Lee universal decapping die

[Mauser48]

Just bought a lee universal decapping die and it didn't come with any instructions. Couldn't find a video or any instructions online. Can someone explain to me how to set it up? Thanks

[VHoward]

Raise the ram. Screw die in till it almost touches the shell holder. Tighten down lock ring. Start decapping.

[Mauser48]

Just tried that works great now. Thanks!

[tstowater]

Used one for years. Just wish it would do 17s and 20s😠.

Had to buy the Redding to do the smaller calibers.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Bayou52]

It's too simple to fail.......been using one for years.

Only broke one decapping pin - it was my fault at that.....

[anotherred]

I set mine up so the press ram will not go all the way to cam over so I don't have to pull the handle all the way down. I set the pin so it stick out of the case I just deprimed just enough that the primer clears all the way out. This seems to work good as long as I don't short stroke it. Also loosen the retainer nut as lee sends them way too tight. You want the pin to slide in the die if you get some kind of obstruction in the case, or don't center the case and hit the bottom. I keep the tight enough I have no problem with military crimped brass, but not much tighter than that. This will save you from bending/braking the pin. Just adjust until you get a good feel for it.

[Mauser48]

First day I used it I popped the pin out! It reset just fine. It says that it is used more "crimpted" primers mostly. I have never had a problem with a standard resizing die decapping military brass. I just got this die so I can deprime before wet tumbling.

[VHoward]

That's what most of us use it for. Decapping before wet tumbling.

[BucketBack]

When you break a decapping pin. Take a picture of it and upload it to Lee Warranty Page.
You will get a new one in the mail in a few days

[OS OK]

Yeppers...good choice. I put one in a little cheapo Lee $25 c press and that is it's only job in life...de-capping before the bath.

[trails4u]

Used one for years. Just wish it would do 17s and 20s.

Had to buy the Redding to do the smaller calibers.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I had the same issue.....so I ground the pin down on mine to allow use on 17s. There's a lot of meat on that pin....been using it quite a while in its modified form...haven't broken it yet. I'm sure I will now though. :)

[John Boy]

Do not try to decap Berdan primed cases with it

[NoAngel]

Do not over tighten the nut holding the decapping pin. Better it slides up than breaks.

[blixen]

it's low-tech like a hammer. Most used piece of reloading equipment I ever bought.

[marlin39a]

It's a permanent resident in my Redding T-7 turret. Gets a work out.

[r1kk1]

I honed mine out for 500 Linbaugh and bought extra pins now those are turned down for PPC/BR work and another pin turned down for subcalibers. One did break after doing some 45-70s. Lee charged me for the placement and bought three more. Just one broke since the 80s.

Good die

r1kk1

[6bg6ga]

The pins don't break because they are too soft and they just bend over. The Lee pins are junk but there is a guy on ebay that sells a replacement pin that is hardened and it works great. Its the only Lee product I own and I use it only on 5.56/223

[Shawlerbrook]

The Lee Universal decapper and the Lee FCD's are staples on my bench.

[Bayou52]

When you break a decapping pin. Take a picture of it and upload it to Lee Warranty Page.
You will get a new one in the mail in a few days

Thanks, Bucket - will have to remember that. Did Lee charge you shipping when mailing back a new one? The reason I ask is that I just called Lee with a problem with one of their hand held cutters. The lady was very nice and said they would give me a new one but that the mailing charge was $5.73. Not complaining, as I thought it was fair. I was just wondering what your experience was in this regard.

Bayou52

[6bg6ga]

Thats really a deal considering you can purchase a upgraded decapping pin with a ball end off ebay for $6.95 for three of them with free shipping. I bent a half dozen of the Lee decapping pins before I switched to the ball type end re-designed decapping style pin. I haven't bent or broke any of these. As I already mentioned the Lee units are too soft and simply bend over when they encounter a primer thats really stuck.

[OS OK]

It helps to slide the case all the way into the shell holder too...some of those hard to eject primers are actually the bottom of the case.

[No Blue]

If you have access to a small metal lathe, buy a 3 foot length of .200" drill rod and a bag of 100 .062"x.75" needle bearings. Drill a 6" length with a centered .062" hole and Loctite a needle bearing in. Now you got a spare pin and you don't have to wait a week until the mailman delivers. You can make 100 spares for $4 this way....There's a real narrow torque window on that pin, it's like an eighth of a turn either way to get it right, so making spare pins and cranking it down was the easy way.

[6bg6ga]

Not that your build it yourself primer decapping rod isn't a good idea its just that most here either don't own a lathe or have the ability to run one if they did. You should consider making these and selling them because they would be a step ahead of what is out there.