I was swaging 5.56 brass today and I broke my press... so now I get to upgrade to a new press and I'll be looking for a better swaging setup.

Ouch.

Is that a Lee? Call them, they’ll probably replace it for you.

Lay off the ‘roids!

Swaging on the press shouldn’t take that much more force than regular reloading operations. Maybe the die was set too low?


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Definitely my fault and the swaging die being set too low is possible, but I'm going to use this as an opportunity to upgrade. What's the saying they are always using...I just think we have to DO something. Like, buy a Forster Co-ax and a different swaging setup. And a new trimming collet. And a pilot. And more primers. And maybe some powder...

Call Lee get a new press and put it up for the 1639 raffle!

To be fair, that is the cheapest and weakest press you can buy anywhere. Just about anything will be an upgrade, so you've got lots to choose from.

Yes, sir...I have one of those, and I only use it for priming cases.

If you get a Lee press, I highly recommend the Classic Cast.

But...you have me at "swaging" the brass. Are you using a push-through sizer?

A new press for .556? Sounds like a good reason to build another AR15. Hahahaha!!!

Roughage! Stat!!

Oh steroids....sorry...

Yeah, that is a good single press for the money, but I only use it for simple depriming. I bet Lee will send a new one.

Swaging the primer packet to get rid of a military crimp is what I'm assuming.

Ya'll are correct, I was getting rid of the primer crimp on some 5.56 brass. The RCBS de-swager doesn't work very good on my Lee Classic cast so I was using the Breech lock. It has served me well for many years at this point and I am certainly not trying to pick on Lee. They make an excellent product with tons of value. I was able to learn what I want in a press from using the Breech lock and the Classic Cast. I'll definitely be keeping the Classic Cast.

I certainly don't need any more AR-15s...they are the problem that has made me start reloading 5.56 and .223. In fact, I have a few that need to get traded off.

I do have the casting for one of those presses you broke (ram is missing, used it to build a neck turning setup on the lathe). You can have it if you're ever up this way, but I don't think it's really worth the cost of shipping.

Wow, I sure wasn't expecting that. I'm not sure where you're at exactly, but I have been wanting to drive up to precise shooter again soon. How far from that are you?

I'm way up at the north end of Skagit County, north of Sedro Woolley. About 1 hr - 15 min each way from Lynnwood. Probably not worth the drive unless you have business in Bellingham, but you're welcome to the press frame any time, it's not going anywhere.

Have you contacted Lee? They'll almost certainly replace it free of charge. Even if you don't want to keep the replacement, at least you have something you can sell to help fund your next press.