Hornady questions: ejector interference and carbide vs. nitride

snakyjake · February 23, 2008, 04:47 AM

Regarding the Hornady Lock-N-Load press:

Question 1: Case Ejector Wire Interference with Non-Hornady Dies
I’ve read a few online reviews and it is mentioned that the Hornady case ejector wire spring can interfere with non-Hornady dies in the 5th station.

Is this still true, or has the bug been worked out by now?

If the bug hasn’t been worked out, what are my options for using non-Hornady dies (i.e. Redding dies)?

Or are the new Hornady "New Dimension" dies good enough for someone who isn't into competition shooting? I just want my reloads quality to be on par with factory range ammunition, and I want the die construction to be high quality and not gimmicky.

Question 2: Nitride vs. Carbide Dies
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Hornady’s “New Dimension”, nitride, titanium coated dies over carbide?

How do the Hornady New Dimension dies compare to Dillons and Redding?

Thank you,

Jake

Waldog · February 23, 2008, 10:49 AM

1. Hornady crimp dies are a little shorter and do not interfere with the ejector wire on the fifth station of the LNL press. Other dies CAN be used and there are three "work-arounds". (1) Use a lathe and shorten the crimp die. (2) Use a Dremel tool or small grinder and carefully grind a small "flat" on the lip of crimp die so that it clears the ejector wire.(This seem to be the most widely used.) (3) Take the ejector wire off and use you finger to "flick" shells off the shellholder.

2. I have both Hornady "New Dimension" dies and "other" carbide dies. As I already stated, the Hornady crimp dies are a little shorter. The only other differences I can see is that Hornady de-caping pin is non-standard. The pin has a head and will only fit Hornady dies. RCBS headed decaping pins will not work. Also, the neck expander is tapered and fits into the neck easier. Makes sizing easier.

There are a couple of other minor differences but, nothing significant.

Alleykat · February 23, 2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

1. Hornady crimp dies are a little shorter and do not interfere with the ejector wire on the fifth station of the LNL press. Other dies CAN be used and there are three "work-arounds". (1) Use a lathe and shorten the crimp die. (2) Use a Dremel tool or small grinder and carefully grind a small "flat" on the lip of crimp die so that it clears the ejector wire.(This seem to be the most widely used.) (3) Take the ejector wire off and use you finger to "flick" shells off the shellholder.

Ha! You left out #4, the smartest move of all: Buy a Dillon, in the first place, and forget about all that ejector wire crap.

Shoney · February 23, 2008, 02:30 PM

#A Pay no attention to alleykrap (also known as kittytiter). If he were to actually load with the LNL AP his puckerstring would whistle a different tune.

#1 On all non-Hornady dies, I carefully grind off a small portion of the die to miss the wire.

#2 There is no practical difference between them IMHO, except in maybe price.. There is controversy over which dies will last longer.

BigJakeJ1s · February 24, 2008, 12:48 AM

Titanium Nitride is a chemical coating/treatment that performs the same function that Tungsten Carbide and Titanium Carbide do on straight-wall pistol cartridge dies: their hardness allows polishing to a degree which reduces friction enough to eliminate the need for case lube while resizing. When properly applied, TiN is as durable as either type of carbide for reloading purposes (resizing clean brass cartridges). There were some problems reported with the durability of some early production TiN dies, but I have not heard any problems with recent production.

The Hornady seating die includes a sliding alignment sleeve to align the bullet with the case mouth prior to insertion, optional micrometer adjustment, and easy disassembly and reassembly on-press for cleaning, without affecting the settings. They also allow crimping while seating if you want. No other seating die offers all of these features.

Andy

Waldog · February 24, 2008, 12:52 AM

Ditto on Shoney!

KittyLitter has the Dillon and it IS a good press. Been around for ages. That's why there are so many Blue Cool-aid drinkers.

However, the LNL is a newer design and is ALSO a good press. There are many, many HAPPY, SATISFIED LNL owners.

Like Shoney said, if the Blue Cool-aid drinkers would just try the LNL, they would change their song.

4sarge · February 24, 2008, 01:37 AM

I sold my Dillon 450B rather than update it for $100's to a 550B. Took the $250 and bought a LNL. Now I've got a press that I can pull ONE die out and clean then pop right back in. And a powder measure that actually WORKS. Plus it's progressive. Deduct the 1000 bullets and it looks like an even trade for me.

I'm using Lyman, RCBS, LEE and Hornady ND dies in the press, and the ejection wire SUCKS. So I flip them out by hand. Seems that if I get the wire to clear the 5th station, most times it wants to bind the shell in the holder rather than eject it.

The LNL isn't perfect. But it's lightyears better than the 450B.

As I go through life, I'm not looking for more crap just better crap.

February 24, 2008, 12:52 AM	#6
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Ditto on Shoney! KittyLitter has the Dillon and it IS a good press. Been around for ages. That's why there are so many Blue Cool-aid drinkers. However, the LNL is a newer design and is ALSO a good press. There are many, many HAPPY, SATISFIED LNL owners. Like Shoney said, if the Blue Cool-aid drinkers would just try the LNL, they would change their song. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

February 23, 2008, 04:47 AM	#1
snakyjake Member Join Date: February 21, 2008 Location: Western WA, USA Posts: 34	Hornady questions: ejector interference and carbide vs. nitride Regarding the Hornady Lock-N-Load press: Question 1: Case Ejector Wire Interference with Non-Hornady Dies I’ve read a few online reviews and it is mentioned that the Hornady case ejector wire spring can interfere with non-Hornady dies in the 5th station. Is this still true, or has the bug been worked out by now? If the bug hasn’t been worked out, what are my options for using non-Hornady dies (i.e. Redding dies)? Or are the new Hornady "New Dimension" dies good enough for someone who isn't into competition shooting? I just want my reloads quality to be on par with factory range ammunition, and I want the die construction to be high quality and not gimmicky. Question 2: Nitride vs. Carbide Dies What are the advantages/disadvantages of Hornady’s “New Dimension”, nitride, titanium coated dies over carbide? How do the Hornady New Dimension dies compare to Dillons and Redding? Thank you, Jake

February 23, 2008, 10:49 AM	#2
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	1. Hornady crimp dies are a little shorter and do not interfere with the ejector wire on the fifth station of the LNL press. Other dies CAN be used and there are three "work-arounds". (1) Use a lathe and shorten the crimp die. (2) Use a Dremel tool or small grinder and carefully grind a small "flat" on the lip of crimp die so that it clears the ejector wire.(This seem to be the most widely used.) (3) Take the ejector wire off and use you finger to "flick" shells off the shellholder. 2. I have both Hornady "New Dimension" dies and "other" carbide dies. As I already stated, the Hornady crimp dies are a little shorter. The only other differences I can see is that Hornady de-caping pin is non-standard. The pin has a head and will only fit Hornady dies. RCBS headed decaping pins will not work. Also, the neck expander is tapered and fits into the neck easier. Makes sizing easier. There are a couple of other minor differences but, nothing significant. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

February 23, 2008, 02:30 PM	#4
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	#A Pay no attention to alleykrap (also known as kittytiter). If he were to actually load with the LNL AP his puckerstring would whistle a different tune. #1 On all non-Hornady dies, I carefully grind off a small portion of the die to miss the wire. #2 There is no practical difference between them IMHO, except in maybe price.. There is controversy over which dies will last longer. Last edited by Shoney; February 24, 2008 at 03:32 PM.

February 24, 2008, 12:48 AM	#5
BigJakeJ1s Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 663	Titanium Nitride is a chemical coating/treatment that performs the same function that Tungsten Carbide and Titanium Carbide do on straight-wall pistol cartridge dies: their hardness allows polishing to a degree which reduces friction enough to eliminate the need for case lube while resizing. When properly applied, TiN is as durable as either type of carbide for reloading purposes (resizing clean brass cartridges). There were some problems reported with the durability of some early production TiN dies, but I have not heard any problems with recent production. The Hornady seating die includes a sliding alignment sleeve to align the bullet with the case mouth prior to insertion, optional micrometer adjustment, and easy disassembly and reassembly on-press for cleaning, without affecting the settings. They also allow crimping while seating if you want. No other seating die offers all of these features. Andy

February 24, 2008, 01:37 AM	#7
4sarge Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Location: south of Chicago's shadow! Posts: 204	I sold my Dillon 450B rather than update it for $100's to a 550B. Took the $250 and bought a LNL. Now I've got a press that I can pull ONE die out and clean then pop right back in. And a powder measure that actually WORKS. Plus it's progressive. Deduct the 1000 bullets and it looks like an even trade for me. I'm using Lyman, RCBS, LEE and Hornady ND dies in the press, and the ejection wire SUCKS. So I flip them out by hand. Seems that if I get the wire to clear the 5th station, most times it wants to bind the shell in the holder rather than eject it. The LNL isn't perfect. But it's lightyears better than the 450B. As I go through life, I'm not looking for more crap just better crap.