redding full length die "losing" not braking decapping pin on Dillon 550 ideas

[Rover31]

Wondering if anyone else has this issue;

On my Dillon 550 I put a .223 Redding full length sizing die on it. A few times now in the last 100 rounds I have reloaded I will get an odd feeling when the new case goes up and hits the decapper, and the new primer does not seat. Pull off the case and look, hmm the old primer did not come out and no it is not a crimped primer and oh look I broke the decapping pin, so I thought.
So each time I have taken the decapping rod thing (I don't know it's real name, educate me) out of the die body and the decapping pin is gone. Not broken just gone, nothing in it's place. So of course you would assume it is in the case or in the case prior to it on the press right? No it is gone I cannot find it. The prior case is primed with a new primer and powder and only has powder in it. No it is not in the primer catch, checked that, it is just gone. Checked all over my bench thinking it flew out , it might have but I can't find it or any of the others. This has happened to me 3X. I am a bit lost.
Prior to the last pin disappearing I looked it over and on all of my Redding dies I can just pull the decapping pin out with my fingers. hmmm so I thought well I will just locktite it in place. So last night that's what I did. This am I felt it and I could not remove the pin with my fingers, ah ha! I thought. Buuut no within 20 rounds it did it again! I get the odd feeling with press and sure enough the decapping pin is gone.

Hope this makes sense lots of time I don't...

So any of you had this happen? What did you do about it?
Thanks
T

 

[korykhunter]

I've had the pin stick in the flash hole several times but never lost it.

 

[exx1976]

I've never had that problem.

Then again, I just take the decapping pin out of all my sizing dies.

I decap everything off-press with an $11 Lee universal decapping die on a $27 Lee Reloader single stage.

Keeps my 550 WAY cleaner, and the decapping pins in those universal dies are WAY sturdier than anything I've ever seen in a sizing die. It's worked GREAT so far.

Not to mention I haven't had to clean the primer feed slide contraption in over 6k rounds, so that's always a plus (actually the reason I started doing it this way).

 

[Rover31]

I've got the Lee uni decapper also while I understand how it is cleaner and all that I went to the 550 due to the multi stages that can be done with it.
Thanks

 

[insight3b]

The decapping pins are probably stuck inside the primer/flash hole of the case you tried to decap. There are two types of decapping pins headed and head-less. Sounds like you need the headed variety but are using the head-less. The headed pins look like a small non threaded screw and non-headed look like a piece of thick wire

 

[milo 2.0]

Take two pliers and tighten things up. Finger tight sometimes doesn't cut it.

 

[David S]

I think Milo's got it. My Redding die had the pin keep dropping out occasionally (at the time I thought it was broken, but it wasn't). The fix for me was just to tighten up the washer holding the pin in place. I've not had a problem with it since.

Yours,

David

 

[Deadshot2]

I've never had that problem.

Then again, I just take the decapping pin out of all my sizing dies.

I decap everything off-press with an $11 Lee universal decapping die on a $27 Lee Reloader single stage.

Keeps my 550 WAY cleaner, and the decapping pins in those universal dies are WAY sturdier than anything I've ever seen in a sizing die. It's worked GREAT so far.

Not to mention I haven't had to clean the primer feed slide contraption in over 6k rounds, so that's always a plus (actually the reason I started doing it this way).

Ditto although my press is a 650. I de-cap everything when I get back from the range and then clean the brass in SS Pin Media. Clean primer pockets that way. I also hand prime everything but 9mm and .223. That way I don't have to ever change the priming assy from "small" to "large".

For those that have the Redding pins pulled out, check primer flash hole size. I use a Flash Hole deburring tool that also makes sure that the flash hole is at least the minimum size. For that matter, sometimes the pins that get pulled out aren't due to a hole too small but having a piece of the burr (like a piece of chad on a ballot) getting wedged in the hole with the pin.

I do know that by depriming and SS Pin cleaning, it's a lot easier to see defects in the cases when inspecting. Easier to inspect inside the case for the separation ring as they're clean inside as well.

 

[Rover31]

I totally agree with you guys on the pin being in the primer or stuck in the flash hole, but they have not been there. Those are just what I thought was happening it still might be, just that I am missing it.

I did the SS media also but I found that it was getting the brass too clean. I would lube and then have stuck cases. A little reading and I am not the only one with that problem. I called a die manuf. and was told just that, "the SS media is great but it is too clean".

I am going to go with milo and try to tighten the pin in place beyond finger tight. fyi I do have the non headed pin
Thanks
T

 

[turbo54]

I did the SS media also but I found that it was getting the brass too clean. I would lube and then have stuck cases. A little reading and I am not the only one with that problem. I called a die manuf. and was told just that, "the SS media is great but it is too clean".
T

Use Ivory liquid dish soap for lube.

A tablespoon will lube 500+ 223 cases. Dump cases into a cardboard box, squirt in the soap, knead/shake for a minute, and let dry to a waxy sheen.