge of the hole in the Ram

I cleared enough material until it ran smoothly (positioned correctly)

Hope this helps
 
Colin said:
this is what I have, you're right it's not the pro 1000


Click to expand...
that's a LEE TURRET 3 HOLE-WITH AUTO INDEX- different bird entirely from the 1000
the only thing i can think of is to check and make sure the priming"t" centers to the hole in the shellholder - other than that , it's got to be primer crimp problem- there's nothing else it can be unless you've got a wrong shellholder and it's allowing the case to wobble off center - it should be a 6- btw, my first was a lee turret about 1986 or so, and i've still got it- the other thing to watch for is that they eat a lot of those nylon ratchets- if it starts to turn only half way , it's time to change the ratchet
 
Last edited:
Lightning Rod said:
Hi Colin ;

I had the same problem on my first gen turret press except in reverse.

The small primer cup worked great but the big one didn't from the get go.

The latest version of the turret press with safety prime doesn't suffer from
this problem as far as I know (I upgraded recently)


This is how I fixed the problem (may not be your problem)

I determined that there was too much material left on the edge of the "T"

when the factory guys were cleaning up the casting marks

That means that when the "T" was pushed fully forward , the extra material

on the edge of the "T" prevented the correct positioning of the primer cup

I ground a little material off and it worked like a charm

You can determine if this is the problem you are experiencing by "feel"

without primer in the cup during the priming stroke

I felt the edge of the cup scratching/grabbing the edge of the hole in the Ram

I cleared enough material until it ran smoothly (positioned correctly)

Hope this helps
Click to expand...


Give this man a cookie, this was exactly what the problem was, thanks!! :dancingbanana:
 
Fortunately Colin had the answer.

I was going to ask if you were with a lot of DND old brass which is so different to commercial brass we use in North America. I chucked mine in with the spent brass of .22 along with the damaged brass, at our Club for selling it was ideal with prices to-day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom