Hey folks,
Joed just posted about all the priming problems owners of the Hornady Lock and Load presses have been reporting in the last two years. He also mentions two of his friends who prime on a single stage and then use their Lock and Load presses to finish. He then notes that if he could not rely on the press for all operations, he would sell it and get something else.
I agree with Joed that I would get rid of a press if I could not get it to work in a reliable fashion. I would point out, however, that problems with seating primers have been a complaint from both Dillon and Hornady press owners from the time they first introduced progressive presses. I have always maintained that almost all priming problems are due to operator error rather than equipment failure. No progressive press can be operated properly if the operator does not understand the mechanical operation and is not willing and able to study and learn the functioning of the press and its many parts. I suspect that most of the folks who have continuous priming problems are probably the type of folks who are not willing to learn about the mechanics of the press and simply want to get out to the range and blast away.
Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I am unfamiliar with the priming systems on Hornady L&L presses in the last five or even more years. My L&L was one of the first 1500 presses made when they first came out in 1997, and the only part I have ever replaced in nearly 15 years was the spring around the shell plate. That's not too bad for any progressive press.
My priming system certainly looks different than the system used today and shown in Jake's pictures, but it seems to use the same principles of a sliding primer shuttle that moves back and forth on a cam rod as the handle moves up and down. I do not know exactly what Hornady had done to change the priming system parts, but I cannot believe they made it worse as the years went by. Mine works fine, and I would think new presses would work even better. I think the only part of the problem that may have stayed the same is the problem with operator error.
The only thing I have added to my priming system is to use a wood dowel to sit on the primers in the tube for a little weight. Any other problems I have had with the priming operation were either adjustment related or cleaning related. That's it. Nothing else.
If I have to change from one primer size to another, I know it is going to take me just a few minutes to change the parts, but it may take me ten minutes more to get the shuttle adjusted to slide properly. Once you are familiar with the press and know what is happening with its mechanics, you can "feel" what is going on and quickly make an adjustment that will allow you to continue production.
The only other problem I came across with priming is related to dirt or other fouling in the shuttle raceway. If I start with a clean raceway and put some graphite or other dry lubricant in the track, I know the press will function properly until I do something wrong. If you happen to spill some powder in the mechanism, you can expect the press will have a stoppage. That is also true for a Dillon or any other progressive press. You have to keep them clean - it is as simple as that.
Once I started using a wood dowel sitting on the primers in the primer tube, I never had any problems with primers flipping upside down. My wood dowels are marked to show how many primers are left in the tube, and I usually refill the tube when there is only one or two in the tube. With my wood dowels, the last primer in the tube may or may not fall properly into the shuttle so I refill before the last one. I see some folks use a brass rod and competely empty their primers properly. I suspect the difference in results is due to the brass rods being heavier than my wood dowels.
For those who are unable or unwilling to learn and maintain the mechanical functioning and requirements of a progressive press (any brand), my advice is to not waste your time with one. They are not for everybody. There are, however, many thousands of reloaders who do manage to use and maintain progressive presses as they were designed to be used. For me, I like my L&L press better than the Dillon 650, but they all require proper mechanical skills, knowledge, and maintenance by their operators if they are to function properly.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
