Does your Hornady Lock and Load do this?

[national86]

I have a Hornady Lock and Load AP, I have been trying to size some 308 win brass (PPU, Winchester & Remington). Once I have the die set, some of the brass will fit fine in the Lyman gauge and some will not. I have to turn the sizing die down a bit to get them to fit in the gauge. When I do this I have alot of cam over. I did try to size the brass in a friends Hornady Classic press and it size just fine and just one time though the die. There is a lot of play when I raise the ram on the AP, I'm able to move the handle from left to right and the sub plate move quite a bit. Also there is about a 1/8 inch space between frame and the link & 1/8 inch between toggle and link on right side. So I was wondering it this is why I having problems sizing the brass. If anyone that has the same press can check to see if there press has the same amount of play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi6tCKkjXS4

 

[tightgroup tiger]

My press has no play in the linkage, I'm wondering if the screw on the shell plate came loose. That will let the entire ram move up and down independent of the shell plate.

 

[rskent]

When I got mine it was pretty loose like that. I thought that it might be the source of my priming problems.
So I fit the press with some better linkage pins. The press has a much better feel now and doesn't wiggle back and forth.
As it happens it did not help with priming. I have no idea if this will help with your problem, but it couldn't hurt.

 

[IMtheNRA]

I had a Hornady LNL-AP for many years and it did not wiggle around like the press I saw in your video.

 

[LiveLife]

Once I have the die set, some of the brass will fit fine in the Lyman gauge and some will not. I have to turn the sizing die down a bit to get them to fit in the gauge. When I do this I have alot of cam over.

If you adjusted the resizing die without a case, you need to consider shell plate deflection/tilt. When full-length resizing brass in progressive press, especially with thicker military .308 brass, I adjust the resizing die so the bottom of the die just kisses the top of the shell plate WHILE resizing a case.

Resize a case that won't fit the case gauge and see if you see daylight between the die and shell plate. If you do, you need to adjust the die further. Adjust the die and see if the brass now fits the case gauge.

 

[Kaldor]

Its should not move like that. I know mine does not. I would call Hornady, and have them take a look at the video. They can probably shed some light on your issue.

Im assuming you are using the same sizing die on both presses?

The sizing die should just kiss the shell plate, or at least thats where I run mine on my LnL. Id have to verify, but I think the shell plates are actually thinner than the shell holders, which will allow you to drop the die down further on the progressive than you would on a single stage.

 

[243winxb]

I think you have 2 different problems or maybe 3 ???

Sizing of 308-the subplate may be flexing on sizing and needs shims. Another may be the shell plate deck height at each station is different?? Seems a shim is needed between a few things. 1. Between the ram & subplate. 2. Lock N load bushings that hold the dies. Free from Hornady for the L N L AP, is what i read somewhere. The shell plate needs to be tightened down so it just turns. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/349532_Hornady_OAL_issue_fixed_.html The video shows slop in linkage, repair it. The linkage is worn. Dillon has a test for theres. Hold operating lever parallel to the floor, move left/right. If platform rotates, it needs linkage rebuild. ( FYI, I dont own Hornady. Have Dillon)

 

[jcwallace84]

When I got mine it was pretty loose like that. I thought that it might be the source of my priming problems.
So I fit the press with some better linkage pins. The press has a much better feel now and doesn't wiggle back and forth.
As it happens it did not help with priming. I have no idea if this will help with your problem, but it couldn't hurt.

Can you tell us what parts are required to do this? I think mine is due for this fix. Brilliant fix by the way! I love it!

 

[rskent]

It's just 1/2” drill rod threaded on both ends, bronze thrust washers inside, uhmw washers on the outside, with castle nuts on the ends.
Pretty simple. You just want to make sure that your threads don't extend inside the linkage. Also the top left nut had to be pinned
and trimmed for clearance on the bracket that holds the little plastic bin.

Be advised, after I made this mod to my press it showed another press problem. The cases were catching the side of the sizing die.
Not every time. Just enough to bug me. The yoke on the base of the ram was out of square. It is just screwed and glued in place.
Easy fix, a little heat to break the locktite free, clean it real good, reassemble with locktite. This time with the yoke square to the base
plate holes. I thought I might have to pin it, but so far it has held up and not moved.

The press has a smoother feel to it now. Although I didn't totally solve my priming problems. I don't regret doing the mods.
A little quiet time in the workshop is always welcome.

 

[carbine85]

It looks like thrust washers or shim washers can cure that with the linkage. I don't know about the turret. I would call Hornady. I would almost bet they will fix it or replace it.
I have an elcheapo Lee press that I shimmed and now it works great. I use it for pistol and .30 Carbine.
These guys have everything www.mcmaster.com

 

[jcwallace84]

Awesome, thanks rskent!

I'll be trying this soon.

 

[gojones]

I checked my LNL AP last night and I have no play or slop at all in my turret. It won't budge. I don't have any advice except to call Hornady and go from there. I definitely should be rock solid and not move any at all.

 

[MajorMagnetic]

Hello...I don't know what you mean by "the shell won't fit in the gauge". I had a problem with a Redding die, where I had to manually move the shell slightly to get it to go into the die. I sent it back to Redding and they modified the die by installing a new mouth in it, but told me I still might have to move the shell by hand occasionally. It was better but still driving me nuts. I borrowed a a Lyman die from a friend and had the same problem. So I came to the conclusion that not all dies are made for progressive presses. I bought a Hornady set and the problem was ended. Some dies are made for single stage presses and will not work well in progressive presses. Redding came out with a new die later on, they claimed was made for use with progressive presses. I have not had good luck with Redding sizing dies at all. I use RCBS and Hornady dies with no problems. The Redding seating and crimp dies work great. By the way, this was a 9mm die. Not all dies are made to be used with progressive presses.

HTH....
MM

 

[national86]

I reload all 308 brass with the same head stamp, then after a day at the range come home clean, size and trim the brass for the next trip. I have Remington, Winchester and PPU brass. Most of REM and WIN will fit flush in the gauge, the PPU will have more that don't sit flush. I did e-mail hornady about this and they responded with this.... " I would say with this variety of cases and weapons they are being fired from you may be looking at a brass thickness or carbon in the necks of the cases causing the expander to pull the necks out when it is being drawn out of the case ". I do semi clean(a couple of hours in the tumbler) the brass before I put it through the sizing die and I did polish the expander. I might have to call and talk to someone about the play in the press and the sizing problem.

Thank you guys for all your help, this is a great forum

 

[243winxb]

Small base die