mallc
Member
Well...I started working on a progressive reloading setup for 5.7x28 in January of 2010 and just finished a 1000 round run yesterday. It was, in fact a pricey project but now it's done and works as it should. Here is the tale...
1) Custom size/trim die for my Dillon 1200 rapid trim - $55 from CH4D and a six month lead time
2) Custom case gage - $55 from CH4D and a six month lead time.
3) Custom shellplate for my Hornady LNL-AP - $135
4) Redding dies - $94 for the deluxe set plus $20 for a carbide ID sizing bead
5) Harbor Freight Ultrasonic Cleaner - $40
6) RCBS Powder Check - $25
I was very lucky to connect with Ben Syring at Hornady on my first call. It took a lot of tinkering to get everything to work. I say I'm very lucky because I photo documented the problems I had and Hornady developed the mods for me for free. I understand Hornady now charges for the mods.
1) The 5.7 case slips inside the LNL pistol funnel and the rifle funnel is too short to fully activate the rotor with the PM in the factory supplied setting. Hornady made a 3/4 inch longer rifle funnel.
2) Next issue was that the diameter of the 5.7 case requires a very narrow land on the bottom of the shellplate. The land actually runs behind the retaining spring relief. With the stock subplate, the spring on my press would ride up over the case rim and lock the round against the ejector block. Hornady added three small magnets to the subplate at the bottom of the retaining spring relief to pull the spring into the relief which completely solved the problem.
3) I do not use a case feeder on this press but I understand from Mr. Syring that another 5.7x28 loader assisted with a mod to the feeder to facilitate it's operation.
4) I deprime on a single stage and clean the brass in cold Simple Green. I found that heating the solution softened the coating on the brass so that it peeled in the sizing operation if I didn't allow it to dry for several days. I use Dillon spray lube for sizing and leave the residue on the case after loading to provide a little extra slip for ejection.
5) The Dillon Rapid Trim OD sizes and trims in one operation. This means I need to ID size the neck during the reload. The stock deprime shaft in the Redding dies fitted with the carbide button upgrade has about .100" float allowing the button to self align. This is about 0.075" too long and the shaft bottoms out on the primer pocket web (resulting in 2 bent rods replaced by Redding at no charge) before the button passes through the neck opening. To get around the problem, I ground off the decapper pin jaws and part of the threads reducing the button float to about 0.030". This let's the button pass completely though the neck for a complete ID size.
6) The RCBS Powder Check isn't made for use with bottle neck cases. BUT, if you insert the check shaft upside down, using the cap as a stop, the shaft drops in case 99% of the time providing a good visual check on the powder load.
That's what and how long it took. I can supply photos of the mods if anyone wants them.
Hope this helps the next person who want to load this nifty little round.
Scott
1) Custom size/trim die for my Dillon 1200 rapid trim - $55 from CH4D and a six month lead time
2) Custom case gage - $55 from CH4D and a six month lead time.
3) Custom shellplate for my Hornady LNL-AP - $135
4) Redding dies - $94 for the deluxe set plus $20 for a carbide ID sizing bead
5) Harbor Freight Ultrasonic Cleaner - $40
6) RCBS Powder Check - $25
I was very lucky to connect with Ben Syring at Hornady on my first call. It took a lot of tinkering to get everything to work. I say I'm very lucky because I photo documented the problems I had and Hornady developed the mods for me for free. I understand Hornady now charges for the mods.
1) The 5.7 case slips inside the LNL pistol funnel and the rifle funnel is too short to fully activate the rotor with the PM in the factory supplied setting. Hornady made a 3/4 inch longer rifle funnel.
2) Next issue was that the diameter of the 5.7 case requires a very narrow land on the bottom of the shellplate. The land actually runs behind the retaining spring relief. With the stock subplate, the spring on my press would ride up over the case rim and lock the round against the ejector block. Hornady added three small magnets to the subplate at the bottom of the retaining spring relief to pull the spring into the relief which completely solved the problem.
3) I do not use a case feeder on this press but I understand from Mr. Syring that another 5.7x28 loader assisted with a mod to the feeder to facilitate it's operation.
4) I deprime on a single stage and clean the brass in cold Simple Green. I found that heating the solution softened the coating on the brass so that it peeled in the sizing operation if I didn't allow it to dry for several days. I use Dillon spray lube for sizing and leave the residue on the case after loading to provide a little extra slip for ejection.
5) The Dillon Rapid Trim OD sizes and trims in one operation. This means I need to ID size the neck during the reload. The stock deprime shaft in the Redding dies fitted with the carbide button upgrade has about .100" float allowing the button to self align. This is about 0.075" too long and the shaft bottoms out on the primer pocket web (resulting in 2 bent rods replaced by Redding at no charge) before the button passes through the neck opening. To get around the problem, I ground off the decapper pin jaws and part of the threads reducing the button float to about 0.030". This let's the button pass completely though the neck for a complete ID size.
6) The RCBS Powder Check isn't made for use with bottle neck cases. BUT, if you insert the check shaft upside down, using the cap as a stop, the shaft drops in case 99% of the time providing a good visual check on the powder load.
That's what and how long it took. I can supply photos of the mods if anyone wants them.
Hope this helps the next person who want to load this nifty little round.
Scott
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