hornady lnl ap

[Flashkayak]

what is the recommended position for mounting dies and powder measure for loading 38 special?

 

[RealGun]

If you think of the base plate as shaped somewhat like a pingpong paddle, the handle to the left is the case feed, preparing for the first die station. Moving clockwise, you have the sizing and decapping die (1) followed by the priming station (2). Next comes the powder drop station (3). The next station (4) is where the options occur. That is often used for a powder cop die, an RCBS lockout die, a Lyman M-die expander, or left empty. There may be others. That is followed by the seating die (5), and finally the crimp die (6). As the shellplate rotates back to the bullet feed station, the crimped round hits the ejector and falls into a bin.

It may look like there are only 5 stations, but the priming occurs on an upstroke.

 

[John3921]

I don't load a lot of .38 or .357 - but being a roll crimp I have no issues with using the seating die to do the final crimp. For taper crimp shells like the 9mm and .45 I do use the 5th station for the final crimp operation.

Otherwise I set up pretty much as RealGun lays it out. I use a PTX in the powder measure and don't use the expander die from the 3-die set at all. I also stopped using the powder cop die. I can see the powder just fine in the 9 and .45. I noticed with the powder cop die it was not unusual for a few grains of powder to stick to the foot which lead to a small amount of loose powder accumulating on the shell plate.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Put the resizing die in the first hole past the where you put the case in, the flaring die goes in #2, the powder measure goes in #3, the seating die goes in #4 (you don't need a powder cop die, waste of time, you can see the powder in the case), crimp die in #5.

If you are using a seating/crimp die then leave #4 open and put the seating/crimping die in #5.

It's as simple as that.

Have fun.

 

[Flashkayak]

John3921, What is a PTX that you use in the powder measure ? I'm still learning.
Thanks. Dick

 

[tightgroup tiger]

A PTX is a powder through expander that goes on the bottom of the powder measure and frees up a hole in the press (you now don't need the flaring die) so the powder measure can go in hole 2 if you want it there. If your set on using a powder cop die or RCBS lock out die it will give you the extra hole to still be able to use a separate dies to seat and crimp if your using lead bullets, which is recommended.

 

[noylj]

1) resize
2) expand, flare, and charge case (powder measure and caliber specific PTX)
3) RCBS Lock-Out die
4) seat
5) Crimp

 

[John3921]

This is what I think you need to have for each caliber. The press comes with some of the non caliber specific items.

powder through expander linkage: PN 290049 (1 comes with press)
pistol meter: PN 50116 (1 comes with the press - you get one rifle rotor, 1 pistol rotor, 1 insert for each rotor)
shell plate: PN 392606 (you'll need this as it's caliber specific)
bushings: 4 (press comes with 5)
Quick change powder die: 50074 (one comes with the press)
PTX: 290041
Dies:

The PTX is just a small funnel that drops into the quick change powder die and basically drops/guides the powder into the case - but the PTX also does the expand operation (and bell mouth if needed for cast bullets). The linkage helps make it more consistent. You can see the PTX here: PTX die

The press comes with the funnels (sleeves) for the powder die - but if you use those - then you need to use an expander die because the provided funnels don't do the expand/belling operation. The PTX is caliber specific, you need the correct one for each caliber you load for.

 

[Walkalong]

Expander in Station #2,
Drop powder in Station #3
Eyeball powder and seat/crimp in Station #4
Crimp in Station #5 when I don't do it in #4.

Since I load pre-sized brass, I could put the expander in Station #1 and drop powder in Station #2 if I wanted to, leaving room for a lock out die in Station #3, but I prefer eyeballing the powder in the case.

 

[cfullgraf]

Shortly after shooting, I resize cases (station 1) and expand the mouth (station 2).

They are cleaned/polished and stored away for a future loading session.

When loading, the powder measure goes in station 2, powder cop die in station 3, seat die in station 4 and the crimp die in station 5.

Since the case mouth is already expanded, my powder measure does not expand the mouth of the case.

 

[RealGun]

Do whatever works for you, but when you do operations manually that the press is equipped to do, some of the progressive part is lost, and the effort and case handling per round is increased greatly. It depends, but generally handgun reloading does not require obsessing about case prep or primer pockets. Decapping as the first operation has not created problems. Cases are only cleaned and polished. In addition, an LnL AP updated to the latest priming parts is trouble free. I have not had a single priming issue since.

What I do have as a current issue, working with Hornady, is 45 Colt jamming on the ejector. That #32 shellplate has no play in it like a #45 does. That's a another story.

 

[germ]

I load mostly cast handgun cartridges. #1 size, #2 expand, #3 powder, #4 seat, #5 crimp. Since so many have complained of powder fouling the priming mechanism, it seems most prudent to me to NOT put the powder measure in #2. I find the powder cop die to be utterly useless (for handgun).

 

[RealGun]

Since so many have complained of powder fouling the priming mechanism, it seems most prudent to me to NOT put the powder measure in #2

I believe the context there is with the old primer punch. The new one was created to address that fouling problem.

 

[BYJO4]

We each have our own way of setting up the press. On revolver calibers, I seat and crimp at the same time so I have an extra startion to put my Lock Out Die. As a result, I don't use a PTX in the powder die for expanding and just use the regular expander die that comes with the die set. So I use station 1 for sizer/decapping die, station 2 for expander die, station 3 for powder measure, station 4 for Lock Out Die, and station 5 for seat/crimp die.

For semi autos I use station 1 for sizer/decapping die, station 2 for powder measuer with a PTX expander, station 3 for Lock Out Die, station 4 for seating die, and station 5 for a taper crimp die.

 

[germ]

I believe the context there is with the old primer punch. The new one was created to address that fouling problem.

Hmm...what new primer punch? When did this become available? What are the differences?

 

[mgmorden]

Hmmm. I notice here that almost everyone else has their expander die setup before the powder drop.

I have powder drop in #2 and expander in #3. Seems to be working fine but is there any potential issue there?

 

[realbuffdriver]

@mgmorden,

I drop powder at #2 and use a home-made powder check dowel with the Lee expander to both expand and check for proper powder drop at station 3. I've had no issues expanding after powder drop.

Regards,

RealBuffDriver

 

[RealGun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealGun View Post
I believe the context there is with the old primer punch. The new one was created to address that fouling problem.

Hmm...what new primer punch? When did this become available? What are the differences?

Give Hornady a call with serial # in hand.