ra407 the biggest problem I have encountered with the Hornady is the case extraction wire, especially on 9mm. If the case fits tight in the shell plate it will jam the case against the extraction wire and you will have to manually remove it. The biggest problem with the Dillon IMO is the power measure, it leaks and is very susceptible to bridging on extruded powder.
550b or LNL AP
- Thread starter Mtdew
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I wasn't aware that dillon powder measures had leakage problems. Considering that I shoot with quite a few people who reload often, you'd think at least one would have mentioned it at least once over the years. Have you experienced it yourself? The three 550 measures I've owned didn't leak with anything including AA#9 (tiny ball powder). I had an old lee auto-disk lock up tight from AA#9 and AA#7 so I pay attention to powder measure tolerences.
DaveInFloweryBranchGA
Member
Idano,
Shellplates for the original Hornady Projector fit on the Lock N Load. I've had at least two Projector shellplates shipped to me by Midway when I ordered LnL plates. Both plates had jamming issues as you describe. I shipped both back to Hornady and they corrected the issues.
A couple of things you can check:
1. Is there a single or two detent balls on the bottom of the shellplate? The LnL model has 2.
2. Check the radius at the corner where the shell goes in and out of the shellplate. Are these sharp or smoothly radiused.
3. IF they're sharp, but you have two detent balls, then you can either smooth the radius yourself or call Hornady and have rework the shellplates. I've done both.
4. Finally, I've had to adjust the ejector wire so that it engages the particular caliber shell at a more prime location (in the shellplate's rotation) to eject. This is done by loosening the screw that attaches the ejector wire to the press and moving the ejector wire in or out of the hole it fits into on the subplate.
Of the fixes I've mentioned above, the fourth one works real well assuming you have the correct shellplates. BTW, don't bend the wire, you'll just hork things up. You're better off just moving it in or out. It's spring steel and is apt to snap on you.
I hope this helps,
Dave
Shellplates for the original Hornady Projector fit on the Lock N Load. I've had at least two Projector shellplates shipped to me by Midway when I ordered LnL plates. Both plates had jamming issues as you describe. I shipped both back to Hornady and they corrected the issues.
A couple of things you can check:
1. Is there a single or two detent balls on the bottom of the shellplate? The LnL model has 2.
2. Check the radius at the corner where the shell goes in and out of the shellplate. Are these sharp or smoothly radiused.
3. IF they're sharp, but you have two detent balls, then you can either smooth the radius yourself or call Hornady and have rework the shellplates. I've done both.
4. Finally, I've had to adjust the ejector wire so that it engages the particular caliber shell at a more prime location (in the shellplate's rotation) to eject. This is done by loosening the screw that attaches the ejector wire to the press and moving the ejector wire in or out of the hole it fits into on the subplate.
Of the fixes I've mentioned above, the fourth one works real well assuming you have the correct shellplates. BTW, don't bend the wire, you'll just hork things up. You're better off just moving it in or out. It's spring steel and is apt to snap on you.
I hope this helps,
Dave
Master Blaster
Member
I have been using a Dillon 550B for all of my pistol cartridges for about 8 years now about 100,000 or so rounds combined. I reload .45 acp, .357 magnum, 9mm, .44 magnum on it and I have tool heads set up for all of the calibers.
I only own 1 dillon powder measure ONE. I have no problem switching it from one tool head to another, I also have no problem adjusting it, it takes about two minutes to adjust the charge weight when I switch calibers..
I do all of my reloading of rifle calibers, and any specialized seating of non standard pistol bullets on a Rock Chucker IV. The Dillon runs trouble free, it has its original parts, although I have a spare parts pack I have never replaced a single broken part on my 550.
I also haven't needed a milling machine to adjust the dies, or a wooden dowel to track my primer level. I mostly load cast lead bullets so I appreciate the seperate crimping die. The powder measure on the Dillon shines on its consistency for low charge weights used in pistol calibers. I compare it to my Lyman measure, and my Redding Benchrest measure (both rotating drum designs), they are good for rifle but stink compared to the dillon for small pistol charges under 10 grains. My Dillon measure does not leak powder.
I thought about a Hornady LNL, but the expense of converting is too great since I will need completely new dies or a milling machine and tooling that can cut carbide.
I have also compared the cost of caliber conversions without a powder measure in each one,
Its the same.
A gent who is a high volume reloader at my club, he assembles components for other shooters as well as himself, and does 100,000+ .45 acp per year, switched from two STAR machines to a LNL a couple years ago. He had many problems with parts breaking and the press jamming in a high volume usage role he also found the seating and crimping with the Hornady dies to be inconsistent and problematic due to the fact that he uses cast bullets lubed with alox.
He sold the LNL and went to a Dillon 650, and the problems went away.
I only own 1 dillon powder measure ONE. I have no problem switching it from one tool head to another, I also have no problem adjusting it, it takes about two minutes to adjust the charge weight when I switch calibers..
I do all of my reloading of rifle calibers, and any specialized seating of non standard pistol bullets on a Rock Chucker IV. The Dillon runs trouble free, it has its original parts, although I have a spare parts pack I have never replaced a single broken part on my 550.
I also haven't needed a milling machine to adjust the dies, or a wooden dowel to track my primer level. I mostly load cast lead bullets so I appreciate the seperate crimping die. The powder measure on the Dillon shines on its consistency for low charge weights used in pistol calibers. I compare it to my Lyman measure, and my Redding Benchrest measure (both rotating drum designs), they are good for rifle but stink compared to the dillon for small pistol charges under 10 grains. My Dillon measure does not leak powder.
I thought about a Hornady LNL, but the expense of converting is too great since I will need completely new dies or a milling machine and tooling that can cut carbide.
I have also compared the cost of caliber conversions without a powder measure in each one, Its the same.
A gent who is a high volume reloader at my club, he assembles components for other shooters as well as himself, and does 100,000+ .45 acp per year, switched from two STAR machines to a LNL a couple years ago. He had many problems with parts breaking and the press jamming in a high volume usage role he also found the seating and crimping with the Hornady dies to be inconsistent and problematic due to the fact that he uses cast bullets lubed with alox.
He sold the LNL and went to a Dillon 650, and the problems went away.
Shoney
Member
Master Blaster
I know a guy who sold his Chevy and bought a Ford and the problems went away. (You can liberally substitue other autos as well)
I know another guy that sold all his toilet paper and started wiping with moon beams, and all his problems went away.
I know a guy---
ra407:
DaveInFloweryBranchGA has given an honest response IMHO.
I use the same dies I used in my 550 in my LNL, so I don't understand that statement.
I know a guy who sold his Chevy and bought a Ford and the problems went away. (You can liberally substitue other autos as well)
I know another guy that sold all his toilet paper and started wiping with moon beams, and all his problems went away.
I know a guy---
ra407:
DaveInFloweryBranchGA has given an honest response IMHO.
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