Hornady LNL AP High Primers - any one else experienced this?

[IMtheNRA]

Problem with 9mm, .45, .357, .308. CCI primers - large and small.

I have consistent problems with this issue on my new Hornady LNL-AP in all pistol and rifle calibers. About 50% of the rounds have primers that protrude past the case head. If I put the finished round in the calipers, and hold it up to the light, I can clearly see that the only place the calipers make contact with the case head area is on the primer itself. This is with both small and large primers, and yes, I really do push the handle back forcefully to seat the primers.

The Hornady rep sent me two new primer punches, but the problem persists. He also suggested that I switch to Winchester primers (I use CCI), because they'll "fit better". I suspect that he meant to say that they'll deform more to fit the primer pocket because they're softer. I tried Winchesters, and there is an improvement, but I still have 20% with high primers. I'd like to be able to use my CCI primers, of course.

He also mentioned "timing issues", but we have not reached the point of trying to adjust that yet.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon on their LNL-AP and what did you do about it?

 

[LexDiamonds]

I personally do not experience this in my LnL. Well.. one time I had the large primer punch in for small primers and that caused the problem you describe, but that was my own damn fault. Anyhow-- 1 fix is to JB weld a flat washer on the top base of the press where the primer punch hits. If the little "hole" there is too deep, you might not be getting the stroke you need on the primer punch to seat them all the way. Adding this washer will not effect the function of the press in any way.

 

[LexDiamonds]

Also, all I have ever used is CCI primers for what its worth.

The "timing" the rep spoke of is in relation to the pawls that auto index the press. You would know if the timing is off because the stations would not be linging up correctly with the dies. The indents in the shell plates are also a clue that timing is correct. Out of the box, my pawls did take some small adjustments before they were correct.

 

[IMtheNRA]

I tried that by putting a dime where the punch contacts the press frame. No effect, other than a badly dented dime.

 

[Shoney]

I have loaded many thousands of rounds on my LNL AP without that problem.

Are you applying enough pressure to seat the primers? As a new reloader on a single stage press, I learned in a hurry that some cases require a little more umph than others. You can apply a lot of gentle pressure to a primer with no fear of detonation, so don't be afraid to apply a little more pressure on the upstroke, gently but firmly.

In over 47 years of reloading, I have never seen a need to clean primer pockets, and I don't feel thats your problem. However, if the problem persists, deprime 50-60 cases and inspect the pockets.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Yes, plenty of pressure. I have no problems seating primers correctly when I use my hand tools to do that. The LNL AP leaves high primers no matter how hard I push on the handle.

 

[LexDiamonds]

Have you watched the process with no brass or primers in the system? Is the plunger going up like it should? Is the shell plate tight? If it is loose, the pressure from priming would tilt the whole system enough not to seat the primer correctly.

This should be an issue we can get fixed.

 

[zxcvbob]

I've only had that problem occasionally with small primers and cases with *really* tight pockets (mostly S&B). The LNL-AP doesn't have as much oomph when seating primers as my old C&H Magnum press.

I've never had a problem seating any brand of large primers, nor with Federals.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Lex, the timing seems to be just right as the shell plate locks into place each time. Everything is clean and there is no interference with the primer punch at all.

Hornady just issued a call tag for this press, so hopefully they'll let me know what the problem is in a few days.

By the way, my Hornady tech support rep has been great to work with during this long and frustrating experience.

 

[pinkymingeo]

My primer punches, when fully installed, are flush with the subplate. The barest pressure on my handle will raise the punch enough to jam the primer slide.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Pinkymingeo, if I understand your description correctly, that is not a problem. The primer slide travels back only when you pull the handle down. If you're pushing on the handle, then the interference of the punch should not matter, since the slide would not need to travel during this operation.

 

[pinkymingeo]

Actually, I was thinking about your problem. If your punch doesn't thread in enough, it won't seat the primers properly. Mine works AOK, and that's how it fits when installed. Now that I've found that an extra O-ring takes care of my loose bushings, my issues are all resolved.

 

[Wilburt]

I had that problem on my LNL in the begining and it was because i was new to everything and it was my fault. I ran out of CCI and switched to Rem primers during this period and everything is fine. Sometimes when you get something new there is a learning curve until you figure everthing out and get it to work with you.

 

[Dave B]

I have had the same problem. It needs a set screw in the base frame where you could adjust the primer depth.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have had the same problem. It needs a set screw in the base frame where you could adjust the primer depth.

That's not a bad idea. Could you do the same thing with a metal feeler gauge?

 

[pinkymingeo]

Actually, the first thing I thought of when I read about the problem is the bracket for the cartridge catcher stopping the subplate from going down all the way. Could be something as simple as that.

 

[Master Blaster]

Is the bolt that holds the shell plate on screwed all the way down?
(finger tight not with a wrench) The shell plate is the upper bearing surface that holds the case while the primer punch seats the primer, and if its too far out or the bolt is screwed out you will get high primers. This happens on my Dillon 550 press as well.

The bolt tends to unscrew itself as you use the press, I find that I have to retighten mine periodically. Don't over tighten it though because that will stop the shellplate from indexing.

 

[Otto]

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon on their LNL-AP and what did you do about it?

Yep I got the exact same problem.
I tried adjusting the timing but it made no difference.
I also tried grinding down the bottom of the primer punch nut, that didn't help either.
I checked for obstructions affecting the ram...none found.
Hornady offered to send me an new primer punch when they become available (they're out of stock).
I said the hell with it and shipped the press back to them yesterday.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Pinkymingeo, that was a great theory. I just checked under the plate and the catcher bin bracket is not interfering with the plate. There are a couple of millimeters left when the plate bottoms out during the primer seating operation.

Otto, I'm really sorry to hear about your experience. I hope they'll replace the press for you. It seems to be a great machine when it works.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I'm sure you guys, plus Hornady, will get it sorted-out. Once you've got it going right, my experience is that I'm not getting in enough quality reloading time. Taking it easy, without any rush, I find myself doing 10-12 rounds per minute or +600 per hour. Can't imagine what you could produce with a case feeder. Probably have problems with that, too. Oh, well.

 

[mscott]

I'm sure you guys, plus Hornady, will get it sorted-out. Once you've got it going right, my experience is that I'm not getting in enough quality reloading time. Taking it easy, without any rush, I find myself doing 10-12 rounds per minute or +600 per hour. Can't imagine what you could produce with a case feeder. Probably have problems with that, too. Oh, well.

Wow, you're loading 600/hour without a case feeder????? I guess I'm really slow.

 

[pinkymingeo]

That doesn't include setup time, of course. With a tray of cases and a tray of bullets in front of you, it goes quick. I keep my right hand on the lever. Left hand inserts a case, then places a bullet. Pull the handle and do it again. The cycle actually takes less than 5sec.

 

[Dave B]

If the center pin of the primer punch was about .005-.010 longer, the problem would be solved.

 

[Waldog]

Ditto on what Shoney said. I found that the shell plate loosens up and has to be tighten periodically. The primers won't seat properly until the shell plate bolt is snug. I check mine every 75-100 rounds or so.

 

[JFettig]

When my acrobin gets really full it gets harder to push those primers in because you have the force from that bracket bending and preventing you from seating them all the way. Is the primer punch level with the bottom of the slide or is it sitting below it?

When I reuse ultramax brass the primers will seat to the full depth, they cut them out pretty deep too so they are lower than flush with the bottom.

Jon