$28 Bullet Feeder for Any Progressive

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Well I ordered 4 of the tubes from LNT this morning, and now I am working on a midway order for the bullet feeder die. Thanks for the project idea, guys! I have the case feeder on my LNL AP, so I will post pics up when I get it all set up, I think it will be able to be mounted to the CF for stability, I'll let you know!

one problem i just realised, now i need a 6 station press!

1-decap-resize
2-powder carge
3-RCBS powder cop die
4-bullet feeder die
5-bullet seater die
6-bullet crimp die
 
That is what a 650 and GSI feeder gets you, you feed and seat on #4. You crimp on #5 and powder check on #3.
 
That's true, it just costs a hell of a lot of money. And if you have any other press than a 650 or 1050 you are SOL. I emailed GSI about the possibility of a unit for the similar RCBS tool head....and got ignored....not even a polite "hell no".

If you are a rifleman shooting .223 or .308, you do have another cheaper option. RCBS's rifle bullet feeder...which also feeds and seats in a single station.

As for a true 6 station press, where at least 5 stations aren't specialized for a single procedure, we are still waiting...maybe in the next generation of progressives. Which company will be first?
 
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Question about the feeder die; As I understand it, you need to use plated or jacketed bullets with the LnL bullet feeder. Is that because of the collator? or the the die itself? I'm ready to do this, but it may be a problem because I shoot a lot of lswc.
 
I only use plated or jacketed bullets, so my experience is limited. But I would think both, if your lead bullets are wax lubed. Face it, the lube will gunk up anything it slides against. One good thing about AlliedArmory's $28 feeder is that there is only the dies....easily taken apart and cleaned....and the straight wall clear tube...which can be cleaned easier than spring tubing. I have no doubt that using wax lubed bullets will require cleaning often.

jmorris has said he has used "dry-lubed" bullets successfully in his collator's and feeders. I know even less about that. Maybe he can expound on that subject.

jmorris's picture shown below (used in a post on page one) seems to indicate that idea:
DSC01472.jpg
 
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Mistake gone GOOD. I ordered tubes last week from LNT for my 357 & 45ACP project. What I found was the ⅜" I ordered for my 357 too tight, the ½" I ordered for 45ACP too small. I reordered some 7/16" (for 357) and 5/8" (45). I found by using the 7/16" (357 fits well) inside the 1/2" it creates a strong enough tube so there is no need for and outside support for it. I took and put a bevel on the outside edge of both tubes with my RCBS Chamfer and Deburring tool, then used electric tape on the 7/16" to make tight fit in Bullet feed Die, then push the outside tube 1/2" over and down to die top for tight fit in die. I then drilled my holes in the proper place for the pins and everything stays together and is ridged enough to stand on it's own in the Hornady Bullet feed die. Worked out great, a bit more $ for the extra tubes, but a nice clean set-up without having to rig an "Eyelet" for upper support.
 

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Good idea Scott!...looks like a worthwhile setup to me....especially if you buy some more tubing and load up 2 or 3 so's you can change loaded tubes when they empty by just dropping in another. That's where you'll really see a speed advantage....and it's still cheap enough that most anyone can afford it, especially while a bullet feeder/collator or a case feeder remains out of reach budget-wise.

Your reinforcing sleeve could be transferred to additional tubes if the holes are drilled using the sleeve as a drill guide.;)
 
I got 6 pairs @ for 357 and 45 ACP, the 357 tube holds about 55, 142g Montana Gold + I think 6 in the die, so I'm good for 300+ at a time for them. The reinforcing sleeve, I'm thinking, will only work well if it is just one size up from the correct "Bullet" tube, because they must fit tight together to be rigid. I do think you may be able to use bullet close to size, like 9mm or 380 in the 357 tube.
 
You misunderstood what I meant...my fault.

I meant, for example, that 2 or 3 7/16" tubes for your .357 bullets can all share ONE 1/2" sleeve. Sorry for the ambiguity.
 
OK, got ya, I figured for the few extra $$ per tube and free shipping, I figured I'd go ahead and make up sets of them in each caliber so they are all set to use when I need them. It's nice to be able to move them around and not worry about kinking one. Thanks for your original post, you got me going on this with your set-up and it's ending up to be a great project. BTW, I'm sure others would like to hear about it, feel free to use any of my posts or pics in yours if you care to spread the word on other forums.
On another note, I contacted Hornady to see if it was possible to purchase part of the Brass Feeder (minus the collator drum & motor) to use your system but no go so far. Thanks again for the post!
 
No Go on purchasing the case feeder minus the drum. Spoke with a very nice Service Rep and he said they couldn't do it because they would end up with a bunch of drums with no where to go for them. Sounds like they maybe outsource the whole unit, so they can't just get the lower, don't know, maybe it's just not something worth while profit wise for them.
 
I understand they have a good warranty, do you suppose they send complete units out if only one part fails?
 
jmorris said:
I understand they have a good warranty, do you suppose they send complete units out if only one part fails?
Click to expand...

Good question. I do know that some big companies have separate intra-company entities who handle parts vs warranty, even keeping their own inventory. That said, I doubt Hornady's reloading equipment division is that big.

Just my observation, but I get the feeling Hornady's reloading division is smallish compared to their bullet division, and a lot of their products are outsourced. Case in point was their problem LnL bushings last year, blamed on out-of-spec production from a supplier. Also their inability to keep their new products in stock, especially their bullet feeders and feeder dies, and sometimes their AP presses as well. They have enjoyed a nitch. But their recent attempts to attract more customers with new and reasonably priced goodies, worked.....faster than they could keep up with! I wish them well....and wish they'd hurry with the rifle feeder kits they promised!:D

Bottom line is their smallishness probably makes it true about being left with parts without parts.
 
Finally got mine up and running, and I thought I would post up pics of how I supported the upper of the bullet tube. I used a 1/4" threaded eylet and it seemed to work perfect on the 9mm tubes. I will eventually build one for .45ACP as well, so I might need a larger i.d. on the eylet. I used a piece of aluminum strap from work, and bent it and then gave it a curve to match the curve of the case feeder. A couple holes/rivets, and we are GTG. The larger hole all the way on the right is an already existing hole in the aluminum strap, I just didn't want to use it for the mounting. Also, I adjusted my Lee bullet seating die to also give it a small crimp, so I am able to load with RCBS powder cop die all in 5 stations.

photobucket-6308-1318045545342.jpg

photobucket-1493-1318045525375.jpg
 
Yeah, big time! Let's say I ran out of pistol powder and 124g fmjs veeeery fast. I just need to get some more play money free'd up so that I can justify the .45 bullet feeder and see what else I need to buy/modify. Then I will have to buy a .40 and do it all again!
 
I've read this whole thread, and watched the video. I'm still a bit confused.

It seems like these dies drop the bullet onto the case, they don't seat?

And, you NEED a 5 station press to make this work?

Can somebody confirm?

I have a Dillon 550, so I'm out of luck?

Thanks,

-John
 
It seems like these dies drop the bullet onto the case, they don't seat?
Click to expand...


Correct, the only bullet feeder that feeds and seats at the same station are the GSI feeders and you can only get one for the 650 or 1050.
 
And, you NEED a 5 station press to make this work?
Click to expand...

Correct, if you want to seat and crimp in two different stations. If you seat and crimp on #4 you could drop a bullet on #3.
 
I've read this whole thread, and watched the video. I'm still a bit confused.

It seems like these dies drop the bullet onto the case, they don't seat?

And, you NEED a 5 station press to make this work?

Can somebody confirm?

I have a Dillon 550, so I'm out of luck?

Thanks,

-John
Click to expand...

Just like jmorris said, you will need to seat/crimp in #4 which will open up #3 for the feeder die. #1 & #2 will remain the same.
 
Alright, so now since I bought myself a Glock 23 for my birthday, I need to get the LNL AP set up for .40. I have put the bullet feeder die/shell plate on my christmas list, but I want to get the plastic tubes on the way, so I am ready to go when the rest of the supplies show up. I need a favor from someone who is a already setup to load .40 with a
bullet feeder. Can somebody please give me an I.D. measurement of the .40 bullet feeder die where the plastic tubes mount? That way I can the right tubes ordered, and ready to go. TIA!
 
If you are new to reloading I would get used to it without a feeder. Think of it like walking before you start to run.
 
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