LNL Newbie Questions

[mallc]

Am about to add a Hornady LNL to my bench and have a couple of questions please;

1) How does one setup the expander powder drop on the LNL? I understand that it uses standard dies but does the drop have a common funnel that activates with case lift, or does it take different tubes for different calibers?

2) Is it possible to add a high/low charge alarm like the third stage on a Dillion 650? It not, is there an alternative check system?

3) What is the overall height from benchtop to top of machine with and without case feeder?

Thanks for helping.

 

[mongoose33]

1. If you use the Hornady PTX expanders, you have to buy one for each caliber. If, however, you go here:

http://www.powderfunnels.com/

he sells a universal PTX for the LNL. He used to call it the LNLPTX, but apparently due to some trademark/copyright issues with Hornady, he changed the name.

I bought one, works as advertised, $25 including shipping. Since you'd have to buy a number of PTXs for different calibers otherwise, it ends up being more cost-effective.

And, I bought it for exactly the same reason you want it--so I can use a powder check die.

2. I use the RCBS lockout die. If you have no powder, or a double-charge, it doesn't allow the press to complete the upstroke. I consider this a much better solution than the Powder Cop, which requires your attention each and every time for it to work. That's not much different than looking into the case each time, if you ask me.

I'm amazed that the lockout die works as well as it does--seems like magic, but it's just great engineering. It's not as cheap as the Powder Cop die, but it works w/o my attention, and all I need is for my attention to wander for one or two cases and I might miss a squib charge.

3. Don't know off the top of my head. I don't have the automatic case feeder. EDIT: I measured w/o the case feeder, it's just shy of 25 inches tall to the top of the powder dispenser.

 

[uf-engineer]

My powder expander works great. I have one for the 40 S+W, 45 ACP & 44 Mag. It is the same powder drop for all. Don't know about the Dillion. I also use the powder cop which works great.

 

[Randy1911]

If you don't want to use the PTX, you can do like I do. I bought the Hornady Powder Cop and just seat and crimp with the same die in the 5th station. It works fine for me.

 

[Walkalong]

I use standard expander dies in the second station, drop powder in the third, seat, and sometimes crimp, in the 4th, and crimp in the 5th station if I did not crimp and seat together in the 4th station. You don't have to use the Hornady, or any, expanders with the powder measure if you choose not to..