Hornady plate and retention spring issue

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peterk1234

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Mar 20, 2017
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Hi guys,

I need your help. Is this a manufacturing defect or am I missing something here? I just started using plate number 14 for loading 45-70, but I am having issues with the spring where it is supposed to go flush with the base in position one (where you place the first casing). If you look at the pic below, the recess is much narrower than compared to my 9mm. It keeps popping up so I cannot slide the casing into place.

Thanks

Pete

20200118_155347.jpg
 
I have a plate for 45 colt that did the same thing. I used a Dremel with a sandpaper roller and knocked the edges off where the spring rides all around the slots. Works well now.
 
I have a plate for 45 colt that did the same thing. I used a Dremel with a sandpaper roller and knocked the edges off where the spring rides all around the slots. Works well now.

Could you post a pic of what you did? Thx Pete
 
So your saying the spring is not staying low in the slot? If so there was a mod done on the early ones to make it drop down earlier. What was done was to bevel the ledge where the spring drops off. This will make the spring drop earlier and the problem will go away.
 
Could you post a pic of what you did? Thx Pete

I can but may not be until tomorrow as much won’t be home till later. Does every shell slot on the plate do it as on mine it was two but I did all 5 anyways.
As Blue mentioned about modifying the subplate I did this but I don’t think I took enough off and didn’t try anymore.
 
Here is what I did to the base plate to make the spring drop clear.

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Here is what I did to the base plate to make the spring drop clear.

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That very well may solve the problem. Thank you. I will give it a shot. The issue is totally random, but does happen anywhere between the first or fifth cycle. If I ride my finger along the spot you rounded, I have no issue.
 
Put the plate and spring on and mark which case slot or slots are causing the issue.
Walk along did a very good job of his
 
Found a pic of one of the old shell plates with the single detent. The detent ball is also smaller. The newer two detent plates were a big improvment.
Generation I .38 Shell Plate.JPG
 
Thank you all for your help. I ground the base and round the leading edge of the leading edge of each slot of the shell plate, ever so slightly. She ran through 120 rounds of brass without an issue. I have said it before and I will say it again. The reloading knowledge on this site is incredible. Pete


20200119_135830.jpg
 
I ground the base and round the leading edge of the leading edge of each slot of the shell plate, ever so slightly.
I have rounded off and polished many a plate.

My 9MM plate used to have cases stick sometimes when trying to eject.

Fixed that.
9MM Hornady Shell Plate - Areas to Deburr & Polish Pic 1.JPG
9MM Hornady Shell Plate - Areas to Deburr & Polish Pic 2.JPG
9MM Hornady Shell Plate - Areas to Deburr & Polish Pic 3.JPG

Too bad Midway quit making these boxes, the shell plates fit perfectly in them.
Shell Plates in Midway Box.jpg
 
Peter sorry I didn’t get to posting a picture of what I did but it’s the same as what you did. On any of the shell plates I was having an issue it usually was one or two slots. Hope it works for you.
 
Peter sorry I didn’t get to posting a picture of what I did but it’s the same as what you did. On any of the shell plates I was having an issue it usually was one or two slots. Hope it works for you.

I started with the base of the LNL and it worked pretty good but I was still getting the issue. Just not as frequently. Once I ground the plate, the problem went away completely. Funny thing is that it required the slightest of rounding of those points on the shell plate. Barely noticeable. But hey, it works.

Walkalong goes next level with the polishing. Polishing is probably the secret though. The base is just not slick enough so the spring gets hung up at times. Lazy man's way is just to remove material :)
 
That’s exactly what happened to me. Took a Dremel to sub plate and it would still do it. Started looking at when the spring would come out and it was only on a couple slots. Once I touched them up problem went away. It’s too bad Hornady wouldn’t put a little more quality control into the LNL and related items as I really like the press especially the way the priming system works.
 
When I was having a case stick I measure the extractor groove. Then measured the shell plate using gauge pins. 99% of the time the extractor groove is over spec. See it all the time with range brass. Probably the reason they left it behind.
 
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