Hornady powder measure sticking on up stroke

[Muddydogs]

I've loaded thousands upon thousands of rounds on my LNL AP with this powder measure and never had this problem. The measure is sticking on the up stroke when loading 9mm and using the PTX in the measure. It doesn't do it all the time, i'll go 30 rounds then it will stick for a round or two. I'll shake the measure and it will be good for 1 to 30 plus rounds. I've had the measure off the press 4 times where I took it apart and can't figure it out as there's no sticking or binding off the press. All I can come up with is the PTX is binding every once in a while? I've tightened all screws, made sure the linking isn't binding on other dies. Every once in a while I have to force the powder stem down but most the time it will fall on its own if I don't get my hand on it quick enough.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Use dry lube on all the moving parts, especially where it slides up and down. There are several brands of dry lube, and I think most any of them will work. I also added an extra spring to mine, and it's loaded well over 50,000 rounds since I bought it.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Muddydogs]

I've graphited it twice in the last 2 hours and replaced the spring with a new one I had squirreled away. What gets me is it works fine for a bunch of rounds the all of a sudden sticks for a round or two then goes back to working.

 

[higgite]

Just recently my RCBS case activated Uniflow (similar to Hornady) started doing the same thing that you described. It wasn’t the PTX binding, The drop tube that is screwed into the bottom of the PM was binding in the lower die assembly. The drop tube was “scuffed up” from thousands of cycles of being pulled to one side by the return spring. I put the tube in a collet on my lathe and spun it against some crocus cloth to polish it up. Then applied some dry lube and it works like a champ again. Don’t know if that’s your problem, but it might be worth a try. Or you might call Hornady and get them to send you a new drop tube.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I don't use graphite on mine, since it doesn't stay in place, other than on your fingers. I use an aerosol spray that is a dry lube. You spray it on and let it dry.

On my LnL powder measure, there are attachment points for a second return spring, so that's what I added, a second spring.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Muddydogs]

I don't use graphite on mine, since it doesn't stay in place, other than on your fingers. I use an aerosol spray that is a dry lube. You spray it on and let it dry.

On my LnL powder measure, there are attachment points for a second return spring, so that's what I added, a second spring.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I was thinking I should get a spray lube and give it a try. Got a pic of where you hooked up the second spring? I'm wondering if my problem isn't like what Higgite described in his post as I could see a couple shinny spots inside the powder die body but the drop tube looks fine. Before I started the session I polished the drop tube but didn't have anything to get inside the die body to polish it up. A second spring opposite the first spring might take care of the problem and keep the drop tube from binding on the die body.

 

[Blue68f100]

The only thing I can think of is the down tube binding up on the lower body. That and make sure you have the linkage setup correctly and not over adjust the PTX stop. Mine is only setup for 1 spring, return. The PTX stop goes over the return spring post.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Have you tried polishing the flats of the powder inserts...or even the track where the insert travels

 

[tcj]

If it just started happening then I would check to make sure that all of the linkage arms on the drop are screwed in. After several years and 10's of 1000's of rounds I had one loosen up that caused some binding and I actually bent one as a result.

 

[Muddydogs]

I checked every bolt and screw on the measure twice. Last night I set up another powder die that I have and sure enough first throw it stuck. Called Hornady and they had no idea as I have checked or done everything they suggested. I now have a can of dry spray lube so tonight I will polish everything up once again and spray it down with the lube and see what happens.

 

[Iron Sight]

After around ? 50,000 rounds loaded my 392705 drop tube was visually worn. I tried polishing it but still would stick. I called Hornady and they sent me a new drop tube. No more sticking now. Sticking is bad & can cause a round to get through without any powder.