So you mangled the neck of your case...

fretless33 · April 19, 2014, 02:29 AM

I just finished a session of about eighty 223 rounds...a few I thought I had lined up correctly in the seating die, but they ended up being misaligned and mangled the neck of the case...how do I go about getting the good primer out of the mangled case?

Also, something strange happened with my Hornady powder measure...after about 20 rounds the clear plastic cylinder worked its way out of the body of the powder measure and spilled a bunch of gun powder all over the place! At first I thought it double charged the case until it didn't stop pouring down and I realized the tube got lifted out of the base!!! Let me tell you that totally sucked!

Another question for the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP guys...any one got any suggestions on how to stop the press from spilling a few bits of powder as the shell plate indexes to the next station...it's kind of irritating LOL

Thanks again...y'all have been a great resource and help!

steve4102 · April 19, 2014, 04:43 AM

Did you chamfer the inside of the case mouth first?

iraiam · April 19, 2014, 07:59 AM

If the cases are too mangled to salvage, you could cut the case in two somewhere below the damage and get the primer out with a regular die.

Other presses that spill powder during the stage advance have had a mod where a thrust bearing is added to make the action of the shell plate much smoother, I don't know if a similar mod can be done to the Hornady or not.

243winxb · April 19, 2014, 08:03 AM

Quote:

...any one got any suggestions on how to stop the press from spilling a few bits of powder as the shell plate indexes to the next station...

Remove excess lube from inside the case neck?

BOOMST1CK · April 19, 2014, 09:37 AM

Only time I have powder spill out of cases is when I am whipping the handle. If I have a case to mangled to get the primer out I just throw it out.

fretless33 · April 19, 2014, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the replies!

As for the mangled casings, I was paying more attention to preventing powder from splashing out and just had the bullet out of alignment causing the die to crush rather than press LOL Either way I cut them in half with a hack saw deburred them and popped the old primer out on the press.

I use the RCBS Trim Pro with a 3 way cutter, so it deburrs and chamfers in one step, then use a hand tool for any case that didn't get a nice finish.

The problem is typical of a progressive press as it snaps the shell plate a little when it indexes to the next station causing a few pieces of powder to spring out. It's just irritating to deal with since it happens every time you advance the the next station...I use a nice smooth motion! I don't crank the handle like a crazed cave man LOL

I forgot to add...is it safe to use the primers again after being removed from the damaged case's pocket?

BOOMST1CK · April 19, 2014, 10:46 AM

At .3 to .4 cents a primer I think some will say no. Me, depends, if I am making range ammo, and the primer looks good I will.

pathdoc · April 19, 2014, 07:31 PM

I'd regard primers "recovered" in this fashion as unstable and unreliable. Either use them in minimum loads for fouling shots/warm-ups, or just stick the empty case in the chamber and fire them off somewhere legal. Don't take them hunting or for personal defence.

fretless33 · April 21, 2014, 11:22 PM

Just a little update for anyone interested...I got a call into Hornady technical support today and they are sending me a replacement hopper at no charge.

As for the shell plate snapping a little while indexing to the next station, the timing was a little off, so I have been tweaking the pawls on my press and have it nearly smoothed out...just a little more fine tuning and I'll have the timing near perfect. I ran about 10 or 15 rounds today with virtually no spillage!

I'm very impressed with Hornady technical support...they replaced the part without me even asking for it, patiently guided me to getting my indexing issue smoothed out and honestly answered a question about their dies not making a decent crimp. I was even able to talk some 2nd amendment politics with him!

April 19, 2014, 02:29 AM	#1
fretless33 Member Join Date: February 22, 2014 Posts: 50	So you mangled the neck of your case... I just finished a session of about eighty 223 rounds...a few I thought I had lined up correctly in the seating die, but they ended up being misaligned and mangled the neck of the case...how do I go about getting the good primer out of the mangled case? Also, something strange happened with my Hornady powder measure...after about 20 rounds the clear plastic cylinder worked its way out of the body of the powder measure and spilled a bunch of gun powder all over the place! At first I thought it double charged the case until it didn't stop pouring down and I realized the tube got lifted out of the base!!! Let me tell you that totally sucked! Another question for the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP guys...any one got any suggestions on how to stop the press from spilling a few bits of powder as the shell plate indexes to the next station...it's kind of irritating LOL Thanks again...y'all have been a great resource and help!

April 19, 2014, 07:59 AM	#3
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 1,058	If the cases are too mangled to salvage, you could cut the case in two somewhere below the damage and get the primer out with a regular die. Other presses that spill powder during the stage advance have had a mod where a thrust bearing is added to make the action of the shell plate much smoother, I don't know if a similar mod can be done to the Hornady or not. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason Last edited by iraiam; April 19, 2014 at 08:09 AM.

April 19, 2014, 04:43 AM	#2
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,968	Did you chamfer the inside of the case mouth first?

April 19, 2014, 09:37 AM	#5
BOOMST1CK Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2014 Posts: 117	Only time I have powder spill out of cases is when I am whipping the handle. If I have a case to mangled to get the primer out I just throw it out.

April 19, 2014, 10:05 AM	#6
fretless33 Member Join Date: February 22, 2014 Posts: 50	Thanks for the replies! As for the mangled casings, I was paying more attention to preventing powder from splashing out and just had the bullet out of alignment causing the die to crush rather than press LOL Either way I cut them in half with a hack saw deburred them and popped the old primer out on the press. I use the RCBS Trim Pro with a 3 way cutter, so it deburrs and chamfers in one step, then use a hand tool for any case that didn't get a nice finish. The problem is typical of a progressive press as it snaps the shell plate a little when it indexes to the next station causing a few pieces of powder to spring out. It's just irritating to deal with since it happens every time you advance the the next station...I use a nice smooth motion! I don't crank the handle like a crazed cave man LOL I forgot to add...is it safe to use the primers again after being removed from the damaged case's pocket?

April 19, 2014, 10:46 AM	#7
BOOMST1CK Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2014 Posts: 117	At .3 to .4 cents a primer I think some will say no. Me, depends, if I am making range ammo, and the primer looks good I will.

April 19, 2014, 07:31 PM	#8
pathdoc Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2013 Posts: 669	I'd regard primers "recovered" in this fashion as unstable and unreliable. Either use them in minimum loads for fouling shots/warm-ups, or just stick the empty case in the chamber and fire them off somewhere legal. Don't take them hunting or for personal defence.

April 21, 2014, 11:22 PM	#9
fretless33 Member Join Date: February 22, 2014 Posts: 50	Just a little update for anyone interested...I got a call into Hornady technical support today and they are sending me a replacement hopper at no charge. As for the shell plate snapping a little while indexing to the next station, the timing was a little off, so I have been tweaking the pawls on my press and have it nearly smoothed out...just a little more fine tuning and I'll have the timing near perfect. I ran about 10 or 15 rounds today with virtually no spillage! I'm very impressed with Hornady technical support...they replaced the part without me even asking for it, patiently guided me to getting my indexing issue smoothed out and honestly answered a question about their dies not making a decent crimp. I was even able to talk some 2nd amendment politics with him!