Depriming with Lee hand press extremely difficult

[J4mes]

Hi,

I've just had my Lee hand press set delivered and started trying to deprime my .223 brass using the Lee.223 kit.

It seems extremely difficult, I literally have to lean on the press to get them out and then use all my strength to pull the handles apart.

What on earth am I doing wrong? I've set the die as per the instructions, and on YouTube people are popping the primers out with no effort at all.

[Daryll]

Are you using once fired military brass?? or GGG brass..??

Their primers are crimped in, so will need a bit more force to remove them.... its even noticeable on a bench mounted press.

Once you've removed the primer you'll need to grind off the crimp, either with a special tool, or even a normal countersink bit before you can re-prime them... but the primers will come out easier next time!

[dromia]

Are the primers crimped?

Are you resizing at the same time?

[J4mes]

Its once fired PPU brass bought on here.

How would I tell if the primers are crimped?

Not resizing at the same time, just poking the primers out.

I've fiddled with the die position and it's a bit easier now but still involving a fair effort.

I'm currently off work with a broken leg so was hoping this would be an easy way to pass the time!

[J4mes]

Once you've removed the primer you'll need to grind off the crimp, either with a special tool, or even a normal countersink bit before you can re-prime them... but the primers will come out easier next time!

Really?! I've watched about 20 videos and never seen this covered:(

[Daryll]

Yes, IF the primers are crimped in... and i don't think PPU normally are.... you'll normally see a raised circle around the primer where the crimp is, often with red paint around it.

There are 2 ways to remove crimps, either swaging, which needs special swaging dies, or grinding them off with a decrimping tool, or a countersinking bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utuofxj2f1g

[J4mes]

Ok thanks, judging by the video this brass has not been crimped.

Thanks for explaining that to me, I've no doubt it will help in the future

[kennyc]

I've used my hand press for depriming and sizing up to 7.5x55 and thats considerably larger than .223!
with .223 you will still have to have enough upper body strength to close the press, but setting the die up to the makers instructions and using a decent lube such as Imperial wax works wonders, if you do use Wax my prefered method is to take a ziploc bag smear a small amount of wax onto the sides and put as many cases as you have in (or can fit) then just spend a couple of minutes fondling the bag (very calming and therapeutic ) when the cases come out they will be evenly covered in waxy goodness, if they aren't then repeat with a little more wax you will soon learn how much to use
the .223 should be an ideal round to use a hand press with.

[DOGGER2UK]

Have you checked the size of the depriming pin?

[J4mes]

KennyC - thanks for the info

Dogger, the depriming pin is just the one which is attached to the Lee .223 sizing/ depriming die as part of the 3 item set - it should be the right size already I'd hope?

Thanks again