OK, so I decided to run 100 32-20 rounds through my LNL today. I usually use my T7 for a short run like that but I wanted to get it done in like 30 min or so.
So, I set up the dies....no sweat except that I had to put LNL rings on them. Then I swapped out the shell plate for a #7, again, no sweat.
I then discovered or rediscovered really that the Lee factory crimp die will not work on a LNL. I knew that but this press has been inactive for over a year...I just forgot. The RC is right next to it and it has a case kicker so I figured I'd just run them through the old green lady after their dance around the LNL.
Now to set up the case activated powder drop. I had a custom expander plug made for the 32-20 a few years back by Buckshot. It fits my one LNL powder measure perfectly but was a few .000 big to work in this one...go figure. I chucked it in the drill press and turned it down. Then I polished it and finally it fit.
Now to set the charge. 11.4 grains of Blackhorn 209. Easy peesy, it meters well. Now on to the priming system. I grab a small primer tube from the drawer and load it up. The press starts cranking out ammo but the primers are failing to load most of the time. I cleaned everything, emptied the primer tube, checked everything and started back up. It all worked for about 20 rounds and then started failing to feed and worse, it would lock the press a few degrees off of fully advanced. Not a lot, but enough that I ruined 6 or 7 cases. ****! More fiddling, more missed primers. I am wanted to pitch this friggen machine. I'm 1:45 into a 20 minute project and I'm POd. The wife calls me for dinner....Calzones! A full belly and a glass of wine and I have a news flash....I'm using the wrong primer tube and I'm not using the little centering bushing that holds the primer tube centered. Shoot, I just remembered. Hornady uses special primer tubes that are extra long. You fill them with regular primer tubes thus each press has 4 tubes, a LARGE AND SMALL PRESS FEEDER TUBE AND A LARGE AND SMALL FILLER TUBE. Cripes! what an idiot. I get the right tube in the press and the cases just fly through the machine and the primers drop perfectly. 2.5 hours wasted! I'm going to use this machine more often. Did you guys know that Hornady does not have a shell plate for the LNL in .348 Win? Nor in 50-90, 50-110 or 50-140 either. All the same case so it's no surprise; miss one and you don't have any of them.
I really like that BH209 for BPCR. Easy cleaning, no fouling build up, first shot shoots to the same place as the last, any old lube works fine.
That was my day.