Has anyone else begun using Lee's new "Breech Lock" reloading thingy? It is really exasperating. I have been having trouble finding all of the Lego-like Lee bits and pieces that screw into each other and into the RCBS press and which now render what used to be a very simple and quick bullet re-sizing process into a very complicated and time-consuming hopscotch. What was that which Helsley wrote, something about finding the most complicated solution to a non-problem?
Anyone else?
Advice welcome.
Please help me understand
You are wanting to add Lee parts to an RCBS press to
make it breech lock?
https://leeprecision.com/breech-lock-challenger-press.html
Skeet, I am trying to re-size bullets on my RCBS press. Lee made the easiest re-sizing dies forever, and I had many of them made over the years. Simple screw-in die on top of the press, with a punch stuck into the ram's shell holder notch below. Place lubed bullet on punch, lower handle, raise bullet through sizer, and voila, a resized bullet. When I asked Lee to make a new custom die, they won't make the old style any longer, only the newfangled thingy, which requires multiple parts. Not just a die and a punch. I was wondering if anyone had a better solution, or if they had also come to terms with this Lee contraption and made it work for them. Because even though I keep buying parts for this, I still don't have enough to make it actually work.
If you don't re-size bullets, this will not bother you.
If you already have all the resizing dies you need, then this will not bother you.
I am bothered
AWWWW!!
Now I see
What custom size are you wanting?
https://leeprecision.com/bullet-casting/bullet-sizing-kit/I may have a source
Mike
They made me a 0.373" in the new style, and all I want is the old style. You know a guy, Skeet?
Pamtnman,
Life is so much easier when you have a lathe. I use a "ring sizing die" to resize common diameter bullets to the size I need for my guns. These consist of a 7/8x14 threaded hollow die body( fits standard press thread) , a "ring" with a hole of the size needed, which is trapped and held in the die body by a threaded plug (with a hole to clear the bullets). Lubricated bullets are pushed through the "ring" ( about .500" thick) with a rod very similar to Lee's arrangement. To change for different size bullets, you only have to make a simple "ring" with the correct size polished hole( no threads). You may have to make( or buy) a new rod to push the bullets with. You have to make an arrangement to catch the sized bullets, but one will work for all bullets. This type die is made by companies that supply equipment for jacketed bullet makers. One such company is Corbin. They are used to adjust the final diameter of a newly made bullet, if necessary, and are usually just called sizing dies ( without the "ring" being in the name). Once you have the basic die set and a lathe, you are not dependent on someone else .
Mike
Mike,
I hear you. My mastery of the two small metal lathes here is relegated to very simple processes, like I could do a bullet pusher. I am not up to cutting threads yet, although the one lathe has the chart on it for how to set it up to cut all kinds of threads. I do make some nice walking sticks on the big wood lathe, something I already know how to do. This bullet die situation is super frustrating. Maybe it will push me to spend the time on the metal lathes. I bought them to do this exact work. Becomes a time vs money question.
PA
If you do not want to single point your threads you can use a die to cut them. There is more than 1 way to skin a cat.
See? This is where I just don't know what I don't know, Steve. I will have to look online for how this die cutting threads is done. Right now I just need the last little bits to this newfangled Lee sizing die, and the project will be almost complete. Then a deep breath before starting down any others.
pamtnman,
Single point thread cutting is easy, and may be the most satisfying of the lathe operations. The best way to learn is to have a friend show you, then practice. The set up is the main thing, the lathe does the rest.
SKB,
I tap cut a 1'-8 thread to make a chuck back plate for my first lathe, it took so much force and cheater bars on the tap handle that it broke my favorite vise ( given to me by my favorite uncle that got me into working on guns and handloading). Large coarse threads are hard to cut by hand (14 tpi is not especially coarse, admittedly), because you have to move so much metal. Plus single pointing them keeps them "centered".
Mike
Thanks, Mike. All good advice and noted. I wish the time were available for this fun stuff. Most of my time is spent the opposite, using or around heavy machinery etc Reloading and writing are the two outs I have, and not enough