Powered depriming

jag2 · December 19, 2014, 03:45 PM

I'm not that good at tinkering but do have some good ideas from time to time. I always find depriming and belling kind of boring and do load several hundred rounds a week of mostly 9mm and 45 ACP. I've looked at some short stroke actuators on line and it seems to have potential. Put the case in place, hit a foot switch and let the actuator do the rest. So far it is just in my head and may not even be possible, don't know yet. Anyone ever looked into the idea?

Bart B. · December 19, 2014, 04:08 PM

Use a sizing die with a decapping pin in it. That's what I do for 9mm, 38 Spcl and .357 Mag cases.

**Unclenick** · December 19, 2014, 04:27 PM

Unless the actuator is on the end of the rail of a model train, and the impact of the engine is decapping it, it is hard to imagine making the operation interesting. But for speed, the Lee Universal Depriming and Decapping Die comes about as close as you can expect to get, I think. To make a motorized unit worthwhile you'd want to make it autonomous. That is, automatic case feed and everything else, so you can do something at the bench while it runs.

jag2 · December 19, 2014, 06:53 PM

Maybe I wasn't clear enough, I'm not trying to reinvent reloading. I'm trying to make the actuator do the up and down motion of my press (currently a Forster Co-Ax which I love) instead of me pulling the handle. Put a shell in the holder, hit a foot pedal, take the shell out, repeat, repeat, repeat. Don't think I would mess with my Co-Ax, got an old Rockchucker I might experiment with. Nobody's thought of this before?

skizzums · December 19, 2014, 07:07 PM

jmorris will show up soon enough and put your idea into picture form, pretty sure anyways, maybe even video

jmorris · December 19, 2014, 07:58 PM

Size/deprime and swaging 4300/hr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ieGYpdr9I

This is a stock (except for the handle) Lee single stage powered by a gear motor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01zbImsdkbg

Jeff2131 · December 19, 2014, 08:14 PM

Thats just friggin awesome!!!! And to the OP... Yes, i have thought of fabricating to create a semiauto reloading.operation. but jmorris just took it to a whole new homemade level!

**Unclenick** · December 19, 2014, 10:34 PM

And I'll note again that the operations in the videos are essentially autonomous. Nobody sticking fingers in for each operation and risking losing them because the machine won't notice the pain and stop. For something you are feeding by hand to the press, one at a time, I would strongly recommend using a two-palm-button actuating switch, same as for any industrial press, and not a foot pedal. The dual buttons force you to get both hands clear before the press can run its stroke. Otherwise, it's pretty easy for a momentary lapse in attention or twitch of the foot to cost you a finger or thumb.

jmorris · December 19, 2014, 10:44 PM

I agree. if fingers are going to be involved and you just want to save your arm, a foot operated linkage would be a much better idea.

CrustyFN · December 19, 2014, 11:02 PM

Maybe instead of trying to run a single stage at 400 per hour just take that money and buy a progressive.

jag2 · December 19, 2014, 11:27 PM

I owned a printing company for 28 years. All our paper cutters had the 2 button system plus an electric eye so I'm familiar with that concept. I like that Lee modification but I'm not quite smart enough to design and build something that nice. Oh well, I'll keep pondering.

December 19, 2014, 03:45 PM	#1
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	Powered depriming I'm not that good at tinkering but do have some good ideas from time to time. I always find depriming and belling kind of boring and do load several hundred rounds a week of mostly 9mm and 45 ACP. I've looked at some short stroke actuators on line and it seems to have potential. Put the case in place, hit a foot switch and let the actuator do the rest. So far it is just in my head and may not even be possible, don't know yet. Anyone ever looked into the idea?

December 19, 2014, 04:27 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Unless the actuator is on the end of the rail of a model train, and the impact of the engine is decapping it, it is hard to imagine making the operation interesting. But for speed, the Lee Universal Depriming and Decapping Die comes about as close as you can expect to get, I think. To make a motorized unit worthwhile you'd want to make it autonomous. That is, automatic case feed and everything else, so you can do something at the bench while it runs. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 19, 2014, 07:07 PM	#5
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	jmorris will show up soon enough and put your idea into picture form, pretty sure anyways, maybe even video __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

December 19, 2014, 08:14 PM	#7
Jeff2131 Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Spring City, PA Posts: 497	Thats just friggin awesome!!!! And to the OP... Yes, i have thought of fabricating to create a semiauto reloading.operation. but jmorris just took it to a whole new homemade level! __________________ ---I DON'T DIAL 911---

December 19, 2014, 10:34 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	And I'll note again that the operations in the videos are essentially autonomous. Nobody sticking fingers in for each operation and risking losing them because the machine won't notice the pain and stop. For something you are feeding by hand to the press, one at a time, I would strongly recommend using a two-palm-button actuating switch, same as for any industrial press, and not a foot pedal. The dual buttons force you to get both hands clear before the press can run its stroke. Otherwise, it's pretty easy for a momentary lapse in attention or twitch of the foot to cost you a finger or thumb. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 19, 2014, 04:08 PM	#2
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Use a sizing die with a decapping pin in it. That's what I do for 9mm, 38 Spcl and .357 Mag cases.

December 19, 2014, 06:53 PM	#4
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	Maybe I wasn't clear enough, I'm not trying to reinvent reloading. I'm trying to make the actuator do the up and down motion of my press (currently a Forster Co-Ax which I love) instead of me pulling the handle. Put a shell in the holder, hit a foot pedal, take the shell out, repeat, repeat, repeat. Don't think I would mess with my Co-Ax, got an old Rockchucker I might experiment with. Nobody's thought of this before?

December 19, 2014, 07:58 PM	#6
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	Size/deprime and swaging 4300/hr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1ieGYpdr9I This is a stock (except for the handle) Lee single stage powered by a gear motor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01zbImsdkbg

December 19, 2014, 10:44 PM	#9
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	I agree. if fingers are going to be involved and you just want to save your arm, a foot operated linkage would be a much better idea.

December 19, 2014, 11:02 PM	#10
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	Maybe instead of trying to run a single stage at 400 per hour just take that money and buy a progressive. __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

December 19, 2014, 11:27 PM	#11
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	I owned a printing company for 28 years. All our paper cutters had the 2 button system plus an electric eye so I'm familiar with that concept. I like that Lee modification but I'm not quite smart enough to design and build something that nice. Oh well, I'll keep pondering.