LNL AP seat crimp die sticking

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I am trying to set up my new LNL seat crimp die.
I have called Hornady and they had no idea and had no suggestions.
I have cleaned per directions. I have tried at least 25 times.
I seat the bullet and so far no problem. As soon as I start to set the crimp the bullet hangs up or sticks as I lower the case from the die. When I say sticks, I mean I have to almost yank the ram to get it to release.
I have tried seating the bullet and then backed the seating out and set the crimp separately. This is where it hangs up.
I have adjusted the expander die to where I have to hold the bullet to guide it into the die all the way to where the bullet falls into the case. It makes no difference.
When I put the calipers on the case mouth, it seems to get larger when I crimp.
MY LEE dies never gave me any issues.
I figured someone else has had this problem and thought I would ask.
Thanks!
 
Interesting problem and not one I've had using Hornady dies. It would be helpful to know a little more detail.
Caliber
Bullet type
Did your die set come with a choice of seating stem's?

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I’ve not had this issue, although I run RCBS or Lee dies in my LNL. My son has Hornady dies in his LNL and they’re fine.

You mentioned this is a new die - did you have a process working and then added this die or is this the first time reloading with this die set?
I seat and crimp in two different operations. You mention this is a problem in crimp. What caliber, and, is it possible your bullets are not sized correctly?
Pictures might help!
 
I'm sorry for the lack of detailed info. I was so frustrated and just started to write.
This is a brand new set up, press and dies. I have loaded plenty with a LEE Classic and stepped up to the LNL AP.
I am loading 9MM with mixed brass and RMR 124 GR JHP
I do have a choice of a flat seating stem or a round one. I am using the round one and seems to fit the bullet correctly.
I have used the RMR bullets for several years and have never had a problem.
I have never used a combined seat crimp die. I have added a powder cop so I needed to combine the process.
 
It certainly can be frustrating. Is there a chance you can just use the dies you used before with the Lee classic? Just to eliminate the one die issue?
I don’t have Hornady dies but perhaps it’s a roll crimp die and this adjustment may be hanging up.
I do PTX on the LNL, and then use the lock out die, not the powder cop die. This frees up the expander so I can seat in one operation and then crimp in another. But, it seems your crimp operation is the problematic one.
 
Sounds OK so far. Are you having any problems on other stations with alignment of the shell plate under the die? Does the shell plate sort of snap in place when it indexes? It's not uncommon for a new LNL to need to have some pawl adjustment fine tuning.

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Have you measured how much crimp your applying? Sounds like you may be over crimping. I use Hornady dies for handgun and have not had the problem you speak of. I use the PTX in station 2, powder cop in 3, seat in 4, crimp in station 5.
 
Your seating/crimp die is a 9mm taper crimp die, right? It almost sounds like you are putting the case to deep in the die if it is a taper crimp die.
What do they look like when you get them down out of there?
Do you have a case gauge to check the loaded round with?
You only need to clean them once, if it didn't help the first time it won't help later.
I would love to get my hands on that die to see what is going on with it.
Something to consider is that you can't see the taper crimp on a cartridge, so I put my dial calipers on the case under where the crimp would be and slide it up the cartridge towards the bullet when I set up a crimp die.
Raise you die up and use a dummy round that has been flared with a bullet seated in it and start checking for when the flare goes straight with your calipers as you bring the die down and when it does, the die is set.
Going further down will only cause other problems, but make sure it is one of the shortest cases you can find.
 
It is for sure a taper crimp.I have a second brand new taper crimp die and checked both packages. I took the new die right out of the package and put it in the press and adjusted it exactly like the directions say. It is still binding, not quite as badly though. I do have a case gauge and they fit and fall freely out. They also seat/plunk in my removed barrel.
As far as crimp goes, it just barely touches the case mouth and I turn it in 1/8th of a turn from there and that is where it binds.
The crimp measurement on the calipers is almost not measurable, less than one thousandth. I have tried experimenting and crimping more and all it does is bind more. No crimp, no bind.
The only thing I have not tried is not seating the case so deeply on the initial seating portion. I put an empty case in and raise the ram and lower the die until it just touched the case and then tighten the lock ring.
 
I'm sorry for the lack of detailed info. I was so frustrated and just started to write.
This is a brand new set up, press and dies. I have loaded plenty with a LEE Classic and stepped up to the LNL AP.
I am loading 9MM with mixed brass and RMR 124 GR JHP.

Do you still have the Lee press? if so load up a few to the point of crimping and then install the die in the Lee press and see if you run into the same problem with the crimp. This will at least eliminate the LNL press and narrow it down to the die.
 
Unless there is something wrong with the die, and you should be able to see that, it is almost certainly run too far down.
 
The crimp measurement on the calipers is almost not measurable, less than one thousandth. I have tried experimenting and crimping more and all it does is bind more. No crimp, no bind.
It does sound like you are over crimping. The term crimping can be a bit misleading when dealing with cartridges that headspace on the mouth of the case. What you goal should be is to straighten out the flare from the expansion die

As far as crimp goes, it just barely touches the case mouth and I turn it in 1/8th of a turn from there and that is where it binds.
Try working it backwards.

From the position that it binds, turn the die OUT, a bit at a time, until it doesn't bind...then measure the case for the amount of crimp that you have applied
 
Just checking, but you said you took it out of the package and put it in the press. Did you clean the die prior to installation? If not, I would recommend it.

I also have had some particular plated bullets that do that but is seems to be caused by a lack of flare, then the seating die has to exert more pressure to seat the bullet and that causes the sticking.
 


Here is a quick video of the loaded dummy round exiting and sticking int the seat/crimp die. It's hard to work the press and video but it shows the sticking.
I run a clean case through the sizing die and expanding die then to the seat/crimp.
It moves freely in and out of the die until I set the crimp. 1/8 of a turn and it binds.
When I said I took the die from the package, I did not clean it, this was the second, brand new die. I cleaned the first one as instructed. I wanted to see if it was something I did in the cleaning or reassembly process and thought taking it right out of the package might help identify it was something I was doing.
I have read the instructions over and over, watched videos on setting it up. It has to be something I am doing. I can't believe I would have two separate dies that are bad. One was purchased as a single die from MidwayUSA and the other as part of a three die set from Cabela's.
My press cycles and lines up at all stations so I don't think it is an indexing problem.

I will try backing the die out as was suggested by @Walkalong This is the only thing I can think of that I have not tried. I place an empty case in the shell holder and raise the ram. Lower the die until slight resistance is felt and tighten the lock ring. I have also turned it a quarter turn more as well as less in attempt to make it not bind. That did not change the result. but maybe a quarter turn out is not enough?? I will try later this afternoon and see what happens.
I don't know what else to do. I can go back to the Lee dies but I really don't want to.

To @9mmepiphany as far as working it backwards, I have. any less than the 1/8 turn for the crimp and I can place the tip of the bullet on the edge of my workbench and push it back into the case. So I feel confident that this is the minimum crimp (along with measuring)
@tightgroup tiger I would be happy to send you one of the dies so you can check it out and tell me what it is I am doing wrong. I hope to get it resolved before it comes to that.
 
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Thank you for posting this.
I have these same instructions and have followed them exactly and I have just re-watched the Hornady video on installing and adjusting the die.

Is it still sticking? If the crimp is set correctly I would call Hornady back and have them replace it

Did you allow for "cam over"?
NOTE: On presses with a cam-over action, back out the adjusting screw 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn to allow for cam-over
 
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I have. any less than the 1/8 turn for the crimp and I can place the tip of the bullet on the edge of my workbench and push it back into the case. So I feel confident that this is the minimum crimp (along with measuring)
Neck tension holds the bullet in 9MM, not the "crimp". All the taper crimp does (Should do) is remove the bell or a hair more. Fix that issue first. Sizer too big? seat a bullet without expanding and see if it still pushes back. If it doesn't, the sizer is OK, and your expander is too big. Polish down or replace.

After watching the video (Big help) Hornady uses a very sharp "taper crimp" ledge in those inserts in their seaters. A bad design IMHO. Makes adjustment much more critical. Buy an RCBS seater crimper with a proper taper crimp built in and use it in station five, or set up the dies so you can seat in station four with the Hornady die with no crimp, and then get a $12 Lee taper crimp die for station five.
 
Thanks for the video. While I can't see the details of the crimp, it doesn't look like you're seating very deep or creating a ridge on the case/bullet.
Just a WAG, but, can you try the flat seater stem, perhaps the bullet is forming a vacuum on the round seater stem? I can't imagine that actually happening but hey.....
And, you should send your video or it's link to Hornady CS, they may have a better idea once they see it.
 
take the stem out of the die and make sure your bullet will pass through the die. precision dies get a little tight when the bullet gets bigger than normal. I've had this problem with a lee seating die and oversize 44 mag bullets.

luck,

murf
 
Thank you for posting this.
I have these same instructions and have followed them exactly and I have just re-watched the Hornady video on installing and adjusting the die.
Thanks for the vid, helps a lot, to show the crimp sleeve following the case down, and the sticking is when the sleeve is at the bottom of it's travel.
So
When you had the die apart, did you try to pass a bullet thru the crimping sleeve?
Did the crimping angle of the sleeve look ruff?...polish it if it does.
Are there any scratches on the OD of the bullet, after the seating/crimping operation, near the case mouth?...and indication the thru hole in the crimping sleeve is too small for the bullet you are using (check bullet dia.).
Just stuff to look for/try,
:D
edit: Sorry for echoing what @murf posted :uhoh:
 
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You're not alone. I have that same die in 9mm and it works like a charm. BUT, I also had the same die in 45 Auto and cases stuck in it like yours does. I exchanged it for another one and had the same experience again. And it's not from overcrimping, unless you call .473" OD case mouth overcrimping. I guess I just got lucky with my 9mm die. I like it so much, I wanted one in 45 Auto, but after trying the 2 Hornady dies I went back to my RCBS combo die.
 
My Hornady 9mm and 38-Super seating dies did the exact same thing. If I set the die to get even a light crimp (.001") the case would stick pretty good and it became pretty annoying after a while. Looking at them under a magnifier I found the inserts had slightly rougher tooling marks inside the circumference of the taper, than my 45 and 380 dies did. What I did to fix them was to chuck them in my lathe and give them a good polishing with some 1500 and 2000 paper. Now, I do still get some slight sticking if I set them to give a medium to heavy crimp, but since I seat and crimp separately (Lee FCD) I only use the seating die to seat the bullet and just remove the flair..

I even took pictures and meant to call Hornady to let them know about the problem but never got around to doing it. I should probably do it now anyway just so they know they have a problem(which I bet they already know), and suggest you do the same. They'll probably just send a new insert instead of us having to send in the entire die.

9mm_die.jpg
 
When you take it apart does it show any brass smears on any of the surfaces? If so it's the roughness the brass is sticking to it. Try polishing the parts and maybe if you have it use some imperial sizing wax on the contact surfaces.

By chance do you wet clean? If your not using a car wash with wax it may be just the squeakie clean surface causing the problem.
 
Thanks for the video. While I can't see the details of the crimp, it doesn't look like you're seating very deep or creating a ridge on the case/bullet.
Just a WAG, but, can you try the flat seater stem, perhaps the bullet is forming a vacuum on the round seater stem? I can't imagine that actually happening but hey.....
Here's another wild ass guess,
Do you wet tumble your brass with SS pins? Spray the outside of the case with One Shot or similar before seating the bullet. See if that eases up the problem. It may tell us something.
 
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