Added the Case Feeder to my LnL AP

[SC_Dave]

I put off adding the case feeder to my LnL for several years. A few weeks ago I found a good price and purchased it. I thought the installation instructions could use some improvement but I managed to get it installed.

After installation I think the most important item to concern yourself with is timing. Not the pawls on the press but the timing rod for the case feeder. It controls and corrects things you may not think it would and sometimes minor adjustments make all the difference.

After a few adjustments with the timing rod it was feeding cases without a hiccup. I loaded 250 rounds today without incident and I wish I had added this a long time ago.

I don't like to necessarily reload fast so I didn't really add the case feeder for speed but along with my $28.00 bullet feeder it sure did speed things up. I can also use my eyes as a COP die and to focus on other things.

For anyone on the fence about buying a case feeder for your LnL stop hesitating, get it as soon as you can. You will love it.

SCD

 

[Jmoreno88]

got mine on a great deal and added it a while back. Instructions are hit and miss but its not hard. have no problems feeding 223, 9mm, and 45

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[Captaingyro]

What's the noise level like? I find reloading to be a fairly serene activity, and I've often wondered what all that spinning and rattling around up there would do to the ambience.

 

[SC_Dave]

What's the noise level like? I find reloading to be a fairly serene activity, and I've often wondered what all that spinning and rattling around up there would do to the ambience.

I don't find it bothersome. It is somewhat noisy until the feed tube fills but once it is full the motor is only on for a coupe of seconds before a few more cases drop and the microswitch shuts it off as you load. Keeping in mind what is not noticeable to some is irritating to others........
SCD

 

[Jmoreno88]

What's the noise level like? I find reloading to be a fairly serene activity, and I've often wondered what all that spinning and rattling around up there would do to the ambience.

it doesnt bother me at all really, as stated its a little noisy when the initial tube is filling but once filled it flips on for just a sec to drop another case in. The bullet feeder is much worse tho and does not have an automatic shut off like the case feeder so its much louder and i wouldn't get one cuz of that.

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[AR-Bossman]

it doesnt bother me at all really, as stated its a little noisy when the initial tube is filling but once filled it flips on for just a sec to drop another case in. The bullet feeder is much worse tho and does not have an automatic shut off like the case feeder so its much louder and i wouldn't get one cuz of that.

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The rifle bullet feeder does have micro switch shut off. I made an adapter to run my pistol bullets through the same setup and now I have a switched pistol bullet feeder as well.

 

[Jmoreno88]

The rifle bullet feeder does have micro switch shut off. I made an adapter to run my pistol bullets through the same setup and now I have a switched pistol bullet feeder as well.

and why Hornady hasn't adopted that same thought process baffles me. Not sure if they've upgraded the pistol one yet but last i looked they didn't have the switch.

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[9mmepiphany]

It sounds like several of us were just waiting for that "good price" to push us over the edge. I also got mine at a great discount, free shipping and an additional discount as a first time customer.

It does allow me to pay more attention to the powder drop (when loading 9mm) or the Powder Cop (when loading .38Spl). I've since loaded about 1200 of each caliber without any hiccups

The noise isn't bad as, once the feeder tube is full, it only rotates enough to drop of couple of cases onto the stack. I keep a cover over the drum to keep out the spiders and this tends to also reduce noise of the cases falling over each other before falling into a recess.

Interestingly the mounting holes in the vertical support tube aren't centered. I had to flip mine around 180 degrees to get things to align.

There was some extra "flash" left over from the casting...it is a good idea to dry fit parts before assembly...which was easy to clean up. I also polished sliding surfaces before assembly.

Adjusting the Push Rod correctly solves a multitude of timing issues. Setting the Feed Tube Insert for the correct clearance keeps cases from jamming in the Pivot. Insuring that the Drop Tube is clear of the top platform is important to keep cases from jumping off the Sub-Plate.

If you reload .40 or .38/.357, Hornady will send you the Intermediate Feed Tube Insert for the asking

 

[AR-Bossman]

What type of plastic are the new ones coming with? Mine is the shiny black "thin" plastic but I don't know when it was purchased. I've also see some cast with the same thick dull composite that the bullet feeder hopper is made from.

 

[Blue68f100]

I've had the brass feeder on mine for close to 8 yrs now. When I added it I asked my self why I waited so long. The short answer was I broke my wrist and only had 1 hand to use. It allowed me to still load.

Tip. If the cases tilt and jam when going into the shell plate, add a pad to the bottom of the pusher foot so it pushes lower. This will keep it from tilting.

 

[SC_Dave]

I've had the brass feeder on mine for close to 8 yrs now. When I added it I asked my self why I waited so long. The short answer was I broke my wrist and only had 1 hand to use. It allowed me to still load.

Tip. If the cases tilt and jam when going into the shell plate, add a pad to the bottom of the pusher foot so it pushes lower. This will keep it from tilting.

I had this issue with mine when I set it up and was actually able to stop the tilting by adjusting the timing rod. When running the ram up very slowly I noticed the case was "nicking" the corner of the entrance of the shell plate and it was enough to tilt the case. Adjusting the timing cured the issue.

Your issue may have been different from mine and you have more experience with it than I do but this is just what fixed my issue with tilting.
SCD

 

[SC_Dave]

What type of plastic are the new ones coming with? Mine is the shiny black "thin" plastic but I don't know when it was purchased. I've also see some cast with the same thick dull composite that the bullet feeder hopper is made from.

They are a thicker rigid plastic. Larger bowl than previous version I believe also.
SCD

 

[SC_Dave]

I keep a cover over the drum to keep out the spiders and this tends to also reduce noise of the cases falling over each other before falling into a recess.

9MM, did you make a cover or buy one that worked?
SCD

 

[9mmepiphany]

I went real cheap.

I had a cardboard round that was just a bit larger in diameter than the bowl...not sure where it came from...and I just place it on top.

It is stiff enough not to warp or sag and heavy enough not be lifted off by a draft

 

[Mike44]

Case feeder caliber change over ?

SC_DAVE - would you mind commenting on how much time and trouble you have switching the case feeder from one caliber to another or from pistol to rifle?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Blue68f100]

For me it takes less than 5 min to change over from rifle/pistol. You just need to remove the one mounting screw that holds the lower feed drop tube to the support. Once that's off you can change the tube S/L and appropriate base, and shuttle feed. I put a locking ring to lock the position on these parts. This is where you set the clearance for drop. This way it's always set and ready to go. I'm changing between 3 calibers, 9mm, 45acp, 223R.

 

[SC_Dave]

I'm not as fast as Blue68f100 yet as it's still new to me. But, I can see how it would not be difficult to be that fast.
SCD

 

[9mmepiphany]

You just need to remove the one mounting screw that holds the lower feed drop tube to the support.
...I put a locking ring to lock the position on these parts. This is where you set the clearance for drop.

I'm a bit confused if you were referring to the Drop Tube or the Feed Tube. Since you mention putting a lock ring on it, I believe you are referring to the Drop Tube.

I'll have to give your method a try the next time I change calibers.

I've just been loosening both lock rings and washer on either side of the bracket and adjusting the height to accommodate the difference in case length. It works for me, but I've only loaded 9mm, .40, and .38Spl with the Case Loader so far.

 

[Kaldor]

I put off adding the case feeder to my LnL for several years. A few weeks ago I found a good price and purchased it. I thought the installation instructions could use some improvement but I managed to get it installed.

After installation I think the most important item to concern yourself with is timing. Not the pawls on the press but the timing rod for the case feeder. It controls and corrects things you may not think it would and sometimes minor adjustments make all the difference.

After a few adjustments with the timing rod it was feeding cases without a hiccup. I loaded 250 rounds today without incident and I wish I had added this a long time ago.

I don't like to necessarily reload fast so I didn't really add the case feeder for speed but along with my $28.00 bullet feeder it sure did speed things up. I can also use my eyes as a COP die and to focus on other things.

For anyone on the fence about buying a case feeder for your LnL stop hesitating, get it as soon as you can. You will love it.

SCD

Let me add one thing about the timing part...

Make sure your press is timed perfectly before you try to time the feeder.

Parts will wear and get sloppy over time. I had a hell of a time with my pivot block galling and then catching after 25k cycles, and ended up replacing it with a delrin block that I made in about 30 minutes.



The pusher will tip a case once in awhile. The feed bowl will jam once in awhile too. Other than that, it runs pretty good.