bluetentacle
Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2007
- Messages
- 4
I've been trying to get my Hornady case feeder working 100% with 223 cases, and so far haven't had any luck. The problem is that the cases keep on getting stuck in the drop port on the brass hopper.
The manual says to open up the port when this happens, but it's really not as simple as that. The complication is that cases can approach the opening in two ways--base first most of the time, but sometimes mouth first. Each orientation has the opposite preference for the size of the opening. Cases that approach base first prefer that the opening be larger, so that the base doesn't get caught when tipping. Cases that approach mouth first, on the other hand, prefer that the opening be smaller, so that the adjustable metal lip can "catch" the mouth before the case tips too far, enabling the case to drop base first into the chute.
So far, I haven't had any luck finding an ideal opening size that suites both orientations. Despite adjusting the opening back and forth numerous times, cases keep on getting caught. Meanwhile, the drive shaft rollpin that spins the plate isn't strong enough to withstand the torque incurred by stuck cases. As a result, I've broken 2 pins already. (Yes, I called Hornady about this, and their response was to send me two replacement pins.)
Does anyone have a good way to address this issue? From what I can see, the Dillion case feeder operates on exactly the same principles, so Dillon owners perhaps have something to say about this issue as well.
The manual says to open up the port when this happens, but it's really not as simple as that. The complication is that cases can approach the opening in two ways--base first most of the time, but sometimes mouth first. Each orientation has the opposite preference for the size of the opening. Cases that approach base first prefer that the opening be larger, so that the base doesn't get caught when tipping. Cases that approach mouth first, on the other hand, prefer that the opening be smaller, so that the adjustable metal lip can "catch" the mouth before the case tips too far, enabling the case to drop base first into the chute.
So far, I haven't had any luck finding an ideal opening size that suites both orientations. Despite adjusting the opening back and forth numerous times, cases keep on getting caught. Meanwhile, the drive shaft rollpin that spins the plate isn't strong enough to withstand the torque incurred by stuck cases. As a result, I've broken 2 pins already. (Yes, I called Hornady about this, and their response was to send me two replacement pins.)
Does anyone have a good way to address this issue? From what I can see, the Dillion case feeder operates on exactly the same principles, so Dillon owners perhaps have something to say about this issue as well.
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