Lee Universal Decapping Die .. Not so Universal?

[ElDub1950]

So, still tweaking a new Lee LoadMaster. Moved the resizing die to the 2nd position as recommended to solve some of the priming issues which did solve most of them. Bought the Lee Universal Decapping Die for depriming in position 1.

Doing 9mm, it doesn't seem to center the case very well and have had to stop a few times to futz with the case position. The pin seems to be hitting the bottom of the case. The indexing seems to be fine. The cases are nicely positioned in all the other dies, it just the pin is hitting the case instead the primer hole.

In fact the brass I've been using is some that I had already deprimed and I've bent 2 depriming pins so far with only about ~400 rnds. I did ~100 .40s with no problem.

So is this common? Is the universal die just to large for 9mm cases? Should I just buy another 9mm resizing/depriming die? Or what's your experience?

[blockfort]

As you think, it doesn't self center the brass, so it can be off sometimes. I use it on a single stage, so I have more control over how the brass is placed in the shell holder, and can tap the brass if the pin is not hitting the primer. Maybe it just won't work so well in a progressive. Do you have a 40cal or 45 deprimer? Maybe you can use that to deprime 9mm. Or perhaps tape some cardboard in the universal to help center the brass...

[ElDub1950]

Thanks for confirming. I do have a .40 die set in another turret I might try, but will probably go ahead and buy another 9mm resizing die. Trying to minimize the number of changes needed when switching calibers ... there's several steps they don't tell you about

[stilly]

Yeah, these results are contradictory to what I get on mine.

I have mine loaded in a Lee hand PRESS with breech lock and I burn through shells about 2 seconds per shell for decapping. Never any issues that I did not cause.

It does it on all calibers or just 9mm?


**edit
Thankl you CMT for pointing that out. Yes I did mean that... LoL.

[ArmedCMT]

Yeah, these results are contradictory to what I get on mine.

I have mine loaded in a Lee hand primer press with breech lock and I burn through shells about 2 seconds per shell for decapping. Never any issues that I did not cause.

It does it on all calibers or just 9mm?

I also use mine in my lee hand press with excellent results across all calibers.


Im pretty sure you meant hand press since the hand primer doesnt use the breech lock.

[ElDub1950]

Yeah, these results are contradictory to what I get on mine.

I have mine loaded in a Lee hand primer with breech lock and I burn through shells about 2 seconds per shell for decapping. Never any issues that I did not cause.

It does it on all calibers or just 9mm?

Problems are with 9mm & .380. .40 seems to be ok so far. And this is on a Loadmaster. I doubt I'd have any problems with it on my single stage press where the shell holder is a little better than the LM shell plate.

[MR_X]

see if this works for you

http://www.mikesreloadingbench.com/mikes%20reloading%20bench_014.htm

[jonzer77]

I had the same issue with 45ACP.

[someoneeasy]

I run into that problem if the case is not fully seated into the shell plate. Because the 19s shell plate is used for so many different calibers, the 9mm brass doesn't always seat properly. I just tap it in with my finger when I feel like something is hitting. I've seen some suggesting the 6s shellplate because it's a tighter fix.

I also found that I need to lube the 9mm brass, even though I'm using carbide dies. Now if I can only figure out how to get my case feeder to work with the 9mm, for the 40, I have no problem.

[the86d]

(I did notice watching videos of the Lee progressives, that the shellplate seems a bit loose. I went with a Dillon because of this...)

[ElDub1950]

see if this works for you
http://www.mikesreloadingbench.com/m...0bench_014.htm

I'll keep that in mind but I'd have to buy another shell plate first since I do load .40 also.

[ElDub1950]

I run into that problem if the case is not fully seated into the shell plate. Because the 19s shell plate is used for so many different calibers, the 9mm brass doesn't always seat properly. I just tap it in with my finger when I feel like something is hitting. I've seen some suggesting the 6s shellplate because it's a tighter fix.

I also found that I need to lube the 9mm brass, even though I'm using carbide dies. Now if I can only figure out how to get my case feeder to work with the 9mm, for the 40, I have no problem.

I'll look into the 6s, thanks.

You may have to buy the case feeder made for 9mm. The one I have is for .380 & 9mm. .40 cases won't drop through so I have the one made for .40 on order. I'd guess the .40 case feeder is to big for 9mm and the cases don't position right.

[JMP]

Why not just decap with the sizing die as intended? As far as being "universal", I can assure you it is not. It is not wide enough to even fit larger rifle cartridges.

[ElDub1950]

Why not just decap with the sizing die as intended? As far as being "universal", I can assure you it is not. It is not wide enough to even fit larger rifle cartridges.

Based on lots of recommendations I moved the sizing die to position 2 (removed pin) over the primer ram to solve some of the primer problems. It did significantly improve priming. The universal decapper was recommended. But wasn't a good recommendation.

[stand125]

A lot of the problem could be that a 9mm case sits a little far back in the shell plate since it is the same shell plate a the 40 caliber. You could find a used 9mm sizing die in position 2 to line up the case for priming and then deprime/size in station 1 which will also line up the case for station 2 priming.

You wouldn't even need any particular brand of die since its only purpose would be to line the case up centered for priming.