Instructions for using the WAMADET Portapress.

The Wamadet Reloading Press can be used on any reasonably sturdy table or bench without
fixing down. When lifting the handle you will simply need to place your spare hand on the
wooden base to prevent movement and you will find that your hand will do this automatically
when operating the press.
Safety and accuracy in reloading are dependant on using common sense and a definite tidy
routine. By using the following suggested sequence, you will know where you are at any
point in the operation. Assuming the use of a standard three die set, the first operation will be
re-sizing and probably decapping, although this latter operation may be done by the second or
plug expanding die, depending on the make. If you are right handed, start with all your
empty cases on the left of the press, pick them up one at a time with the left hand and insert in
to the shell holder. You may have to feed the case carefully in to the die to start. Bring the
handle right down to the extent of the toggles, then lift the handle again, remembering to
place your left hand on the base and remove the resized and decapped case with your right
hand. Place this case at the right hand side of the press. Whilst you are doing this, pick up
another case with your left hand and place it in position in the shell holder ready to repeat the
operation. If you practice using your two hands, you will find that the reloading cycle
becomes very fast.
When using the second die, the cases on the right are passed back to the left. Using the same
two handed action, this second die expands the neck of the case to seat the bullet without
shaving any lead.
So much for the case re-forming part of the operation. Now remove the front pillar with the
shell holder completely from the press and throw away the spent primers which will have
collected in the pillar / primer catcher. You will find two priming spigots in the kit, select
small or large as appropriate and fit it in to the press in place of the front pillar and place an
empty decapped case over it. Now select the threaded billet that comes with the press and
screw it in place of a die with the rounded side downwards. Lower the handle to 30 or 40
degrees from the horizontal and screw the billet down to touch the bottom of the inverted
cartridge case. Lift the handle and place a primer in the primer pocket, lower the handle and
the primer will be felt entering the pocket. When the handle goes solid, the round ended
billet will have contacted the bottom of the case and seated the primer 2 to 3 thou in to the
pocket. The primer does not have to be perfectly level at the beginning of this process. Do
not slam the handle down, merely lower it firmly. Any size of Berdan or Boxer primer can
be seated with great accuracy by this method. Remove the case from the spigot with the right
hand and place the tip of the right forefinger on the primer whilst doing so. This will tell you
immediately if the primer is protruding from the base of the case. If it is, then replace it and
apply a little more pressure. The primed cases should be placed at the right hand side of the
press. The handle of the press must never be brought down to involve the extreme force of
the toggles during this priming operation and must stop at the recommended 30 to 40 degrees.
After priming, replace the front pillar and shell holder and fit the bullet seating die. The
correct amount of powder is now placed in a case, a bullet started in to the mouth by hand and
then placed in to the press. Steadily lower the handle to the extent of the toggles and you will
feel the bullet being pushed in to the case. In some instances when a crimp is needed, you
will feel this crimp being made. This crimp will hold the bullet firmly in position.

Instructions for using the Wamadet SLUBE Bullet sizing and lubricating
unit in the Wamadet Portapress.
The SLUBE unit consists of four parts, the main cylinder and piston, Autolube Unit and the
cylinder lifter (which is simply a metal bar bent to a right angle at both ends).
Standard G, H, and I dies are used. The G part is purchased as to the nose shape of
your cast bullets (Round, Conical, Semi-Wadcutter, etc.) and is inserted into the hole in the
Autolube Unit and held with the grub screw. This unit is then screwed into the press in place
of the dies with the G facing downwards and projecting for about 1/8 from the under
surface of the press top. This distance will be altered to push the bullets different distances
into the sizing die, depending on the bullet design.
The H die is chosen as to the groove diameter of your weapon (e.g., .357 S & W, .356
Colt, .311, .308, etc.) and this is most accurately determined by driving a lead slug or soft lead
bullet through the barrel with a rod and then having it measured by a micrometer. The I
part is a good sliding fit in the H die and is used with the flat or slightly hollow end towards
the base of the bullet.
The end of the H die with the rubber sealing ring is inserted first into the base of the
cylinder and pushed right up until the top of the H die contacts the rim on the top of the
cylinder. The sealing ring will hold the die in place. A stand of cotton in the groove under the
sealing ring in the H die will give the necessary feel in the slube cylinder. The I part is
then inserted and the cylinder packed with bullet lubricating grease. Also pack the inside of
the piston with grease and insert it into the cylinder. The piston can only just be started into
the cylinder at this time. Now place the unit in the position vacated by the front pillar on the
press with the small bleed hole to the front and carefully lower the handle. Any excess grease
will be exuded from the hole in the cylinder. If little or no grease is exuded, then remove the
cylinder by hooking the bend-ended bar under its edge and over the top edge of the press and
lifting the handle. Fill up the space in the cylinder with more grease and replace and again
lower the handle until the excess grease has been bled off. Fresh grease is placed in the
cylinder by the same simple operation when the unit becomes exhausted.
Now place the cast lead bullet on top of the I die. Lean over the pin on the Autolube Unit
and lower the handle so that the G nose punch pushes it into the H die. At this point the
underside of the press will come to rest on top of the cylinder. Now give a little extra pressure
on the handle to force the grease into the grooves in the bullet. The exact amount of extra
force to fill the grooves will be found by trial and is determined very much by the hardness of
the grease and the temperature of the unit. In cold weather the unit should be gently warmed.
Lift the handle so that the pin again stands upright and again lower the handle so that the
cylinder is pressed down by the underside of the press. With further pressure the bullet will
be ejected from the die, and on lifting the handle it will be found on top of the I rod.
Examine the bullet to ensure that it has been lubricated in the cannelures but not in the
crimping groove. The top G nose punch can be screwed up or down to regulate this.
However, if this punch is screwed down too far to start, then grease will be exuded over the
top of the bullet and the unit may have to be dismantled to remove the bullet so try it
gradually by screwing down a little at a time.
Rather more pressure will be needed to eject the bullet from the unit than was required to put
it in so try to control the effort so that it does not come out suddenly and deform itself against

the G punch. Large diameter pistol bullets are easier to eject than small diameter rigle
bullets, and it is essential to have a good quality, well-polished H die for easiest use. If
difficulty is experienced, it is possible to further polish the inside of the H die, and this will
eliminate the need for extreme effort when ejecting.
If commercial bullet lubricant sticks are used, it will be necessary to warm the unit during
cold weather to soften what is really a very hard lubricant. However, you will find it better to
use a softer mixture by melting it with about one-third of its weight of axle grease or Vaseline
or make up your own lubricant with one-third beeswax, one-third candlewax, and one-third
medium grease melted and mixed together and allowed to set. Its best consistency is similar
to plasticine.
After lubrication, bullets should be stored carefully base downwards until required and not
thrown together carelessly.