ThreeFiveSeven

When reloading the other night using a Lee classic turret I tried to remove a loaded round from the little base plate, but it would not come out. I pulled out the little metal base plate (with the round still attached) and looked at it. The primer wasn't seated all the way. It was sticking out and keep the round from sliding out of the base plate.

I did not know precisely what to do. The round had powder in it, and a bullet crimped on. I did not want to try to re-seat the primer further with the powder and bullet in there. I tried to remove the bullet with a pair of pliers and a vise. This took a long time, but finally worked.

Would a bullet puller be able to remove the bullet with the metal baseplate still attached to the case? What would be the best way to handle this? I knew I needed to get the powder out before I tried to push the primer in any farther...

I guess I could have tried to put oil on the primer, but I didn't know if that would seep in properly around the half in primer and neutralize it.

Thoughts?

shootist

just pull the bullet, dump out the powder, and punch the primer out, the whole Lee set up is nothing but a accident waiting to happen IMO wouldn't own it!!

ThreeFiveSeven

I do now have a bullet puller yet. Will a kinetic puller work with that little base plate still attached to the case? I have. Ever seen one in person.

What aspect of the Lee system do you feel is unsafe. The thing that stands out to me as a potential hazard is the way that if you raise the lever all the way up you can push the primer in further no matter what station of the turret you are on (in other words after you add the powder)... Is that what you are referring to?

Thanks.

shootist

You could just fire the round if you think you can load it safely in your gun, I don't like anything about Lee period! I use a RCBS Universal hand primer, my primer's set nice and deep evey time, it's a far superior tool, try one or anything else RCBS and you'll never go back to Lee

wsteinborn

no - it uses a collet to grap the case, then a cap screws over the back. (In the ones I have used)

ThreeFiveSeven

Just to clarify... The round was stuck in one of these:

Shell Holders - Lee Precision

The primer was not fully seated, and thus the round would not slide out ( the primer was stuck in the whole)...

Is there an easy way to bullet the bullet with one of these on the base??

krwada

I thought you already pulled the bullet from the case. In any event, yes, you can pull the bullet using an RCBS or Frankford Arsenal kinetic bullet puller. The thing looks like a hammer. Place the round with the stuck primer and shell holder in where the collet goes. Screw the cap on the bullet puller, and use as directed.

This will really mangle the brass, but will effectively pull the bullet. You can then dump the powder back into the tub and reuse the bullet. You then need to deactivate the primer and throw the cartridge and primer away.

dacaur

In your situation I would NOT use a kinetic puller, as there have been documented instances of bullets going off when using a press shell holder rather than the proper puller collet in kinetic pullers. Its rare, and seems to only be possible in conjunction with a high primer...

Basically, using the shell holder in a kinetic puller is pretty safe to do , unless you have a high primer, so in this case, you did the right thing.... There are bullet pullers that thread into your press that grab the bullet at the top of the stroke then pull it when you lower the ram.

In any case, glad you got it taken care of... Just one more reason I hand prime... I have had a situation like you describe before I got my hand primer, but luckily I was only priming cases, so I just put it back in and punched it out... Since there was no power/bullet I first tried to push it in again using the press , but for some reason it would not go in any further.

Buffalo11

Over the years I have had that several times.. I simply (and slowly) use the press to push it in further.. No mishaps in over 10 years..No I am not telling you what to do..Just explaining what I do..<G>

wPm

mikld

If the "little base plate" is the shell holder, yes I've used a hammer style bullet puller to remove bullets. Just put the cartridge in the puller without the collet, just using the shell holder and tighten the cap. Proceed as usual. The primer can then be seated or punched out with the sizing/depriming die.

Twoboxer

As mikld said, the shell holder can be used as a replacement collet in a hammer style bullet puller. Just skip the "install collet" step and insert the bullet+shellholder into the hammer.

Once you do this, you will clearly see that nothing can strike the primer. So it is just as safe to "open up" this bullet as it is to open up *any* other.

The primer can then be seated fully (if it's not currently cockeyed) or *slowwwwwwwly* pressed out with the sizing/repriming die.

grandpabear

The bullet can be removed while in the press with one of these Cam-Lock Bullet Puller* | MidsouthShootersSupply.com
I don't see how you can blame Lee equipment when the primer wasn't fully seated.

ThreeFiveSeven

That Cam-Lock puller looks pretty cool. Looks like you need a collet for the particular caliber as well.

I don't blame the press... It was my fault for not seating the primer all the way. I was then worried about attempting to re-seat it with the powder and the bullet in there (bigger boom if it went off).

It would be nice if the press would somehow prevent you from pushing on the primer except at the stage when you should be doing it (right after the removal of the old primer in the first stage). Of course the user has to take some responsibility for his or her own safety, like with anything...

hightechredneck123

My Lee Loadmaster needs to be mounted rock solid. Any movement and the primer will "tip" and try to go in crooked. The steadier the mount is, the better. Your Lee may be the same way, I don't know.

dagger dog

Put the shell holder with the stuck primer back in the ram and run it through the deprimer sizer, if you genly push the handle down the primer won't go off.

I've done hundreds without any incidents , but wear saftey glasses just to be sure, and discard the primer safely.

I had the same thing happen with my classic turret and found that it comes from powder granules falling into the primer cup and onto the shell holder that causes the high primer problem keep it clean and the problem goes away.

Most people that bum rap Lee products haven't owned or used them, they are just like
optic snobs that give usless and unwanted information on price point optics and reloading equipment !

Every time I have tried to use a shell holder in place of the kinetic collet I have ripped the rim off the case and ruined it.