Hornady PTX woes!

[TexasGrunt]

If you own a Hornady LnL AP and want to use a powder check die you have to give up something.

Normally you'll end up seating and crimping in the same station.

However if you use a Hornady PTX in your powder measure you can separate seating and crimping. There's just ONE slight problem if you load cast boolits. The ONLY PTX Hornday makes for cast boolits is the .452. They don't make one for any other diameter. I'd kill for a .358 PTX but they only make a .357 I hate seating and crimping in the same station.

Bah, rant over.

[rancher1913]

I deprime and size a bunch, then hand prime, then set the lnl up for loading.

[Drew P]

I put my .357" ptx in the lathe and cut a "Lyman M" step into it making the working area on the tip longer, and larger .358+ so it works great. the metal is case hardened though, so it's a challenge. Grinding would probably be better if possible.

[TexasGrunt]

If I had a lathe and the skills I've give it a shot making some.

I'm just surprised that no one has done this. With a CNC they would take about 20 seconds each.

[noylj]

I thought Hornady now had a line of cast bullet PTXs?
Have you asked them to custom make one for you?
If not, there are probably some machinists who sell things on eBay that can make one for you.
Finally, have you simply tried the 0.357" and see how it works? I found my PTXs to work well for all my cast bullets, but they are all several years old (one of the first L-N-Ls and no complaints).

[mjkonopka]

Look at the Mr bullet feeder ptx. They make one for the hornady powder measure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am pretty sure it is good for cast boolits.

[TexasGrunt]

If Hornady has them they are not listed, I believe they made them 6-7 years ago and dropped them.
I'm going to call them today. I've tried the .357 and it's a great shaving tool. Shaves lead off the boolit like a champ.

[tinsnips]

TexasGrunt I just went an looked at my Ptx 's . I have one that is stamped .358A cannot remember where I got it from.Maybe tomorrow I can find a invoice an let you know.

[tinsnips]

Forgot to say that the .452 is not for a 45 acp I believe it is for a 45 colt. The length is not right for 45acp.

[Drew P]

TexasGrunt I just went an looked at my Ptx 's . I have one that is stamped .358A cannot remember where I got it from.Maybe tomorrow I can find a invoice an let you know.
I just got one of those from grafs. Not sure why it's stamped 358A because the package said 357.

[noylj]

If it shaves lead, you must not be going down far enough to flare the case mouth or something else is wrong. Better too much flare than not enough.

[TexasGrunt]

Forgot to say that the .452 is not for a 45 acp I believe it is for a 45 colt. The length is not right for 45acp.

I use it all the time for .45 ACP. At least I used to. I switched all my .45 ACP over to my Dillon. That $200 650 with strong mount, powder check, complete toolhead conversion for .44 Mag was the best buy I've ever made. It was NIB. RIP Art, I miss ya buddy.

[tinsnips]

I kind of did the same thing I load all my 38,357 on my 550 but before I always used my LNL with out any problems.I use my LNL for 45 acp an soon 40cal. 9mm I got both press working perfect . Hopefully I don't have lead shaving problems with the new cals. Texas Grunt are you saying you use the .452 for 45 acp that would be good to know for future reference. Off to work !!!

[TexasGrunt]

I did use the .452 for .45. Did it for years.

[TexasGrunt]

If it shaves lead, you must not be going down far enough to flare the case mouth or something else is wrong. Better too much flare than not enough.

My .357 PTX doesn't flare. It goes right to a 90° shoulder.

[blikseme300]

I solved the same problem in 2 different ways:

1) I machined my own PTX's for 9mmP & 45ACP for use in the LnL powder measure. This works but it is a PITA to set up the linkage and have it stay put, IMHO.

2) As I already had a number of Lee Auto Disk Pro measures I tried this on the LnL AP. Works very well for pistol and most of the rifle I load for. More options of stock expanders and also easy to modify or make your own. Add the double disk kit for accurate & repeatable throws for larger volumes. I document the cavities used for specific charges of powder type and there is no fiddling with adjustments to get the same charges during a later loading session. Of course not all powders meter well so choose wisely.

Works for me, YMMV.

[1bluehorse]

RCBS makes them for the Uniflow measure. I would think they would work with the Hornady measure as they are about the same thing. If you go just into the shoulder of the RCBS PTX die it will expand the case mouth. I use them with cast in 357,44, 45colt.

[omgb]

I just had one custom made for about $30. I needed on in .311 for my 32-20. Hornady would do it but the cost was outrageous.

[noylj]

Have you tried flaring with it? If it doesn't flare (and some expanders are hard to see the flare section--see Lee), then call Hornady as it was mis-machined. All my PTXs flare beautifully.

[TexasGrunt]

Have you tried flaring with it? If it doesn't flare (and some expanders are hard to see the flare section--see Lee), then call Hornady as it was mis-machined. All my PTXs flare beautifully.

I'll post a picture of this PTX. The sizing spud comes right to a 90° shoulder. There's NO flare to this PTX at all. I can take a piece of sized or unsized brass and push it right up to the 90° shoulder.

Here's a link from Midway. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/659496/hornady-quick-change-powder-die-powder-through-expander-357-diameter

No flare.

[TexasGrunt]

RCBS makes them for the Uniflow measure. I would think they would work with the Hornady measure as they are about the same thing. If you go just into the shoulder of the RCBS PTX die it will expand the case mouth. I use them with cast in 357,44, 45colt.

Many thanks! I'm going to give that a try.

[noylj]

And, that looks a lot like the Lee PTE expander plug that flares just fine.
Again, if it doesn't flare, you have a faulty item and should contact Hornady. There is no excuse for not having a flare step.
That should have been your first point of contact.

[TexasGrunt]

I've got five Hornady PTX pieces. None of them flare. All of them look just like the one I pictured.

[noylj]

Unless someone writes otherwise, all PTXs can flare. If yours can't, call Hornady. This isn't an argument--either Hornady has screwed up the design since I bought all mine or your are screwed up.