Cheap Bullet Feeder w hornady feeder dies

[mjs408]

The Hornady bullet feeder is around 250 dollars plus bullet feeder die is is another 30.00ish bones. I would love to own one but I am kinda cheap and like making random shit in my dungeon reloading room.

In my case I started with a 45cal (.451-.452) Bullet feeder die. Currently the top section of the feeder die measures about .885 on the OD and .613 on the ID. This appears to be different from earlier designs of the feeder die.

What I did was take 1/2 schedule 40 PVC pipe (.844od and .613ID)and cut it down to length. 34" in may case should hold about 50 .45 cal rounds.

After cut down to length. Chamfer/Deburr the OD/ID of the finished end. In my case I used a lathe because I had access to one. The second operation was to cut a sight window in the tube towards the finished end. I used a mill, but you could do it with a couple of drilled holes and a dremel tool. The final task for the tube is to drill a couple of hole through the tube so you can run a Hairpin cotter pin to capture the bullets in the tube.

Thats the basic tube, not very advanced I know. But it seems to work.

To get the bottom of the feeder tube to mate with the top of the feeder die is where things seems to vary. It looks as though Hornady has changed their design. Early dies had an ID of roughly the OD on a piece of Schedule 40 1/2 PVC which is .844.

At some point this has changed. The new new feeder die is .885OD and .625ID. the PVC has a .844OD which is only .040 thousands from the die OD. All I did was take a 1/2 PVC coupler and hog out .040 with my dremel. Only take about 30 seconds per coupler. the coupler then slips over the OD of the feeder die and hold the tube well. Although I plan on putting a broom handle clip on a rafter for some extra support.

Total cost in is around 40 dollars including the feeder dies. I currently have 6 feeder tubes. Which gives me the ability to 300 bullets ready to run. I plan on making a few more in the future.

I have 40 and 9mm dies on order when I get them Ill update the thread. Also the A and B collets may need to be opened up just a touch .001-.002 for lead bullets.

**This is not an original idea, and I didnt mean for it to be. Just sharing some info and what worked for me**

[Yoder]

Great idea. I was looking at how to rig up the Lee case feeder to the Hornady press somehow. I have to check out all the parts and see what I can come up with. They also make clear schedule 40 pvc that might work really well for the bullet feeder tubes. You'll be able to see exactly how may are left.

[noexcuses]

I have the same setup on my L&L AP in 40 S&W, I used 7/16" tubing from Linen & Things and it fit perectly in the die. Makes the reloading go a lot faster and its a lot easier on my fingers as they do not cramp up as much just having to load brass and not bullets.

[mjs408]

I tried to link a picture but I dont have enought posts and then it wouldnt let me use upload one. How many posts do I need?

[jmorris]

I would love to own one but I am kinda cheap and like making random shit in my dungeon reloading room.

If you are cheap and like to build stuff make your own collator. I build them from 6" pvc and 1/2" plastic sheet.

[james57]

I set up the Hornady 9mm bullet feeder die with the LNT tubes. Everything worked fine and I was happy with the inexpensive program until it was pointed out to me the overall time saving was zero. The same time I use filling the bullet tubes transferred to setting the bullet on the case is the same. Also the ceiling limited my tube lengths to about 60 bullets before the changeover. I do think the entire Hornady bullet feeder may be the hot ticket for 200 bullets at a time, but then again the primer fill is limited to 100. This is set up on a Dillon 650 with case feeder. I enjoy the idea of faster, but I am rethinking the overall reloading process-YMMV.

[mjs408]

james57, I know loading the mag tubes takes time, but grabbing bullet and sticking it in flat side down into tube x 60 has to be faster than grab bullet make flat side down, stick XL size hand inside press, LNL in my case, make bullet sit on top of case half way square, remove hand x 60.

Im also working on designing a large cap primer holding system. But tracking down primer sized tube thats cheap enough is proving to be difficult. I know I could just buy primer fill tubes, but their has to be a cheaper source.

Edited February 28, 2012 by mjs408

[noexcuses]

I set up the Hornady 9mm bullet feeder die with the LNT tubes. Everything worked fine and I was happy with the inexpensive program until it was pointed out to me the overall time saving was zero. The same time I use filling the bullet tubes transferred to setting the bullet on the case is the same. Also the ceiling limited my tube lengths to about 60 bullets before the changeover. I do think the entire Hornady bullet feeder may be the hot ticket for 200 bullets at a time, but then again the primer fill is limited to 100. This is set up on a Dillon 650 with case feeder. I enjoy the idea of faster, but I am rethinking the overall reloading process-YMMV.

I load my tubes while sitting watching tv so I do not count that as reloading time. its quality time with my s.o.

[mjs408]

Bringing this back up as I am starting the next phase of my bullet feeder project, How many RPM does the bullet feed wheel run? 12ish or is it slower than that?