Thanks to all who read an respond. I have acquired an old Texan LT Reloder in 12 gauge. Nice press, decaps, sizes, charges with powder, seats the wad and crimps.

That's ALL good...except...

How the heck do I actually seat a new cap into the fired, sized, decapped hull? I am familiar witb the Redding 16 and that, and the Lee Load All have a separate station to cap the cases. Although each do it differently.

But in this Texan I don't have a clue, no idea at all, of how you recap the hulls!

Even better, please, if any have would be a link to a PDF of instructions or even an video on You Tube.

I'm old but the Texan precedes my shotgun reloading experiences. That said I shall not hesitate to offer my thoughts. In all my various progressive shotshell loaders, the first station sizes and expels the used primer, the second station reprimes and loads powder, the third station loads and seats wad(s) and the forth station drops shot, the fifth station starts the crimp, and the last station completes the crimp and smooths over the entire length of the shotshell to ensure smooth feeding. I'm sure there are variations to the above over described process, but the basics tell me: Size, deprime, reprime, powder, wad, shot, crimp, finish. The key in my opinion is the next step after removing the primer is to replace it. Lots of words but the process is rather simple and I'm sure you can determine the "how to" of it. I will however, contact some of my remaining older shooting buddies and ask them.

Mike

Thank you for the input. Yes the logic of Y following X was correct.

I've now been told that the priming in the Texan is done the same as it was on the Redding. At that next stage after decapping which is on the powder drop station as a process just before dropping the powder.

I think what confused me on the Texan was that on that station there's a big hole! But (and I found mine) there is a blanking disc that blocks the hole so the case can be primed there.

So sorted!

This the model Texan I have. Indeed the back position is "spare" and not used. the priming is done using the powder drop tube as a ram and a blanking disc blocks the hole drilled in the baseplate.

So that redundant "spare" back position was what was the cause of the confusion. On later Texan models the sizing and decapping die is relocated to that "spare" position on the Model LT. And the space then made free is where recapping then takes place.

Just discussed with retired friend in Florida and we conclude a piece or two may be missing. As it turns out, the Texan preceded the early MEC press which was copied from it. Although the process appears to be reversed CCW vs CW, it works the same. On the MEC there is a primer feed assembly and shell holder (which is not in your photo) at the second station. Sorry, that is all we can squeeze from these ancient collections of brain cells.

quote:

As it turns out, the Texan preceded the early MEC press which was copied from it.

I did wonder which was the "knock off" of the other and if MRC maybe bought some elements of the design rights especially that stamped metal two way shell holder plate for the pre-crimp and final crim stations. Thank you for your input.

There is a separate priming tool for the LT loader, see images at link below. If you can check back to where you got the press from, the primer tool maybe still there.
Failing that it wouldn't be hard to cobble together something that would seat primers at your drop tube station such as in the second link.


https://primetimeauctions.hibi...der-and-primer-tool/

https://www.trapshooters.com/t...t-410-loader.932958/

Thank you for the two links. I have now looked at both and, yes, mine has a steel disc in a box of bits wider than the one like the one referred to in the second link. This also has a stud on the base of it that fits the hole and the powder charging station. I have tried it and it works. And works well. I am not entirely too happy about priming underneath the powder drop tube yet MEC do it so I am OK with. But I will keep my eyes open for a nutcracker.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Thank you for the two links. I have now looked at both and, yes, mine has a steel disc in a box of bits wider than the one like the one referred to in the second link. This also has a stud on the base of it that fits the hole and the powder charging station. I have tried it and it works. And works well. I am not entirely too happy about priming underneath the powder drop tube yet MEC do it so I am OK with. But I will keep my eyes open for a nutcracker.

Glad you have got your press sorted and funny you should mention the potential safety issue of priming under the powder drop tube, perhaps you might like a read my earlier post in the link below re the same subject in relation to my Lyman Easy Loader press.
While I have reloaded thousands of rounds on this press and never had any problems, it has occurred to me in recent years that if for any reason a primer was ignited while being seated, the powder drop tube that would be a good seal in the shell inner base wad, would serve as a conduit of the primer brisance directly up to powder reservoir, the brisance I imagine easily bypassing the the powder charge bar. Maybe in my older age I am now more safety conscious but a reservoir full of of powder igniting on my reloading bench at face level does not bear thinking about. The operation manual for my press does carry a warning to ensure the primer station is free of stray shot or other detritus.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...1103014/m/4431084462

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
Glad you have got your press sorted and funny you should mention the potential safety issue of priming under the powder drop tube, perhaps you might like a read my earlier post in the link below re the same subject in relation to my Lyman Easy Loader press.

As a "Brit" born in 1957 I was weaned on Sunday afternoon war films on television. "Sink the Bismark" among them. So I have no wish to re-enact the fate of HMS Hood in my reloading space! I agree with your concerns. Certainly I've had Berdan primers ignite when reloading 9mm Parabellum military cases in times now long past.