Any recent changes to Hornady PTX expander?

[Skgreen]

Have there been any changes made to the Hornady PTX expander in the last 2-3 years?

I ask as mine are no more than 3 yrs old, and I'm getting better bullet alignment on my LNL AP using an RCBS expander separately in lieu of the PTX die.

Thanks,

 

[Allen One1]

Sk
There have been no changes that I am aware, you could call Hornady to confirm. If I'm reading this right you prefer to expand with the RCBS expander and then drop powder at the next stage. What caliber, what bullet and how are you measuring the bullet alignment?

 

[Texas10mm]

That's because the RCBS expander die is a copy of the Lyman M die. Sadly the Hornady PTX isn't.

That's one of many reasons that I dumped my Hornady LnL AP for a Dillon. I can get M die powder funnels for the Dillon.

 

[captain awesome]

That's because the RCBS expander die is a copy of the Lyman M die. Sadly the Hornady PTX isn't. That's one of many reasons that I dumped my Hornady LnL AP for a Dillon. I can get M die powder funnels for the Dillon.

Where????
I just figured if I wanted that feature I would have to pay a machinist to modify the existing dillon funnels

 

[Walkalong]

That's because the RCBS expander die is a copy of the Lyman M die. Sadly the Hornady PTX isn't.

Yep.

I use my regular expanders in front of my powder drop on my LNL. Lyman M dies, RCBS copies, Redding copies....

 

[Walkalong]

That's one of many reasons that I dumped my Hornady LnL AP for a Dillon. I can get M die powder funnels for the Dillon.

Or you could have been more creative, and I know you can be, but either press gives fine results.

 

[thomas15]

I use my regular expanders in front of my powder drop on my LNL. Lyman M dies, RCBS copies, Redding copies....

I do the same. For me at least I can get the Hornady PTX to work with jacketed and plated bullets but not coated. Don't know why. So now I just use a separate expander. I thought that I had read somewhere that Hornady had made a change to the PTX so when I saw this thread I was hopeful that the answer would be yes.

 

[Texas10mm]

Where????
I just figured if I wanted that feature I would have to pay a machinist to modify the existing dillon funnels

http://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1582

I've also found them on eBay and there's a guy with ads in Handloader. I had to run out to the garage to grab the latest issue. http://lousgunwork.com/

 

[Texas10mm]

I do the same. For me at least I can get the Hornady PTX to work with jacketed and plated bullets but not coated. Don't know why. So now I just use a separate expander. I thought that I had read somewhere that Hornady had made a change to the PTX so when I saw this thread I was hopeful that the answer would be yes.

The Hornady PTX parts were designed with jacketed bullets in mind. They don't really work for cast bullets, especially if you're running .002" oversized.

 

[Walkalong]

I wonder why no one makes one for the LNL yet, sort of like NOE does for the Lee expander bodies.

 

[Texas10mm]

I wonder why no one makes one for the LNL yet, sort of like NOE does for the Lee expander bodies.

Maybe because Hornady owners are cheap and most don't know any better?

 

[Walkalong]

lol.....dunno....

 

[DRAINSMITH]

Maybe because Hornady owners are cheap and most don't know any better?

Yea we are cheap. And I don't know any better than to challenge my Ammo-plant against any 100% Dillon.
The Ptx works just fine if you take the time to understand how it works and make all the adjustments to your press to get it running the way it is supposed to.

 

[Texas10mm]

View attachment 825533
View attachment 825534
Yea we are cheap. And I don't know any better than to challenge my Ammo-plant against any 100% Dillon.
The Ptx works just fine if you take the time to understand how it works and make all the adjustments to your press to get it running the way it is supposed to.

So the 9mm PTX works when loading .358 bullets into 9mm cases?

 

[DRAINSMITH]

So the 9mm PTX works when loading .358 bullets into 9mm cases?

I have no idea but I do run .355 all day long.

 

[2011redrider]

I use the RCBS powder thru expander funnels that replace the ptx in the powder measure/ case operated assembly. They have the 2 step expander and work fine with my Hornady progressive and RCBS Pro2000, since they share near identical case operated powder systems.

 

[Walkalong]

This?

 

[Jeff H]

So the 9mm PTX works when loading .358 bullets into 9mm cases?

I'm not so sure I could get a .358 bullet to reliably chamber in some of the tighter tolerance guns around.

 

[Texas10mm]

I have no idea but I do run .355 all day long.

That's because the Hornady PTX is designed to work with jacketed bullets. Try an over-sized lead bullet and get back to us.

I'm not so sure I could get a .358 bullet to reliably chamber in some of the tighter tolerance guns around.

For those of us who don't have $3k to drop on a custom race gun having a 9mm with a oversized groove diameter is pretty common. The sad thing is many of those self same pistols have tight chambers.

 

[GW Staar]

I use the RCBS powder thru expander funnels that replace the ptx in the powder measure/ case operated assembly. They have the 2 step expander and work fine with my Hornady progressive and RCBS Pro2000, since they share near identical case operated powder systems.

This?
View attachment 825840

Left is Hornady powder die, right is the RCBS powder die.

Yup! They work just as well in a H. powder measure as an RCBS one. Us Pro 2000 users figured that out years ago. At first the Hornady PTX was all we had to powder through on station two on our Pro 2000's. Sometimes RCBS is slow but their late coming PTX was worth the wait. The nice little "M" die feature works as advertised.

One more in the mix.......specially for Dillon owners. Mr. Bullet Feeders come with Dillon PTX's with a slight improvement......an "M" die feature that opens the necks at the top 1/8" or so, so the fed bullet will sit straight while the shell plate spins to the next station.

 

[Muddydogs]

So the 9mm PTX works when loading .358 bullets into 9mm cases?

I have no issue loading as cast .358 to .359 bullets in 9mm cases or over sized 44 and 45 cast bullets into cases with the Hornady PTX. The PTX can stick a little on the down stroke but its not to big of an issue. I'm getting enough case flair to feed bullets from the Hornady bullet feeder die and seat the bullets without shaving lead or squashing the bullet. I purchased a Powder Funnel back when they were in business as it was supposed to be the great fix but after loading 2000 rounds of 38 ammo the Powder Funnel developed a ridge were the case mouth stops on it so I tossed it in the box and went back to the PTX.

 

[2011redrider]

This?
View attachment 825840

Yes indeed! I have 9mm 40, 357, 44m, 45 auto and 45 colt funnels.

 

[Walkalong]

Mr. Bullet Feeders come with Dillon PTX's with a slight improvement......an "M" die feature that opens the necks at the top 1/8" or so, so the fed bullet will sit straight while the shell plate spins to the next station.

Nice! That is indeed a true two step expander.

 

[Texas10mm]

I have no issue loading as cast .358 to .359 bullets in 9mm cases or over sized 44 and 45 cast bullets into cases with the Hornady PTX. The PTX can stick a little on the down stroke but its not to big of an issue. I'm getting enough case flair to feed bullets from the Hornady bullet feeder die and seat the bullets without shaving lead or squashing the bullet. I purchased a Powder Funnel back when they were in business as it was supposed to be the great fix but after loading 2000 rounds of 38 ammo the Powder Funnel developed a ridge were the case mouth stops on it so I tossed it in the box and went back to the PTX.

The older PTX parts I had would not flare. There was not provision to do so. It was a 90 degree angle at the top of the PTX.

 

[Jeff H]

For those of us who don't have $3k to drop on a custom race gun having a 9mm with a oversized groove diameter is pretty common. The sad thing is many of those self same pistols have tight chambers.

I'm not talking high dollar custom guns. I don't have that kind of money. The chambers in all 3 of my Sigs (380, 9mm, and 45ACP) are all noticeably tighter than other guns I have in those calibers. Maybe it is by design or maybe I just got the ones on the tighter end of the production tolerances.