Hornady's case feeder for LNL-AP

[tightgroup tiger]

I've hashing over buying a case feeder for some time now. I was ready to pull the trigger on buying one until I read the reviews on Midways web site about them.

They say about problems like feeding cases upside down to parts missing out of the delivered product to jamming at the case funnel at the top of the drop tube.

I recognize that people will find something to complain about no matter what and that the case feeders will definently speed things up, so I'm somewhat confused.

What are the problems with loading 9mms and .357mags with one of these case feeders and would you recomend one to your friends.

 

[jackpot]

I have issues when Im running 223 cases through, but not too many. Small and large pistol both run fine through mine and Im happy with its performance.

 

[raddiver]

That's true they do have some issues.
But just like everything, with a little tweaking and making it your own, you can work alot of those issues out.

I reload for 9mm, 38SPL, and 45.

Even with the mis-dropped cases, or the case that occasionally falls off the platform, its worth it.

After using some pvc as a drop chute, and adding some plastic to the feed funnel, the problems are much less.

It speeds up production time alot.
For me it boils down to 1 less manual step which let's me concentrate on things like powder drop, proper bullet seating, etc

 

[choppinlow]

You will be happy you added it to the AP press.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

If I buy one it will be primarily for 9mms, The most negative thing I've seen on this forum is the noise, so when I read the negative comments about them on midways website I backstroked out of buying one.
I have no doubt that I could modify it to improve its operation like I did my pro1000. It is running really well these days when I use it.
I may choose to ignore the reviews on Midway and buy one anyways.
I wanted to here from others here that have one first though.

 

[PsychoKnight]

Most are easy fixes.

There is a sliding metal plate at the square opening at the of the bowl. This adjusts the opening size and hence timing of when the case drops into the chute. A lot of people get misfeeds (sideways, upside down drops) due to the plate. Unscrew and remove the plate and most pistol and rifle calibers seem to drop just right.

To prevent bounce-off when the case drops onto the transfer platform, you can just get a 2" piece of clear vinyl tube, cut a notch that looks like an upside down cup, and press it up onto the aluminum case drop tube. I went to the home improvement store and asked for 2" and they just cut a piece and gave it to me for free.

For 45gap, takes another easy step: I'll explain for gappers wanting or using the case feeder (send me p.m.).

Each of the above fixes were 1-2min fixes.

People on Midway review posts aren't usually also active on reloading forums like this or GTR. Don't trust their opinions - many newbies and dialog not possible on those reviews.

Yeah, the noise is a pain - I imagine same for all case feeders. From my auto-sound days, I imagine you could fabricate a lid for the bowl, attach dynamat to the inside and outside of it, and also coat the outside of the bowl and gearbox with several layers of paintable rubber (kind you dip tool handles into for a rubber coating). I press the motor button intermittantly just to fill the tube, then shut it off until the tube is near empty. I need a foot switch, or some micro switches for separate on and off events.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I just ordered one from Cabela's, case feeder, shell plate and shipping for $313.98. (free shipping)
Looks like it was a good time to order one. Midways would have cost me $375.00

Thanks

 

[Blue68f100]

I've had one on mine for 4yrs now. It speeds up the reloading process greatly. Yes as with all there are minor things that are easy to fix. The noise is there not much you can do about that if your running along it will not cycle off. A little to get it adj right till you learn it. I use mine for 9mm and 45acp. If your bench and mount is not solid you will have problems with the drop shute and reducing the window is required for the short brass.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

My bench is really solid ,8'long built into the house. That won't be a problem. The feeder is supposed to be delivered on Dec 4, (my birthday) so far it's all falling together.

I'll have my mother make an insulated cover for over it for noice control.

Thanks guys.

 

[777TRUTH]

That's true they do have some issues.
But just like everything, with a little tweaking and making it your own, you can work alot of those issues out.

I reload for 9mm, 38SPL, and 45.

Even with the mis-dropped cases, or the case that occasionally falls off the platform, its worth it.

After using some pvc as a drop chute, and adding some plastic to the feed funnel, the problems are much less.

It speeds up production time alot.
For me it boils down to 1 less manual step which let's me concentrate on things like powder drop, proper bullet seating, etc

Perfect summary raddiver. Thread can now be closed.

 

[Caliber]

Man venture outpost has it the cheapest. It works great for my 9mm loading.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Cabelas is on sale for $279.00, only 4 bucks more and the shipping was free.
I'm anxious to get it set up.

 

[PsychoKnight]

I'll have my mother make an insulated cover for over it for noise control.

I'm thinking a plywood lid by using the bowl mouth as the trace pattern to cut two discs; one slightly bigger than the bowl, one slightly smaller, then glue-crownstaple them together. Cover with dynamat or roofing asphalt tile, paint the edges black.

 

[119er]

I waited too long to add it. Switching the parts and finding out its little ticks takes a while but if you can read and have a little aptitude you can figure it out. I use it for 9mm, 45ACP, 45LC, 38SPL, .223, .308, and 30-06. For pistol keep the gate all the way open. For rifle, position several cases so that the necks enter the window first. Then cycle the switch to adjust the gate to allow the neck to ride over it before dropping enough to jam and slip the clutch. Once the neck rides over the plate the weight of the case head will drop it into the correct orientation. Rimmed cartridges are more problematic than rimless.

Noise isn't really bothersome to me but can't say as much about the lady in the house! She's a good sport though!

 

[thump_rrr]

Once you add the bullet feeder the noise of the case feeder will no longer be noticeable.

 

[Waldog]

I use the case feeder on my LNL. I have made a couple modifications to mine that really improves the operation. First, while loading small pistol cases like the 9mm, they would bounce off the transfer platform. That was an easy fix. Went to Lowe's and purchased a piece of THIN WALL pvc pipe. This stuff is only about 1/16" thick.

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For the case feeder, I found feeding of pistol cases (9mm,40 S&W, 45acp, 38/357, and 44mag) improved dramatically when I closed off about 1/2" of the RIGHT side of opening. With the standard opening I occasionally got "log jambs" and up-side-down cases. This simple mod, fixed my "log jambs" and up-side-down cases. I found this cure through trial and error by taping a business card over the opening until I got smooth feeding. I then cut a piece of aluminum roof flashing to size and mounted to the feed bucket with a short sheet metal screw. Works perfectly with no jambs or up-side-down cases.

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[the count]

I have a LNL AP with case and bullet feeder in operation for over a year now. I must say that it can be a little challenging to get it all to work just right if you are a beginner to progressive presses. The trickiest thing for me was finding the right V shaped do-dad that pushes the case into the shell holder. Too short and the case wont fully insert, too long and the whole thing binds up. Also, the correct speed is of the essence. Lower and raise the press slowly. Too fast and things can bind up. Make sure everything is screwed on tight, like the big shell holder screw. Good luck. Its a nice thing when everything works as it should and you can crank ammo out in a hurry. I can load 50 9mm rounds in just under 4 minutes.

This video might help too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngny0XRAgL8&feature=plcp

 

[Blue68f100]

Once you get every thing right it will fly. I use mine to deprime when I want to use liquid cleaners. I have deprimed at 200/9min . So it will crank. The one thing that really messes it up is shaking. So if your bench has a wiggle it will cause problems.

Waldog, I like your pvc idea. I don't have any thin wall 1/2 pvc on hand, 3/4"-2" yes. I have been using a piece of plastic sheeting ties on with a twist tie.

 

[Steel185]

I have had mine for about a year and I'd do it again. It works great and improves speed. The only thing i can say is the instructions are horrible. They must have been written by the person that designed the feeder, I'm sure they made since to that person, but not anyone else. I had to resort to looking at the pictures and trying to imulate and then looking at more pictures online until I figured it out. Once i got it i haven't had to mess with it since. Every once in a while I get a piece of brass that didn't drop down the shoot and is wedged against the plate and the window, but it takes only a second to fix.

Yes its loud, compared to a quiet room, but i just turn the TV up a bit more. You couldn't use it while someone is sleeping in the room, but who reloads like that any ways?

 

[CHALK22]

I have one with the case feeder and the budget bullet feeder. I love it, and I think it makes replading more enjoyable, but it does jade you a bit to large batch single staging. I still SS all my high power rifle, but .223 and pistol live in the LNL AP. I was at a buddies house this weekend, and he had some boxes with about 1k .45s in them, right next to his trusty 'ol Rockchucker and it made me shudder how much time that took....

search the forms for the budget bullet feeder. You use tubes, but they are cheap, and if you load them all up first, you can still go pretty fast

I also still love threads like this, because you get all kinds of neat ideas for when things don't go right with the press. I haven't has the case bouning issue with my bullet feeder, but the PVC idea is great...

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I haven't has the case bouning issue with my bullet feeder, but the PVC idea is great...

Yea, I'll remember that one in fact I'll save this post so I can fall back on it when the case feeder comes.

Steel185, I know what you mean about the directions from Hornady. Definately written by someone who takes it for granted that you already know their engineering. They make a lot of assumptions.
I can't wait to get this thing, I thought about building my own, but after doing machine diagnostics and repairs all day long, all week long, I'm tired of building things, and its fun to just buy one instead, I'm getting old and tired I guess.

Either way, thanks for all the replys and good advise.

Brian

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I like mine. I used the thin wall PVC trick to prevent the occasional case bouncing off (9mms seemed to do this the most). I have logjams at the top from time to time but have not tried one of the "fixes" yet. I just reach up and pull out the jammed case.

For what it's worth, most of my loading is .38 Special with a fair amount of .45 ACP; other calibers are a small percentage of my reloading.

It's not THAT noisy. My bench is in the garage and is more like a workspace than living space.

It's a little fiddly to set up at first.

My only real problem has been the microswitch that turns off the motor when the case tube is filled. The first one failed within about two weeks of purchase. Hornady sent another right out. My second one stopped working but I removed it and talked nice to it and it's working again. It's a low cost part; if it fails again I'll ask them to send me two.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The case feeder came already on Wed from ordering on Sunday, sweet.

I didn't think it was hard to install at all. I pulled all my dies and took the spring off the primmer shuttle and ran 75 cases through it.
They were all right side up and only about 5 tripped on the way into the feed plate.
Then I discovered the retaining spring was kinked in two places. I replace it tonight when I get home from work.
I didn't think the noice was that bad either, not like the Youtube videos make it seem like.
I seems to really work well.

Good buy.

 

[thump_rrr]

I use the case feeder on my LNL. I have made a couple modifications to mine that really improves the operation. First, while loading small pistol cases like the 9mm, they would bounce off the transfer platform. That was an easy fix. Went to Lowe's and purchased a piece of THIN WALL pvc pipe. This stuff is only about 1/16" thick.

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I really don't know how you can fit that PVC tubing over the drop tube.
My drop tube is touching the casting on my press.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I really don't know how you can fit that PVC tubing over the drop tube.
My drop tube is touching the casting on my press.

From putting mine together I've noticed that the drop tube is floating and the pvc tube in the pictures looks like it would fit down over the shuttle when completely up.
I may not be looking at this right but I think his idea is a good one. He must cycle his alot faster than I do mine because mine hasn't dropped one in 200 rounds so far. I know I will have to resist the temptation to go 1k/hr, but if I try to run my fingers through the bullet seating die again, I won't have any problem slowing down.