Good powder check die?

jcims · October 6, 2005, 06:46 AM

Hi all.

I just bought a Hornady Powder Cop die and before even using it i'm not certain how well it's going to work. For those unfamiliar with it, it essentially is a die case with a wide mouth and a little metallic 'tamper' that is gravity fed through a hole in the top of the die. There are evenly spaced (1/2"?) radial grooves in the 'tamper' that serve to seat a little white o-ring. The o-ring keeps the tamper from falling all the way through the die and serves as the primary charge indicator.

I call it a tamper because there is a flat foot on it that rests on the powder as the press is operated and the case is inserted into the die. It looks like you're supposed to adjust the die so that when the shellplate is all the way up, the o-ring bobs up a smidge. On a low or missed charge, the o-ring presumably won't come up at all. On a high or double charge, the o ring will come up higher.

It just doesn't seem terribly obvious to me, and in session of 500+ rounds, i just know there's going to be a situation where i realize i'm not sure if i saw how high it bobbed as loaded round drops into the tray. I don't have any real reloading experience, and i'm going to visually inspect the charge as i place the bullet in, but i bought the powder check because i want to have a good second opinion, and i'm not sure i'm going to get it with this one.

Does anyone have a powder check die that they really like? Bonus points if it fits in a Hornady Lock n Load AP.

Thanks!!!

MADISON · October 6, 2005, 11:04 AM

I have an RCBS Powder Check Die that works well for me.
As long as you get the same "reading" on the die each time and your scale give the load you want, everything should be OK.
If you have any doubts call Hornady for instructions...

LHB1 · October 6, 2005, 11:32 AM

jcims,
I have two Hornady L-N-L progressive presses. Both of them have an RCBS Powder Check die (very similar to the Hornady that you described) in them. Why the RCBS and not the Hornady die? I just found the RCBS PC die first and stick with what works. My procedure is to look at the PC die stem indicator EVERY TIME the handle is lowered to ensure that the case at that station has correct powder level. Works for me. YMMV

I also use RCBS dies and seat bullet/crimp case in same operation. Have done so for 40 years with no problems. The Hornady LNL has five stations. I use them for 1) sizing, 1.5) primer feed, 2) belling, 3) powder drop, 4) powder check, and 5) seat/crimp.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

BigJakeJ1s · October 6, 2005, 10:04 PM

How long is the "tamper" stem on these powder check/cop dies? I'm wondering if one could be used with the tamper extending down through a hollow expander die like the lyman powder through expander. It has a regular 7/8-14 female thread so a powder check die could be screwed into the top of it. Of course, that would mean expanding the case mouth after the powder was dropped, but at least it would still give you the 5th station for a separate crimp on a Hornady LNL AP press.

Andy

Zekewolf · October 7, 2005, 09:36 AM

The RCBS die is a Lockout Die. You don't have to notice how high the stem comes up. When the powder charge is over/under, the die locks the press up, preventing progress until the case is removed. I don't know if the Hornady die works that way or not, but I'll bet there are instructions available for the Hornady die.

MADISON · October 7, 2005, 10:09 AM

ZEKEWOLF:
The RCBS "Lock Out Die" is not the same as the "Powder Check Die".
The powder check die lets you SEE if there is powder in a case while the LOCK OUT DIE is suppose to lock the press up when there is no powder.

I have both dies. I can not get the Lock-Out Dies to work on my older Hornady progressive.

Zekewolf · October 7, 2005, 10:47 AM

Madison: Thanks for the heads-up. I'm using the Lockout Die and find it to work as advertised. BTW, hope you weren't offended by my

response regarding your G21, in the other thread.

jcims · October 8, 2005, 05:38 AM

Thanks guys!

Madison, how old is your Hornady? Is it a LnL with the lugged die collars? I might want to try the RCBS.

Thanks!

jcims · October 10, 2005, 01:42 PM

Sorry for bumping my own thread, but i was looking at the RCBS Lock Out Die, but MADISONs post makes me a little uncertain.

The LNL was bought new ~5 years ago. Think that will work?

NCBrew · October 29, 2010, 11:26 AM

LBH 1:

What is " 2) belling," ?

NCBrew

October 6, 2005, 06:46 AM	#1
jcims Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2005 Location: Ahyah Posts: 290	Good powder check die? Hi all. I just bought a Hornady Powder Cop die and before even using it i'm not certain how well it's going to work. For those unfamiliar with it, it essentially is a die case with a wide mouth and a little metallic 'tamper' that is gravity fed through a hole in the top of the die. There are evenly spaced (1/2"?) radial grooves in the 'tamper' that serve to seat a little white o-ring. The o-ring keeps the tamper from falling all the way through the die and serves as the primary charge indicator. I call it a tamper because there is a flat foot on it that rests on the powder as the press is operated and the case is inserted into the die. It looks like you're supposed to adjust the die so that when the shellplate is all the way up, the o-ring bobs up a smidge. On a low or missed charge, the o-ring presumably won't come up at all. On a high or double charge, the o ring will come up higher. It just doesn't seem terribly obvious to me, and in session of 500+ rounds, i just know there's going to be a situation where i realize i'm not sure if i saw how high it bobbed as loaded round drops into the tray. I don't have any real reloading experience, and i'm going to visually inspect the charge as i place the bullet in, but i bought the powder check because i want to have a good second opinion, and i'm not sure i'm going to get it with this one. Does anyone have a powder check die that they really like? Bonus points if it fits in a Hornady Lock n Load AP. Thanks!!!

October 6, 2005, 11:04 AM	#2
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Powder Check Die? I have an RCBS Powder Check Die that works well for me. As long as you get the same "reading" on the die each time and your scale give the load you want, everything should be OK. If you have any doubts call Hornady for instructions...

October 7, 2005, 10:09 AM	#6
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	RCBS "Lock Out Die" is not the same ZEKEWOLF: The RCBS "Lock Out Die" is not the same as the "Powder Check Die". The powder check die lets you SEE if there is powder in a case while the LOCK OUT DIE is suppose to lock the press up when there is no powder. I have both dies. I can not get the Lock-Out Dies to work on my older Hornady progressive.

October 10, 2005, 01:42 PM	#9
jcims Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2005 Location: Ahyah Posts: 290	autobump Sorry for bumping my own thread, but i was looking at the RCBS Lock Out Die, but MADISONs post makes me a little uncertain. The LNL was bought new ~5 years ago. Think that will work?

October 29, 2010, 11:26 AM	#10
NCBrew Junior Member Join Date: December 7, 2008 Posts: 3	Belling LBH 1: What is " 2) belling," ? NCBrew

October 6, 2005, 11:32 AM	#3
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	jcims, I have two Hornady L-N-L progressive presses. Both of them have an RCBS Powder Check die (very similar to the Hornady that you described) in them. Why the RCBS and not the Hornady die? I just found the RCBS PC die first and stick with what works. My procedure is to look at the PC die stem indicator EVERY TIME the handle is lowered to ensure that the case at that station has correct powder level. Works for me. YMMV I also use RCBS dies and seat bullet/crimp case in same operation. Have done so for 40 years with no problems. The Hornady LNL has five stations. I use them for 1) sizing, 1.5) primer feed, 2) belling, 3) powder drop, 4) powder check, and 5) seat/crimp. Good shooting and be safe. LB

October 6, 2005, 10:04 PM	#4
BigJakeJ1s Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 663	How long is the "tamper" stem on these powder check/cop dies? I'm wondering if one could be used with the tamper extending down through a hollow expander die like the lyman powder through expander. It has a regular 7/8-14 female thread so a powder check die could be screwed into the top of it. Of course, that would mean expanding the case mouth after the powder was dropped, but at least it would still give you the 5th station for a separate crimp on a Hornady LNL AP press. Andy

October 7, 2005, 09:36 AM	#5
Zekewolf Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Posts: 886	The RCBS die is a Lockout Die. You don't have to notice how high the stem comes up. When the powder charge is over/under, the die locks the press up, preventing progress until the case is removed. I don't know if the Hornady die works that way or not, but I'll bet there are instructions available for the Hornady die.

October 7, 2005, 10:47 AM	#7
Zekewolf Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Posts: 886	Madison: Thanks for the heads-up. I'm using the Lockout Die and find it to work as advertised. BTW, hope you weren't offended by my response regarding your G21, in the other thread.

October 8, 2005, 05:38 AM	#8
jcims Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2005 Location: Ahyah Posts: 290	Thanks guys! Madison, how old is your Hornady? Is it a LnL with the lugged die collars? I might want to try the RCBS. Thanks!