Hornady Feeder Die Won’t feed

[tlakose]

Morning all,
I’m new here but when I google questions I end up on this site so I figured I’d join

Using the Hornady LNL progressive, I got the Hornady bullet feeder and the feeder die. The feeder die will maybe drop 3-5 bullets then stop. When examined the next bullet is slightly crooked or tilted and won’t drop. I’ll take the die out and shake it a tad and we’re good for another bullet or 5.

I’ve messed with the adjustment at the top and have done exactly like the manual and videos say. Oddly enough, if I take the tube off and drop 5-6 bullets down the die, they all feed fine.

This thing has been an absolute nightmare to use and I’ve spent hours tweaking it to only get a couple bullets. It’s frustrating and has slowed me down more than anything.

Any advise other than flare the case more, make sure it’s been tightened down until the collets stop then back it off 1/2 turn? Bullets have been RMR 115 and 124gr fmj.

Thanks

 

[jmorris]

Might take it apart and make sure the collets are clean and burr free.



While your there make sure they are in the right order too.

 

[Hikingman]

It looks like the center plate, wipers, and some adjusting of those might be the thing. I would not hesitate to call customer service about some bullets, "slightly crooked or tilted and won’t drop." If there is more than one adjustment needed, let them help you work through the problems, one at a time. Call Hornady before the weekend?

Let us know about the fix.

 

[tlakose]

It looks like the center plate, wipers, and some adjusting of those might be the thing. I would not hesitate to call customer service about some bullets, "slightly crooked or tilted and won’t drop." If there is more than one adjustment needed, let them help you work through the problems, one at a time. Call Hornady before the weekend?

Let us know about the fix.

I sent hornady a message since I work nights and wanted to see what they said. They suggested that the adjustment screw was backed out too far and suggested tightening it down until it stopped then backing it out 1/2 turn. I do this with the same issue, and have done it many times. I’ll then back it out then turn it in ever so slowly and after a bullet or 5 it’ll tip and not slide though.

 

[GW Staar]

I have several of those Hornady Pistol Feeder dies, and they work most of the time if you adjust them just so..... I assume you are using the Hornady supplied tubing? I'm with Jmorris on this.....theresprings got to be a burr or a ledge that bullets sometimes hang on. Look at where the clear tube meets the feeder die. If you happen to use a spring tube that is thinner than its "seat" on the die itself it can leave a ledge and sometimes cause a hang. A very slight chamfer there might fix it, or grind the area on the inside of the springs if there is a burr in them.

Personally, when I finally broke down and tried TylerR's 3D printed feeder dies, my skepticism of "plastic" dies went out the window. Two ball bearings later I was amazed at the simplicity, and perfect efficiency. My Hornady pistol feeder dies went to the mothball drawer...



The other option for that efficiency is DAA's feeder dies which use 3 ball bearings and cost $58 a shot. The TylerR specials above cost $5 worth of plastic, 2 ball bearings, and two springs, and they win the beauty contest ......but of course you have to have or know someone who has a 3D printer.... the print files are free.

https://www.doublealpha.biz/us/mr-bulletfeeder-die-assembly

 

[tlakose]

I have several of those Hornady Pistol Feeder dies, and they work most of the time if you adjust them just so..... I assume you are using the Hornady supplied tubing? I'm with Jmorris on this.....there's got to be a burr or a ledge that bullets sometimes hang on. Look at where the clear tube meets the feeder die. If you happen to use a clear tube that is thinner than its "seat" on the die itself it can leave a ledge and sometimes cause a hang. A very slight chamfer there might fix it.

Personally, when I finally broke down and tried TylerR's 3D printed feeder dies, my skepticism of "plastic" dies went out the window. Two ball bearings later I was amazed at the simplicity, and perfect efficiency. My Hornady pistol feeder dies went to the mothball drawer...

View attachment 1092758

The other option for that efficiency is DAA's feeder dies which use 3 ball bearings and cost $58 a shot. The TylerR specials above cost $5 worth of plastic, 2 ball bearings, and two springs, and they win the beauty contest ......but of course you have to have or know someone who has a 3D printer.... the print files are free.

https://www.doublealpha.biz/us/mr-bulletfeeder-die-assembly

Those things look interesting. I’ll try whatever as long as it works in the end.
I use the metal spring type tubing that came with the bullet feeder and it only goes into the die maybe 1/16 - 1/8 inch, it’s hard to get it down in there being a large coil. I’ll take it apart again and look around at it.

I’ve also read a ton and see the Mr bulletfeeder die but I’ll need something to connect the hose to the die. I spent $40 on the Hornady die so it’s frustrating.

 

[GW Staar]

I had a brain fart.....I meant springs not clear tube. ( working with my case feeders right now and had clear tubes on the brain).....corrected the post. Here's a picture of the 3D printed ones with their Hornady springs attached. I did stretch the Hornady spring for two reasons.....1. I had cut the original spring into shorter lengths to reduce sagging. 2. I wanted to see inside the spring.



And below shows the two twist anchor parts that connect the spring tubing to the die. This spring is for another smaller caliber (9mm), and is not stretched yet.


I also modded my Hornady Bullet Feeder to be more efficient by flipping bullets. That how-to is in THR still somewhere....

I just found the thread......geeze....old....May 2019. My how time goes by.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-performance-mod-how-to.848722/#post-11078353

But first things first. If you have a Dremel or a round file try smoothing the bottom of the spring removing anything that looks like it might cause a hang.....And Welcome! to THR!