Bullet Feeder Adapter for Hornady LNL AP (Review)

[higgite]

Higgite, one question: What is the diameter of the M.B.F. die? Thinking of course, of the possible use of it with the Bully Adaptor!

It could be done, but you would have to modify either the die OD or the Bully adapter ID. The knurled top of the die body (right under the spring clip) is just a hair over 1” OD. The Bully adapter ID is just a hair over 0.9". You would need to replace the spring with something like a circlip that the Bully could slip over. You would also need to shorten the Bully so it wouldn't bottom out. You might also have to sleeve the upper portion of the Bully's bullet path to keep bullets from hanging up on the top of the die.

I chose to make a simple aluminum adapter to mate the Lee bouquet of tubes to the Mr. Bulletfeeder die. Similar to the wiederladerTV adapter on Youtube, but sized for a snug slip fit over the MBF die's inner cylinder. No clamp required.

 

[canuck257]

Adapter

Higgite, would you care to share the dimensions of your adapter? I have a MBF die in the mail.

 

[higgite]

Higgite, would you care to share the dimensions of your adapter? I have a MBF die in the mail.

Sure. Here's my working sketch.



You might want to sneak up on the OD of the top part and the ID of the bottom part so you get a snug fit on both ends.

I want to make something perfectly clear. This thread is about the Bully adapter for the Hornady bullet feeder die. I tried that combo and chose a different approach only because I had a problem with the Hornady die. The Bully adapter is a high quality piece of work and had I not been frustrated by the die, the Bully would still be perched atop my press.

 

[canuck257]

Thank you

 

[RealGun]

Part of the problem was the caliber and type of bullet apparently, since my 38 Special coated LEAD application, at only .002 larger than the OP's 9mm, works great. The adjustment of the Hornady die's collets is pretty subjective, since you are instructed to listen for only a slight rattle of separation of the two parts inside the die. I seem to have hit it right with what sounds like a pretty tight setting. Don't know how critical it is, but that feature seemed a bit odd.

 

[Paddy]

I hate to break it to you but the hornady die is not reliable, and does not work. Sorry fellas. You can try all day but the fact is that it's a very well executed design which is incorrect. The MBF die is a lesser executed, but correct design, and works like it should. It doesn't care the shape or diameter of the bullet, and is adjustable. It does cost 25$ more, but it delivers 500$ less frustration or more, depending on your tolerance for frustration.

 

[RealGun]

I hate to break it to you but the hornady die is not reliable, and does not work.

That has not been my experience. Why do you feel you can speak for the die in such generalities? My context is 38 Special, coated lead. What is your caliber frame of reference? Have you tried a replacement? Bashing a product should not be irresponsible, so I think you have the task of backing up what you are saying here.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I hate to break it to you but the hornady die is not reliable, and does not work.

Maybe you can give me an idea of when mine might fail. I've only run a couple of thousand bullets through it so far, but I am keeping an eye on it for the first sign of failure.

Granted this is limited use and I've only used it to feed 9mm plated bullets

 

[Paddy]

I appologize, I wanted it to work as well for me as it has for you. However I wanted to use any bullet I wanted in it. It's great that some can make it work for them, but putting a lot of energy into it is not worth the effort in my opinion, only because there is a better option. If it weren't for that option I'd be back trying to get the collets to spring correctly for me too. I love hornady products and rely on them often. But when you use the MBF version you immediatley realize the road less travelled was a better one to travel. Good luck and carry on.

 

[RugerSteve]

I agree. I could hardly ever get the Hornady bullet feeder die to work. Always having to poke something up from the bottom to get them to snap into place. No matter how many times I adjusted the collets, or adjusted how much belling I had on the cases. Bought the MBF die and works great.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I'm using the RCBS bullet feeder die with the single plastic tube for .355-359" bullets on my Loadmaster press. The thing actually works quite well once you get it tuned.

Has anyone attempted to mate the Lee multitube gizmo with the RCBS bullet feeder die? IMHO, the RCBS system is much simpler, more reliable, and definitely less expensive than the Hornady set up. I'd love to be able to load up 4 tubes of bullets all at once.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'm using the RCBS bullet feeder die with the single plastic tube for .355-359" bullets on my Loadmaster press. The thing actually works quite well once you get it tuned.

How does the tuning differ from that of the Hornady Bullet Feeder die?

Don't you just screw the die body into the frame until a bullet drops into the case?

Has anyone attempted to mate the Lee multitube gizmo with the RCBS bullet feeder die? IMHO, the RCBS system is much simpler, more reliable, and definitely less expensive than the Hornady set up

I'll give you simpler as it has only one set of fingers, but wouldn't that make it less reliable as there is less to keep the column of bullets from dropping once the fingers are expanded?

Perhaps I'm just more comfortable depending on 2 sets of metal fingers rather than one nylon set being constricted by an elastic band

If the Hornady is going for $24, at Midway, and the RCBS is going for $28, how is the RCBS less expensive...especially when the Hornady Feeder Die comes with the corresponding caliber PTX

 

[Mad Chemist]

Tuning is die depth and amount of case bell. Once set, you lock it down and forget about it. I haven't adjusted mine in months.

Once the die is tuned properly it will only drop one bullet at a time. If transferring a full tube into the empty tube without pulling it from the die, you'll need to raise a case into the die body or the bullets will dump.

I was looking at total cost for the Hornady with tubes vs the cost of the RCBS which comes with 2 tubes. Cost for the hornady appears to be about $25 plus another $25 for a set of tubes. The RCBS is about $30 including two tubes with end caps.

I don't know what a caliber PTX is. I'm not that familiar with all the Hornady equipment. I have a few Hornady tools and a handful of their dies but that's about it.



So how about an adapter for the Lee gizmo? Is anyone using this with the RCBS bullet feeder? Or do I need to forge some new ground here? The thing is cheap enough that I suppose I could buy one just to play with.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The PTX is the Powder Through Expander insert to apply the needed amount of case bell. MSRP is about $14, they usually sell for about $10

The case activated powder measure on the LNL AP doesn't bell, they include an Expanding Die in their die sets.

I would think the issue with the adapter is the length and diameter of the RCBS bullet feed die body