Priming on Hornady versus Dillon Progressives

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Lone_Gunman

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Ok, here is my next stupid question about progressives... This has to do with the Hornady LNL AP versus Dillon 650.

Both of these presses seem to use a primer feed tube. How do you tell when you are about to be out of primers? The primer tube on the Hornady appears to be opaque, and I cant tell what it is on the Dillon from the photos. If you run out of primers and don't realize it, that would have to be a big problem on progressives.

Also, which of these two systems actually primes best?
 
Ok, here is my next stupid question about progressives
Click to expand...

when you're right, you're right. This is a stupid question. For the record, Dillon has a low primer alarm that goes off audiobly. As far as how they work, they both prime great. They are both great presses. Period

LGB

P.S. Hornady vs Dillon is ALWAYS a bad idea to bring up on this forum.
 
The priming system on the 550 either flips primers upside down or sideways at about a 3% rate, and the 550 requires constant cleaning of the primer residues and the rare primer parts.

The 650 only flips primers when you do not periodically clean the prime residues frequently. The low primer alarm is handy but expensive. However, for about a quarter you can get a 3/32 dowel which inserts into the top of the tube and put a mark on the dowel where it rests with only one primer in the tube.

The Hornady LNL AP is more troublefree because of the tube that funnels the spent primers thru the the bottom of the machine into agabare can or other large catcher.

Changouts of large to small feeds is about of the same difficulty on all.
 
Hey Lone,
You put the dowl in with one primer in the tube and mark it with a sharpy, then fill it up.
Then when you are reloading you notice the dowl going down and at the mark you made you know yo have one primer left.:D

I hope this helps.
 
Originally posted by Lone Gunman

So how do you tell when you have gotten to the bottom of your primer feed tube on the Hornady? Do you just have to pay attention to how many cases you have primed? Is there no visual way to tell?
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Mine came with a plastic dowel, not sure if this was the intendid purpose, but I put it in the primer tube and marked it with a sharpie so I know when I'm getting low.
 
I haven't had any trouble with primer flipping on my 550. The plastic "end" of the primer magazine (which Dillon calls a flexible orifice) is fragile, and if it gets damaged or worn out the primer slide may have trouble picking up the primer cleanly.

I watched Hornady's video on their LNL AP primer system and the changeover appears to be very similar to Dillon, except that Dillon's design does not require the primer ram to be swapped as a separate part -- it remains attached to the correct size primer slide.

Hornady's design has the primer ram pushing the primer up into the brass as the ram contacts the press frame. Dillon's design has the shellplate base resting on a spring, which requires a forward push of the handle to lower the shellplate onto the primer ram. I can't tell which would have a better "feel". Both seem to have about the same mechanical advantage, but I don't see a separate handle motion required for the Hornady.

The primer magazine on the 550 is indeed opaque (and is inside a heavy safety pipe) so the low primer buzzer is a valuable part of the design. Regardless of whether the buzzer is used or not, there is a plastic primer follower rod (dipstick) that provides a visual cue that you are running out. I didn't see anything like this on the Hornady, so I don't know how you tell with the LNL AP.
 
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On my Hornady progressive press I count out 100 bullets and set them in a pile, I also load up the primer tune with 100 primers. then I just make sure that I run out of both at the same time.
 
My LNL came with a fiberglass rod that you place in the primer tube on top of the primers. Call it a primer follower if you will. As you use up the primers it follows them down. I used a piece of red electrical tape to mark the spot where you run out of primers. If you forget to watch it, you can easily feel when a primer isn't seated. It's easy to remove that case, refill the primer tube and continue loading. And like Fractal X said, I also count components so I can load up full boxes of ammo with no leftovers.
I think both brands are fine machines.
 
I use a polished 1/8" brass rod as a follower. (something lighter and not metal might be smarter) When there is one inch still showing at the top of the primer tube, I know I'm about to run out of primers and watch it real close. Then it jams the primer feeder and locks it back after the last primer.
 
I personally use a low primer alarm on my Hornady AP to tell me when its time to refill the tube.

attachment.php
 
The best way to know when you are out of primers, is when you start to notice that your loaded cases dont have primers in them...but thats just my 2 cents. Think low tech. If you dont realize youre low on primers when reloading...YOU ARENT PAYING CLOSE ENOUGH ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
 
As primers are depleted the fiberglass rod descends into the primer tube.
Left photo shows that primers are present in the tube. Right photo shows that the primer tube is empty indicated by the white flag.

Primertube.jpg
 
I don't have a Hornady so can't comment on that, but you can certainly tell when there's no primer in the cup when you push forward on the Dillon handle. It will go too far, too easy.

It doesn't matter how many primers are still in the tube if for whatever reason the carrier didn't pick one up or it bounced out on the way to the case.
 
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I can always tell by that buzzing noise in my ear. I've got one of the alarms like post #11 that's now standard on 550's. It just eliminates one possible problem. The more things you eliminate, the less problems you have.
 
I use the Hornady and the Dillon press both are good machines.The new style primer system of the Hornady is mostly trouble free the Dillon does wear out the little plastic fingers sometimes.I took the Dillon low primer buzzer and put it on my Hornady and cut the rod so when it is out it locks the primer slide back and sounds the buzzer. Works great. I also put the Dillon roller handle on my Hornady it is more comfortable than the ball.
roc1
 
It is real easy to tell when a primer is not there. If you can't physicaly feel the difference, you are not paying attention. The fiberglass/brass/whatever rod will work as an indicator if you want one.

That said, I hand prime everything prior to loading it on my progressive. I never got the primer tubes etc out of the box when I went from my Projector to the LNL.
 
Hmm

The 650 only flips primers when you do not periodically clean the prime residues frequently. The low primer alarm is handy but expensive. However, for about a quarter you can get a 3/32 dowel which inserts into the top of the tube and put a mark on the dowel where it rests with only one primer in the tube.
Click to expand...
Expensive?? I think the low primer alarms is included with the 650 standard now a days. Anyways, mine came with one.
 
NO! The electronic Primer Early Warning System is not a standard feature on 550 or 650 Dillon listings.

Some of the wholesalers (Brian Enos) list them as standard w/550 & 650 package deals, but you are paying the extra $65.00 in the final price.
 
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NO! The electronic Primer Early Warning System is not a standard feature on 550 or 650 Dillon listings.

Some of the wholesalers (Brian Enos) list them as standard w/550 & 650 package deals, but you are paying the extra $65.00 in the final price.
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure you're thinking of the Powder checker system which does cost about that much and looks very similar to the primer alarm.
 
NO! The electronic Primer Early Warning System is not a standard feature on 550 or 650 Dillon listings.

Some of the wholesalers (Brian Enos) list them as standard w/550 & 650 package deals, but you are paying the extra $65.00 in the final price.

I thought the the low powder warning system was a major waste of money,since your looking at the powder measure while reloading.
Chief
 
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