Problems with a new Hornady LNL NEED HELP!

[hondaxr650r26]

I haven't ever loader before but my uncle told me how to set it up but i'm still having problems so any help would be great. Everythings ready to go but i am having problems with the case activated powder drop. Powder keeps sticking to the tube and all the internal pieces like where you adj. it. How do you keep the powder from sticking and hanging and droping powder everywhere? I am using Varget powder. And the powder is only sticking to the powder drop tube and internals. How does it come apart? Need cleaning is so with what? cleaned best i could with it together with brake clean like the books says and disclored the plastic tube? Any help would be appreciated beens the manuals really suck. And if working right will it load 22-250 bullets accurate or do i still need to check every load on the scale thanks Mark

 

[LexDiamonds]

I have had a LnL for about 2 years.... I never had luck dropping varget into .223 cases. The problem you describe is that the powder "bridges" in the drop tube leading to inconsistant drops and a general mess. I switched to benchmark which is comparable in performance and is a short cut powder.

Even with this shortcoming, I love my LnL.

 

[Idano]

hondaxr650r26,

Did you totally disassemble the linkage and powder measure when you cleaned it? You should have disconnected the linkage and removed all the inserts, removed the drum, and then wiped everything down with a degreaser such as your brake fluid. You also need to use a Q-Tip to clean inside the linkage and powder measure. If you have cleaned it properly then make sure that you have the proper inserts in the linkage. When you have the setup correctly with the proper inserts the drum should move immediately when it comes in contact with the case. If you don't have the right inserts in and the case goes up in the linkage before the drum moves you have a gap between the insert and the powder measure where powder will collect as is a problem.

Once you get the problem resolved the powder measure should not vary anymore then 0.3 grains; a RCBS powder measure help considerably. However, you do need to check your powder dispenses regularly, but only after you have measured many rounds and verified it is repeatable and does not have a deviation higher then your recipe can tolerate. I don't like any deviation over +/-0.3 grains on extruded like your varget, +/-0.1 on flake, and less then +/-0.1 on ball. With flake and ball powder I check every 25th round, but on extruded I do it ever 10th round. Those people that quote the ungodly rounds per hour don't check their dispenses regularly which in my book amounts to unsafe reloading practices an inherent flaw with progressive reloading and the use of powder measures.

When using a powder measure pick a load that fills the case at least 60% that way you'll immediately know if you have double charge because you will have to stop and clean it up. Also choose a load that could tolerate +/-0.5 grain deviation safely, but by all means you powder measure better be much more consistent. Lastly if you are reloading on progressive try to choose either a ball or flake powder the dispense much more consistently in all powder measures; for.223 I am using Data Powder 2200 that doesn't deviate more then 0.1 grain occasionally but I still check ever 25th round.

 

[LHB1]

Hornady powder measure assemblies come with a sticky protective coating on the internal metal surfaces. You need to remove the powder charge insert and then remove the round drum from the hopper body. Clean all internal metal surfaces with brake cleaner and dry thoroughly. I then wipe these surfaces with a DRY lubricant (graphite or moly disulfide). Do NOT wipe them with any oily or greasy lubricant. Reassemble the powder measure and the powder sticking problems should disappear. For more info, call Hornady Customer Service (1-800-338-3220). It really helps to have an experience reloader help when setting up a progressive press if you have never reloaded before. Good luck.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I agree with Idano and LHB1. It sounds like you need to go through your press and clean the protectant off of everything. This will make things run a lot smoother for you. Solutions to do this are: the cheap Auto Zone brand of brake cleaner from Autozone. A wrag, Q-tips and a can of Denatured Alcohol.

I think once you do this, things will work better for you. If you need help adjusting anything, repost and we'll help you out or you can call Hornady's excellent Tech Support at the 800 number on their website:

www.hornady.com

Regards,

Dave