LnL AP 9mm powder spill

[baddad06]

Oh wise ones, I have an issue I cannot seem to resolve. To level set I switched from a SS to the LnL AP about two years ago and absolutely love it. However when I load 9mm powder flies out of the case when indexing. I followed the video to adjust my pawls (great video) and even did it using 357 mag cases one sizing die and two crimp dies. It is adjusted perfectly. The cases align dead center on the dies at the three stations I placed them in for my adjustments. I am not losing a ton of powder but it is annoying the heck out of me. I also load 40 and have little if any spill. I load my 357 mag on my SS so I don't know if it would be an issue.

I am loading 4.4gr of Tight Group and Extreme 180 RNFP bullets. Although I have the same issue with other powders as well.

Any ideas would as always will be appreceated!

 

[MtnCreek]

Some loads will do this on a 650 for me. When it indexes, it can flick a little powder out of the cases. With bullet in left hand, I hold the bullet at the top of the case that's going to the seating station. That contact from my hand seems to calm it down. Might work for your setup as well.

 

[theothermike]

That's interesting, I have a lnl ap aswell and load oodles of 9mm but never had this problem. I lubricate my press with heavy grease, this makes all of the action stiff and seems to dampen sharp movements. What do you use?

 

[baddad06]

That is an interesting theory. I stopped using grease about a year ago and just spray the ram with One Shot prior to my loading session. The one shot has made the cycling smooth as silk. I do now wonder if by using grease I would damper the snap on indexing that is causing the powder spill. Thanks for your input.

 

[Blue68f100]

When I see this your index may be making a double jump. If right it should be one smooth motion into position. Takes good hearing to detect, i can feel it. My hearing is not that good so I just use my fingers to detect it. With that said, a way to dampen it is place you little finger on the shell plate while your setting the bullet. I do this while the shell plate is moving into position.

 

[baddad06]

I will try that before I go back to heavy grease. I hate the mess of the grease and the press does operate almost effortless withe One Shot or gun oil. Thank you

 

[theothermike]

You may want to try putting some under the shellplate before the ram, just don't go too crazy. I know it's messy, I'm just one of those guys that likes grease lol.

 

[MajorMagnetic]

Hello...I was having a similar problem with 9mm shells.
I use a heavier grease under the shell plate and that helped a lot. The problem is the shell plate snaps into the next position too fast and when it stops the powder spills out. Don't use a lot, just heavier grease.
HTH.......MM

 

[ReloaderFred]

Also make sure that when you work the handle, you're not going too fast with it. A smooth motion really helps to keep everything smooth with these presses.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[9mmepiphany]

My LNL moves between stations very smoothly...much smoother than a Dillon 650...mostly due to only moving halfway on each upstroke.

The only time I've seen powder jumping out of a case mounted in a shellplate, the owner was using the PTX insert in his powder measure, the case mouth was sticking, and powder was being jerked out as the downstroke, of the ram, pulled the case free. The problem was that his shellplate retaining bolt was loose and allowed too much upward motion of the case

 

[Paddy]

The "arbor shim" tuning trick for the shell plate hub helps with this as well. Gets the play between ye shell plate and the hub down to .005" or so, some are over .015" from factory. Mine was about .010". I tightened it up to about .004". Smoother now, and better primer seating too.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

You might want a set of these
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002C...1&dpID=41XQ2CdYwJL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SX200QL40

It takes some fiddlin to find the right shim, but once you do an LNL will run even smoother than you ever dreamed about. Remove the shell plate, raise the ram, remive the 2 screws from the side of the ram, and lower the ram. Then remove the center hub. Place the correct shim under the hub and reassemble. I can't properly describe how to do it, but you can take a measurement to find the right shim before taking anything apart. I measured mine but found that my press ran better with a shim .001-.002" thinner than what my measurement suggested.

 

[baddad06]

I will measure mine to determine my gap today. Can you explain how this will make the press run smoother. I am not sure I understand. Thank you

 

[Paddy]

It just tightens the plate up and compresses the ball bearings a tad more and just makes it smoother. It's not a cure-all, but it's worth the 10$ and it helps several issues.

 

[John3921]

I tried the shims, it didn't work in my case. Use a feeler gage under the shell plate to get a rough idea of how much, if any, shim you can use. I don't think you will get much help if the gap is under about 0.010. Mine was .007 or so, any more than a .002 or .0025 shim bound up my machine. I suspect there are flatness tolerances on both the shell plate and the press that limit what you can do with a shim.

What has worked for me was resetting the detent balls. You can increase or decrease the balls by tapping them with a punch. The other thing that helped was putting a split lockwasher under the shell plate cap screw. When I install the shell plate I tighten the screw until the washer just bottoms out. It doesn't seem to loosen up and it isn't too tight.

Another fix I've read about uses a short 3/8" threaded stud. Replace the shell plate cap screw with a threaded stud long enough to get 2 nuts on above the shell plate. Install the stud where you'd install the shell plate cap screw and loctite the stud in place. When you install the shell plate snug up the bottom nut as tight as you can without binding up the press, use the second nut as a locknut.

Here is a discussion of the shims and pictures of the process.

link to ar15 lnl shim discussion