Horn LNL Powder Measure problems

[rc109a]

Ok, since I cannot seem to get my friend to post his problem I fugure I would "push" him along. He will read this sometime tonight and get his dress in an uproar, but it serves him right....

He has the Hornady LNL with the powder measure. He is trying to load .40cal rounds using Unique powder. The problem is that the measure is not consistant. It throws .3 to .5 off. Is this normal? If not how can it be fixed? Any helpful tricks?

Thanks...and Larry I hope you read this and get off your arse and become a member instead of a lurker!!!!

LOL

 

[Randy1911]

Does he have the Pistol rotor in his measure? It is hard to get small amounts (less then 10 grains) of powder with the rifle rotor. I use the pistol rotor and it is very consistent.

 

[Steve C]

2nd what Randy wrote. Need to use the pistol meter set up and not the standard for loads 10 grain and under.

 

[Walkalong]

I like Unique, and use it some, but it does not meter all that well.

The guys are right, using the bigger diameter rifle charging stem it will make it even worse with small charges.

 

[mongoose33]

Same comment here about Unique. Works well, but doesn't meter all that well. I went to W231 and WST in 9mm, both of which meter much better.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Make sure the powder measure has been degreased per the instructions. The rust preventative it is shipped with will cause eratic performance of the measure unless properly removed.

Andy

 

[mongoose33]

I presume also that the user knows that it can take 10 or 20 powder drops to settle down.

I tap my powder measure with a large Allen wrench at the base of the hopper to settle the powder before I ever start dropping charges. It allows the dispenser to settle down after just a few drops instead of the larger number--which drops are really just settling the powder down anyway.

 

[UltimateReloader]

+1 on using the pistol rotor and using Winchester W231 or Hodgdon HP-38 (same thing). I use it what that powder measure in the Lock-N-Load AP with 9mm, 38spl, 45acp, and 44spl loads. Great stuff!

 

[Roccobro]

Mine takes about 20-25 throws to settle down. I'll try banging on it next time I fire her up.

Justin

 

[Idano]

I use Unique for my 40, but you do need the smaller pistol metering insert and installing a RCBS Uniflow power baffle helps immensely. I now get a fluctuation of no more then 0.1 grain.

 

[rc109a]

Well he read the posts and is looking into getting that insert. Should it have been included with the kit? I still cannot get him to post on here. Gotta push that issue a little more. Thanks for the help...

 

[mousegun380]

+1 to everything that has been said. I use Unique and a Hornay LNL and I get a variation of about .2. After every adjustment, I throw about 10 or 15 times and weight them until they settle down, then I start loading.

 

[David Wile]

Hey folks,

Obviously one needs to use the pistol sized calibration plug when loading small charges of powder. However, there is something else to consider when setting up the case activated dispenser, and I did not see it mentioned in any of the previous posts. When making caliber changes, there are several different sized inserts which fit in the drop mechanism, and it depends on what size case one is loading as to which insert to use.

Picking the right insert for a particular case is usually not a big deal since the whole case activated feeder mechanism will not work right if a "wrong" spacer insert is used. Where the problem comes in with getting correct powder drops is wheter or not the insert is inserted in the correct direction. There is a top and a bottom to all of the inserts, and if you install an insert with the bottom up, powder hangs up on the insert, and you get big variations in charge weights.

In describing how to tell the top from the bottom of the inserts, you need to look at the inside from both ends. One end of the insert will have a long taper leading toward the other end. The other end will have a very slight taper to it. The long tapered end is the top, and the short taper is the bottom. Inserted properly, powder falls down the long taper without getting stuck anywhere, and the case head pushes up on the short taper of the other end of the insert and raises the whole case activated mechanism. If you install the insert with the bottom (short taper) up, powder (especially flake powders) will hang up on the short taper and give really bad throws.

I use both flake and ball powder in my case activated dispenser, and they both work really well for me.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile