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Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

MrOneEyedBoh

MrOneEyedBoh

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Nov 23, 2011
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I have the LEE universal decapping die. I dont want to run the die in my Forster Co-Ax, so Im looking for a cheap press solely for the decapper. I seen that cheap 45-50 buck LEE press, but do they track accurately and straight to align the decapping pin in the primer pocket?
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

The press I started with was a cheap Lee and it worked fine. I think if you were only decapping there would be no problems. I have never had any issues with my Lee universal decapping die.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

They work just fine, I run mine in an older press and leave the coax for resizing and seating only like you intend to. The only issue I've ever had is with dented case mouths on 223 brass, occasionally the mouth will bang against the decapping die denting the mouth further. Does not happen very often and can be avoided by taking case on the upstroke on badly dented brass.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I have several. They work good to clean tumbling media out of the flash-hole on several of my 550 tool heads
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1lnbrdg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have several. They work good to clean tumbling media out of the flash-hole on several of my 550 tool heads </div></div>

I bought my Co-Ax mainly because of the primer catch cup for using my Lee Univ. Decapper...it does produce pretty good ammo as well, and its all I use for rifle loading and decapping everything now.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jagged77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They work just fine, I run mine in an older press and leave the coax for resizing and seating only like you intend to. The only issue I've ever had is with dented case mouths on 223 brass, occasionally the mouth will bang against the decapping die denting the mouth further. Does not happen very often and can be avoided by taking case on the upstroke on badly dented brass. </div></div>

+1
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I've been using my Lee Universal decap for all of my brass before I toss them in the tumbler. I've even used it for crimped .223 LC brass and it pushes them out like a charm.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrOneEyedBoh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What press are you guys using for decapping only? The cheap LEE one like this?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/807734/lee-reloader-single-stage-press </div></div>

Yup, that's the one. Works just fine for all my decaping & keeps the debris away from the Rock Chucker.

OFG
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

The little Lee was my first press to ever buy.Now it's just used to deprime as your are asking about,and it works great for me.Matter a fact I have another I use on my pistol station,it's used to just remove primers from pistol brass,I too can remove it from being in the way when loading pistol.( the little kit Lee offers )
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

Just out of curiosity why don't you want to run the Lee decapping die in your Co-Ax? is for convenience or Quality/function? I have the Lee decapping die and the Co-Ax as well and haven't seen any reason not to use them together, but maybe i am missing something. would love to know what your thought s are.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

Like the other guys said they are cheap and Id rather just leave the decapping die by itself to eliminate any trash etc getting into the co-ax.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I use mine in my regular press and have for years - there is no trash that will accumulate on your press and damage it if you do the basics and wipe it down or use some compressed air to keep it free of dust, dirt and grime which you should be doing anyway.

but to answer your question, any press will be fine for the decapper.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

The Lee decapping die is a good piece of kit. It's nice you can set the "clutch" on the stem so that it slips instead of bending when you encounter a berdan primer, or an off centered flash hole.

Recently I was running ~10k pieces of 223 through my Dillon 650. When I was setting up the toolhead, I couldn't find my Lee decapper, so I put the stem (minus the expander ball) into my Reddng FLS die. Over the course of ~3000 or 4000 cases, I had bent my stem several times and had to tweak it back into shape to keep going.

After finding my Lee decapper and installing it, I ran the other 6000-7000 cases without a single issue, other than slipping the stem a couple times.

Like I said, good piece of kit.

That reminds me, need to call Redding to order a new stem for the FLS die.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FamilyMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just out of curiosity why don't you want to run the Lee decapping die in your Co-Ax? is for convenience or Quality/function? I have the Lee decapping die and the Co-Ax as well and haven't seen any reason not to use them together, but maybe i am missing something. would love to know what your thought s are. </div></div>

I have a couple of spare presses (well did just sold one today....) so I utilise one of these for decapping. I find it keeps the crud away from the co-ax from the decapping process and I also find that on the co-ax the tube that funnels the spent primers down to the receptacle gets blocked up fairly easily.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrOneEyedBoh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How can you adjust it , in terms of the clutch? </div></div>

The decapping stem is only held in place by a collet. How much torque you apply to the collet (screwing it into the die body) corresponds to how "clamped" the stem is.

You want to set the collet torque so that the stem will slip (and thus slide up) in the collet when it encounters something solid.

It's really easy.

When you do encounter a berdan case or an off-centered flash hole, the press lever feels different, plus you'll see the top of the decapping stem sticking up out of the collet of the decapper die. I use a plastic-faced hammer to knock it back into place, give the case a wiggle in the shellplate, and try again. Sometimes you just have to tighten the collet a little bit, other times it's a no-go because it's a berdan case.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I took my decapping pin out of the die and "sharpened" it on a bench grinder.
With that pointer profile it's a lot less likely to get hung up on 22 and such case mouth's.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zuke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I took my decapping pin out of the die and "sharpened" it on a bench grinder.
With that pointer profile it's a lot less likely to get hung up on 22 and such case mouth's.</div></div>

I did this too on mine. Keeps the headache's down. I almost never have a case hang up now and it helps to open some of the dented cases if I've missed them.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

This die is the best kept secret in the decamping world.

Contrary to some reviews, mine also works fine on small flash-hole brass, which saved me buying the special more expensive die from Sinclair.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Abizdafuzz</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1lnbrdg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have several. They work good to clean tumbling media out of the flash-hole on several of my 550 tool heads </div></div>

I bought my Co-Ax mainly because of the primer catch cup for using my Lee Univ. Decapper...it does produce pretty good ammo as well, and its all I use for rifle loading and decapping everything now. </div></div>

+1

I use the Lee Decapper in the Coax because of its ability to keep everything cleaner. What can be better than a dirty, spent primer dropping through its own isolated tube into a sealed, mess-free jar? No fuss, no muss.
You have a CoAx! Use it for its abilities.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

Im not getting this lee decapper shit about it being crap. I have one and it eorks awesome, and is one of the most used items in my table. It is built perfectly strong enough to handle everything i shoot. And i run it in my CoAx 100% of the time... No need to buy another press to decap unless you just want 2 presses on your table.. Absolutely no reason to not run it in a coax..
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

My lee decapping die has been used and abused and still works fine, once you have it set, you won't ever move it, mine has been sitting on my cheap Lee C-frame press for years now and has been holding up amazingly well.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zuke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I took my decapping pin out of the die and "sharpened" it on a bench grinder.
With that pointer profile it's a lot less likely to get hung up on 22 and such case mouth's. </div></div>

I did the same thing with mine. Been using my Lee decapper for many, many years now with no complaints or problems.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

Been using a Lee decapper in my Co-Ax for several years, never had an issue and far cleaner than decapping in the 550B.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I use the de-capper in my Lee single stage press with no issues. I can punch out primers if I want to feel productive, but don't want to re-size at that time. Saves any wear and tear on the re-sizing stem also. Good luck and good shooting!

Doug
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

Lee press and decapper.... excellent combination.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I love my lee decapper. I've punched out some extremely difficult primers in crimped brass and I've never broken the decapping pin...which I'm surprised I haven't. It is a well made die.

I'm also a big fan of Lee shellholders for decapping. Their tolerances are a bit more sloppy than others which is great if your brass is dirty/sandy/etc.
 
Re: Anyone use the LEE universal decapping die?

I've had my LEE decapper go thru primer's that I couldn't decap.
The case's were Canadian 50's surplus
 
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