550B Bent Decapping Stem (not the pin)

[alzo]

I have a RL550B press that I bought sometime in the mid-1980's. I was loading some 45acp tonight and noticed a weird feeling in the sizing/decapping station. I looked at one of the cases, and it had sort of a figure eight flash hole. The decapping pin was punching a new hole ! I thought just the decapping pin was bent. I tried straightening it and ran a few more cases. I could see a slight drag mark by the flash hole, but they were basically round. After a while I decided to remove the decapping stem/pin assembly. I was shocked to find the stem (not the pin) bent like a pretzel ! It was sort of an elongated Z shape. I can't believe I could load at all with it like this. For all I know it's been like that for years as I've never removed it before.

Anybody else ever bend the stem like this ? I would have thought the pin would bend or snap off before the thick stem would bend.

Edited July 26, 2008 by alzo

[alzo]

By the way, any problem shooting those rounds with the almost double flash holes ? I have no way of knowing which ones they are, so if there is a safety problem, I'll have to scrap 100 rounds.

[Flatland Shooter]

I've broke my share of decapping pins but never heard of anyone that bent the stem. I would think it would take a lot of muscle to do that kind of damage.

As for the extra flash hole, I doubt it would cause any problems. I know several bullseye shooters that enlarged the flash hole on their match ammo. You essentially did the same thing but with a little different style.

Bill

[alzo]

I called Dillon and they agreed that there should be no problem using the rounds. I shot them yesterday and just discarded the brass. A new decapping stem/pin assembly is on the way courtesy of Dillon Precision. I can't say enough good things about Dillon's customer service.

[JinAZ]

I called Dillon and they agreed that there should be no problem using the rounds. I shot them yesterday and just discarded the brass. A new decapping stem/pin assembly is on the way courtesy of Dillon Precision. I can't say enough good things about Dillon's customer service.

I did the same thing, but with a .223 stem and I crushed the neck expander trying to bend it back.

Dillon made me buy a new one though, oh well, my fault anyhow

J in AZ