Frankford Arsenal Frankford Reloding Press SS 99 Instructions

							Model SS-99
Reloading Press
Instructions
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Parts List
Key Part Number Description Quantity
1. 122-921 Link Arm ..................................................2
2. 180-319 Ram............................................................1
3. 194-389 Shellholder Retainer Spring ....................1
4. 303-962 Toggle Block ............................................1
5. 332-821 Handle ......................................................1
6. 367-940 Ball Knob ..................................................1
7. 389-430 1/2”-20 Jam Nut ......................................1
8. 472-137 Lower Link Pin ........................................1
9. 616-108 Link Pin Clip ............................................2
10. 755-494 Ram/Toggle Pin ........................................1
11. 780-477 Upper Link Pin ........................................2
12. 783-904 Frame ........................................................1
13. 784-492 Primer Catcher ........................................1
14. 796-428 1/4”-20 Thumb Screw ..............................1
** 146-449 5/16-18 UNC x 2 1/2” Bolts ....................3
** 181-718 5/16” Flat Washers....................................6
** 193-259 5/16”-18 UNC Hex Nuts ........................3
** Not Shown in Drawing
Introduction
Congratulations on your selection of the Frankford Arsenal Model SS-99™ Reloading Press.
Your  new  press  is  one  of  the  finest  single-stage  reloading  presses  available  to  reloaders  today.
This press is the end result of years of research and development and has been produced under
rigid  manufacturing  and  quality  control  standards.  It  has  been  designed  specifically  to  handle
the  stresses  of  heavy-duty  reloading  and  case  forming  so  that  normal  reloading  activities
require only minimal effort. The modern ergonomic press design combines the most desirable
features  demanded  by  today’s  single  stage  press  users,  including  a  larger  than  normal  frame
opening, sized to handle an extremely wide range of rifle and pistol calibers (standard and wild-
cat).
Rifle - .17 caliber through and including .460 Weatherby Magnum, as well 
as British calibers up through the 3 1/4" length Nitro Express cartridges
Pistol - 25 ACP through 50AE.
Model SS-99 Reloading Press Instructions 
						

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Disclaimer
Since Frankford Arsenal has no control over the choice of reloading components
(ie., cases, bullets, primers, and powder), the manner in which they are assembled,
the use of the press, or the firearms in which the resulting reloaded ammunition
may be used, no responsibility, either expressed or implied, is assumed for the use
of ammunition reloaded with this press.
Mounting and Assembly
Your new Frankford Arsenal reloading press is shipped completely assembled and ready to use
with the exception of the operating handle and primer catcher. Prior to use, the press should
be  securely  mounted  to  a  solid  bench.  The  bench  top  should  be  rigid  and  at  least  3/4”  thick.
Mount and assemble the press as follows.
• Carefully position the press against the edge of the bench top in a convenient location.
The back of the ram support column and link arm supports should be flush with the 
edge of the bench top. The press frame bottom should also set flush against the bench
top.
• Verify that the toggle block will not interfere with any portion of the bench 
throughout its entire range of motion.
• With the press in the desired mounting location, mark the position of the mounting 
holes using a pencil or punch.
• Remove the press and drill the 3 mounting holes in the bench top using a 3/8” drill bit. 
• Secure the press assembly to the bench with the three 5/16” bolts (provided)  using 
1/2” box end wrenches or sockets. Be sure to use the flat washers (provided) above the
press frame and below the bench top.
• Slide the handle assembly into the hole in the toggle block . Secure the handle with the
1/2”-20 jam nut using a 3/4” box end wrench or socket.
• Screw the 1/4”-20 nylon thumbscrew into the threaded hole in the right side, upper 
link pin. Back out the thumbscrew slightly. Slide the primer catcher slot downward over
the thumbscrew, with the primer catcher box facing the ram, until the primer catcher 
rests firmly against the top of the frame. Secure by hand tightening the thumbscrew. 
Do not over-tighten. 
Maintenance and Lubrication
The  press  has  been  lubricated  at  the  factory  and  is  ready  for  use.  However,  the  ram  and  link
pins should be lubricated periodically with SAE 30weight motor oil or equivalent. Never use
penetrating  lubricants,  aerosol  sprays,  or  solvent  type  lubricants,  such  as  WD-40™  or  Break
Free™. The press should be cleaned prior to lubrication to remove grit and other residue. If
rust  spots  appear  on  unpainted  surfaces,  swab  with  gun  oil  and  wipe  dry.  If  the  press  is  to  be
used  in  a  damp  area,  all  non-painted  surfaces  should  be  protected  with  a  thin  film  of  oil.
Painted surfaces may be cleaned with a damp cloth.
The  primer  catcher  should  be  emptied  periodically.  Wipe  away  any  accumulated  grit  and
primer residue from around the ram as well as any accumulations within the primer ejector slot
of the ram. Wipe up any excess oil that may also accumulate in the primer ejector slot.  
						

							Die Installation
The  top  of  the  press  frame  is  threaded  to  accept  all  standard  7/8”-14  thread  reloading  dies.
Since die adjustment procedures vary with the brand of dies used, it is recommended that you
first refer to the user instructions provided with your particular die set. 
Once  adjusted,  the  die  lock  ring  (provided  with  the  die)  should  always  be  tightened  to  secure
the  die  in  place.  To  minimize  case  neck  and  bullet  runout,  always  run  an  empty  case  or  case
with a seated bullet up into the die prior to tightening the die lock ring.
Note: Sizing dies should only be turned down enough to take up the slack in the linkage sys-
tem.  A  toggle  type  compound  linkage  system  can  literally  develop  tons  of  force  (at  its  toggle
point) sufficient to spring any press frame. Screwing the sizing die down more than necessary
(well  past  top  dead  center)  can  potentially  damage  the  shellholder,  dies,  and  even  the  press  if
the ram is forced to top dead center under these conditions. 
Shellholder Installation
Shellholders are caliber specific and should be selected on the basis of the caliber of dies used.
The press ram is designed to use most popular brands of universal shellholders. Install by slid-
ing the shellholder into the slot at the top of the ram until it snaps in place. It is recommend-
ed that you rotate the shellholder slightly clockwise for easier access (about 60 degrees so that
the slot in the shellholder is perpendicular to the top of the frame). To remove the shellhold-
er, simply pull forward (away from the bench). 
Priming
Because  hand  priming  tools  offer  the  reloader  a  safer  and  more  consistent  “feel”  for  seating
primers,  the  Frankford  Arsenal  Model  SS-99  press  does  not  come  with  a  universal  priming
arm.  Universal  priming  arms  lack  the  proper  mechanical  advantage  and  tactile  feel  necessary
for consistent primer seating depth, are cumbersome to use, and due to necessary frame offsets
and  milled  slots  required  for  installation,  compromise  press  frame  structural  integrity.  If  a
press- mounted priming system is desired, any of the many ram priming systems on the mar-
ket can be installed on the Model SS-99.
Warning
The Midway press has been designed specifically to handle the stresses of
heavy-duty reloading and case forming and is not recommended for use in
bullet swaging operations. 
Note this press uses a positive mechanical stop in the compound linkage system to
terminate ram motion at top dead center. To prevent damage to the press, dies, and
shellholder, no further pressure should be applied to the operating handle once this
stop is reached. 
The use of a cheater bar (or a pipe) on the press handle to gain additional mechan-
ical advantage may overstress press components. Evidence of such abuse will void
the warranty.
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							6 Troubleshooting Guide
A summary of common reloading problems and causes are listed below.
Case Insertion
1. Problem: Case will not slide into shellholder.
Possible Cause:
• Dirt in shellholder pocket.
• Damaged shellholder.
• Wrong shellholder.
• Case has bent rim.
• Cases not within SAAMI specs.
• High primer.
Resizing and Decapping
1.  Problem: Case not properly sized.
Possible Cause:
• Sizing die not adjusted correctly.
• Press operating handle not cycled all the way down to stops.
2.  Problem: Decapping pin not decapping.
Possible Cause:
• Decapping pin bent or broken.
• Die decapping stem improperly adjusted.
• Berdan primed case.
3.  Problem: Bent or broken decapping pin.
Possible Cause:
• Berdan primed case.
• Flash hole not centered in case.
• An obstruction inside case.
4.  Problem: Primers hang up in the ram primer ejector slot and do not discharge into the 
primer catcher.
Possible Cause: Improperly adjusted decapping stem.
Remedy: The decapping stem is set too deep. Loosen the decapping stem and raise the 
stem as needed. The decapping stem need only be set deep enough to eject the primer
and no further.
5.  Problem:   Oil dents in case shoulder or wrinkled casenecks.
Possible Cause: Using too much case sizing lubricant. 
Remedy: Reduce the amount of lubricant used and disassemble and clean die as needed.
6.  Problem: Crushed Cases.
Possible Cause:
• Not enough radius on die mouth. 
• Case not centered in shellholder upon entry into die.
• Attempting a case forming operation that is too radical to perform in one step.  
						

							7 Remedy: Guide cases into die. If reforming cases, use case forming dies.
7.  Problem: Scratched or marked cases.
Possible Cause:
• Dirty brass.
• Scratched die.
• Brass or nickel adhering to carbide insert. Use a good bore solvent to dissolve these 
deposits.
8.  Problem: Cases are hard to size and/or squeal during sizing.
Possible Cause:
• Not enough case lubricant used.
• Not enough time allowed for evaporation of carrier for spray type case lubricants.
9. Problem: Stuck case and torn case rims.
Possible Cause:
• Not enough case lubricant used.
• Not enough time allowed for evaporation of carrier for spray type case 
lubricants.
Remedy: If the case rim is intact, rotate the shellholder until it is oriented to allow removal
from the press ram. Slide out the shellholder and unscrew the die. Use a stuck case 
puller to remove the case. If the case rim is torn off, unscrew the die and use a stuck case
puller to remove the case. Remove torn rim from shellholder. Reinstall die and 
lubricate cases properly.
Case Mouth Belling
1.  Problem: Over or under flared cases.
Possible Cause:
• Improper die adjustment.
• Variations in case length.
Bullet Seating
1.  Problem: Top of bullet is deformed.
Possible Cause:
• Case not flared enough.
• Soft lead.
• Lead or wax buildup in die.
• Incorrect seating stem for bullet style used.
2.  Problem: Shaving lead or lube.
Possible Cause
• Case not flared enough.
• Bullets are not correct diameter.
• Burrs on case mouth.
3. Problem: Loose bullets.
Possible Cause:
• Over crimping. 
						

							8 • Incorrect bullet diameter.
4.  Problem: Inconsistent seating depth.
Possible Cause:
• Variations in case and bullet dimensions.
• Lead or lube buildup in die seating stem.
• Incorrect seating stem for bullet style used.
Crimping
1.  Problem: Cases are over or under crimped, or crimping is not consistent.
Possible Cause:
• Over flared case.
• Die not properly adjusted.
• Variations in case length. 
2.  Problem: Loose bullets.
Possible Cause:
• Over crimping.
• Wrong expander.
• Thin cases.
Limited Warranty
Every Frankford Arsenal product is warrantied to be free of defects in materials and workman-
ship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Frankford Arsenal will, at its
option, repair or replace without charge, except for transportation costs, parts that fail under nor-
mal use and service when operated and maintained in accordance with our Instructions. This war-
ranty does not apply to normal wear or to items whose life is dependent upon their use and care.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied and releases Frankford
Arsenal, its affiliates, and its vendors from all other obligations and liabilities.
5885 W Van Horn Tavern Rd. • Columbia, MO 65203
Visit our web site at www.frankfordarsenal.com
Revised: 01-13-00A Product