Primer Pickup Tubes for Hornady LnL

[Bill_in_TR]

Yesterday I encountered a first time problem using my primer pickup tube. For some reason I could not get the primers to push through that plastic tip on the tube. I had to press really hard just to get one primer picked up. After that the resistance was so strong that second primer barely got in with a terrific amount of effort. The third would not go in at all.

Has anybody else encountered this problem? I can't imagine why. Never had any issue using these tubes before. At first I thought it was cold temperatures since my little bunker where I reload is attached to my garage and is unheated. Temps were in the mid forties. But after I ran my portable heater for awhile and things warmed up I still couldn't get them to work. Do those tips lose their flexibility with age?

Another possibility I considered was that this is the first time I was using Ginex primers. But when I got to reloading after manually loading the primer feed on the press I did not feel any unusually strong resistance on the priming stroke and the primers seated fine.

I had to order new pickup tubes because while trying to get the stuck primers out I broke the tips.

 

[Blue68f100]

Yes, could be the metric primers being over size calling the problem.

I've opened up all of my tips using Number drills as a reamer till I got the fill I was looking for. All done my hand, just pushing them in and out. I think the original size was around 0.004" under sized.

 

[dannyd]

I had that problem with the LNL tubes, I just ordered some from Dillion because I had a 550 and SDB before and liked the tubes.

 

[Howland937]

Only time I had trouble was picking up smalls with the large tube or vice versa. Only did it by mistake once, then tried the opposite out of curiosity.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Yes, could be the metric primers being over size calling the problem.

I've opened up all of my tips using Number drills as a reamer till I got the fill I was looking for. All done my hand, just pushing them in and out. I think the original size was around 0.004" under sized.

Thanks. When my new tubes come in I will try and open them up a little.

 

[gifbohane]

From time to time, it helped if I dipped the tip of the pick up in carbon case neck lube.

 

[alfsauve]

Only time I had trouble was picking up smalls with the large tube or vice versa. Only did it by mistake once, then tried the opposite out of curiosity.

And that’s why I painted a green ring around everything small primer and a red ring around large primer things.

 

[reddog81]

They can be pretty tight at first. They get easier after a few uses.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

They can be pretty tight at first. They get easier after a few uses.

I guess that can happen sometimes but in this case I have been using these tubes for a long time.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Metric primers are a little larger in diameter, but < .001".

A while back I got tired of "pecking" at primers and started using the Frankford Armory Vibraprime primer tube filler. I've also used both offered by DAA and found that they weren't worth the price difference.

I believe the Dillon tubes are smaller in diameter, but they have a longer/softer plastic tip

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Put on cut resistant gloves for this.
I took all 10 of my pickup tubes and cut the scores back to the aluminum with a utility knife. I would just rock the utility knife back and forth and it took at least 50% or more of the force it takes to pick the primers up away from it.
Mine are actually easy to use now.
These are my McJs pick up tubes, same as Hornady but more reasonably priced. https://www.amazon.com/McJ-Tools-Reloading-Essential-Shooting/dp/B08VFCRLFT?th=1

Probably doubled my pickup speed and works for standard and metric both.
Make sure you wear cut resistant gloves or something while doing this. They are pretty tough.

 

[irishlad]

Put on cut resistant gloves for this.
I took all 10 of my pickup tubes and cut the scores back to the aluminum with a utility knife. I would just rock the utility knife back and forth and it took at least 50% or more of the force it takes to pick the primers up away from it.
Mine are actually easy to use now.
View attachment 1188405 These are my McJs pick up tubes, same as Hornady but more reasonably priced. https://www.amazon.com/McJ-Tools-Reloading-Essential-Shooting/dp/B08VFCRLFT?th=1

Probably doubled my pickup speed and works for standard and metric both.
Make sure you wear cut resistant gloves or something while doing this. They are pretty tough.

I bought the same tubes, work great. I also bought the DAA PrimaFill. Worked way better for me than the Frankfort Vibra Prime(lots of folks have to modify em to get em to work well). Should of got it a long time ago. Fills em in a few seconds with no issues.

DAA PRIMAFILL

The Double-Alpha PRIMAFILL is a semi-automatic primer-tube filling solution, able to quickly and easily fill both Small and Large primer tubes. It allows you to switch between Small and Large primers instantly, without tools or assembly.The PRIMAFILL can be used with any primer tubes whic...

www.doublealpha.biz

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I have considered the automatic primer tube fillers. What holds me back from spending the money is the mixed reviews. Just in this short thread there are differing opinions on which is better and how well they work.

 

[irishlad]

I have considered the automatic primer tube fillers. What holds me back from spending the money is the mixed reviews. Just in this short thread there are differing opinions on which is better and how well they work.

Choice is a good thing. The $20 more for the DAA one was well worth it to me(didn't know about em when I used the neighbors Frankfort). Good luck with whatever you choose.

Metric primers are a little larger in diameter, but < .001".

A while back I got tired of "pecking" at primers and started using the Frankford Armory Vibraprime primer tube filler. I've also used both offered by DAA and found that they weren't worth the price difference.

I believe the Dillon tubes are smaller in diameter, but they have a longer/softer plastic tip

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have considered the automatic primer tube fillers. What holds me back from spending the money is the mixed reviews. Just in this short thread there are differing opinions on which is better and how well they work.

Choice is a good thing. They all work, it is a matter of how much work/technique you're willing to expend verses what price you're willing to pay to lessen that effort

After giving up on the hunt-n-peck method, I picked up the Frankford Arsenal Vibra Prime for $25...I didn't know, until I just looked, that they had gotten to $60.

Had a loading buddy bring over a DAA Primer-Pro collator, which worked pretty well...but only did SPP and you needed to keep a couple hundred in for smooth operation. It's a good option if you load in large batches and don't mind the price of $200. For smaller batches and loading both SPP and LPP, the DAA Primafill is a good option for a bit less money...$82

If I were starting out now, I'd likely spend the extra $20 on the Primafill over the Vibra Prime, or...

You could do what I did and just drop the primers into the Lee tray and never have to use another tube. You can get the Lee APP Deluxe for $30 more than the DAA Primafill and have a press with a great priming system and a case feeding system. You'll also be able to deprime, swage primer pockets, size bullets, and even size straight wall cases

 

[Kaldor]

I had that problem with the LNL tubes, I just ordered some from Dillion because I had a 550 and SDB before and liked the tubes.

Ive used the Dillon tubes. Far superior to the Hornady ones.
I just use a FA VibraPrime now though. Its fast and Im lazy.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Ive used the Dillon tubes. Far superior to the Hornady ones.
I just use a FA VibraPrime now though. Its fast and Im lazy.

I have read mixed reviews on the VibraPrime but the threads I read were fairly old. Have improvements been made in it? Is it just a matter of technique in using it? It won't be the first time I read reviews on something that were mixed and the people with negative posts were having problems that I never encountered myself. It was just a matter of using the item correctly.

 

[Blue68f100]

Ive used the Dillon tubes. Far superior to the Hornady ones.
I just use a FA VibraPrime now though. Its fast and Im lazy.

My experience with Dillon primer tubes is different than yours. The first time I used them it was just about full when the tubes decided to dump all the primers, went every where. Spent a hour looking for all of them. Called Dillon and they sent me a package of new plastic tips. Works but still don't trust them. I have them hang up in the space above the pickup snout and Al tube.

 

[Kaldor]

I have read mixed reviews on the VibraPrime but the threads I read were fairly old. Have improvements been made in it? Is it just a matter of technique in using it? It won't be the first time I read reviews on something that were mixed and the people with negative posts were having problems that I never encountered myself. It was just a matter of using the item correctly.

Yeah, it takes a little "touch" to make it work right. Some primer brands feed better than others. CCIs and Federals work great and run fast. Winchesters you gotta take your time and you have to hold a certain angle.

Things I did:
Remove the stupid black collars. Zero need for them. Just hold the tube up to the tray.
Cut the top open with the tab goes in so you can see what's going on.
Give the exits on the primer tray a VERY light deburring.
I also put fresh batteries in it every year whether I think it needs it or not.

 

[Kaldor]

My experience with Dillon primer tubes is different than yours. The first time I used them it was just about full when the tubes decided to dump all the primers, went every where. Spent a hour looking for all of them. Called Dillon and they sent me a package of new plastic tips. Works but still don't trust them. I have them hang up in the space above the pickup snout and Al tube.

I just found the softer ends on the Dillon tubes to be less of a PITA. Never had one dump primers though. That would the irritate the crap right outta me. And probably several dozen 4 letter words

 

[Kaldor]

Choice is a good thing. They all work, it is a matter of how much work/technique you're willing to expend verses what price you're willing to pay to lessen that effort

After giving up on the hunt-n-peck method, I picked up the Frankford Arsenal Vibra Prime for $25...I didn't know, until I just looked, that they had gotten to $60.

Had a loading buddy bring over a DAA Primer-Pro collator, which worked pretty well...but only did SPP and you needed to keep a couple hundred in for smooth operation. It's a good option if you load in large batches and don't mind the price of $200. For smaller batches and loading both SPP and LPP, the DAA Primafill is a good option for a bit less money...$82

If I were starting out now, I'd likely spend the extra $20 on the Primafill over the Vibra Prime, or...

You could do what I did and just drop the primers into the Lee tray and never have to use another tube. You can get the Lee APP Deluxe for $30 more than the DAA Primafill and have a press with a great priming system and a case feeding system. You'll also be able to deprime, swage primer pockets, size bullets, and even size straight wall cases

I paid like $30 for my Vibraprime. Can't believe they've gone up that much.

But the DAA Primarily would probably be a good choice now. A bit better made than a Vibraprime. The Hornady one works pretty well too from a few guys I know that have one.

 

[Tilos]

I have read mixed reviews on the VibraPrime but the threads I read were fairly old. Have improvements been made in it? Is it just a matter of technique in using it? It won't be the first time I read reviews on something that were mixed and the people with negative posts were having problems that I never encountered myself. It was just a matter of using the item correctly.

yeh, lots of mixed reviews on amazon too, and I can relate to most of them with my experience.

I cleaned off all the plastic flash on the tray and sprayed it with some silicon spray and it worked good enough.
After some use it started to slow down and eat batteries.
So...
I pried apart the plastic halves and looked around for anything that could be slowing it down and this is what I found:
The end of the motor shaft was being pinched between the plastic halves restricting rotation, so I cut some clearance in both halves
(see pic):

Those that know me, know I modify everything, so I went on to add some weight to the vibrator/offset weight.
I cut a washer in 1/2 and hot glued it to the weight.
It was a perfect fit into the pocket in the weight:

So there's that,
.

 

[dannyd]

Ive used the Dillon tubes. Far superior to the Hornady ones.
I just use a FA VibraPrime now though. Its fast and Im lazy.

I have a FA VibraPrimer and anything is Superior to it even the Hornady tubes. I like Dillion stuff, it's not perfect but works, but I did sell my 550 and SDB to buy two LNL's.

The Best Tubes I have ever used were from RCBS, made of all metal, they came with my bench top primer.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I bought the same tubes, work great. I also bought the DAA PrimaFill. Worked way better for me than the Frankfort Vibra Prime(lots of folks have to modify em to get em to work well). Should of got it a long time ago. Fills em in a few seconds with no issues.

DAA PRIMAFILL

The Double-Alpha PRIMAFILL is a semi-automatic primer-tube filling solution, able to quickly and easily fill both Small and Large primer tubes. It allows you to switch between Small and Large primers instantly, without tools or assembly.The PRIMAFILL can be used with any primer tubes whic...

www.doublealpha.biz

Mine worked good for a while, it just sits on the shelf now. Doesn't work at all now. It's like anything you buy, you either get a better one or a worse one. Sometimes you even get a good one.

I'm hesitant to waste my money on another one of any brand, because it seems they are all spotty as to whether they work or not and no one will warranty them because they are so dependent on having good primers to run through them. I know the consistency of the primers shape and dimensions aren't as good as it used to be and that really hurts the function of these devises. Bad QA.
I'll stick with my modified tubes for now, they work so much better since I cut the ends on them.

 

[lordpaxman]

I was going to start a separate thread on primer tube filling options, but since it’s in here…. Has anyone compared the various options especially with different primer mfgs? Including Dillon’s deluxe model?
I have the FA model and have only used that one. It does take some work just like all our tools. CCI SPPs work ok, if you keep it fairly level, tilt it back and forth with just a little pitch toward the drop hole. I rest the tube lightly on the bench and use a trigger touch to activate vibration, too much grip on either will lessen the good vibes. Every once in a while one will try to flip and you need to tip the device to prevent it. WIN SPPs are more difficult to manage, it seems they like to try to flip a lot more. Still, it’s better than pecking.

I have considered the automatic primer tube fillers. What holds me back from spending the money is the mixed reviews. Just in this short thread there are differing opinions on which is better and how well they work.

Indeed.

Had a loading buddy bring over a DAA Primer-Pro collator, which worked pretty well...but only did SPP and you needed to keep a couple hundred in for smooth operation. It's a good option if you load in large batches and don't mind the price of $200. For smaller batches and loading both SPP and LPP, the DAA Primafill is a good option for a bit less money...$82

It’d be nice to know why you’d choose the DAA Primafill option over the FA.

I pried apart the plastic halves and looked around for anything that could be slowing it down and this is what I found:

Try holding the unit with less force and balancing the tube on a hard surface, lightly, while it fills.