Lee universal decapping die

[kriller134]

Hey guys I'm having trouble decapping military brass with this die. The pin keeps moving up when I try to deprime, I guess as designed, so I'm thinking it's user error. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[someoneeasy]

have you tightened down on the collet?

also, if you look into the brass, do you see where the pin is making contact? you might not be centered on the pin.

[someoneeasy]

I would also suggest upgrading to these when you bend your decapping pin. I finally found them after bending and breaking a few.

http://www.squirreldaddy.com/3-Ball-end-decapping-pin-upgrade-for-Lee-90783-p/sd24-107.htm

If you're near by, I have an extra I'll give to you.

[jdmacl]

Are you certain the brass isn't Berdan primed? I learned my lesson the hard way, trying to de-capping a bunch military 30-06 brass I had.

[AlienHobo]

Are you certain the brass isn't Berdan primed? I learned my lesson the hard way, trying to de-capping a bunch military 30-06 brass I had.

^^^ This happened to me. I tightened it down so it wouldn't get pushed up and pushed down hard...

[santacruzgunner]

As someone mentioned you have to tighten the collet on top of die. Loosen first set pin then tighten

[kriller134]

thanks for the responses. I'll try tightening the collet more. The case I had problems with deprimed on the sizing die, it just took more effort, so I'm guessing I need to tighten the collet more. Thanks for the suggestions.

[someoneeasy]

thanks for the responses. I'll try tightening the collet more. The case I had problems with deprimed on the sizing die, it just took more effort, so I'm guessing I need to tighten the collet more. Thanks for the suggestions.

yea, definitely sounds like you need to tighten it more, happened to me at first too.

[jericho89]

^^^ This happened to me. I tightened it down so it wouldn't get pushed up and pushed down hard...

On the plus side lee warranties the pins. If you send it back they will replace it, or you get the link from them and just pay shipping to you. When I did that I ordered a dozen to keep on hand, it made shipping reasonable.

[baih777]

Removing the crimped primers takes a little more effort, tighten the collet. Buy a couple of extra recapping pins.

[someoneeasy]

On the plus side lee warranties the pins. If you send it back they will replace it, or you get the link from them and just pay shipping to you. When I did that I ordered a dozen to keep on hand, it made shipping reasonable.

you can get a ton of free parts, just pay shipping on their site. I have to order a few replacement items, but been too lazy to get around to it.

http://leeprecision.com/parts/

when you add to cart, shows zero for the total.

[Jason_2111]

I would also suggest upgrading to these when you bend your decapping pin. I finally found them after bending and breaking a few.

http://www.squirreldaddy.com/3-Ball-end-decapping-pin-upgrade-for-Lee-90783-p/sd24-107.htm

If you're near by, I have an extra I'll give to you.

Thanks for this... I've probably replaced my pin over 10 times.

[someoneeasy]

Thanks for this... I've probably replaced my pin over 10 times.

same here, it wasn't until I ordered another 3 from amazon that I stumbled across these. If you weren't "way up in the hills" I'd let you have one of my extras.

[noylj]

You know, the die was probably perfectly set when you got it, but I'll bet you disassembled it any way.
If so, you could, as mentioned,
Have the decapping pin off-center (use a deprimed case to center and mark the post so you can return the pin to the correct height, as you will have to loosen the collect)
or
Have the collet too loose (can't emphasis enough—TIGHT).
I have no trouble with mine, after well over 10 years of use. Never bent a pin (I wonder where the pack of 5 pins is that I bought when I bought the die). I do, however, always know when I have an S&B once-fired case in the shell holder. Depriming military cases has never been an issue, but I swear, S&B glues their primers in with super glue.
Not recommended: Before I got the collet "tension" right, I used to have a hammer on the bench. If that rod went UP, I smashed it back down. That'll show that primer I mean business! Didn't do any damage, but I never had a berdan primed case either.

[TexasJackKin]

One more thing no one mentioned, lube the threads on the collet, but make sure there is no lube on the pin or the interior of the collet where it grips the pin. Clean it with degreaser, then lightly lube the threads with never seeze or similar.