Hornady LNL and Powder through expander question

[Unflappable]

PsychoKnight, if you have bullets that are .455 in diameter then this most certainly is a problem. I agree that for bullets that large that the Hornady Powder through expander die won't work. It's designed for .451 bullets, maybe up to .452. Maybe it is only designed for jacketed bullets as has been suggested.
I've not a seen a commercially available bullet of .455 diameter for 45 ACP or GAP. Are these your own cast bullets? A bullet of that diameter loaded into the commercial cases that I use might not even chamber in my 1911.
The SAAMI spec calls for a max diameter at the case mouth of .473. The case wall thickness of my cases run about .011-.012 (winchester, federal, etc). With a bullet diameter of .451 I get a total width of .473-.475 (case wall thickness X 2 plus bullet diameter) This is a calculated size but I just measured some of my reloads and they avg about .472.
With a .455 bullet you would be up as much as .479. That definitely would not fit freely in the chamber of my 1911 with match barrel. Probably not in my plastic guns either. I'm curious to know more about these big bullets and their purpose.
Why not order one of the Powder Through Expander dies mentioned by bfox at this link:
http://www.lnlptx.com/products.html
I ordered one since I need a PTX die for 9 mm. I'll let you know how it works.

As for the Powder cop, is it a visual check only? I use the RCBS Lockout die and love it. You don't have to look at it, it just locks up the press if you over or undercharge a case. Highly recommended.
Unflappable

 

[Wallye]

Powder trought expanders

I have been trying to set up the .355 for 9MM and it just will not do it
It is OK using the 357 for the .357 but the 9MM one does not bell the brass? I have tried to move the braket on the Case Activated Powder Drop but it upsets the geometry of the levers etc. The way the Case Activated Powder Drop when assemebled from the factory seems to be the optimum setting so ajusting that just messes up the whole linkage setting. I personally feel the 9MM powder through expanader is just a whisker too short and it is annoying the hell out of me so I am still using the Lee 1000 for my 9MM

 

[Shrinkmd]

Why not order one of the Powder Through Expander dies mentioned by bfox at this link:
http://www.lnlptx.com/products.html
I ordered one since I need a PTX die for 9 mm. I'll let you know how it works.

I have been using the PTX above for 45, 38, and 357 so far. It performs flawlessly.

 

[nelson133]

I have been reloading close to 40 years and when I bought my LNL a couple of years ago, I bought the Hornady expanders. What a waste of time and money they were. I read the manual and talked to tech support and spent many hours trying to get a decent bell for cast bullets on all my pistol calibers.
I finally ordered one of the after market ones referenced above, problem solved and one expander fits all calibers. My recommendation is to steer clear of the Hornady ones.

 

[bfox]

Quote:
Why not order one of the Powder Through Expander dies mentioned by bfox at this link:
http://www.lnlptx.com/products.html
I ordered one since I need a PTX die for 9 mm. I'll let you know how it works.

Here is an updated link
http://www.powderfunnels.com/

 

[SteveW-II]

I use the 357 and 45 powder through expander 'dies' for both cast and jacketed and they work just fine. Each expander lives in the box with the appropriate dies and its all neat and tidy. I agree that the set up is 'fiddly' but as I have a quick change powder die for each caliber, once its done, it's done.

 

[tul9033]

Has anyone had any issue with the PTX hitting the base plate and raising the powder drop arm with no shell in the shell plate? Wondering if this is normal. The powder drop arm is coming up about .75". I'm loading .45 ACP hard cast, probably the widest flare I will need so the PTX will be at it's lowest point.
Thanks

BTW, this is powder funnels PTX.

 

[mongoose33]

Has anyone had any issue with the PTX hitting the base plate and raising the powder drop arm with no shell in the shell plate? Wondering if this is normal. The powder drop arm is coming up about .75". I'm loading .45 ACP hard cast, probably the widest flare I will need so the PTX will be at it's lowest point.

Thanks

BTW, this is powder funnels PTX.

I use the same PTX for loading .45 and I've not had any problems with it hitting the shellplate.

 

[bfox]

http://www.powderfunnels.com/

 

[tul9033]

I assume you linked to the site for the FAQ? It was my first stop BTW. I've read it and made adjustments with the same results. The powder drop arm must travel fully to top of it's extension for the flare to happen. If I raise the bracket I must screw the powder assembly down to get he proper flare. I'm not seeing how to get around having the PTX at the same position to get the proper flare, which still ends up with the PTX touching the base plate (not the shell plate).
Perhaps I'm missing something, I suppose I will continue to experiment.

http://www.powderfunnels.com/

 

[bfox]

I want to see if this was what you were talking about .
I have this happen with the 45auto on my Lnl

Dan that makes them is a net Friend on different forums .
Here is his reply .


In short, yes we do see that from time to time with the larger cal rounds like 45 Auto, 500 S&W and so forth.

Unless you're not running progressively you will not experience the movement. It's just a slight bump of the powder measure drum, not enough to activate it. I've received this question a few times. Might add it to the FAQ

 

[tul9033]

I want to see if this was what you were talking about .
I have this happen with the 45auto on my Lnl

Dan that makes them is a net Friend on different forums .
Here is his reply .


In short, yes we do see that from time to time with the larger cal rounds like 45 Auto, 500 S&W and so forth.

Unless you're not running progressively you will not experience the movement. It's just a slight bump of the powder measure drum, not enough to activate it. I've received this question a few times. Might add it to the FAQ

Thank you for the follow up, I just wasn't seeing how to adjust that bump out. Now I have confirmation and it does not appear that the powder measure rotates past the point where you can still see it (it would not drop powder).
BTW, I am using a progressive.