Hornady LNL AP Broke Before First Use :(

[David Wile]

Hey Truth,

What in the world can you not like about the Hornady sizer die? I have mostly Lyman and RCBS die sets. I only have a few Hornady die sets that I got after buying my L&L AP years ago. The Hornady die sets were more expensive for me, and I did not like paying for them, but when I comapare them to my other dies, I thought they were pretty darn good. Therefore, I am very curious why anyone would not like the sizer die.

I am not saying you are wrong. I simply am curious as to why you are not happy with it, and I have to ask (politely, I hope).

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[Walkalong]

Many years ago I bought a Hornady die set for 9MM. (Came with my Projector actually) The nitride coating wore off in less than 1000 rounds. I have never bought another. I assume they have fixed the problem, or they would never sell any. The only thing I did not like about the set was that the expander was built in to the die body. You could not polish it or turn it down if needed. On the upside, it worked perfectly. These days I use it in a .38 S&W set for loading .357 plated bullets.

 

[Master Blaster]

My only problem with the sizing decaping die is that the decaping pin eventually rides up far enough in the collett that the primer is not fully ejected and that can tie up the press and break the indexing pin, that's how mine broke BTW.

 

[raz-0]

Hornady has had this problem before. If they treat it like last time, they won't take it very seriously. They will order a new lot, and keep on using the batch they have with a flawed casting in new machines and as replacements until they run out or the new lot gets in, and pretend like it must have been something you did.

They need to either step up their QC, or engineer around looser tolerances from their suppliers.

They have also been shipping way too many boxes with missing parts in them. I have a good LNL-AP that has worked like a champ, but I have been bitten by the misisng parts problem in about 70% of my orders of hornady products in the last 2 years, and I'm including products that consist of 1 piece in that tally which is like giving them a freebie.

 

[thorn-]

My only problem with the sizing decaping die is that the decaping pin eventually rides up far enough in the collett that the primer is not fully ejected

The pin needs to be a bit lower down than Hornady's instructions. I've had this happen a couple of times; the solution is lower the decap pin a bit, and redo the size/decap. Of course, empty the other stations before you do this so you aren't double-charging anything. Or, you might just be able wiggle the shell free from the plate.

If you just crank hard on the handle and force it - yeah, you'll probably break something. Whenever the shell plate isn't easily rotating, the proper reaction is to STOP, and see what's holding it up... not just yank it into submission.

thorn

 

[john16443]

UPS finally came well aftter 6:00pm, setting up the replacement press from Cabela's now. Serial number is 36332 and I'll get Dave Wile all the info for his post. That's about 150 units beyond 777TRUTH, and about 350 units beyond twohightech. We'll see what happens. First thing to do is get the Hornady One Shot out and clean things up! Vacation coming up will give me lots of time to put this thing through its paces.

 

[NWDave]

Shoot John, with my 36156, that virtually puts me smack dab in the middle of all this. Well, no hiccups so far.

I use the Lee Universal Decapper (Station One) and then the Hornady Sizer, without the decapper (Station Two). Then the brass goes into the Sonic Cleaner. Works for me and I suppose that's what's important.

The decapper pin in the Hornady just seems too flimsy, bends too easily. The Universal works much better. I saw in the tips about using a finish nail and I certainly have enough of those. I have a Hornady Tip Maintenance kit waiting for pickup, so if the finish nail doesn't do the trick, I've got the parts to restore the Hornady Decapper/Sizer.

 

[777TRUTH]

David,

What in the world can you not like about the Hornady sizer die?

Loaded 20 cartridges yesterday, bullet set back on 9 completed rounds with the push of a finger, inconsistent OAL due to lack of neck tension.

So far I have ruled out

The PTX as I barely bell the case mouth.
Seating die is only seating
Hornady taper crimp die in station 5
With and without case lube OAL is very inconsistent.

Pulled bullets, measured each bullet to ensure .355 diameter, sized same 9 cases on single stage with Lee dies and continued progressively on the LNL and the setback issue issue resolved.

Didn't have a lot of time yesterday but here is some things I have noticed and recorded.

Took 2 sets of cases (1 each of PMC, WIN and FC brass)

Measured each set of cases before and after running them through a Lee and Hornady sizer die.

Results

Lee die is more aggressive on the sizing on the mouth and neck of the case.

Brass

Hornady sizer - Win - mouth .375 - neck .383
Lee sizer -Win - mouth .376 - neck .381

Hornady -PMC - mouth .376 - neck .385
Lee -PMC - mouth .374 - neck .380

Hornady -FC - mouth .375 - neck .384
Lee -FC -mouth .374 - neck .380

Ran the Brass from the Hornady sizer through the LEE and sizing was the same as the brass that went through the Lee the first time.

More checking will need to be done when time permits to sort out my remaining issues.

I am hoping the Lee sizing die will solve my inconsistent OAL issues on this press.

When my target is 1.15 OAL everything is fine with minimal fluctuations running 1 round at a time. When I have all stations being used my OAL is between 1.145 and 1.157 :banghead:

How is everyone setting their sizing die on the LNL?
I usually screw die down to touch shell plate lower ram, turn die 1/3 turn and lock. I am following Hornady's direction in their video which says just touch shell plate, no need for additional turn needed.

 

[777TRUTH]

raz-0 said:

and pretend like it must have been something you did.

That wasn't my experience at all. They apologized for the inconvenience and reassured me it was an isolated issue. They promptly sent the parts with additional screws and spring. Very professional in the way they handled it.

 

[777TRUTH]

First thing to do is get the Hornady One Shot out and clean things up!

One shot made powder stick in hopper and on parts. Redid it the old fashioned way. Hot soapy soapy water in hopper and plastic/rubber. All other parts degreased with brake cleaner. Problem solved.

 

[777TRUTH]

The pin needs to be a bit lower down than Hornady's instructions. I've had this happen a couple of times; the solution is lower the decap pin a bit, and redo the size/decap.

^^^^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[cfullgraf]

The only thing I did not like about the set was that the expander was built in to the die body. You could not polish it or turn it down if needed.

I have pretty much written off Hornady die sets for this reason as well. I got a 45 colt set that expands the case mouth too much. The only fix I have found so far is to get a different expander die from a different manufacturer.

Actually, the Hornady die set was a replacement for an old set. I "un-retired" the old expander die.

Hornady has to get the expander in the die some how. I really don't see that it is machined in place but I guess it could be a press fit.

 

[Walkalong]

I guess it could be a press fit.

That is what I have always assumed.

 

[john16443]

Just a quick update on the replacement press. Appears to be working fine. Completed 100 9mm shells yesterday, only had one moment of drama with the powder measure. It's a bit of a tight fit and the pistol cylinder doesn't rotate freely in the machined casting. Looking at it more closely, the right loop (the last one the cylinder slides into) is a bit tight right at the last 1/8". Some fine grit paper around the circumference took care of it.

Primer feed is uneventful, no issues there. All five stations are in use.
#1 is Lee sizing die
#2 is Lyman M expanding die
#3 is the powder dispenser (using the Lee Pro Auto for 45 ACP, Hornady for 9mm)
#4 is Lyman bullet seating
#5 is Lee taper crimp die (NOT Lee FCD)

I have a LED attached to the front of the press shining right down in the case so I can easily see what's going on with the powder before seating a bullet. I'll just have to get used to the different rythym of this press compared to the Lee Turret, and remember to insert a case and seat a bullet before every downward motion of the press. Hven't loaded 45ACP yet, that will be the next thing to do.

 

[cfullgraf]

Just a quick update on the replacement press. Appears to be working fine. Completed 100 9mm shells yesterday, only had one moment of drama with the powder measure. It's a bit of a tight fit and the pistol cylinder doesn't rotate freely in the machined casting. Looking at it more closely, the right loop (the last one the cylinder slides into) is a bit tight right at the last 1/8". Some fine grit paper around the circumference took care of it.

I had some issues with the powder measure hanging up with my L-N-L at first. I spray the drum and the drop tubes that are in the powder die with dry lubricant.

Make sure the solvents have flashed off before adding powder to the measure.

Solved the dticking problem.

Glad your press is up and running.

 

[twohightech]

It's been a week for me and no parts have showed up.

 

[NWDave]

I had some issues with the powder measure hanging up with my L-N-L at first. I spray the drum and the drop tubes that are in the powder die with dry lubricant.

Make sure the solvents have flashed off before adding powder to the measure.

Solved the dticking problem.

Glad your press is up and running.

What is this dticking problem you mention? Is it some type of tick or clicking sound when the ram is raised?

 

[cfullgraf]

What is this dticking problem you mention? Is it some type of tick or clicking sound when the ram is raised?

The powder measure would stay in the up position and not return to bottom with the press. Hence, you would get a missed powder charge on the net case.

I never noticed any unusual sounds during the time that I experienced the sticking except maybe an extra clunk if the measure started to stick when the press was lowered and then the measure released.

I won't say there were not any unusual noises on the up stroke as the system becomes dry of any lubricant.

In theory, the graphite coating on the powder usually provides sufficient lubrication of powder measures. Maybe now that mine has been in use for several years i do not need the spritz of dry lube any more.

Something I have not done that might not be a bad idea is to spray some dry lubricant on the linkage pivots. (note to self). You could get some binding there that could make some extra noises as the linkages move around when the measure raises.

Hope this helps.

 

[Walkalong]

I started off using graphite to lube measures (Messy), then dry lube (Have to wait until it dries completely), & then nothing. Nothing works best once the surfaces are burnished in.

Some powders are so fine (flat) that they can get in crevices and bind things up occasionally.

Despite spring returns on measures, you have to keep an eye on them, and see each charge in the case, or use a powder cop die if you are comfortable with that.

I used my LNL measure for the first time last week. I ordered a micrometer rifle insert yesterday. I love my 10X and 30BR measures with their micrometer inserts, but the BR30 will not do 75 plus grains of powder, so when I got a .458 WM, I had to break out the LNL measure. I could not find the return spring, so I ordered it as well.

The measure works well and is smooth.

 

[Master Blaster]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=617417&highlight=Dillon+measure

What I did to make the powder throws for small volume pistol charge weights consistant, and avoid the Squibb / sticking problem with the Hornady measure. See the thread above.