Bullet feeders?

[scythefwd]

I have a dillon 550. I already seat and crimp in one station and I only use 3 of my for stations. I want a bullet feeder, and I've seen several out there.

Mr. Bullet Feeder Mini - this one really has my interest. I dont know if it'll do rifle bullets though, anyone have any input on this? I dont believe it does so it would be further down on the list as I load both rifle and 9mm.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2670347586/double-alpha-mini-mr-bulletfeeder-kit

Hornady bullet feeder die. - I'd be using a modified one, very similar to the gravity fed one from rcbs (same diff really). Again, I'm not seeing a solution here for rifles... But since there IS a rifle bullet feeder, I can probably do the same type gravity feed with pre-loaded tubes in rifle (the complete bullet loader is available with a 30 cal conversion).

Anyone have a gravity feed type bullet feeder they would recommend? Preference is that it can be used both with rifle and pistol (I want the same design for both even if one is rifle only and the other is pistol only...)

 

[fiftybmg]

I have Hornady bullet feeder dies. I had a bushing made to drop-fit on top, which accepts a 1/2-inch copper plumbing tube.

The tube is around two feet long, with holes on each end for large cotter pins to keep the bullets in while filling. Drill a number of holes on one end to be able to see when the bullets are running out.

It can be longer, I was limited by shelving above the press.

The 1/2 inch diameter is good for .45 down to 9mm.

I used copper tube because I had some lying around, it would look cooler if the tubes were perspex.

 

[Paddy]

Mr bullet feeder die is the only way to go. The Hornady is poor engineering by comparison.

 

[jmorris]

Only rifle feeders I have are KISS (what they called them before they changed the name to MBF) it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La83ZVKnBzw

I prefer the GSI feeders but don't use them for rifle, only pistol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl63cR9Y_Y0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrFhnDQ-eUU

I also have a Hornady pistol feeder that worked well out of the box and RCBS sells rifle feeders but I haven't played with one of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9pjmuHAkBU

The Lee feeder is a POS and a waste of money.

None of them will help you gain much speed unless you build or buy a collator though.

 

[Paddy]

Curiously the die helps me with speed on rifle loading because I plop in a bullet when the ram is at top of stroke, and i dont have to follow it up with my hand on the case. It's a minor improve but someday I'll make a collator for the 30 cals.

 

[jmorris]

Might give you a little but your still putting a bullet base down over an opening by hand for each bullet without a collator.

Lots of folks also pre fill tubes but that is just moving the work you do from one place to another.

 

[scythefwd]

jmorris.. that is exactly what I plan on doing. Preloading tubes and gravity feeding. While its the same work, I can do that chilling with the family while watching a movie vs. grabbing one out of the bin, getting it right side up, and then putting it on the brass.. That is the slowest part of my loading lol.

I can do about 400 rounds an hour when I have primer fill tubes pre filled, figured if I could get 50-100 projectiles in pre filled tubes, I could possibly hit 500 an hour without feeling rushed at all. I dont intend on a case feeder though. That still puts a little delay in because I have to remove my hand from the lever to slide in the next case.

 

[jmorris]

While its the same work, I can do that chilling with the family while watching a movie...

I can do about 400 rounds an hour when I have primer fill tubes

Might as well hand prime while watching TV too and save that time as well.

 

[Walkalong]

Might as well hand prime while watching TV too

Yep.

 

[SwaneeSR]

jmorris - that is some interesting video. Speedy to be sure. Makes what I do look like snails pace, all manual.

 

[AR-Bossman]

The Hornady pistol and rifle bullet feeder dies have nothing in common with each other.
You can't purchase any of the rifle dies alone.
I have a grudge against the pistol dies. They were inconsistent and very temperamental. The MBF setup appears to be vastly superior but they cost a lot more.

 

[John3921]

I have Hornady 9mm and 10mm dies. I ordered 1/2" Aluminum tubing (tubing is OD. measure as opposed to pipe) 1/2" tubing fits the 10mm die perfectly, no adaptor needed. The 9mm die will accept a 0.470 diameter. I plan on just putting the 9mm die into the lathe and boring it out to .500 for the 1st 1/2". A 24" length of tubing will hold almost 40 bullets, and I have 6 pcs of tubing ($25 delivered from ZORO for 2 - 6' pcs of 1/2" x .032" tubing).

I'll need 1/2" pipe or 5/8 " tubing for .45, but I'm using cast bullets with lube. I don't think the Hornady dies do well with cast bullets. I wish Hornady sold the inserts alone.

ETA: Drilled out the top 1/2" of the 9mm bullet feeder die to accept the 1/2" aluminum tubing. Worked fine, the die's are not hardened steel, the 'step' left by the drill bit is smaller than the thickness of the tubing so no ledge to hang up bullets. The tubing clears the powder measure with no problems. Now I just need to drill holes for a stop pin and some sight holes. With $25 with of tubing I have enough to hold over 200 bullets.

 

[Paddy]

Mbf die is 50$, Hornady is like 30$? It's worth the extra 20$.

If anyone wants to take a whack at their own diy collator, a bbq rotisserie motor and a plastic cutting board are a good way to get started.

 

[AR-Bossman]

Paddy... Do you have a link to the $50 dropper?

 

[Paddy]

I had to phone them up directly to get mine. I got a 45 cal one and a 30 cal rifle versions. They are adjustable for any size and shape bullet. The woman on the phone was very helpful and friendly. They since came out with their version of the manual fill tubes concept that people started doing with the Hornady dies, so it's possible they inky offer that but as of a year ago they stil some the "dropper" only.

The "dropper assembly" is different. Includes the small tube and stop switch for the collator. In retrospect I should've gotten these anyway, as the switch would be handy. But the cost is higher.

 

[higgite]

Paddy... Do you have a link to the $50 dropper?

This is where I got mine. You can email him or call him.
http://www.mrbulletfeeder.biz/

 

[scythefwd]

Might as well hand prime while watching TV too and save that time as well.

I have done that. I actually prime on press when I'm running the progressive, I seem to have been blessed with my system. I haven't had any of the issues others have.