Hornady LNL AP sometimes hard to seat primers

[*chris*]

So I have reloaded around 250 cartridges on my LNL and every once in a while the small primer won't seat in the brass. If I wriggle the brass in the slot a little it will slide right in. Any idea what could cause this? I am using Remington brass and federal primers. I don't think it is the timing of the press, could it be that my press is slightly off-plumb?

Chris

 

[EddieCoyle]

Make sure your shellplate is tight.

 

[dustoff22]

You need to make sure you keep the primer slide area free of any spilled powder. Just a few grains of powder will screw up the proper travel and positioning of the slide.

 

[BostonBullit]

when you wiggle the case does the shell plate move at all? if the press isn't indexing properly it'll stop just short of the detent and you need to bump it into position before you seat the primer.

or as eddy EC says double check that the shellplate is tight.

or as do22 says make sure there's not powder impeding the primer shuttle....

 

[01SVTvert]

I would check to make sure the press is fully indexing. Mine would stop a TINY bit short of the detent and just touching the brass would let it click into place.

 

[wiskie762]

I had a similar problem when loading 9mm. tried everything above then found it was crimped primer pockets.

 

[*chris*]

You need to make sure you keep the primer slide area free of any spilled powder. Just a few grains of powder will screw up the proper travel and positioning of the slide.

The shellplate was tight but it was really dirty with bullet lube, powder and lead. It looks like the dirt could prevent the cases from seating fully. I cleaned and lube the shellplate and will try it again once I have some empty cases to fill.

Chris

 

[bcbert-4]

I would check to make sure the press is fully indexing. Mine would stop a TINY bit short of the detent and just touching the brass would let it click into place.

+1 mine came from the factory just a bit out of adjustment. On the down stroke the shell plate would stop just before the detent.

 

[01SVTvert]

DONT go overboard with the adjustment. 1/16th of a turn can make a difference..

 

[DrRansom]

+1 mine came from the factory just a bit out of adjustment. On the down stroke the shell plate would stop just before the detent.

Every time or just some of the time? Mine seems to do so every few (?) times?

 

[Fixxah]

If I am supposed to lube the shell plate them I missed the boat. Haven't done it yet. Loaded quite a few rounds up until last February.

 

[bcbert-4]

Every time or just some of the time? Mine seems to do so every few (?) times?

Every time. Hornady tech help walked me through making the slightest adjustment to correct the problem. Has been perfect since then.

 

[01SVTvert]

Mine did the bad position only occasionally. It seemed that only maybe once in 5-20 rounds it would need to be touched to get it to lock into place. This was such a short distance it was impossible to even hear it click in once you touched it.

 

[dustoff22]

If I am supposed to lube the shell plate them I missed the boat. Haven't done it yet. Loaded quite a few rounds up until last February.

Don't know if you remember "Bugs100" who sadly left us awhile back. His advice to me regarding his and my L-N-L AP was to put a couple squirts of dry lubricant (graphite) under the shell plate. Seemed to work for me.

 

[01SVTvert]

I also dust underneath with graphite.