Mark 7 Autodrive/Evolution?

[TomJ]

Over a year ago I developed a bulging disk in my neck. It's 95% healed and I don't know that it's going to get better, and any kind of stress I put on it causes it to flare up. This includes pushing and pulling the lever on my reloader. I have two reloaders, a Hornady progressive press and a Hornady single stage press. I'm limited to loading 10-15 rounds per day, as anything more than that causes a flareup which takes days to go away.

I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on the Mark 7 Autodrive with either a Dillon or Evolution press. I understand either option is expensive, but in the long run it's less expensive than my doctor's bills or buying factory ammo. I was also wondering if there's anything comparable for either of my Hornady presses.

 

[lordpaxman]

Tagging in as I’m interested.

 

[jmorris]

I have one, on a 1050 and another automated 1050 I built before Mark 7 or ammobot existed.

A Mark 7 on a 1050 will probably load enough ammunition in an hour than you could shoot in months if loading 10-15 rounds on an LNL causes you pain.

There are some that exist for other presses but the swage station helps out a lot as does the preset primer seat depth. Why I abandoned my automated 650 project and went with the 1050.

I have automated single stage presses before for sizing. The stroke part wouldn’t be very difficult to do. Would want to make sure your hands can’t get mangled. Industrial equipment these days have controls that require both left and right hands contact separate buttons outside the work zone simultaneously in order to activate the motion controls.

 

[TomJ]

The Autodrive with the Evolution is out as an option. I spoke with the manufacturer today and the complete setup is over $6000, which is out of my price range. I also spoke with a rep at Dillon. It looks like my best option is the 750 along with the Mark 7 Autodrive.

 

[rfwobbly]

Just wondering if you have an "ergo handle" installed on either press ?? I believe Inline Fabrication makes one for the LNL. https://inlinefabrication.com/collections/levers

Going away from the ball knob to a cylindrical handle made all the difference for me. And some of these handles are longer than OEM, which gives you more leverage.

 

[TomJ]

Just wondering if you have an "ergo handle" installed on either press ?? I believe Inline Fabrication makes one for the LNL. https://inlinefabrication.com/collections/levers

Going away from the ball knob to a cylindrical handle made all the difference for me. And some of these handles are longer than OEM, which gives you more leverage.

Thanks for that info. My oldest son is a manufacturing engineer and he's mentioned trying different ergonomics but I couldn't find an alternative. I ordered this handle and will give it a try before spending the money on the XL750 and Autodrive.

 

[lordpaxman]

I can vouch for the Inline Fabrication roller handle, it made a world of difference for my LNL. Note that they have two different ones for the LNL, one is a “short” one meant for pistol, and their regular sized one. I opted for the regular sized one and was really glad I got that rather than the short one. Good luck!

 

[beag_nut]

Just a thought, but has anyone given a try to designing a foot-operated mod for a press? I am a former manufacturing engineer and I would quickly give a try to a project like that if it was my body suffering as described.

 

[Blue68f100]

Over a year ago I developed a bulging disk in my neck. It's 95% healed and I don't know that it's going to get better, and any kind of stress I put on it causes it to flare up. This includes pushing and pulling the lever on my reloader. I have two reloaders, a Hornady progressive press and a Hornady single stage press. I'm limited to loading 10-15 rounds per day, as anything more than that causes a flareup which takes days to go away.

I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on the Mark 7 Autodrive with either a Dillon or Evolution press. I understand either option is expensive, but in the long run it's less expensive than my doctor's bills or buying factory ammo. I was also wondering if there's anything comparable for either of my Hornady presses.

Sorry to hear about you having problem with a disk in the neck. I went through that 25+ yrs ago, lost all strength and movement in my right arm. I was able to avoid surgery by using a home traction unit to unload the disk. A month in, I no longer had any pain and feeling returned to my hand. After 3 mo I was back to 100%. I did 1 hr session every day for the whole length of time. If the disk has ruptured it's better to have surgery for a ruptured disk will never heal.

If rotating your hand/arm hurts you, the roller handle will make it worst. I only use the ball handle (with a cotton glove) which allows me to keep my hand/arm in the natural position without rotating it. The cotton glove allows the ball to slide easily in the hand, I do not grip the ball, just cradle it.

Surgery may be the only way to a permeate fix. That particularly surgery has become routine for most all neurosurgeons. If I recall recovery time is relative short. I had a close friend that had it done. The dr told him if he was in a auto accident and received even a small jolt it could have left him parallelize. He as back to shooting and hand loading in a couple of months.

 

[TomJ]

Sorry to hear about you having problem with a disk in the neck. I went through that 25+ yrs ago, lost all strength and movement in my right arm. I was able to avoid surgery by using a home traction unit to unload the disk. A month in, I no longer had any pain and feeling returned to my hand. After 3 mo I was back to 100%. I did 1 hr session every day for the whole length of time. If the disk has ruptured it's better to have surgery for a ruptured disk will never heal.

If rotating your hand/arm hurts you, the roller handle will make it worst. I only use the ball handle (with a cotton glove) which allows me to keep my hand/arm in the natural position without rotating it. The cotton glove allows the ball to slide easily in the hand, I do not grip the ball, just cradle it.

Surgery may be the only way to a permeate fix. That particularly surgery has become routine for most all neurosurgeons. If I recall recovery time is relative short. I had a close friend that had it done. The dr told him if he was in a auto accident and received even a small jolt it could have left him parallelize. He as back to shooting and hand loading in a couple of months.

Thanks. Traction was one of the things I did that got me from the point of wanting to go to the ER to it not bothering me the majority of the time, unless I do something that stresses it. I do daily physical therapy, which helps. I'll take a look at the home traction units. I had a cortizone injection a couple of weeks ago which seems to have helped somewhat and have a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks.

Keeping this gun related, I'll try the roller handle as it was only $55. I'm set with ammo for the next few months, and if the roller handle doesn't work I'll look at other options such as the XL750 with the Autodrive.

 

[mdi]

With my worsening health problems, I'm finding this info interesting (a Texan friend of mine once said I was "rode hard and put away wet"). My problems are a little different as I only have energy to reload 20 or so cartridges on my Co-Ax before I get dizzy. But listening to all posts. Thanks fellers!.

 

[rfwobbly]

Just a thought, but has anyone given a try to designing a foot-operated mod for a press? I am a former manufacturing engineer and I would quickly give a try to a project like that if it was my body suffering as described.

Foot pedals were actually a common accessory for shotgun reloading presses several decades back.

The design problem becomes one of Pressure vs. Stroke. To get a full press stroke you might need to lift your foot 14". If you're older, (since you'd obviously be standing to reload) that could affect your ability to balance. If you shorten the stroke, then you'd need to apply more pedal pressure. Human legs are much stronger than arms, but again where's the optimal position ?? Answering these very individual issues is probably why the industry leaped ahead right to motorized operation.

 

[rfwobbly]

Thanks for that info [on the Ergo Handles]. I ordered this handle and will give it a try before spending the money on the XL750 and Autodrive.

I truly hope that helps your situation. And you got to like the price a lot better too !!

All the best.

 

[rfwobbly]

When I get to be that age, I've already decided what to do.

I'll put a merry-go-round in my front yard with a big sign that says "Free For The Kids !"

Then an underground drive shaft will take all that energy to my reloading room,
which will look like this...

 

[TomJ]

When I get to be that age, I've already decided what to do.

I'll put a merry-go-round in my front yard with a big sign that says "Free For The Kids !"

Then an underground drive shaft will take all that energy to my reloading room,
which will look like this...

View attachment 943584

Let me know if that works for you, so I can give it a try.

 

[mikey_golds]

I have the Evolution + Autodrive. It was my first press - I figured buy once cry once. i LOVE it NOW. the keyword is "NOW" out of the box, my auto drive console needed to be sent back, that is the brain of the autodrive and it caused indexing and other issues

also there are a million moving parts you need to be able to fine tune a lot of them. the user community for it is strong and very helpful but its not a plug and play solution out of the box

 

[ddc]

Not long ago Dillon purchased the Ammobot operation.
They will be coming out with their version of the Ammobot at some point.
For the time being they are not available.

Prior to that sale I bought an Ammobot and put it on an 1100 and it is a very nice setup.
At the original Ammobot pricing (with their annual 20% discount) it was the cheapest way to get into automation on either the 1050 or the 1100.
Who knows what Dillon will be charging when they their version up and running.

I wouldn't put automation on the 650/750. I know people do it but I think you're looking for trouble.

 

[TomJ]

The roller handle was delivered the other day and it is helpful. I still doesn't allow me to resize brass, as the extra tension from that still aggrevates my neck, but I am able to use my progressive press for the last two reloading steps, dumping powder into the brass and seating the bullet. I don't know that I can do 100 or more per day, but 50 is feasible.

I happen to be blessed with the two best sons I can imagine as well as a fantastic daughter in law. After discussing this with them they're going to resize the brass for me, for which I'm insisting on paying them. They refused payment but I wouldn't agree to it otherwise. My oldest son and daughter in law have a baby on the way, so it's my way of helping them with the coming expenses while they in turn help me. I'm going to hold off on the Autodrive for now, as this solution should allow me to load more ammo than I need.