HORNADY LOCK N LOAD PRIMER SLIDE PROBLEM

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

I started loading 223 with Benchmark powder on the press. every once in a while a small granule of benchmark will fall into the recess where the primer slide mates with the shellplate. This invariably causes the primer slide to not fully enter the recess and since the primer seater is not perfectly aligned with the primer hole, the whole press binds up. I have tried using picks, brushes and canned air to blow out the recess but everytime I needed to disassemble the shellplate and manually remove the one or two granules.
Anybody have this issue? And the fix?
I will try to get pics up to clarify

[klewan]

Drill holes in the bottom of the recess to let the powder fall through. Right at the half round end. Then I would remove some metal from the slider at the half round end. What you want to do is leave enough metal so the slider is properly positioned, but has room to let the powder accumulate without binding up the machine. Think of it like an AK47, it is made with large tolerances so it doesn't bind up..

[at_liberty]

You should request the warranty upgrade of the primer assembly. There is a new primer seating plug shape and a new slider, large and small.

[BigBronco]

Canned air can become your best friend. If powder spills blow it out first thing. Problems gone.

[Branden967]

Canned air can become your best friend. If powder spills blow it out first thing. Problems gone.

+1 on the above. Lots of air is your friend.
I also polished my slide where the nipple go up through the slide. On the inner cone part. Unusually I dont know if there is junk in there unless its a lot.

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

forgot to say this is the first time using the small primer slide and extruded powder, I will try the polish and recess method, I was figuring that's what I needed to do and wanted to see what solutions worked better than that Idea. Canned air, didn't work, must be a little grease holding onto the granules.

[Willwork4ammo]

You should request the warranty upgrade of the primer assembly. There is a new primer seating plug shape and a new slider, large and small.

+1 on this. Why modify your equipment when you can get an updated version for free? This way you'll have a backup also.

[klewan]

Any of you got a link to the new, improved, sure to work, primer upgrade? I looked at Hornady's web page. No luck. Somehow I suspect it has metal removed compared to the original....

[toyotaguy]

Call Hornady!! Their customer service is awesome, I've had a few little glitches with my lnl and they have sent me new parts for free very fast. I called on Monday and asked about their new primer punches and mentioned Id had gunk build up in the old ones and they sent me two brand new primer punches for large and small primers. 3 days to get them!

[shooting4life]

Air is your friend. The trick is to blow the powder before it gets down to the powder. I actually piped my air line to my reloading area for this and other gun purposes.
This is actually right under my press. The shop vac also goes up above the bench for all sorts of sucking.

[oso grande]

+1 on this. Why modify your equipment when you can get an updated version for free? This way you'll have a backup also.

Plug's not the problem. As OP stated, the problem is grains of powder lodged between the end of the primer slide and the recess in the sub base.
I think drilling some small holes in the sub plate is a nifty idea. I'm gonna do that.
S4l, Your air set up is just great! Your lucky to have the compressor far enough away so as not be too noisy.

OG

[BenHa]

Do you have pictures of this upgraded primer assembly? curious if mine is the most updated version or not

Thanks

[Wrangler John]

That has been the problem of the L&L Progressive since day one, and not just with Hornady's presses - they all have problems of one kind or another. I sent my early one in and they modified the primer feed. It still jammed up, eventually the slide broke, so I ordered a supply of parts to keep on hand. Thing just never worked right so I stashed it away and moved on.

[at_liberty]

Any of you got a link to the new, improved, sure to work, primer upgrade? I looked at Hornady's web page. No luck. Somehow I suspect it has metal removed compared to the original....

I emailed them and included my serial #.

[Willwork4ammo]

Plug's not the problem. As OP stated, the problem is grains of powder lodged between the end of the primer slide and the recess in the sub base....

Ahh...just re-read it. Thanks. Like others have said....compressed air is the easiest solution.