Hornady LNL Powder Measure Drum Sticking

[Skgreen]

I am not considering any other powders, as I have loads that I have tailored to my guns and my needs, with five or six different pistol calibers that I regularly load for using Universal

My situation is a bit different than yours. I have 'zero' favorite loads with Uni, but years ago, I happened across Kegs of Uni for 50 cents on the dollar. Even though I'm 'not a fan', I bought all they had. Sold some, but I'm still sitting on 2 lifetimes worth, slowly working through it with the Lee PPM here and there.
(It would be nice if press manufacturers would put warnings on their drops that indicate 'May not work well with all powders", but I reckon Marketing decided it wouldn't be a good idea. LOL! )
When you get tired of futzing with it, you can always use your Lee drop to charge off the press. It adds yet another step to the process, but it's lots less frustrating.

Loaded some 9mm w/W244 on the AP last night. Powder drop worked flawlessly. 322, 335, Sport Pistol, HP38/231, "CFE"-anything, TAC, Bullseye, Tightgroup, WST, Sta-Ball 6.5 and some others I've failed to mention all work flawlessly.

But, it could always be worse,,, Stick powder (Varget H4350, RL-15, etc) in the LNL drop makes Uni look like the proverbial 'walk in the park'.

 

[Radom Guy]

My situation is a bit different than yours. I have 'zero' favorite loads with Uni, but years ago, I happened across Kegs of Uni for 50 cents on the dollar. Even though I'm 'not a fan', I bought all they had. Sold some, but I'm still sitting on 2 lifetimes worth, slowly working through it with the Lee PPM here and there.
(It would be nice if press manufacturers would put warnings on their drops that indicate 'May not work well with all powders", but I reckon Marketing decided it wouldn't be a good idea. LOL! )
When you get tired of futzing with it, you can always use your Lee drop to charge off the press. It adds yet another step to the process, but it's lots less frustrating.

Loaded some 9mm w/W244 on the AP last night. Powder drop worked flawlessly. 322, 335, Sport Pistol, HP38/231, "CFE"-anything, TAC, Bullseye, Tightgroup, WST, Sta-Ball 6.5 and some others I've failed to mention all work flawlessly.

But, it could always be worse,,, Stick powder (Varget H4350, RL-15, etc) in the LNL drop makes Uni look like the proverbial 'walk in the park'.

Wow, I am definitely jealous of your Universal supply. Good for you, though. I have a comfortable supply of Universal, enough that I want to get my money's worth, but nothing close to your stock. I actually wouldn't mind going back to Titegroup (I cannot remember why I switched to Universal), but again, I want to use what I paid for with the Universal, and I currently have more loads that I have tailored exactly to my liking with Universal.

And of the five Lee powder measures that I have, three are case activated. The Auto Disk is reliable and consistent but it leaks like crazy in its design. I find that the Hornady does not like any powder mess, so I stopped using it pretty quickly. I currently have one of my two trusty Lee Auto Drum powder measures on the LNL AP and it runs like a champ. Despite that, my preference would be to use the Hornady powder measure with the LNL AP, since I obviously paid for it and I'm told that it's an exceptional product (once it's working).

I received the graphite powder a couple days ago. I expect to follow the Hornady representative's advice and try it with the powder measure within the next couple of days. I'll post here to let everyone know how it goes.

Thanks for writing.

 

[Radom Guy]

Well, it's going back to Hornady. I followed the Hornady rep's suggestion but powdered graphite (ran 2 oz. through it, manually applied it) did not fix the issue of it sticking.

If you want to see it in action, here it is. Nothing has actually changed though. I'm using it on a Lee single stage here for my convenience so I don't have to fumble with the rotating shell plate. It has Hodgdon Universal in the hopper, and you cannot see it well in the video, but the return spring is in fact installed with no PTX stop.

As usual, I'll update folks after the next step, which is to send it to Hornady.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/7tD6yS0nopg

 

[ballman6711]

I bought a Hornady powder measure this summer (my third) and had an issue with it. I tried to isolate and fix the issue, and couldn't. Called Hornady and they had me send it in on their dime. Within two weeks I received a new powder measure. Only down side was I had to wash/degrease it like the previous one.

Didn't have any issues with the first two, and I do use all three. They work great for me. Hornady will take care of the problem, and most likely send you a new unit.

chris

 

[Radom Guy]

I bought a Hornady powder measure this summer (my third) and had an issue with it. I tried to isolate and fix the issue, and couldn't. Called Hornady and they had me send it in on their dime. Within two weeks I received a new powder measure. Only down side was I had to wash/degrease it like the previous one.

Didn't have any issues with the first two, and I do use all three. They work great for me. Hornady will take care of the problem, and most likely send you a new unit.

chris

I would be thrilled with such a solution. Whatever they do, though, as long as they send me a working powder measure in the end, I'll be happy.

 

[Radom Guy]

Just a quick update: I sent the powder measure to Hornady last week. Following the tracking, I know that they received it a couple days ago. I'll let you helpful folks know when I get it back.

I do also want to correct my opinion about something. I wrote that I would be "thrilled" with a brand new replacement powder measure. I take it back. The reason is that if they send me a new one, that'll likely mean that they have not tested it with my preferred powder (or any powder). Given the somewhat common difficulties that some have with my chosen powder, Hodgdon Universal, and the Hornady powder measure, I would rather receive one that I know has been tested with Universal to work. However, I am confident that Hornady will resolve it for me with whatever they decide to do.

Thanks folks!

 

[BBarn]

Neither my Hornady LNL nor my RCBS Uniflow drum style powder measures work well with Universal. Just sayin'.

 

[Radom Guy]

Neither my Hornady LNL nor my RCBS Uniflow drum style powder measures work well with Universal. Just sayin'.

Gotcha, that's pretty much my point.

By the way, I have an old 4 lb.-er of Red Dot just like in your profile pic. I save it for shooting paper hull 12GA in my old semiauto JC Higgins shotgun. It's the only thing that will cycle very reliably in that old beauty.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Let us know what Hornady said was wrong with it, if they'll tell you.

 

[Radom Guy]

Let us know what Hornady said was wrong with it, if they'll tell you.

I really hope that they do tell me, and that I can get it to work, of course! Haha! I'll definitely update folks either way.

 

[Radom Guy]

Apparently I should receive my powder measure back from Hornady this Friday 11/18/22 (edited to current tracking info)! The way that I knew this was that I received a notification from Fedex that I have a package from Hornady on its way to me.

I have not talked to anyone at Hornady since sending it in. Based on the very limited information from their site about it, I am wondering if I will be receiving a new case activated drop tube.

Whatever it is, as long as it works, I'll be happy.

I'll post an update here after I receive it and set it up again.

 

[Radom Guy]

Short summary: I received the powder measure three days ago. I tried it today and the exact same issue exists. Still sticking often.

Hornady did not include anything telling me what they did or did not do.

I can see that there is a dent in the powder drop tube and possibly some markings from a metal file. Regardless, the problem is exactly the same. I think this dent is irrelevant, or even a red herring. I’ll hesitantly include a picture.

So, I am going to call Hornady again about this. Unless they tell me that Hodgdon Universal will not work with their powder measure, I am going to keep on them to fix it.

And much like many of you said, I also believe that the powder measure does not work well with this exact powder. I can now feel it sticking within the same cycle where the rotor gets stuck. When it occurs, typically the powder charge is only half or even less of what it should be based on the setting of the metering insert.(in case someone asks, I am using the powder baffle) But the question is, Can Hornady get it to work as it really should with this powder? I do not know.

For now, I have enough ammo for my current needs. And if I choose to reload with the LNL again before I have a resolution from Hornady (IF I have a resolution from Hornady), I am using one of my Lee Auto Drum powder measures in the LNL press. That’s my workaround at this time. I would rather use a different powder measure than a different powder, as I discussed in several comments.

I will keep everyone updated. Thanks.

 

[lordpaxman]

I doubt the small nick in the drop tube would cause any rotor sticking issue. I’d keep after Hornady to get this working. I did have a small mod to my measure, if you look in the housing where the rotor rotates and cuts off the grains, it’s not a good steep angle which I’d prefer. So I mixed some epoxy and tried to make a better knife edge. It sort of helped in some cases.

 

[Skgreen]

Lee Auto Drum powder measure

Looks like the Auto Drum uses a silicone-like 'wiper', similar to the Lee Perfect Powder Measure I have.
If I tune my PPM just right, it does better than any of my other drops w/Uni.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Call them again and tell them its still sticking with your powder.
That measure should work with any powder. Mine does.
Accuracy could change with large flake powder but function should not be affected.

 

[Radom Guy]

Call them again and tell them its still sticking with your powder.
That measure should work with any powder. Mine does.
Accuracy could change with large flake powder but function should not be affected.

Thanks. I agree that it should work. I know that it does for at least some Universal users here. I’m not giving up on it.

My RCBS


Looks like the Auto Drum uses a silicone-like 'wiper', similar to the Lee Perfect Powder Measure I have.
If I tune my PPM just right, it does better than any of my other drops w/Uni.

Those Lee affordable powder measures that use the drum are worth their weight in gold, I think. I know that one day the pot metal casting might not survive, but that day has not yet come, and they have been rock solid for me personally. That’s why I have a bunch of them.

I doubt the small nick in the drop tube would cause any rotor sticking issue. I’d keep after Hornady to get this working. I did have a small mod to my measure, if you look in the housing where the rotor rotates and cuts off the grains, it’s not a good steep angle which I’d prefer. So I mixed some epoxy and tried to make a better knife edge. It sort of helped in some cases.

Thanks for the suggestion about the epoxy. Also, agreeing with you, I found that the dent/nick (nick is a better term for it) is actually just a hair above the lower assembly of the powder measure and does not even make contact with the inner part of the lower assembly. Therefore, it literally cannot be causing the issue.