Hornady LnL Ap powder measure adjustment.

[Muddydogs]

Now, how do you stop the thing from throwing powder out of the 9mm case while operating the thing firmly enough to get the shell plate to index over the primer.:banghead: Trying to minimize powder hurling I have to be deliberate at the end of the stroke - and even hold my finger over the case mouth. This of course retards the shell plate and it clicks to a stop just short of the primer station. Using 7.2 gr of blue dot - case is full to about 1/8" - 3/16" below the case mouth. (I know, better powders than BD - but its what I have. Can't get anything locally)

You might need to adjust your pawls a little if holding your finger over a case is not letting the shell plate advance. I load Unique in 9mm and have the same issue with powder spillage. My solution is as soon as the shell plate kicks the finished round out I insert a case and ride the shell plate until it stops which takes the jump out. I don't have a problem with the shell plate stopping short but that could also be a case of my loader has seen a few rounds and the little detent balls have a little wear or at least everything has smoothed out on my press. Not sure how much use your press has seen? Also I dump powder in station 2 and usually seat the bullet on the case during the ram up stroke as the case is goinging into the sizer die in station 4 but with 9mm I started reaching across the shell plate and putting a bullet on the case when its at station 2 1/2 just after powder so I don't have to worry about that case for the next 2 stations. I don't use a powder check die and station 3 is were I put my bullet feeder if I'm so inclined.

 

[John3921]

Seem to have nicely hijacked the thread - apologies to the OP. I'll start a new thread.

thanks for the tips Muddy.

 

[thump_rrr]

I messed around with the measure again today and I just don't think there is anyway to get around moving the top clamp. I am using the PTX dies for pistol and there is just no way to set the top clamp in one spot and change from 9mm through 44 mag. I am talking about where the case activated linkage attaches to the threaded portion of the hopper. There just isn't enough adjustment by screwing the powder die in or out. I was hoping that I could set the top clamp say in the middle of the threads and then just adjust each powder die up or down to fit the case length and bell the case just right. I have loaded 15000 rounds on the LnL, 6 pistol calibers and 223 rifle and each time I set it up for a different caliber I count the number of threads showing below the top clamp, set the clamp at the appropriated thread number and then set it on the dedicated powder die and go to work. Each time I am counting the threads and moving the clamp I keep thinking there has to be a way to set the thing so I don't have to move the clamp.

Now maybe my theory will work with similar rounds like the 44, 38 and 357 then another adjustment for say 40 and 45 then yet a third for 9 and 380 then of course there is the 223 which only has 1 thread showing below the clamp but then again its not using the short PTX dies but the longer drop tube.

I believe what I am trying to say works for most of you guys since it seams that most are not running a PTX die but instead your using the pistol drop tube but then again the jump from 9mm to 44 mag is decent and I am not sure there is enough threads in the die bushing to move the measure up or down.

You must be doing something wrong then if you only have 1 thread showing for .223.

I have 5 threads showing below the clamp and I am able to do 9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP, .223 Rem, 7.62x39, .308 Win. without touching the clamp.

I NEVER need to move the clamp to get full rotation out of the rotor.
As I mentioned in an earlier post I do use a different quick change powder die for each caliber and a different PTX powder measure stop for any caliber that needs expanding.

I use the same quick change powder die for .223 Rem and .308 Win only replacing the funnel.
No adjustment needed either.

As a side note it is not necessary for the rotor to make a 100% stop against the upper stop.
Even with 1/4" gap remaining all the powder will drop out of the rotor.

I hope this helps in speeding things up.

Stay tuned and I will post a link to pics with different calibers set up without moving the clamp.
.223 Rem using medium funnel

.308 Win using short funnel

.45ACP using .451 PTX expander

9mm using .355 PTX expander

 

[Muddydogs]

Thump
Wow thanks for the pictures.

I guess I better look my system over again. I started 9mm with the clamp about in the middle of the threads, screwed the powder die into the press until the shell plate actually lifts the case activation a little and only had about 3/4 rotation just not enough to dump powder. I started to move the top clamp down and finally ended up with 3 threads showing above the clamp to get full rotation. Now granted at 3 threads I have full rotation and a nice bell on the case, didn't even need to use the powder stop but I couldn't get anything with the top clamp set in the middle of the threads. I find it interesting that your powder die only has a couple threads showing difference between the different calibers as well.

Tonight I will set my measure at 5 threads and see what I can make happen.

 

[Blue68f100]

Set the stop so it only keeps the rotor from rotating into the housing. Then do all of your adj on the powder die locking ring. Doing it this way if you have multiple powder dies all you do is swap the upper and your off and running. This is how it was done before the stop was released. The stop was introduced to keep from breaking the linkage arm that attached at the lower base, thumb screw. Not to fine tune the PTX depth. If your not careful use the PTX as an adj you will end up short stroking the powder.

 

[Muddydogs]

Thump

Thanks for the help and pics. I started to mess with the 9mm following your 5 thread comment and I counted 6 threads on your 9mm powder die. There was no way this was going to work, powder measure was only at 1/2 rotation with ram all the way up. I took the powder die off and started to check and make sure everything was tight, dumped out the PTX to take another look and low and behold I had the .358 PTX in the die. The .358 sure expands 9mm's well. After inserting the .355 PTX your settings worked like a champ. I then grabbed some 223 gear adjusted the powder die and guess what, yep you guessed it, it worked. Tried the .40 with same results. So I got my 9mm and 40 die set and the PTX stop adjusted for lead bullets. I will continue with the other calibers I have.

Thanks again for taking the time to take and post the pics as well as your posts.

 

[thump_rrr]

Thump

Thanks for the help and pics. I started to mess with the 9mm following your 5 thread comment and I counted 6 threads on your 9mm powder die. There was no way this was going to work, powder measure was only at 1/2 rotation with ram all the way up. I took the powder die off and started to check and make sure everything was tight, dumped out the PTX to take another look and low and behold I had the .358 PTX in the die. The .358 sure expands 9mm's well. After inserting the .355 PTX your settings worked like a champ. I then grabbed some 223 gear adjusted the powder die and guess what, yep you guessed it, it worked. Tried the .40 with same results. So I got my 9mm and 40 die set and the PTX stop adjusted for lead bullets. I will continue with the other calibers I have.

Thanks again for taking the time to take and post the pics as well as your posts.

I'm glad it helped you.
It took me a while to get it to where it worked with all the cartridges I reloaded.
I posted this in the Hornady 9mm thread.


You should not use the .357 for 9mm.
The .357 is for, you guessed it .357 magnum which is a longer cartridge than a 9mm.
With the way mine is setup I can bell a 9mm case to look like a tulip if I wish.
The same goes for using a .452 sizer for .45ACP.
It was designed for the .45 Long Colt.
Short expander for a longer cartridge. Longer expander for a shorter cartridge.

After every 100 rounds when the primer slide locks back I give a shot of air in the primer slide area and under the shellplate.
After every 1,000 rounds a shot of Hornady Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube

 

[Muddydogs]

Ya I must have grabbed the wrong PTX or got them mixed up in the wrong die box and didn't check.