LNL Progressive Initial Setup

[georound1]

The flip tray....that's one of the things I was curious about after watching the videos. Seems like a real handy thing to have. I bought Federal primers and they look to be packaged on their side.
I have a good set of calipers (bought a battery since it was dead) and have been reading the Hornady Handbook. It's seems great for reference, but not so great for learning as much as you can. I think I remember seeing the ABCs of Reloading on Amazon for 7 or 8 bucks. Any other suggested reading or websites to go?
I'll get the trimmer when I'm ready to start reloading 5.56 or 7.62; right now I'm just doing 45acp and bought the Carbide Redding dies. I'm under the impression that I'll be able to skip the lubing process, right for the straight walled cartidges.
Thanks for the tip on the bolts. I may run by Home Depot tomorrow. How thick is the base of the press?
When you clean the powder dispenser, what exactly did you use? I may need to run by a Turners or WalMart. I'm assuming nothing comes with the press to clean away the preservatives.
I'd appreciate the pictures of the primer tube warning indicator that you fashioned.
Later on, I may purchase the case feeder. But it may be a good chance to inspect the brass so I'm on the fence.
The free bullets are great, but I wish I could get 500 of the XTP and 500 of the SWC Target Enclosed. I don't really need 1k rounds of jhp lying around.

I Love my P220 Combat and my new (to me) HK45! I can't imagine selling either of those or the Sig 556.....They're all keepers.

[badreligion]

The stickies at the top of the Ammo and Reloading section are pretty good, as well as the search feature. ABC's is highly recommended $16.49 at Amazon. All of the major makers have decent books, but you will find that there are variations from maker to maker on the same load with the same components, and when the book was made, older books tend to have higher load limits from what I have seen. Thehighroad, reload bench, handloads, and the powder makers web sites can give you a lot of good info.

Watch the included DVD several times.

No lube for straight walled cases. (most of the time)

The base of the loader is nearly 5/8" thick. So take that plus the thickness of your bench, plus 2 washers(1 top and 1 bottom), plus lock washer, plus the nut and add 2 threads should tell you the length of bolt you need.

I used CLC Electrical Contact cleaner and clean paper towels to clean my powder measure. Nice thing about contact cleaner in it is quick drying and leaves no residue. I use it to clean my dies before and after a reloading session. Very light coat of clp when they get put away.

I will post up some pics mid week. Waiting on a few things to come in the mail, like the casefeeder before I get to the final set-up of the dies and such.

I too wish I could have mixed my bullet choices. Would have probably gone with 500 XTP's in 45 and 40 instead of 1000 30 cal 150gr FMJBT. Try trading in the Forums for what you want.

I wish you got a bullet coupon for the casefeeder too, $300 and no coupon. Oh well the free bullets paid for it.

[powaybob]

She won't even let me get the serial number off it so that I can send away for the free bullets!

Georound1,

Look on the bottom of the box. If there is a handwritten number in the range of 22XXX it is probably the serial number. My box was marked that way.

[powaybob]

More lessons learned this weekend. The new spring came on Friday and I managed to install it without losing it.The primer loading device is finicky. The shuttle returned to the loading position so I had to manually jiggle the slide to get it to go forward. It seems to be catching at the point the primer drops.

Sometimes the punch that comes up to press the primer in was raised and the shuttle would not fully go forward under the case.

Apparently the punch also remained high during one of the press cycles and bent the cam wire for the shuttle. Lesson: If there is the least bit more resistance than normal stop and figure out what it is.

I called Hornady this morning. They are going to send a replacement cam rod. Nice customer service. I talked to the gentleman and asked if I should clean the shuttle and the shuttle track and use some graphite lube on it. He said he did not use anything to lube that part.

He also said the punch was very susceptible to dirt, whether powder residue or a metal shaving. Lesson: If it is sticking in any position remove it and clean it.

I am still on the steep part of the learning curve with this. When everything works right it is simple and easy. When little things go wrong I start producing 1 bad round in 4 or 5, in this session missing the primer. I have a couple of dozen rounds now to pull apart and re-do. I really like the powder dispenser. I think the Lee dies I have are on the hairy edge of proper length so I ordered some from Cabela's today. I originally ordered from Midway but they were out of stock until the end of January and they were $10 more than Cabela's so I killed that back order.

I also received the Hornady and Lee loading manuals to supplement my old Speer manual. Both gave me some new loads to try, and of course say the powders that I have are not the best for 45. But as long as the rounds go bang and hi t the target reasonably close to the aim point I'll be happy.

[freonr22]

the primer prunch has tight tolerances, and is PICKY about brass shavings to be sure.

[mstlaurent]

Same with me on the primer punch, you get a powder grain or a bit of brass shaving in the punch and it hangs up the shuttle and bends the cam follower. That's how I went through two of the cam followers. If the primers aren't dropping make sure the top of the cam follower is pulled far enough away from the press, you can rebend it a little bit if you need to. The priming system is really my only complaint with this press; it works, but it is very fussy.

[ar15barrels]

The primer loading device is finicky. The shuttle returned to the loading position so I had to manually jiggle the slide to get it to go forward. It seems to be catching at the point the primer drops.

I called Hornady this morning.

He also said the punch was very susceptible to dirt, whether powder residue or a metal shaving. Lesson: If it is sticking in any position remove it and clean it.

the primer prunch has tight tolerances, and is PICKY about brass shavings to be sure.

Same with me on the primer punch, you get a powder grain or a bit of brass shaving in the punch and it hangs up the shuttle and bends the cam follower.

Is nobody here seeing a pattern?

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=3465283&postcount=11

[mstlaurent]

Is nobody here seeing a pattern?

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...3&postcount=11

Will the priming system on a Dillon press malfunction if you don't keep it clean?

Don't size and trim on the 1050.
It's too hard to clean out the stray trimmings.
The 650 is better in this respect because the primer system is very easy to remove/clean.

Not trying to start a Red Press/Blue Press war here, just pointing out that all anyone has said here is that the LNL AP priming system will malfunction if you don't keep it clean, which is also true of Dillon presses (or RCBS, Lee, or anybody else's presses for that matter).

That said, while I do think that the priming system on the Hornady is its weakest link, it does function quite well when it is kept clean, and there are a lot of other great features on the press that more than make up for it (LNL bushings, powder measure, smooth indexing, price, etc.).

I believe that Dillon makes quality products that anyone here would be more than happy to own, but I don't think that means that nobody else's products will do the job. Except for Lee. We can all agree to hate them, right?

[ar15barrels]

Will the priming system on a Dillon press malfunction if you don't keep it clean?

I have not had any problems and mine are really dirty.

Normal sizing and loading does not generate enough debris to cause a problem.
Trimming with a power trimmer is a completly different deal though so dont twist my words above to fit your situation.
The amount of brass a power trimmer sheds will lockup ANY progressive press.

[ar15barrels]

Except for Lee. We can all agree to hate them, right?

[Waldog]

PowayBob,
If your primers are "hanging up" on the slide I have found that if you loosen the primer tube shroud about 1/2 turn and then insert the plastic guide piece to the top of the tube/shroud assembly, this frees up the primer tube and provide a very slight (I'm talking thousandths here!!) play in the primer tube. This allows the new primer a little "wiggle room" to fall into the hole in the primer slide. If my primers hang-up, I loosen the shroud a little more. Works every time for large or small primers

[badreligion]

Nothing works perfectly all the time I don't care what color it is, how much you spent, what mods you may have performed. Learn the tips and tricks, go slowly as you learn and try pass on what you know to others and in the end it all works out.

I have learned tons of info here on these boards as well as others, I thank those who have been willing to contribute in a positive way, I can only hope I do the same for others.

If your not willing to open you mind before you open your mouth please make sure your not pissing into the wind.

[mstlaurent]

I have not had any problems and mine are really dirty.

Normal sizing and loading does not generate enough debris to cause a problem.
Trimming with a power trimmer is a completly different deal though so dont twist my words above to fit your situation.
The amount of brass a power trimmer sheds will lockup ANY progressive press.

Well, in any case, I attribute the problems I have had with the LNL much more to learning curve than to a defect in the press. I do think that the priming system could use a little additional engineering, but I keep it clean now, zero tolerance for debris, and it works fine.

Except for Lee. We can all agree to hate them, right?

I'm still waiting for some Other Red Press fan to come storming in here. I'm surprised it's taking so long.

[ar15barrels]

I do think that the priming system could use a little additional engineering, but I keep it clean now, zero tolerance for debris, and it works fine.

Chamfer all the sharp edges and the parts become more tolerant of debris.

[mstlaurent]

Chamfer all the sharp edges and the parts become more tolerant of debris.

Not the real problem. The problem is that the punch itself is spool-shaped rather than straight, so debris gets under the upper lip and keeps it from returning completely. But it's spool-shaped because that's how they capture the return spring in the bushing. I'm trying to think of a way that you could redesign it with a straight punch, but it's not easy. You'd have to redesign the punch so that at maximum extension the lip of the spool still wasn't exposed, but that would make the punch assembly too long to fit under the ram, you wind up having to redesign the entire press.