Lee depriming pin problem?

[Markus]

My depriming pin is being reset by .357 mag brass what gives? Here's a picture of two s&w 357 mag brass one which deprived no problem and the other that reset my pin.


Can anyone tell me whats going on?

[Endofcomment]

Tighten the nut that holds the pin.

[wtkaiser]

It LOOKS a bit like that case on the right has been subjected to some high pressure. But EOC is basically correct, just tighten and retry. If it STILL resets the pin, check the pin to make sure it's straight. If it is, toss the case. It's not worth too much effort.

[Markus]

and I guess if the pin isnt straight i buy a new one? It just seems to keep happening a lot and its a PITA to keep resetting the pin...

[EL_NinO619]

Tighten it very snug, but not to tight. Its design for the pin to back out rather than break. You may want to get a universal decapper for the stubborn cases. The Lee one runs about 10 bucks... And like above said, if they still cause problems, toss them its not worth it...

[Bill Steele]

Tighten it very snug, but not to tight. Its design for the pin to back out rather than break. You may want to get a universal decapper for the stubborn cases. The Lee one runs about 10 bucks... And like above said, if they still cause problems, toss them its not worth it...

I agree with the advice to tighten the collet down more. Maybe buy a pack of depriming pins to have on hand as even with the back out before breaking design of the Lee dies, there are things like a case with a loose primer inside it that when you come down on it, it bends the pin before it breaks off. Having a new pin laying around is always a good idea.

I am a little fuzzy on how the Universal Decapper will make decapping tough primers any easier. The Lee Universal Decapper uses the exact same collet closure and decap pins as their sizing dies. But I could be wrong, certainly won't be the first or last time.

[bumpo628]

My depriming pin is being reset by .357 mag brass what gives? Here's a picture of two s&w 357 mag brass one which deprived no problem and the other that reset my pin.

Can anyone tell me whats going on?

The problem cases could have a slightly tighter flash hole. I would just use the Lee decapping pin for the problem cases.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/636747/lee-decapper-and-base-30-caliber

[billt]

What I found that really helps with preventing Lee decapping pins from pushing back is to take them apart and clean off all of the oil from them and the hole that receives them with nail polish remover, (Acetone). I also use a little of this:

http://www.mountsplus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MSP&Product_Code=LLR-SGR-NR1&Category_Code=

It's a rosin that's a bit like what baseball pitchers use. It works great for mounting scopes as well. After cleaning and applying the rosin, tighten them down good and solid. I've never had one move after that treatment. Even after decapping thousands of crimped in military cases. And if you should ever break one, (it happens), they will be easy to remove and replace.

[cgates]

what kind of load are you using? pretty hot?

do your primers always look like that? its difficult to see from the photo, but that has the look of cratering to me.....possibly too hot of a load.

it really does not take hardly any force to remove a primer. I decap with the universal decapper and you can seriously do that with one finger.

care to share the load you are using?

[Flyin Brian]

what kind of load are you using? pretty hot?

do your primers always look like that? its difficult to see from the photo, but that has the look of cratering to me.....possibly too hot of a load.

it really does not take hardly any force to remove a primer. I decap with the universal decapper and you can seriously do that with one finger.

care to share the load you are using?

I think the reason it looks funny is because he already tried to deprime it and the pin pushed out the center of the spent primer.

[billt]

If anything, too hot of a load would increase the size of the primer pocket, and in the process loosen it. That is a classic symptom of overpressure.

[Markus]

yeah I bought the brass from a local calgunner so I was wondering if i was just being a bonehead or if the brass is not good or what...

[cgates]

yeah I bought the brass from a local calgunner so I was wondering if i was just being a bonehead or if the brass is not good or what...

something just doesnt seem right.....still looks like the primer is pretty cratered from the pic. The round still might have been over pressure - and although that will many times cause the primer pocket to enlarge, it wont necessarily happen.

so here is the next question....when you get that nasty cratered primer out, does the new primer seat with consistent even pressure or is it rather loose? be sure to clean out that primer pocket pretty well so you can make an accurate assessment.

seems like loads like 38spl and 357s get over pressured fairly often as its rather easy to drop a double charge and not notice if you arent paying much attention....especially if using a fast powder that doesnt require much - like red dot or the like.

the case heads look like they have been banged around pretty well too - sometimes also a sign of too much pressure loaded too many times.

there are only so many different things that can be wrong...shouldnt be that hard to pin it down

the thought should not come to mind, but it does.....why was the guy getting rid of the brass? did he get rid of the 357 gun and not need the brass any longer?

[Fishslayer]

the thought should not come to mind, but it does.....why was the guy getting rid of the brass? did he get rid of the 357 gun and not need the brass any longer?

Might be a range pickup. I have quite a bit of "incidental bycatch" from policing my own. It winds up getting gifted, traded or going into the "SHTF Barter Bin."

[cgates]

Might be a range pickup. I have quite a bit of "incidental bycatch" from policing my own. It winds up getting gifted, traded or going into the "SHTF Barter Bin."

thats true....I have one of those bins for the incidentals as well. It is a revolver load though...and doesnt look to be once fired to me. Revolver brass from a range pickup is 99% once fired because someone reloading is going to be able to take home just about every single piece since they arent flying clear from the gun. purely an opinion based on my own observation at the range I frequent....