Hornady LnL AP primer system feed

[Rule3]

On my press when the primers get low in the tube, the white dowel (follower) is supposed to drop into the primer slide hole when empty. It always seems to leave one primer in there? The slide doesn't lock back and if I manually pull it back it will then load the last primer then the follower will fall into the primer hole
It has done this several times
Not the worst thing, but kind of annoying. Was thinking maybe a heavier dowel (follower) but it is pretty thin

Anyone else have this happen?

 

[dannyd]

Take two or three bullets preferably lead and tape to the top of the rod. Check to make sure the bottom of the rod is flat.

Hornady used this weight with their digital system

Don't add to much if it explodes needs to go up not out.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Anyone else have this happen?

Not on my LNL AP, but I've seen it on a shooting buddy's while he was still adjusting it to run optimally.

The common cause isn't due to the weight of the rod/follower, but that the primer shuttle isn't being moved back far enough by the guide wire...that is why it feeds when you retract the shuttle

You can move it back a bit by shifting the upper bracket out (away from the press) a bit

 

[Crunchy Frog]

It happens occasionally on my press. I think the primer tube slips upwards a little.

I used to hang an empty cartridge case atop the fiberglass rod to add a little weight. Got out of the habit.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

No, using deluxe control panel with weighted rod and have alarm set to not let me run out of primers. Original rod had no weight.

 

[Rule3]

Not on my LNL AP, but I've seen it on a shooting buddy's while he was still adjusting it to run optimally.

The common cause isn't due to the weight of the rod/follower, but that the primer shuttle isn't being moved back far enough by the guide wire...that is why it feeds when you retract the shuttle

You can move it back a bit by shifting the upper bracket out (away from the press) a bit

That would make sense but I just checked and the shuttle goes all the way back.? Also I would think it would happen more frequently and not just on the last primer in the tube??

I will take it apart later and clean everything well and adjust. If not then add a weight

 

[Blue68f100]

I've been using a weighted rod since I started on my LNL-AP, ~ 20 yrs now. I have the end that contact the primers the same size. I used a spent primer cup and epoxied it to my rod. Have a Large on one end and Small on the other with a band marking empty.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Mine is just the factory rod with a weight and o-ring on each side.
But like Blue68f100 said, you can attach anything to it.
This is what came with the deluxe control panel for the primer alarm.

 

[jmorris]

I never had that problem but I used Dillon’s low primer alarm/rod with the LNL’s I had.

 

[Kaldor]

I have had the same issue with last primer. It always seems that the slide just doesnt go far enough to the rear at time to pick up that last primer. I adjusted my slide so that the slide goes just a hair past the drop tube point when fully extended to pick up a primer which seems to help Some good fixes here though, so I think Ill just take a 230gr 45 bullet and glue it to one end of the rod.

 

[dannyd]

I still get one hanging up at the end every once in a while too.

 

[9mmepiphany]

That would make sense but I just checked and the shuttle goes all the way back.? Also I would think it would happen more frequently and not just on the last primer in the tube??

I will take it apart later and clean everything well and adjust. If not then add a weight

I wonder if the painter's tape I added to the rod has an effect on this. I put a couple of wraps of tape on the rod so I'll know when I have 5 primers left in the tube. I wouldn't think it would add that much weight, but who knows. If I pull the rod and want to use up the last 5 primers, the last one can hang up...hmmm.

I've seen people who just drop an empty 9mm case on top of the rod. I don't think it is as much for the weight as it is to indicate when the primer tube needs to be refilled

 

[Rule3]

I wonder if the painter's tape I added to the rod has an effect on this. I put a couple of wraps of tape on the rod so I'll know when I have 5 primers left in the tube. I wouldn't think it would add that much weight, but who knows. If I pull the rod and want to use up the last 5 primers, the last one can hang up...hmmm.

I've seen people who just drop an empty 9mm case on top of the rod. I don't think it is as much for the weight as it is to indicate when the primer tube needs to be refilled

I called Hornady (they answered right away and most helpful!)
The Tech concurred with what you had posted,

Take off the primer outer shield and primer tube. With the primer shuttle all the way to the top look down and make sure the holes line up.
Mine were OK but I did adjust a little , kinda hard to see with a flashlight glare but I centered it. I put one primer in the tube without the follower and it worked fine. Will have to see for sure with a full tube.

(I also have had a piece of tape on the top of mine so I don't poke my eye out when leaning over the press!)

I am also gonna put an empty 556 case on it.

 

[dannyd]

I talked to the Hornady tech yesterday he's sending me some parts for a powder drop assembly. Their just like RCBS always helpful and send parts free of charge.

 

[Rule3]

I wanted to add:

Could Hornady make it more of a PITA to attach the primer shuttle spring??

Man that is annoying! (not my press)

 

[Akula69]

I've not had the problem you guys describe, but I have some follow-up questions for those who add the weight (of whatever type) to the rod:

When reloading the primers into the dispenser from the pickup tube, I still use the rod to 'assist' the primers down into the assembly. With the weight on, it would not fit through the primer pickup tube. I assume y'all are just taking it off? If so, I assume you would have to mark (think sharpie) the rod so it could be replaced at its correct position?

And finally, (not being a smart-ass here) - Is there a particular problem that keeps the assembly from being lined up so the last primer drops correctly?

 

[Kaldor]

I wanted to add:

Could Hornady make it more of a PITA to attach the primer shuttle spring??

Man that is annoying! (not my press)

View attachment 1092338

I hook the spring into the press, then with the primer tube holder removed, hook the nub from the slide on the spring and set it in place. Then just put the primer tube holder back on. I struggled with this for a bit, then just decided to remove the primer tube holder. Also gives you a minute to clean the slot the shuttle is in if needed.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Rule 3
As far as the last primer sticking, you may have already fixed it from lining up the primer rod better. But make sure the tape isn't stopping the rod short of pushing on the last one. I did that with mine before I put the control panel on it.
Then I lowered my tape and kept 3-5 in there when the flag showed I was out.

Saved me from some spilled powder from not noticing I'm out of primers.

When reloading the primers into the dispenser from the pickup tube, I still use the rod to 'assist' the primers down into the assembly. With the weight on, it would not fit through the primer pickup tube. I assume y'all are just taking it off? If so, I assume you would have to mark (think sharpie) the rod so it could be replaced at its correct position?

The primers fall out of my pick up tubes with having to run anything through there. If yours are catching then it has to be where the hitch pin hole is drilled through the side of the tube. Roll up some fine grit sand paper and sand around at the inside of the hole to get any burs off.
I had to do that to all 12 of mine.

And finally, (not being a smart-ass here) - Is there a particular problem that keeps the assembly from being lined up so the last primer drops correctly?

Yes, it's called shipping gorillas. These presses are heavy so they get banged around a lot in shipping. The Styrofoam may move the rod from where it was originally set or the person that put the press together didn't have it lined up to start with.
Mine was perfect out of the box as far as priming goes and I don't run the last primer out of my dispenser in normal practice so I didn't have Rule 3s problem when I got mine. I also blow the debris out of in front of the shuttle every 500 rounds and that goes a long ways towards not having an alignment problem from that.

 

[Rule3]

I hook the spring into the press, then with the primer tube holder removed, hook the nub from the slide on the spring and set it in place. Then just put the primer tube holder back on. I struggled with this for a bit, then just decided to remove the primer tube holder. Also gives you a minute to clean the slot the shuttle is in if needed.

Then there is the topic of spring open end up or down>?The manual says UP which is near impossible. A call to Tech supports says he always puts the open end down, which is much easier
I have some surgical tools ( a dental pick and hemostats) to surgically attach the darn spring!

 

[Kaldor]

Then there is the topic of spring open end up or down>?The manual says UP which is near impossible. A call to Tech supports says he always puts the open end down, which is much easier
I have some surgical tools ( a dental pick and hemostats) to surgically attach the darn spring!

I go hook down
Jut run the ram up halfway, and hook it on. Then lower ram and use your fingers to hold the spring up and hook on the shuttle.

 

[OTShooter]

As noted, first make sure the shuttle goes all the way back. My LnL didn't come with a primer follower rod, so I made one of wooden dowel. I made mine long enough that it would definitely drop into the shuttle when the tube was empty. So to test if the shuttle is going far enough back, I just put the dowel in and see if it drops when the shuttle "should be" at its farthest back point.

I also put a weight on the dowel. I had a plastic drywall anchor handy, so I slipped it over the top end. Then I put a damaged 9mm case on the anchor - which held it in place on the dowel. Works like a champ.

Note that different brands of primers can have slightly different outside diameters, so they may flow differently through the tube. The first thing about this is that it helps to clean that tube now and then, to avoid gunk building up.

Here's a graphic (stolen from Accurate Shooter) that shows the differences in brands' rifle primer diameters:

SAAMI specs for "small" primers call for a diameter of 0.1745" to 0.1765", while large pistol primer diameters can be between 0.2120" and 0.2122", and large rifle primer diameters can be from 0.2105" to 0.2130". You can see that the manufacturing variations between makers are "within specs," but can give you a different experience with each brand - and type.

Keeping the tube clean is useful no matter what, but with some brands of primers, a follower with a bit more weight helps a lot. And it's not just "largish" primers that need this help..."smallish" primers can tilt a little and bind up in the tube.

So, long winded answer, but it comes down to keeping the machine aligned, and "helping" gravity feed the primers.

 

[Kaldor]

Then there is the topic of spring open end up or down>?The manual says UP which is near impossible. A call to Tech supports says he always puts the open end down, which is much easier
I have some surgical tools ( a dental pick and hemostats) to surgically attach the darn spring!

Because pics are worth a 1000 words....


After putting the spring on with the ram halfway up, I lower the ram and just hold the spring in place with my finger so it doesnt droop down. Then I just hook the shuttle pin on.

Then I just grab the shuttle and get it in the groove...

And just flip it over and let the shuttle go forward by raising the ram a bit to drop the primer seater down. Then just put the primer tube assembly back on.

This is the easiest way Ive found to do it over the last 100k rounds. And dont mind the dirty press, Ive been slacking

 

[9mmepiphany]

This is the easiest way Ive found to do it over the last 100k rounds.

That's the same way I do it.

I go "hook-down" on the spring. The thought process behind "hook-up" is that if the spring detaches, it is less likely to be lost...as it should fly down (toward the press) as opposed to up (into the air)

 

[Kaldor]

That's the same way I do it.

I go "hook-down" on the spring. The thought process behind "hook-up" is that if the spring detaches, it is less likely to be lost...as it should fly down (toward the press) as opposed to up (into the air)

I had to do it one handed, because how else can I take a picture?
It wasnt hard with one hand, and with 2 its simple.

 

[Rule3]

As noted, first make sure the shuttle goes all the way back. My LnL didn't come with a primer follower rod, so I made one of wooden dowel. I made mine long enough that it would definitely drop into the shuttle when the tube was empty. So to test if the shuttle is going far enough back, I just put the dowel in and see if it drops when the shuttle "should be" at its farthest back point.

I also put a weight on the dowel. I had a plastic drywall anchor handy, so I slipped it over the top end. Then I put a damaged 9mm case on the anchor - which held it in place on the dowel. Works like a champ.

Note that different brands of primers can have slightly different outside diameters, so they may flow differently through the tube. The first thing about this is that it helps to clean that tube now and then, to avoid gunk building up.

Here's a graphic (stolen from Accurate Shooter) that shows the differences in brands' rifle primer diameters:
View attachment 1092354
SAAMI specs for "small" primers call for a diameter of 0.1745" to 0.1765", while large pistol primer diameters can be between 0.2120" and 0.2122", and large rifle primer diameters can be from 0.2105" to 0.2130". You can see that the manufacturing variations between makers are "within specs," but can give you a different experience with each brand - and type.

Keeping the tube clean is useful no matter what, but with some brands of primers, a follower with a bit more weight helps a lot. And it's not just "largish" primers that need this help..."smallish" primers can tilt a little and bind up in the tube.

So, long winded answer, but it comes down to keeping the machine aligned, and "helping" gravity feed the primers.

I saw a video online that some guy (machinist) made a set of specific tools, Basically a precision punch that fits down in the primer hole to make proper alignment

A bit overboard for me but here it is! Once again Video twice as long as it needs to be!, The "tool" is at about 12:30