Hornady LNL Bullet die and plated bullets

[bbqreloader]

Going for LNL and want to add bullet feeder die but have read about issues with plated bullets. Most of the posts I have looked at are older or any of the newer ones don't mention what type they are using.
For those that use the die with either, the $28 bullet feeder, Hornady's Bullet tubes, Lee Bullet feeder with Bully adapter or other than the motorized hopper, have you had any issue using plated bullets? Loading Xtreme- 9mm 124gr FP, 40 155gr RNFP and 45acp 185gr FP. Thanks for any info.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've fed or been with a friend who has fed plated bullets through the Hornady Bullet Feeder die...which is what all the systems you have mentioned are based on.

We've fed the 9mm 124gr (Xtreme RN/FN & RMR FN), 147gr Xtreme, and .38/.357 Xtreme 158gr RNFP/FP bullets without serious issues.

I'll note that:
1. the 9mm RMR seem to feed more smoothly than the Xtreme.
2. the 9mm FN feeds better than the RN
3. the 124gr feed more smoothly than the 147gr

I just loaded 400 .38 158gr FP through a Bully Adapter, changing it over from 9mm, and noted that the longer/heavier slug takes a bit more tweaking to feed smoothly. The die is sensitive to the amount of flare of the case mouth and the duration of contact with the lower collet to allow the longer slug to feed

 

[bbqreloader]

Thanks 9mm for the info. Read the review you posted March 2015, Bullet Feeder Adapter, very detailed work by the way. I just could not find what bullet type you were using, which lead me to my question.

 

[9mmepiphany]

In the picture with two different types of 9mm bullets in the tubes, used to illustrate how the the FN made for a more stable column, the buulets pictured were the Xtreme 124gr RN and 124gr FN

 

[mstreddy]

OP, I'll add some of my experiences here.
I have the Hornady Bullet Feed dies and tubes for a few calibers.
I pretty much only use plated bullets. My 45s using 230s have been nearly flawless. 38 Spcl using 158 FN and RN has been pretty good as well. 357 Mag using similar bullets has been a bit less than perfect. The Berry's were problem free, the Xtreme's have had some issues. It may be due to the Xtreme being shorter.
In 380 loading Xtreme 100 gr FN it's worked well. The only issue there is I had to bump up the flare a lot to get the bullets to sit in the case.
In 9MM I've had mixed results. Everglades 124 gr have been pretty good, but not perfect. RMR 124s have given more issues. I have to go back to fine tune the drops.

I think that the variance in plated bullets, whether from slight irregularities in the plating and circumference, affect the feed dies. I find some getting stuck and not dropping right.

But, overall, I'm pretty happy with the feed dies.

 

[Paddy]

Spend an extra $20 and use the double alpha feed dies instead. They make the hornady attempt seem like over engineered failure of a product.

 

[bbqreloader]

Paddy, if it's the same die by DAA (mr. mini bullet feeder) i cant use it. it needs to be after the powder drop, according to email from manufacturer, and I want a powder check after powder drop. If this is not what you are talking about, please drop a link if you have one, would be more than happy to look at it!

 

[Paddy]

Maybe I'm not understanding, but the MBF die can go in any station but logically after powder drop would make sense. You can put a powder check before the drop die, and use a crimp/seat die if you like. It's functionally similar to the hornady drop dies, only it works, unlike the hornady version, which "can" work but mostly just requires attention and suffers from poor design

 

[bbqreloader]

Paddy, since I want to deprime and size seperately, I emailed DAA and told them how I want to set up. This is the response I got,"That is correct. If you size and deprime separately, you cannot use a Bullet feeder together with a powder checker".
So I want 1 Expand, 2 powder drop, 3 powder check, 4 bullet drop, 5 seat and taper crimp.

 

[Paddy]

That's exactly how I've done it on my LnL using both the hornady die and the MBF die. It's just a die like any other doesn't care where it's installed but if you can feed it a flow of bullets from above, it will drop them in your charged case either station 3 or 4 your choice. Not sure why they would say that.
The feeder die has one job, and doesn't care what precedes it.

 

[GW Staar]

Wasn't DAA just talking about running out of stations trying to use a powder check die then a bullet drop die, then a seater, then a crimper?

1. sizing
2. priming/expanding/powder fill (using a powder-thru expander)
3. powder check
4. bullet drop (Hornady or DAA)
5. bullet seat
6. bullet crimp

You can do without the powder check station if you use another method to examine powder. I use a micro video camera/and a 3x6 video screen, prominently placed so that I can't miss seeing missed powder throws, or dbl throws.
http://www.amazon.com/GERI-PHILIPS-Smallest-Security-Surveillance/dp/B00WSJIW1A?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00


The DAA bullet drop die appears to be superior....and I may yet try one....but I get along with Hornady's bullet dropper so far.

Mstreddy said, "The only issue there is I had to bump up the flare a lot to get the bullets to sit in the case."

That's a problem with Hornady's PTX's. I found that the RCBS expanders (PTX's) work better. They work like Lyman's M dies in that they expand in 2 steps then flare, rather than just expand/flare like the Hornady expander does. I can use either RCBS's case-activated powder measure or Hornady's case-activated powder measure with the RCBS PTX's......you do have to tinker with the adjustment from one to the other.
RCBS PTX

DAA also has a stepped PTX only it only replaces Dillon PTX's. Such a stepped expander allows the bullet to seat straight on the drop just enough to make it stick.

 

[tcj]

I have the LNL AP and use the bullet dies for 9 & 45 both of which are coated bullets.

Only change was that I had to open up the collets slightly to get them to drop bullets. Not hard to do just have to be careful so that you don't over do it and possibly break a collet (you can get replacements if that happens).

While I love my LNL AP the collator is very loud. If I were to do it over again I would probably go the MBF route instead.

 

[Paddy]

Gwstaar I like that camera I think that may be my next mod. Any suggestions on the screen? Cheap automotive rear view type screen?

 

[GW Staar]

Gwstaar I like that camera I think that may be my next mod. Any suggestions on the screen? Cheap automotive rear view type screen?

Yes that worked for me. My source dryed up, but there's plenty of others like the link below: http://www.amazon.com/SallyBest%C2%AE-Screen-Headrest-Monitor-Control/dp/B017VNE1L2?ie=UTF8&keywords=7%26%2334%3B%20video%20displays&qid=1462846862&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I mounted mine just behind my cartridge tray. I'll look for a picture. Well I found one but it doesn't do it justice. The display is brighter not dark like it shows.....pictures of videos you know.

 

[bbqreloader]

Get this thread back on track

Ok, so my experience so far with plated bullets set up with the hornady bullet die and lee bullet feeder, has been as such.
9mm 124gr FP- actually feed nicely
40 155gr and 165gr, RNFP, been rough so far. Have had to expand the top collet just a tad, but close the bottom one also. Still have double feed of bullets out of die (hornady).
45 acp 185gr and 200 fp- occasional double feed, had to open open up both collets just a bit.

When I got the 40 and 45's I found I could not fill the tubes due the bullets dropping out of the die.

 

[jmorris]

I only have one Hornady dropper, 9mm and have only used plated 147's from berrys but it has been flawless out of the box.

 

[Dudedog]

I use the Hornady dropper and tubes with 9mm RMR plated and they seem to work fine once adjusted. Hornady PTX is a pain, I eat up a station using a Lee expander. Will have to try the RCBS PTX.

1. the 9mm RMR seem to feed more smoothly than the Xtreme.
2. the 9mm FN feeds better than the RN

I Agree
No RMR 124gr FNs lately

 

[9mmepiphany]

I noticed. I ordered the HP on my last order of 3k