Please help very frustrated

[fishnutz]

Hi everybody I hope someone be able to help me figure out my problem so here it goes.

I bought a Hornady Lock n load AP to do some reloading, I get everything setup and start to load 9mm using RCBS Carbide Dies. This works but every other case or so doesn't go into the sizing die properly I have to pull back on the case toward the center of the shell plate to guide it in.

This gets annoying quick so I call Hornady customer service and we sit on the phone for about twenty minutes adjusting pawls etc to no avail, at the end the tech says it must be that the RCBS dies do not have enough taper to guide the cases in properly. So I decide to sell the RCBS dies on ebay and buy a set of Hornady New Dimension nitrade dies to solve the problem.

I get my new Hornady dies clean them as told in the insructions and start using them. The problem I have now is when I run a case up into the resizing decapping die it is very stiff and when I run it back down it seems to take some force to get the case back out of the die. When the case does come out about the top 25-30% is scratched up all the way around the case and about down to 75% of the way down is lightly scratched. This can't be normal because it didn't happen with the rcbs dies. I bought some hornady one shot case lube but this did not really help that much.

Does anybody have any idea what The problem could be? Any help is appreciated

 

[mkl]

Sounds like a bad die got by their QC process. I'd call Hornady and tell them and I'm sure they will send you a replacement.

 

[rfwobbly]

Fishy -
Actually, you don't want a large bell mouth leading into the die or the die won't be able to size all the way down the case. I find the Hornady dies to be superior for most reloading needs. MKL was right, call the Hornady hot line. While you wait, you might try some Imperial sizing lube.

• I believe your location issue might be related more to the way the case is held in the shell holder than the die mouth. Check out that holding spring around the shell holder. When the case is in the case holder, the case should be fully captured and centered under the die.

• Second issue might be the mechanism dragging or somehow not fully advancing all the way. Be conscious of your operating handle movement. Move it slowly and smoothly throughout the entire stroke. Go for consistency and NOT speed.

A new machine will take some time to loosen up and get going. Don't give up just yet.

Hope this helps!

 

[Randy1911]

I would look closely at the shellplate. When I got my shellplate I was having the same problems you are describing. I called Hornady and they replaced the shellplate and it fixed my problems (I had to send them my old one). I have also noticed that if the shellplate comes loose, even a little, it will make the shells not line up correctly. Make sure it is snug. I have a bunch of RCBS dies that I use with my LnL with no problems. So I don't think that is your problem. Maybe Walkalong will respond, he knows a lot about this stuff.

 

[fishnutz]

thanks I will check the shellplate

 

[wild willy]

All most all of the problems posted on here with the LNL AP are with the 9mm I loaded thousands of .357 and .41 with mine with RCBs dies not one problem then I got a 9mm .Somehow on mine the spent primer gets tight locking the press up can't see in to see how wiiggle the shell plate and you can hear it falling out also the case doesn't always line up when priming I'am going to number the opening on my shell plate see if its the same one every time. Called Hornady about the spent primer said thats a new one to them I did check the timing and brushed out the primer drop tube

 

[jcwit]

I'm guessing the case is lining up correctly otherwise the scratching wouldn't be the same all the way around. Sounds like the dies aren't polished enough. Are these actual scratches you can feel or just see? All my dies leave marks I can see but can not feel, this is why I tumble after I resize. Lets see where this takes you.

 

[DickM]

I have the [non] lining up problem with my LnL as well, in a few different calibers of rimmed pistol cases, using different brands of sizing dies. It appears to me that there's a bit too much space under the shellplate(s) such that when the retaining spring presses on the rim of the brass to hold it in place it actually tilts a bit away from the center of the press and needs to be pulled back slightly to enter the die. If the shellplate held the brass down a bit closer to the base plate this wouldn't be able to happen.

I've just been dealing with it (happens about every half-dozen times or so), but now that I know others have experienced similar problems I think a call to Hornady is in order.

 

[Glock20]

Fishnutz - You have two separate issues here.
First is that your cases are not lining up properly with your resizing die.

1. As Randy said, make sure the shellplate bolt is tight.
2. Check the case retaining spring to see that it is holding the case in the shellholder. Maybe it got stretched or damaged and is a bit loose? It should fit around the shellplate snug.
3. Run some cases through and mark the shellplate with a sharpie where the cases do not line up with the die. Do they not line up on the same mark, or is it random?
4. Wiggle the shellplate back and forth to make certain it's locked into the ball detents after cycling the press. Do this 10 or 15times. It should lock in solid every time.

I had a similar problem with my LnL but it was on the priming station. Every 5th indexing would not line up. A slight nudge on the shellplate confirmed it was not locking into the ball detents. My fix was resolved by adjusting the pawls by trial and error. A little adjusting goes a long ways, so do this with very small turns of the allen screw.

I doubt it was your RCBS dies. I use Lee, RCBS, Redding and Hornady dies and they all will work fine on the LnL.

The problem of your Hornady die scratching the brass is probably a bad die as mkl mentioned.
In my limited experience with Hornady's customer service, I found them to be very helpful and willing to do anything to resolve a problem.
Give them a call and I'm sure they will help you get this resolved.

Please report back and let us know how your doing.

 

[Walkalong]

The problem with cases tilting back towards the center of the shell plate is shell plate or spring related.

The spring starts out under the case where you put it in station one. As it rotates to station two the spring must move away from the center of the plate and completely out from under the case so it is one the side of the case and far enough up so it no longer tilts inwards.

I'll try to get pics of it.

 

[jcwit]

Another reason I like single stage presses, 2 or 3 mounted side by side. I subscribe to the KISS philosophy. Might be a little slower but then I get to enjoy it a little longer.

I still think his problem is the dies.

 

[Walkalong]

Here is a pic with the case as it is put in station one, halfway to station two, and at station two headed up to the sizer. I'll try to get a closer pic.

I doubt there was anything wrong with the RCBS dies, except for not having enough flare at the bottom to accept a tilted case.

Here are pics of my two 9MM sizers. The Redding has some flare, but the Lee has virtually none, and my cases go into it with no problem.

 

[Maj Dad]

Little Cases, Little Die Mouths

I have to be watchful with 9mm in my Dillon as well, using Hornady New Dimension Titanium Nitride dies (which are absolutely smooth and have never scratched any of my calibers). Dillon sells dies with generously radiused mouths exactly for this reason, but I haven't felt the need. The cases can get tilted by am occasional grain of tumbling media that winds up in the shellholder/primer seater with some regularity and I routinely brush/vacuum the plate from time to time. It's a small aggravation among many which you learn to deal with over time and with experience. As soon as it becomes a big aggravation, I do something about it, e.g., get Dillon dies or go fishing...

 

[Walkalong]

It took some trial and error, but I got some better pics.

 

[fishnutz]

everything seems to line up ok I guess I am able to seat primers so I am assuming I am adjusted properly. I marked the shell plate when I was on the phone with Hornady customer service and it seemd to be random. You can feel the scracthes when you run your fingernail over them. Thanks for the replies.