Fat fingers problem.. cant hold bullets

the machinist · December 15, 2008, 10:26 PM

I dont know if I have fat fingers or I just drop everything I pickup but..when loading my 223's on my lee pro 1000 I just cannot hold the bullet when i'm trying to put it in the case on the last station.. I'm not using boat tails and I assume this is part of the problem, I did see lee makes a bullet feeder but I found out today its for pistol bullets only, so..any suggestions on a tool of somewhat to help me hold the bullets while loading? thanks!

**Unclenick** · December 16, 2008, 12:52 AM

Can't hold it or it doesn't stay put? In the latter case you can keep the bullet in place with your fingers until it starts into the seating die. If that isn't possible because of the size of your fingers, try using a pair of chopsticks to keep in place unit the bullet nose has disappeared up into the die.

hivel37 · December 16, 2008, 07:42 AM

Or maybe some big tweezers.

And make sure case mouths are lightly chamfered inside.

I have same problem from thumb being run through table saws.

DaveInPA · December 16, 2008, 08:16 AM

Use boat tail bullets!!!

the machinist · December 16, 2008, 10:12 AM

Chopsticks..did you say chopsticks???

the last time I tried to use a chop stick was at a chinese resssrant I ended up sharpening one with my pocket knife and stabbing my sweet and sour chicken just so i wouldnt have to eat with my fingers..

DaveInPA · December 16, 2008, 10:32 AM

Which bullets are you using? If you're loading 55gr FMJ practice ammo, Hornady makes a good one with a boat tail. If you're loading for accuracy, Sierra makes some EXCELLENT boat tailed hollowpoints.

Sam06 · December 16, 2008, 10:49 AM

I have the same problem sometimes. You should try loading a 17 REM. Its like trying to put a grain of rice in that case. I have Large meat hooks(I'm over 6' and can palm a Basketball) and now that I am getting older I regret Boxing and football when I was young, my hands hurt.

I would say try some Latex gloves, they are skin tight and will improve your grip a little. Maybe a resin bag like pitchers use in Baseball. Or one of those Rubber finger tips like bank tellers have for counting money. Any of those should improve the grip on the bullet. Other than that I would say drive on and do your best. The only loader I know of that has a bullet feeder for Rifle bullets is the Dillon. I don't have one for mine, I just deal with it.

I have tried the Gloves and it worked ok for me. I wore one on my left hand to pick up the bullets. I felt like a Hammerhead and I was think of Mike Jackson the whole time(LOL) but if anyone said anything they would have been got one of these meat hooks upside the head

Maybe make a tube that holds the bullets in a line and allows you to dispense one at a time onto the case?

kraigwy · December 16, 2008, 11:32 AM

I have the FAT FINGERS problem loading my 204. I kept screwing up the necks by not getting the bullets straight, I solved the problem using the RCBS Compitition Dies seater. You drop the bullet in the opening and the die centers it. Don't know if you can use it one the Lee 1000, never used one.

http://www.huntingtons.com/dies_competition.html

MADISON · December 17, 2008, 08:51 AM

Cant hold bullets
My problem is my almost 70 years.
My arthretic fingers. I was using Hornady's "New Domention Dies". I ask if they would give me a Durachrome seater for my .22 Hornet. They said not available.
I could have gon with RCBS but, I elected Redding. Everything works fine, now.

TEDDY · December 17, 2008, 06:06 PM

I was trying to think of a solution to seating.if your using the power thu die
can you lower it to flair mouth slightly.I have a 1000,but in 45.thats what I did but the 223 may be different.thats where the lyman M die was good.some one makes a seating die you drop the bullet in the side.my RCBS green machine does that.but they dont make the die any more.and the 1000 has tight quarters,I have short fingers,so I know.so far I dont have arty in my hands.only in my back and not to bad.I am 84.

I just thought I will have to look at my 1000 with the 223 setup.I only use it to remake 223s that were sold as rang pickups.

hardhit · December 17, 2008, 11:25 PM

This may sound stupid but you could try what ya call a pickle grabber for 2 bucks if it dont work throw it in the kitchen draw

cgaengineer · December 18, 2008, 07:04 AM

Hornady makes dies that help with this. The center part of the seating die slides in and out to hold the bullet until it is seated.

Lilswede1 · December 18, 2008, 08:52 AM

Once I hit 60 something happened. I am holding onto the case or bullet and suddenly, without warning, the d-mn thing is on the floor. I look at my fingers and whatever was supposed to be there is gone.
Had a small pair of forceps in my fly tying gear. The angle is just right for holding the bullet over the case in my Dillon 550b. Just put some small surgical tubing over the pinchers to hold and protect the bullet.
A side note. For those things that continue to fall to the floor, I keep one of those little "grabber" thingys within reach of the reloading bench. Can pick up even small primers with the gadget and dont have to bend the knees (that hurts now).

jdscholer · December 18, 2008, 09:23 AM

Don't forget that the bullet seating process is probably the easiest one to introduce a child to reloading with.

jd

jdscholer · December 18, 2008, 09:24 AM

Chopsticks?

:barf:

[/B] ?

the machinist · December 30, 2008, 04:46 PM

Hornady makes dies that help with this. The center part of the seating die slides in and out to hold the bullet until it is seated.

Anyone got a link to one of these? thanks!

December 15, 2008, 10:26 PM	#1
the machinist Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Posts: 66	Fat fingers problem.. cant hold bullets I dont know if I have fat fingers or I just drop everything I pickup but..when loading my 223's on my lee pro 1000 I just cannot hold the bullet when i'm trying to put it in the case on the last station.. I'm not using boat tails and I assume this is part of the problem, I did see lee makes a bullet feeder but I found out today its for pistol bullets only, so..any suggestions on a tool of somewhat to help me hold the bullets while loading? thanks!

December 16, 2008, 12:52 AM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Can't hold it or it doesn't stay put? In the latter case you can keep the bullet in place with your fingers until it starts into the seating die. If that isn't possible because of the size of your fingers, try using a pair of chopsticks to keep in place unit the bullet nose has disappeared up into the die. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 16, 2008, 10:49 AM	#7
Sam06 Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Location: Fayettenam Posts: 1,086	I have the same problem sometimes. You should try loading a 17 REM. Its like trying to put a grain of rice in that case. I have Large meat hooks(I'm over 6' and can palm a Basketball) and now that I am getting older I regret Boxing and football when I was young, my hands hurt. I would say try some Latex gloves, they are skin tight and will improve your grip a little. Maybe a resin bag like pitchers use in Baseball. Or one of those Rubber finger tips like bank tellers have for counting money. Any of those should improve the grip on the bullet. Other than that I would say drive on and do your best. The only loader I know of that has a bullet feeder for Rifle bullets is the Dillon. I don't have one for mine, I just deal with it. I have tried the Gloves and it worked ok for me. I wore one on my left hand to pick up the bullets. I felt like a Hammerhead and I was think of Mike Jackson the whole time(LOL) but if anyone said anything they would have been got one of these meat hooks upside the head Maybe make a tube that holds the bullets in a line and allows you to dispense one at a time onto the case? __________________ The two most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.

December 16, 2008, 11:32 AM	#8
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I have the FAT FINGERS problem loading my 204. I kept screwing up the necks by not getting the bullets straight, I solved the problem using the RCBS Compitition Dies seater. You drop the bullet in the opening and the die centers it. Don't know if you can use it one the Lee 1000, never used one. http://www.huntingtons.com/dies_competition.html __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

December 17, 2008, 08:51 AM	#9
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Fat fingers problem.. cant hold bullets Cant hold bullets My problem is my almost 70 years. My arthretic fingers. I was using Hornady's "New Domention Dies". I ask if they would give me a Durachrome seater for my .22 Hornet. They said not available. I could have gon with RCBS but, I elected Redding. Everything works fine, now.

December 16, 2008, 07:42 AM	#3
hivel37 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2004 Location: Hill Country Posts: 522	Or maybe some big tweezers. And make sure case mouths are lightly chamfered inside. I have same problem from thumb being run through table saws.

December 16, 2008, 08:16 AM	#4
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Use boat tail bullets!!!

December 16, 2008, 10:12 AM	#5
the machinist Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Posts: 66	Chopsticks..did you say chopsticks??? the last time I tried to use a chop stick was at a chinese resssrant I ended up sharpening one with my pocket knife and stabbing my sweet and sour chicken just so i wouldnt have to eat with my fingers..

December 16, 2008, 10:32 AM	#6
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Which bullets are you using? If you're loading 55gr FMJ practice ammo, Hornady makes a good one with a boat tail. If you're loading for accuracy, Sierra makes some EXCELLENT boat tailed hollowpoints.

December 17, 2008, 06:06 PM	#10
TEDDY Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: MANNING SC Posts: 837	fumbling I was trying to think of a solution to seating.if your using the power thu die can you lower it to flair mouth slightly.I have a 1000,but in 45.thats what I did but the 223 may be different.thats where the lyman M die was good.some one makes a seating die you drop the bullet in the side.my RCBS green machine does that.but they dont make the die any more.and the 1000 has tight quarters,I have short fingers,so I know.so far I dont have arty in my hands.only in my back and not to bad.I am 84. I just thought I will have to look at my 1000 with the 223 setup.I only use it to remake 223s that were sold as rang pickups.

December 17, 2008, 11:25 PM	#11
hardhit Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2008 Posts: 343	This may sound stupid but you could try what ya call a pickle grabber for 2 bucks if it dont work throw it in the kitchen draw

December 18, 2008, 07:04 AM	#12
cgaengineer Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2008 Posts: 264	Hornady makes dies that help with this. The center part of the seating die slides in and out to hold the bullet until it is seated.

December 18, 2008, 08:52 AM	#13
Lilswede1 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2008 Location: NW Wash State Posts: 216	Forceps - works for me Once I hit 60 something happened. I am holding onto the case or bullet and suddenly, without warning, the d-mn thing is on the floor. I look at my fingers and whatever was supposed to be there is gone. Had a small pair of forceps in my fly tying gear. The angle is just right for holding the bullet over the case in my Dillon 550b. Just put some small surgical tubing over the pinchers to hold and protect the bullet. A side note. For those things that continue to fall to the floor, I keep one of those little "grabber" thingys within reach of the reloading bench. Can pick up even small primers with the gadget and dont have to bend the knees (that hurts now).

December 18, 2008, 09:23 AM	#14
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	Don't forget that the bullet seating process is probably the easiest one to introduce a child to reloading with. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

December 18, 2008, 09:24 AM	#15
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	Chopsticks? :barf:[/B] ? __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

December 30, 2008, 04:46 PM	#16
the machinist Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Posts: 66	Hornady makes dies that help with this. The center part of the seating die slides in and out to hold the bullet until it is seated. Anyone got a link to one of these? thanks!