techj

I'll try to get some pix posted tomorrow or the next day as I am in the middle of reloading 308's at the moment.

With a flared case in the station and the die unscrewed you should raise the ram and then screw the die down until it just touches, remove the case and then turn it down about 1/4 turn further - that should do it. If you have flared the case enough it should feed the bullet and the bullet should just sit in the case.

If you have enough flare that the bullet feed die is working and the bullet is usually staying in place until seating then that's enough flare. If you are occasionally having the bullet fall out then perhaps the press isn't moving smoothly enough between stations. I'm assuming that you are using the PTX (powder through expander). If you are it is possible that it is sticking causing you to have to muscle through more than you need to and causing excess motion in the press. Sometime you need to polish the PTX and - depending upon how you're cleaning your cases - they may be too dry (no lube or carbon in side of the case mouth) resulting in excess friction.

Depending upon the powder that you use - if it drops very consistently (i.e. Power Pistol, Bullseye, most Accurate powders) then once you have confirmed the powder drop you can just visually examine/confirm the fill of each case...that is what I do. I have an LED light setup so that I can clearly see the case before the bullet feed in order to confirm.

I used a utility knife blade...carefully. But anything with a strong, thin edge should work.

You probably won't need a grinding stone. First off - go slow & be careful as it easy to damage the collets (I know from personal experience). What worked for me with my bullets was to use some sandpaper on a dowel with the top collet until the bullet would just drop through. Please note that once you do this it will only work on that specific diameter bullet and you won't be able to use the collet for jacketed. Then on the lower collet I cleaned up the opening with the same sandpaper + dowel and then had to gently spread the fingers until the bullet would drop partially through the collet. Again go easy as I have also broken a finger off of a collet. Once I go to this point it was a matter of adjusting the die by following the instructions and then small changes in the flare of the cases. It won't take excessive pressure to run.

I have an LNL and use coated bullets (The Blue Bullets) in 9 & 45 with their bullet feeder. I found that it worked best for me to seat and crimp in 2 different stations. Once you get it dialed in the bullet feeder works very well...getting there can be a bit of a challenge especially with coated bullets.

On my Mark III the biggest changes that improved reliability were 1) removing the LCI (just left it out); and 2) replacing the extractor. After doing those 2 things - and staying with ammo that I know will work well - I have 100% confidence in the gun for steel challenge. BTW - I shoot CCI standard velocity and Federal Automatch almost exclusively due to reliability and availability.

When I use the Microsoft Edge browser I can't enter anything into the text section on either post replies or new posts. It does allow me to enter tags & titles. Any ideas (other than using a different browser) ? Not only is it the default browser for Windows 10 but other than this problem on this site it works better than Internet Explorer. Thanks in advance.

+1 on Beef15's advice to push the handle all the way forward. Only time I ever have a problem with primer seating is if the shell plate has loosened up. I have loaded over 30k rounds of pistol and a few k of rifle on my LNL.

The action target store (formally LE Targets - https://shop.actiontarget.com/ ) has paper versions that are as low as $0.22 in bulk.

I usually stock up based upon whichever component gets changed. For example, I have a case of 9mm bullets coming in and will load about a 100 with my existing powder & primer batches and if all is well will go on to load the other 3,500 from that order or until I have to start with a new batch of primers or powders. This reduces the possibility of introducing an unexpected problem due to a component change.

I run these exclusively in 9 & 45 and load with an LNL - no problems. Only residue is in the bullet collator drum but that wipes off easily and hasn't caused any problems for me.

I use old Tupperware containers (for shoes) for sorted, dirty brass and gallon ziplock plastic bags for clean, ready-to-load brass.

Welcome!

+++

Sent them an e-mail last week with a question and received a response within 24 hrs. I've always communicated with them via e-mail without a problem....never tried calling them.

The blue comes off of your fingers quite easily - I just use a paper towel and some hand cleaner/goop and it comes right off. I doubt it is any more toxic than any other coating and would always clean my hands before touching my eyes, eating, etc. while loading. As an FYI - I notice less of an odor when shooting indoors with the Blues than with some of the other coated bullets.

I like and shoot the Blue Bullets. My preferences are 125gr in 9mm and 230gr in 45acp. I shoot the 9's in both my Glock 17 and my 1911. Haven't had any problems whatsoever with leading or fouling. I will typically go about 500 rounds before performing a field strip (1911 or Glock) with only adding lube (1911) every couple of hundred rounds. No lube and the Blue's have no lube groove.

I like RNFP in 230gr. I know you don't care about the brand but as an FYI the ones I use are the Blue Bullets.

I agree - one of the better zombie movies out there; even if it made me "work" by reading the subtitles.

For 9 & 45 I usually reload 750-1,000 in a session and will normally do 2 sessions (different days) in a week before cleaning the press and changing calibers. That gives me about 2 months worth of inventory for 9 or 45. Other calibers I usually only do about 500 at a time only because I don't have enough brass to do more and don't shoot the others - 38, 357, 44, 308, 30-06 - as much. FYI - this is on a Hornady LNL AP. BTW - I always like to have at least 1 months' worth of ammo in each caliber already loaded so that if life gets in the way I can still go to the range.

IMHO I don't think having them do the repair would be a risk - other than the time it would take.

+ on more bell - also, if you are seating & crimping with one die you may want to split it into 2 as it may be crimping while seating.

It's a slight odor for me with the Hy Tek...I haven't noticed any real odor when shooting blue bullets.