Setting up my lock n load I notice that the external primer support tube rides up agains the body of the powder drop. It's clear when the ram is down, but as you come up with the ram the plastic support sleeve hits the powder measure and deflects the primer tube over a bit, probably about 1/8" or so. I've tried orienting the powder measure to minimize contact - but i can't eliminate it. Is this normal?
lock n load primer question
- Thread starter John3921
- Start date
- Status
tightgroup tiger
Member
Which hole do you have your powder measure in?
I have resizing die in first hole
flaring die in second hole
powder measure in third hole
powder cop in forth hole
and bullet seater in fifth hole.
There's a good 1 1/2"between my primer tube and powder measure.
I have resizing die in first hole
flaring die in second hole
powder measure in third hole
powder cop in forth hole
and bullet seater in fifth hole.
There's a good 1 1/2"between my primer tube and powder measure.
I have the decap/resize in 1, The powder drop with the PTX expander in 2, powder cop in 3, seat/roll crimp in 4. 5 is empty. Loading .357 mag now with a roll crimp. If and when I ever see my .45 acp / 9 mm dies. Station 4 will be seat, and station 5 taper crimp.
For the .357 I could leave station 2 blank - but that option goes away with the taper crimp setup.
I can see already that the primer system is going to need close attention. It's difficult to tell if the primer slide has picked up a primer. I managed to load 2 shells with no primer (out of 18 or so.)
For the .357 I could leave station 2 blank - but that option goes away with the taper crimp setup.
I can see already that the primer system is going to need close attention. It's difficult to tell if the primer slide has picked up a primer. I managed to load 2 shells with no primer (out of 18 or so.)
Presto
Member
What part of the powder measure is making contact with the primer tube?
The primer tube bumps the powder throw about 0.8 inches below the clear powder hopper. It's hitting the funnel portion of the casting just before it transitions to the straight part of the body where the powder hooper is attached.
tightgroup tiger
Member
I just tried what your doing on my press. I doesn't move the primer housing an 1/8"but it does rub it and wiggle it.
I wouldn't like that either.
If I were to use the setup you want, I would take the powder cop die out, move the powder measure to station 3, seat in station 4 and factory crimp in station5. I don't use the powder cop anyways, the act of looking up at it every throw of the handle is irritating to me. I gotten use to only looking down while I'm loading so all I need to do is shift my eyes to look down in station 4 to see the powder. I have really good light around my press so the powder is easy to see. If you don't you can purchase a LED stick on light for the inside of the frame on the operators side which is at station 4 anyways.
I also seat and crimp in the same step so that won't help you either.
I wouldn't like that either.
If I were to use the setup you want, I would take the powder cop die out, move the powder measure to station 3, seat in station 4 and factory crimp in station5. I don't use the powder cop anyways, the act of looking up at it every throw of the handle is irritating to me. I gotten use to only looking down while I'm loading so all I need to do is shift my eyes to look down in station 4 to see the powder. I have really good light around my press so the powder is easy to see. If you don't you can purchase a LED stick on light for the inside of the frame on the operators side which is at station 4 anyways.
I also seat and crimp in the same step so that won't help you either.
The powder measure should not hit the primer tube, have you tried to rotate the powder measure a little so it doesn't hit. You can loosen the clamp on the threaded portion of the powder measure and rotate it without effecting any settings. My measure clears the primer tube by a couple inches and I always run the measure in station 2.
For pistol:
When loading I have nothing in station #1
Expander die in station #2
Powder drop in station #3
Seater die in station #4 (Sometimes I crimp with it as well)
Crimp die in station #5 (If needed)
Somewhere between Station #3 & #4 I see the powder charge I am seating a bullet over.
When loading I have nothing in station #1
Expander die in station #2
Powder drop in station #3
Seater die in station #4 (Sometimes I crimp with it as well)
Crimp die in station #5 (If needed)
Somewhere between Station #3 & #4 I see the powder charge I am seating a bullet over.
Looked at it some more this morning. The primer tube has a very slight leaning tower of pizza thing happening. I put a paper shim under the primer base at the guide pin and it leaned it far enough back to clear the powder hopper. It should clear - the center of the powder station to the center of the primer tube is about 1.6" as near as I can measure it, 2.5" powder funnel and a 5/8" primer tube should leave about .040 clear.
Blue68f100
Member
Your setup is fine mine is the same way. Rotate the powder dispenser so the adj points toward the middle and it will clear. I have about 1/8" clearance this way.
Blue - thats about where I have it aimed now. That gave the least interference. I think the threading on the base block is slightly out of alignment with the world. The actual primer tube seems to be in about the right place - its just the primer tube support sleeve that is slightly out of whack.
I'll try it with the kludge shim and see if it feeds primers ok. I'll call Hornady Monday and see if they can send me a replacement primer tube housing body.
Either that or I'll just take a stone to the bottom of the housing body and put a few thousands taper on it.
I'll try it with the kludge shim and see if it feeds primers ok. I'll call Hornady Monday and see if they can send me a replacement primer tube housing body.
Either that or I'll just take a stone to the bottom of the housing body and put a few thousands taper on it.
Blue68f100
Member
Is your powder dispenser tight so it does not move side to side. If not have them send you the shims to put under the bushing to tighten it up. For a temp fix you can use a couple strips of paper.
Shaving the outer primer tube may help. Does it clear when left a little loose?
Shaving the outer primer tube may help. Does it clear when left a little loose?
The powder dispenser is not particularly tight - you can push on the dispenser and see the bushing rock a small amount. I don't know if shimming it would help the primer contact issue or not - I don't think so.
A .005 shim/washer (i.e. paper) under the primer housing at the alignment pin lets the housing tube clear the powder dispenser. Not by very much - but you can at least see daylight through the gap.
I did try flattening the bottom of the primer housing and filing in a very slight taper to it, that did not seem to accomplish much of anything.
A .005 shim/washer (i.e. paper) under the primer housing at the alignment pin lets the housing tube clear the powder dispenser. Not by very much - but you can at least see daylight through the gap.
I did try flattening the bottom of the primer housing and filing in a very slight taper to it, that did not seem to accomplish much of anything.
Blue68f100
Member
I like my powder dispenser tight on the bushing since I use a PTX die. Before I got the metal shims I used strips of paper in with the bushing. This tightened it up nicely. May do that on the the side next to the primer it may tilt it slightly.
At one time I ran into a batch of primers that were running tall. I used a sheet of paper under the primer base to raise it. Worked liked a top. So adding a shim is not likely to cause any problems. If you experience some feeding problems put a very light bevel on the sleds top. This will allow the primer sleds to slide out easier. I have done this mod to my sleds, helps when you get some under size too.
At one time I ran into a batch of primers that were running tall. I used a sheet of paper under the primer base to raise it. Worked liked a top. So adding a shim is not likely to cause any problems. If you experience some feeding problems put a very light bevel on the sleds top. This will allow the primer sleds to slide out easier. I have done this mod to my sleds, helps when you get some under size too.
Checked my set up and when the ram is raised the primer tube is close to the powder measure. I did notice that my tube was a little lose and once I tightened it it pulled away from the measure just a little more. So make sure the primer tube is tight might help. I don't see why a shim under the primer tube stand wouldn't help.
Blue68f100
Member
They are a split washer that goes in between the o-ring and bushing. Thickness is normally 0.005", 0.010" and I even have a few in the 0.003" range. If I recall I have 0.005" on mine. Just call they send them out free like every thing else under warranty.
- Status
Similar threads
