Hornady LnL modification

[John3921]

Loading .223 on the LNL using the Hornady powder measure and CFE223 powder. The powder meters nicely - but - the pistol rotor is of course too small to get a full drop and the rifle rotor is touchy. The rotor stems are threaded at 1/2 x 20 tpi. On the pistol rotor you get about 1 grain powder for every turn of the stem. On the rifle rotor its more like 5 or 6 grains - so .1's are difficult to dial in.

I took a pistol rotor which has a powder chamber that is 0.315" in diameter, and bored out the powder chamber to 0.4375" diameter (7/16 ) This approximately doubles the powder capacity of the rotor. I made a new stem for the rotor - I think you could turn down the plunger end of a rifle rotor if you so desired - but I just made a new stem.

I haven't had a chance to try it yet - but it threads in and out nicely without jamming on the bore. I'll give it a try here in a bit and see how it is to dial in.

 

[Walkalong]

Very creative.

 

[grubbylabs]

I am very interested in how this turns out. Please keep us posted

 

[cfullgraf]

john3921,

Good deal, let us know how it turns out.

I have considered that there are optimum cavity diameters depending on the charge thrown. The manufacturers do not want to make lots of different drums so they compromise.

 

[Walkalong]

I have considered that there are optimum cavity diameters depending on the charge thrown.

That was Reddings theory behind the BR-30. It was designed for the average charge weight Benchrest competitors used. Naturally it will do smaller charges, as well as larger, but it is limited as far as a rifle measure is concerned. The measuring cavity also has a round bottom, which Redding says is better than flat.

 

[John3921]

I messed with it a bit tonight. It dialed in faster to the drop I wanted - and it stabilized faster. I put a single piece of primed brass on the scale and ran the tare function. Then I dropped 10 drops or so weighing each drop. I was aiming for 24.3 grains. I had 2 @ 24.2, 1 @ 24.4, and 7 @ 24.3. It was quite a bit easier to dial in and I think a bit more stabile than the rifle rotor.

 

[John3921]

Some photos. My modified rotor and piston is in the middle.

 

[Walkalong]

Very nicely done.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, very nicely done!

 

[floydster]

Very nice!!! Hornady needs to step it up

 

[anotherred]

Excellent!!

 

[Urban_Redneck]

And this one's just right

Well done!

 

[br6ad]

I like that. Maybe Hornady will take notice and see a want/need for something in between like you made. Nice job!!

 

[grubbylabs]

What did you make the stem from?

 

[John3921]

I used Stress Proof steel, I don't know if it's truly Stress Proof or if it's 1144. It's a steel that machines nicely. I have a couple pieces of 1/2" marine bronze laying around that might make a nice stem.

 

[grubbylabs]

I might have to keep you in mind when I gear up to do 223. Seem like it might be kind of handy to have a large pistole/small rifle rotor.

 

[Walkalong]

Maybe Hornady will take notice and see a want/need for something in between like you made.

Yep, as there is a huge difference in the two. I believe one in the middle would sell well.

 

[MErl]

Wonder if it'd be better to have a set of cylindrical shims that fit in the big rifle drum and a soft rubber plunger. (if something commercial was a go)