Installed a Hornady CAPD & measure onto Lee Classic Turret, result looks promising

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Since I really like the Hornady LnL and RCBS Unflow powder measures and how they handle fine grained powders to extruded rifle powders, I wanted to see if it was possible to install one on a Lee Classic Turret press I'd just bought.

I installed my Hornady LnL powder measure with case activated powder drop (the older style CAPD) on my Lee Classic Cast turret press. I was using a set of Lee dies for .303 Brit, a cartridge you might want to use IMR 4895 or some other such powder for.

I installed the CAPD with the original insert for .30 caliber rifles and everything looked promising. I was able to get both the micrometer adjustment and the linkage mechanism to clear the Lee Safety Prime. The CAPD was a tight fit on the small turret, but was do-able and I believe I could set it up to clear the dies and operate correctly with some thought. I had to use a Lee die lock ring, as neither a Hornady lock ring nor a Redding lock ring would clear the other lock rings on the very space economical turret.

The linkage on my older style CAPD is not very much different in layout and dimension from the RCBS case activated linkage kit & the new Hornady CAPD (the one that uses pistol case expansion inserts), I believe it's very likely the RCBS and the new Hornady CAPD will fit and be able to clear as well.

Results:

1. The Hornady measure would work, but it's a larger measure, weighs more than the Uniflow I have and feels a bit heavy on top of the small Lee Classic turret, causing it to feel awkward there when operating the press and the turret is rotating. I didn't finish adjusting it, because I had plans to move the Hornady measure to a new style CAPD and use it fon my LNL for rifle and pistol.

2. I have an RCBS Uniflow, which I had originally planned to combine with my old style Hornady measure if possible and put on the Lee Classic Cast Turret for handling powders the Lee Pro Auto Disk might or does have trouble with.

3. I installed the old style Hornady CAPD on the RCBS Uniflow, then installed the entire apparatus on the Lee Classic Cast press and adjusted it. VOILA!! It worked good!!! The Uniflow was enough lighter in weight than the LnL measure and therefore felt comfortable when rotated during the turret's operation.

I was able, using the rifle drum and a standard metering rod, to adjust out to between 9.5 and 10 on the metering rod and still clear the Safety prime. 10 was just long enough it wouldn't clear the Safety primeI am not familiar enough with the Uniflow's standard measuring rod to know how large that is, but I'm suspecting it is a large enough for most charges I would load on the Lee press.

I was able to adjust the CAPD for proper operation of the Uniflow without problem (for those who have a Hornady perss and a Uniflow or want to pick up a Uniflow at a gunshow, etc cheap, this is an easy adaptation.) and the little Lee Classic Cast turret feels quite comfortable with the Uniflow riding on top.

I think this is a great way to have your cake and eat it to. Case activation power drop with both the Lee Pro Auto Disk (good pistol powder measure) and the RCBS Uniflow (good for rifle powders and powders the Pro Auto Disk doesn't work well with). My apologies for generalizing on the powders, but I'm tired, since I got up at five A.M. to review for a test this morning.

Here are some pics:

http://www.zjstech.net/~ddixson/RCBSUniflowMountedToLeeClassicTurretPress%20001.jp g

http://www.zjstech.net/~ddixson/RCBSUniflowMountedToLeeClassicTurretPress%20002.jp g

http://www.zjstech.net/~ddixson/RCBSUniflowMountedToLeeClassicTurretPress%20003.jp g

http://www.zjstech.net/~ddixson/RCBSUniflowMountedToLeeClassicTurretPress%20004.jp g

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I am not totally familiar with the RCBS Uniflow, having recently acquired it, so I decided to set the measure up to dispense 48.5 grains of IMR 4895, which is pretty close to, if not a max load for the .303 Brit and .308 Winchester. I measured on an Redding powder measure.

With the measure set to dispense that much powder, the .303 Brit case I was using for test purposes was filled halfway up the case neck and would definately have been a compressed load and not one I would ever think of shooting.

The adjustment for the Uniflow I was using is the standard adjustment that comes with the large cylinder when one buys the powder measure. The setting, when I was finished with my adjustments, was just past four and between four and five on the scale of the adjustment. Obviously, if one wanted less powder, one could screw the adjustment in more to reduce the charge.

With the setting at maximum (or close) charge loads for the .303 and .308, the adjusting "rod" easily cleared the top of the Lee Safety Prime (about 1/2 to 3/4" clearance) when mounted into a properly adjusted for function Hornady case activated powder drop.

Based on the above and having some knowledge of typical 4895 loads in 30.06, I think the RCBS Uniflow with either the RCBS or Hornady case activated powder drop set has a lot of potential as an option for powder dispensing with the Lee Classic Cast Turret press.

Since a lot of folks own Uniflows and they're easily acquired at reasonable prices on ebay or at gunshows, this is a very good way of adding a powder measure capable of doing a good job of handling powders that may be difficult with the Lee Pro Auto Disk as well as providing case activated powder measure, which currently is not available with the Lee Perfect Powder Measure on the turret press.

[Swagerman]

You can get a little more height if you make a brass bushing between the PM and the Hornady Lnl gizzmo. You can find a starter bushing in the hardware store in the electrical or plumbing department.

See picture...

Jim

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Jim,

Thanks for the tip. I'd seen you post using the measure on your Dillons, but hadn't realized how many you have. I see you've taken full advantage of the availablity of Uniflows on the used market. I like that. They are a good measure and quite available. Nothing like adapting stuff from company to company to get a better reloading experience.

Out of curiousity, which of the Hornady case activated powder mechanisms do you have? The older style or the newer one? Also, have you tried using the case expanders with them and if so, how have they worked for you?


Dave

[Swagerman]

Jim,

Thanks for the tip. I'd seen you post using the measure on your Dillons, but hadn't realized how many you have. I see you've taken full advantage of the availablity of Uniflows on the used market. I like that. They are a good measure and quite available. Nothing like adapting stuff from company to company to get a better reloading experience.

Out of curiousity, which of the Hornady case activated powder mechanisms do you have? The older style or the newer one? Also, have you tried using the case expanders with them and if so, how have they worked for you?


Dave

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Hi, Dave:

I only have two of these combination units left, and one has a Dillon case expander in it...but it took some spacer washers opened up on its ID to make it work.

As I bought the Hornady units a few years back -- I guess they're the old style if there is a newer style I'm not aware of it. Unless you mean the ones made by RCBS.

The working results have been very good, but fine grain powders tend to build up, so I keep the powder hopper empty after using and usually clean the Lnl apparatus to keep it functioning well.

One of my powder measures are Hornady, and one is RCBS uniflow.


Jim

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Hi Jim,


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I only have two of these combination units left, and one has a Dillon case expander in it...but it took some spacer washers opened up on its ID to make it work.

I wish some of those other fellas on one of the board could figure out stuff like this. Honady has new expanders and a new CAPD out and appear to be having a machining problem with the case mouth expander where it's been made a bit too short. Several of those guys haven't been able to figure out how to use a spacer washer to fix the expansion depth with a washer as a temporary fix until Hornady can resolve the machining issue.

As I bought the Hornady units a few years back -- I guess they're the old style if there is a newer style I'm not aware of it. Unless you mean the ones made by RCBS.

No, Hornady has changed the design on theirs and the tech guy at Hornady tells me they make the RCBS ones for them to RCBS's spec. Not suprising, both are simlar and both are slightly differentthan the old style. I have the old style too and since I'm wanting to add a measure or two, I'm thinking about buying one of the new pistol expansion ones. I have one of my rifle inserts modified and use Lyman M-die inserts for case expansion in mine, since I didn't have any Dillon expanders to get the same results you're mentioning. I also used washers as spacers.

The working results have been very good, but fine grain powders tend to build up, so I keep the powder hopper empty after using and usually clean the Lnl apparatus to keep it functioning well.

Do the powders build up around where the washers are? That's what I've found with my modification with the M-die expanders.

One of my powder measures are Hornady, and one is RCBS uniflow.

I thought you had four of them in that pic above.

Dave

[Swagerman]

Do the powders build up around where the washers are? That's what I've found with my modification with the M-die expanders.

One of my powder measures are Hornady, and one is RCBS uniflow.

I thought you had four of them in that pic above.

Dave

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Dave:

No problem with powder build up around the washer areas, they have been opened up on the inside diameter of the washers so its a straight through drop for the powder.

If I remember right, the washers are only for keep the expander from bobbing around in the Hornady unit.

I now only have two units, sold two and kept two. Found I only needed two in my reloading practices.

Jim

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Dave:

No problem with powder build up around the washer areas, they have been opened up on the inside diameter of the washers so its a straight through drop for the powder.

If I remember right, the washers are only for keep the expander from bobbing around in the Hornady unit.

I now only have two units, sold two and kept two. Found I only needed two in my reloading practices.

Jim

Jim,

That is encouraging to hear, as I had hoped to only use two, one setup with rifle (The Hornady, for volume due to it's larger powder hopper and the fact I have a Micrometer for it's large cylinder.) and one set up for pistol, (the RCBS measure, for the last bit of accuracy gained in a smaller cylinder volume). I'll probably add the small cylinder micrometer to the Uniflow as I see you've done.

The washers you have to use the Dillon , did you machine those, have them machined or use off the shelf washers? I'm definately going to be using the new case expanders and realize I may want to use Dillon's case expander if it's adaptable and I can pick one up used.

Finally, I saw these adapters to larger volume jugs for Uniflows on Sinclar's website and thought you might be interested:

http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=REPMSP&item=PM-9000&type=store

http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=REPMSP&item=PM-0010&type=store

Regards,

Dave

[Swagerman]

Any washer that will more or less fit the holes it needs too, used my mini-lathe to inside ream them out a tad.

You can use brass ones if you prefere.

I've got way more powder measures than I really need now, don't plan on buying anything new.

Jim