hornady ap press problems

[kingfamous]

I recently boought a hornady ap press and at the present time I am loading 45 acp and .223. Im having a problem on both the small and the large primer sliders getting caught/stuck in the back position and not delivering the primers properly. Is this ap press primer brand sensitive? I am using CCI primers. I don't know the proper term for this but the primer (fingers) seem to get hung up on the slider once it collects a new primer as it starts comming back past the tube. Is there something out of adjustment? It also does not feed a new primer all the time. Any help would be appreciated.

[Dark Mod]

I have similar problems from time to time. Its always been caused by powder spilled in the primer arm channel. The press is really sensitive to spilled powder. Also sometimes the primers will flip sideways and wont allow the primer arm to come forward, but this doesnt sound like your problem

[dsavells]

Pull the assembly apart and make sure it is clean in there, you cannot guarantee it came clean. Make sure you are using the right primer tube and feed plate ie large or small as this can cause a problem. Make sure the primer tube seats all the down into the seat. Check to make sure bent guide rail is secure(the rail the pulley rides on).

Dont load .45 or 223 (yet) but what are the primer sizes, I think .45's primers are large(some smalls out there but uncommon) and .223's are small so they would require a different primer set up for each.

Are you having a problem with both primer sizes?

[gemoose23]

I use CCI Primers in my Hornady AP, with no issues. Like others have said and a couple more tidbits:

• Take the priming parts off, clean and dust any poweder out of the channel.
• Finger feel the channel and the primer catch slide, checking for any burrs or rough spots. If rough spots use some high grit sand paper or steelwool it (faster than calling Hornady's excellent customer service and having them send you new pieces.)
• I use Hornady One Shot Case lube spray on my slide, just a little.. never a hiccup

Reassemble the priming station, double checking the instructions for correct assembly and ensuring your using the plastic primer follower in the primer tube.

Remember to use the correct slide for primer size.. small for .223 and large for .45 ACP. Check return spring as well and any other parts that are on the priming station.

manual link: http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/...ing/LNL_AP.pdf

[Fyathyrio]

Another possible cause is the cap screw holding the primer tube assy to the press may be too tight and causing it to bind. Also, if foreign material has caused the shuttle to not come fully forward at some point, the primer seating punch may have damaged the shuttle and raised a rough spot in it also that's either catching on the primer feed tube or preventing the primer from seating fully into the shuttle.

[damndave]

I had this exact problem when the press was new. I found that on the slider bar there were some burrs where the primer slides in. Just use your chamfer/deburr tool and smoothen it all out.

[Clownpuncher]

In addition to using some 600 grit sand paper to lightly smooth the track out I found that the hornady cleaner/dry lube worked wonders. Since doing that, I clean it when I do caliber changes with the dry lube and haven't had an issue since.

[Wrangler John]

I retired my Hornady Progressive because of primer feeding problems. It's the weak spot of that press. I sent mine back to Hornady and they made modifications, but it still jammed and interrupted the work flow. What I did was size and deprime on a single stage press, tumble the cases, then hand prime with an RCBS APS strip hand priming tool, then use the Hornady press just to charge the cases and eat the bullets. Not what I had in mind when I bought the progressive.

Eventually I picked up an RCBS Pro 2000 Progressive Press that uses the APS priming strips. It works fine and the primers are not stacked in a tube that can go off like a Roman candle. However, if the RCBS press had the case retention system of the Hornady it would be ideal. All these progressives have flaws, my favorite is that as they snap into the stations after powder charging they will usually shed a few kernels of powder. Damn messy that.

[kingfamous]

I took it apart and found that there was a small bur on the slide. I used some steel wool and some cleaner/dry lube and had zero problems so far. Hopefully thats the end of it.

[noylj]

All progressive presses are very sensitive to powder or any other "junk." Take the priming system apart and remove the shell plate and clean it.
Are the primers NOT dropping into the primer slider cleanly?
1) Clean the primer slide, particularly the cavity the primers drop into. Place a primer in the cavity and ensure that it drops down flush (the anvil should not be sticking up above the surface of the slider).
2) Inspect the walls of the primer cavity in the slider. The edge should have a slight chamfer. Some sliders have gone out without any chamfer and, unless the unit is timed perfectly, the primer will not drop in easily and can "hang up" the slider.
3) Make sure the primer tube is all the way down
4) Make sure the primer rod is installed to weigh down the primer column.
5) Call Hornady first and have them walk you through.

One "problem" I have had is a bit of powder or dirt or something getting into the primer seater and the seater stem won't go back down. Watch for this one.
Also, for all progressive presses, NEVER FORCE ANYTHING. Remove all cases from the shell plate if there is a problem and identify the problem.

[Waldog]

Also, do not tighten the shroud tube covering the primer feed tube. When you install your primer feed tube, make sure it is installed properly. There is a "right" end and "wrong" end. Next install your shroud tube until it is BARELY finger snug, THEN UNSCREW about 1/2 turn. This provides a little play in the primer feed assembly and should improve primer feed dramatically.

[noylj]

>Next install your shroud tube until it is BARELY finger snug, THEN UNSCREW about 1/2 turn. This provides a little play in the primer feed assembly and should improve primer feed dramatically.

I never did this or needed to. Something to try if you have problems, though.