LnL 380 Case Feeding Problem

Looking for some help...hopefully I'm missing something easy here.

Did my first time setup for .380 Auto on my Hornady LnL last night. This is a new caliber for me. I had been loading 357 SIG and swapped out some of the press parts last night, worked the initial die setups, etc. Took longer to get a good crimp and then realized my COL as required by the PPK/S was a bit shorter than what was in the book. But, hey, at least I didn't run off a bunch of rounds before I check if they would cycle. So...back through the adjustments some more.

So, today, I'm putting out a good bullet...but I'm not getting proper case feeding into the shell plate. I was initially hitting the edge of the shell plate and made the necessary case feed timing adjustments by lowering down the cam wire and I finally got a good sync on the case being presented into the shell plate. I'm using the #2 V block and the #16 shell plate, as per the instructions. The problem I am having is the case is not sliding properly into the shell block. While the case is now coming in centered on the shellplate opening, the front base of the case is catching enough on the spring to tilt the case forward and it does not slide under the lip of the shell plate. I took some photos of this at very slow speeds (well, stopped for the photo), but I have the same issue at normal speeds...moving faster doesn't allow it to just jump over the spring...it jumps out across the shell plate at that point. Perhaps I'm missing something obvious? :banghead:





Didn't have this problem with the 357 SIG. I have recently replaced the cam feed primer and primer slide after the former bent and the latter fractured, but did a couple hundred rounds of 357 SIG without incident prior to the new setup of last night.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Bernie

Jeff,

I had initially checked the shellplate to ensure I didn't have one of older design and the packaging for shellplate 16 was the same as for shellplate 10. After reading your post, I reinstalled shellplate 10 and the spring sat lower and did not impede the cartridge case movement into the shellplate. I then put shellplate 16 back in and experienced the same problem I had before. Upon inspecting the shellplates, I noticed the bottom rim is of a different design, but I am guessing the purpose of the ridge width difference is likely to accommodate the difference cartridge diameter. That be the case, I still have the spring in the same position as my initial photos for shellplate 16, whereby it "trips" up the case. Side by side pics of my shellplates below. Shellplate 16, my problem setup plate, is on the left in both photos and has more of a "V" outer rim, whereas shellplate 10 is flat across the top (or bottom, depending upon how one looks at it).

I'm having a little bit of trouble making out that photo--is the case contacting the back edge of shell plate opening, causing the case to tip? I had that trouble early on, but adjusted feeder timing by lowering the cam wire downward, per the instruction in the case feeder manual. I had mistakenly tried some pawl adjustments at first as I came across some other "hints" online...but my problem was actually solved by adjusting the wire downward. I had probably changed my original setup on that stuff when I replaced some press parts earlier in the week.

I'm sure the bottom of the shellplates differ due to caliber differences and I don't they the design, itself, is the problem. I don't know if the tolerances may be off on my shell plate? I may take some of the photos and forward them to Hornady tech support...my work hours don't quite allow me to call from area of my press. For some reason, that spring appears to be riding high...it does also have some ill affects on the ejection of the cartridges...sometimes they do not fall into the box. Doesn't appear to be related to a particular station on the shellplate, in my case.

Bernie

I push my spring in for a couple of handle cranks and it stays down...just doesn't stay down far enough with shellplate 16. I went back out and looked at each again. In the first photo, shellplate 16, the spring takes a gradual downturn and does not hug the bottom. I could push it downward but I could not get it to track along the bottom like shellplate 10. The second photo is shellplate 10: notice it takes a much sharper drop and does hug the bottom...allowing the spring to stay low enough so that it does not trip the shells coming across. I'm beginning to think I could load .380 auto with shellplate 10...




I did not get a chance to call Hornady today...I did send a request in for tech support from the Hornady site and referenced this thread.

Bernie

I do have spare springs and I have tried several, all with the same results. I never received a reply from the email I sent to Tech Support, which is a little disconcerting. On the other hand, I haven't carved out the time to call Hornady on the phone...the one day I had with some time at home, I spaced it. I need to just call from work and do what I can from there.

Bernie

Solution

A few weeks ago I did finally get on the phone with Hornady tech support and the only thing we could come up with was a possible faulty shellplate. He put me in the system for a warranty replacement and it finally arrived today. Problem solved! The spring stays down low, just as it did with my shellplate No. 10.

Bernie