Bullet feeding die and bullet profile.

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Demi-human

maybe likes firearms a little bit…
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The Hornady bullet feeding die states it is to be used with jacketed or plated bullets only. I had planned on using coated semi-wadcutters, like I always have, until I read this while shopping for the die.

For those with a Hornady AP with a bullet feeding system…

Is the bullet feeder compatible with coated SWCs?
Is the feed die capable of feeding another profile of coated bullet?
Is the SWC the problem or the coating?
Is it just a throw back to lube grooved bullets and their sticky wax?

This is one giant false start if not.:(
What would I do? Shoot a nine millimeter and jacketed bullets?:)barf: Bleech! That was not a funny joke.)
Feeling rather crestfallen right now…

Hopefully I am worried for naught. Anyone with first hand experience with SWCs and a feed die?
 
I use Hornady's feeders with .454 230gr and .356 115gr coated bullets. It took some fiddling. . .

I believe "jacketed only" is due to the wide variation in texture, lube, and size of cast bullets. Once I understood the double collet mechanism, I was able to adjust the die to feed my cast/coated bullets, ~95% of the time. The other 5%, mostly at the end of a tube when overhead weight is low, I just place the bullet digitally. I think grease-lubed bullets would require frequent cleaning.

The feeder is still worth it's cost, in my opinion.
 
The problem with feeding non-jacketed bullets is the variation of bullet diameters.
Feeding an oversized/undersized bullet thru a die made to feed nominal sized bullets can be problematic.

As mentioned, tweaking/polishing the collets to work with the diameter bullets you have is the answer to that.
I have been feeding coated bullets thru Hornady bullet feeding dies, via tubes, in 38sp/357/9mm/45ACP without any problems.

If you search old threads on this you find many threads with other members never able to "tweak" the Hornady collects to work with coated bullets.
Some have also switched to RCBS bullet feeding dies with great success.
RCBS collets are plastic and work with a bigger variation of bullet diameters but also a wear item.
your results may vary,
:D
.
Edit: feeding coated bullets WITHOUT lube or crimp grooves is way more consistent (for me).
 
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125 SWC (for 9mm), 158 SWC and 185 SWC, all coated and grooved, from reputable sources, feed well (98+%) for me. (Hornady bullet feeder dies w/tubes)
I purchased some 'value-orientated' 115 RN (no groove) that didn't drop worth a darn, but a grooved 158 SWC from the same manufacturer fed just fine

Out of frustration, I bought a Double Alpha feeder die for 9mm. I made a CPVC adapter to fit my Hornady tubes to the same die

It did work better on the 115's that choked my Hornady dies, but it's not without a quirk or two of it's own, mainly, never raise the die assembly manually, on purpose or otherwise, unless you want to instantaneously drop all the bullets left in the die. (Like when changing tubes)
 
Just contact the manufacturer.;)
Well, yeah, but then I wouldn’t get to talk to you guys!:D
Besides, their position is to only use jacketed or plated bullets. Obviously I’m going to try it anyway:cool:, but I was wondering if there was any success otherwise.


Once I understood the double collet mechanism, I was able to adjust the die to feed my cast/coated bullets, ~95% of the time.

Edit: feeding coated bullets WITHOUT lube or crimp grooves is way more consistent (for me).

feed well (98+%) for me.

And with this sort of response I’ll have no worries using MBC and SNS Casting coated groove-less SWCs for setting up my progressive press. I don’t intend to load any jacketed bullets at all on this press, but I didn’t want to “turn the tides” trying to get it to work.

Thanks for the help y’all!:)
Except for one, you know who you are. :fire:


:pJust kidding’ @Rule3! See ya around!:D
 
Those are nice but at $55 a piece.....or 4 for $220 they aren't cheap. Or you could buy a 3d printer Creality Ender 3 for that money and make some that seems to work just as well using only two 3.5mm ball bearings in each. I got 20 ball bearings for $6.00 (https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-3-5mm...pd_rd_i=B081SQZR62&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_rp_1_i

A spool of PLA printing media is $20 or so.....and you could print 20 of these. (they don't have to be in three colors....;)) You do have to buy some tiny springs too, but a hardware store has them for cheap.... The print files are free.

Then you have a tool to make all kinds of loading tools.

IMG-3947.jpg
 
Then you have a tool to make all kinds of loading tools.
Dadi might have to get a present from Santa this year…;)

I did already order the Hornady feed die and shell plate from MidSouth Shooters. That will be in next week, but I’ll have plenty to do till then.
I’m trying hard not to order a 9mm die set, too. I need to stay focused.:D


Well, I’d better get that turkey going! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!:)
 
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