Lee loadmaster 9mm problem

[tallic68]

I received a NIB lee load master the other day. After getting all the necessities together, I started to set it up today. Bolting it down, setting up the case feeder, dies and such. I was doing fine for about 50 or so rounds when I got a case stuck in the sizing die. I thought maybe it was a fluke. I got the case out and continued with setting up bullet seating and light crimp. Then it happened again. And continued to happen, after getting almost 7 cases stuck I came here to get help.
Dies are brand new with no marks or blemishes. All dies are marked 9mm shell plate holder is markes 19s.

These cases are tumble polished with no blemishes, no media stuck it them. Onece extracted there is no marked on the case at all. I'm losed.

Can anyone lend me some advice?
Thanks
Mile

[NotEnufGarage]

Do you have your sizing die in the first station?

I set my dies up like this ;

Station 1 - Universal Decapping Die
Station 2 - Sizing die without decapper
Station 3 - Powder through expanding die and powder drop
Station 4 - Seating die
Station 5 - Factory crimp die

Is the case feeder seating the shell all the way into the shellplate?

The case feeder takes some tweaking to get right. The tension on the black plastic clip that goes on the square rod is important. Too loose and it won't work right. Too tight and it won't work right.

I'd suggest playing with the case feeder adjustments until that works reliably.

When mine jams it's usually in station 2 when the primer seating pin gets jammed. The new primer feeders seem to have fixed that.

It's important to have a die in station 2 to hold the case in the correct position when the primer is being inserted.

[NotEnufGarage]

Check out this site for some very helpful videos - http://loadmastervideos.com/

[tallic68]

I have my die set up as you just don't use the separate seating and crimp die?
I haven't gotten to put any primers or powder in yet. I'm just trying to set up the dies and seating.
The case feeder works fine. Places the case fine.

[NotEnufGarage]

Did you check to make sure you don't have some .380 brass mixed in with your 9MM brass? That would do it, since the rim is slightly smaller. Dimensions (rim widthxlength) are .394"x.754" for 9MM and .374"x.680" for .380. Because of the smaller rim, the shell plate won't have a good hold on the rim and won't be able to pull it out of the sizing die.

I sorted through about 3000 9MM shells and pulled about 100 .380 and 100 .38 S&W shells out the batch. It's frustrating, but you gotta do it.

A pair of cheap magnifying reading glasses and good light speeds it up a lot.

[tallic68]

All shells were shot by me and I don't own a 380. And I have gone throught them by hand to sort them from the 45 & 38 spl I shoot.

[tallic68]

this is the head after removing them from the sizing die.



Sent from my iPhone using - Fire at will message system

[tallic68]

I can get like five or six in a row then they stick.

[klewan]

Try lubing the brass. Carbide dies are supposed to be lube free, but I've found a little lube on everything makes the whole process easier.

Try another 9mm die if you can get your hands on one. I doubt there is something screwy with your guns chamber, but you never know. So try some brass out of another gun and try a different die, you'll figure it out.

[tallic68]

Well I won't be trying anything for a bit one of the cases while screwing with this dang thin got dislodged and bent the primer slider. Now it's out of service and some how the universal decamping die pin broke WTF I'm over it tonight.

All the cases are from the same gun a FNP-9. It will work for a few rounds and then jam up. I'm baffled.

[NotEnufGarage]

Get some Q-Tips and some car polishing compound. Dip the Q-tips in compound and use it to polish the inside of the sizing die, just going in a circular motion. Don't go up and down. I'd do it until I've used up about 10 or 20 Q-tips. You're just trying to put a polish on the die. This will take a little while. When you're all done, clean the inside of the die really well, then lube up about a dozen cases (inside and outside) and run them through it. This should help to break-in the die. You might have a burr or some oxidation inside your die that's jamming things up.

Also, take a Sharpee and number the 5 positions of the shellholder plate. See if it always happens on the same position. I have heard of out of spec plates.

If that doesn't do it, contact Lee for a new sizing die.

[Bill Steele]

I would give Lee a call, it sounds like your Die might have a problem.

As Klewan posted, I always lube all my handgun brass when loading on a progressive, but frankly, looking at your case in the picture, your die has a problem. Lee will likely send another along straight away.

For lube, Hornaday One Shot case lube will work, Dillon case lube will work and last longer (less expensive) or 1 part Lanolin to 9 parts 99% isopropyl alcohol will be exactly the same as Dillon lube and last even longer (be even cheaper yet).

Have fun, good luck.

[tallic68]

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

[GSwain]

If your shellplate is doing that to your brass, it looks like you may have the wrong shellplate. It should be applying even force around 70% of the rim, the fact that yours appears to have the wings smashed off just the sides indicates the shell plate may be one size too large to me. Also, make sure your shellplate is tight, if it is loose it can cause things to bind.

[tallic68]

Called lee today and they said that because I was using cleaned brass that the cases were "sticky" and needed to use a case lube for a while. He recommended endust. Lay the shells out on paper and give them a light fog of endust and that should fix the problem. And he clarified endust the furniture dust cleaner, and it would not effect the powder burn or any other process.nhe also said that I have the correct shell plate.