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CAS TOPICS => Gunsmithing => Topic started by: Dodge City Slicker on July 20, 2007, 01:07:12 PM

Title: Primer feeding problem with Lee Pro 1000
Post by: Dodge City Slicker on July 20, 2007, 01:07:12 PM
...well I finally got set up to prime and flare new cases..but the primers in the circular primer magazine won't drop, even when you flick the magazine, they just bunch up, and the priming punch requires that there is enough weight (through gravity) of primers in the slide to keep pushing down. If there is not enough weight, they will either not slide at all or half slide on to the punch, and when I go to press the primer in place, they cockle and jam. I am sure this is well known to people that use this type of primer loading mechanism.
Is there a workable solution ?
Thanks
Title: Re: Primer feeding problem with Lee Pro 1000
Post by: Four-Eyed Buck on July 20, 2007, 03:23:27 PM
What size and brand of primer are we talking here? Is there a piece of flash in the chute?There may already be one sideways in the mouth.
Make sure the press is level and the punch is clean. Also make sure the timing for the shell plate is adjusted properly. Primers with a shiney surface work better than the "coated" surface of the Winchester primers. Just some stuff off the top of my head until you can give us something more to work with.........Buck 8) ::)
Title: Re: Primer feeding problem with Lee Pro 1000
Post by: Silver_Rings on July 20, 2007, 04:07:08 PM
I have several of the Lee 1000s in different calibers.  I find that it is important to NOT put too many primers in the tray, 100 max.  When you first put the tray on the curved feed ramp tap the side of the tray until the feed ramp is full of primers.  While working the press I check to make sure the feed ramp has at least 10 primers in it and to make sure the primers in the tray are falling in to the feed ramp.  If the primer get hung up in the tray just tap the tray until they are moving freely into the feed ramp.

Hope this helps,

SR
Title: Re: Primer feeding problem with Lee Pro 1000
Post by: Dodge City Slicker on July 21, 2007, 10:40:05 AM
Quote from: Four-Eyed Buck on July 20, 2007, 03:23:27 PM
What size and brand of primer are we talking here? Is there a piece of flash in the chute?There may already be one sideways in the mouth.
Make sure the press is level and the punch is clean. Also make sure the timing for the shell plate is adjusted properly. Primers with a shiney surface work better than the "coated" surface of the Winchester primers. Just some stuff off the top of my head until you can give us something more to work with.........Buck 8) ::)

I bought the machine used, and it was filthy dirty..I stripped it down and thoroughly cleaned it (looks like new now ), so the magazine and shute are all clean...I also adjusted the shell holder plate to be perfectly central when indexing. Like Silver_Rings said, I did notice, by trial and error, that loading the magazine only 1/3rd full gave the best results.  I'm using Winchester large pistol primers and new Starline nickel cases..the primers seem to be a tight fit and have had 1 or 2 not seat fully..maybe a different make of primer will work better.
Thansk for your help.
Title: Re: Primer feeding problem with Lee Pro 1000
Post by: Four Eyed Floyd on July 23, 2007, 02:23:35 PM
Quote from: Dodge City Slicker on July 21, 2007, 10:40:05 AM
I bought the machine used, and it was filthy dirty..I stripped it down and thoroughly cleaned it (looks like new now ), so the magazine and shute are all clean...I also adjusted the shell holder plate to be perfectly central when indexing. Like Silver_Rings said, I did notice, by trial and error, that loading the magazine only 1/3rd full gave the best results.  I'm using Winchester large pistol primers and new Starline nickel cases..the primers seem to be a tight fit and have had 1 or 2 not seat fully..maybe a different make of primer will work better.
Thansk for your help.
I understand your frustration, it took me about 10 rounds to get everything adjusted and cleaned and just so. Now it just hums along (sort of) and now an then a primer flys out of it then I know that it is dirty and needs cleaned. I have about 4000 rounds through it now and it seems to work fine as long as I keep an eye on what is happening. ;D
Title: Re: Primer feeding problem with Lee Pro 1000
Post by: Capt. Augustus on July 24, 2007, 12:30:21 PM
After giving up on a Pro 1000 for priming, I exchanged it and paid the difference for a Load Master.  It wouldn't prime either, so I took up hand priming with a RCBS hand primer.  I size and decap the brass.  Hand prime it, and then run it though the rest of the way.  Faster and a whole lot less frustration.