I think I'm ready...

[aridan]

OK, I'm in the process of cleaning my Hornady L&L AP, getting ready to start. I've been reading a lot over the past 2 months, but still have questions, so please forgive me if they're not too bright.

1. I think I want to use the Tightgroup powder for all of my reloads (9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP). The main reason: it is cleaner than W231. It is probably not the easiest for a noob to use, but I do have a pistol rotor/micrometer and the RCBS lock-out die so hopefully I can still pull it off. If that makes sense, any suggestions on where to get it from in the GTA?

2. I need small pistol primers. No joke - everyone else needs them too, but I need them more because I have NONE. Please PM me if you have an idea who may carry these...

3. Lastly, I was wondering if I can seat the bullet on my LnL, pile up the rounds without crimping, then factory-crimp all of them? With lock-out die & factory crimp die, I have six operations i.e. no way of doing them in a single-pass on a 5-station press.

TIA - ardo.

 

[ATOM]

Having escaped the GTA, I cannot help you with 1 & 2.

As to 3, keep in mind that all three of those headspace on the forward edge of the case and overcrimping can easily ruin a round.

Never loaded 40s but have loaded a lot of 9 x 19 and .45 ACP and I have never had a problem seating and doing the minimal crimp at the same time. Others will no doubt disagree, but it's never been an issue for me.

 

[savage112]

2. I need small pistol primers. No joke - everyone else needs them too, but I need them more because I have NONE. Please PM me if you have an idea who may carry these...

Order your primers online from SFRC, a sponsor here from Eastern Ontario.Excellent to deal with. I'm in the London area and usually get my orders within two days.

 

[acrashb]

3. [...]With lock-out die & factory crimp die, I have six operations i.e. no way of doing them in a single-pass on a 5-station press.

1 - size / deprime
2 - powder charge with powder-though expander
3 - rcbs lockout die
4 - seater
5 - lee fcd or other crimp die (assuming you have the ezject version).

No need for a second pass if you have the ptx in the powder station. ptx does not flare, just expand, so doesn't work well with lead, but is fine with jacketed.

 

[aridan]

Order your primers online from SFRC, a sponsor here from Eastern Ontario.Excellent to deal with. I'm in the London area and usually get my orders within two days.

Thanks, I thought I checked them out 3 days ago & the small primers were OOStock. Just ordered, thank you again!

 

[aridan]

1 - size / deprime
2 - powder charge with powder-though expander
3 - rcbs lockout die
4 - seater
5 - lee fcd or other crimp die (assuming you have the ezject version).

No need for a second pass if you have the ptx in the powder station. ptx does not flare, just expand, so doesn't work well with lead, but is fine with jacketed.

Thanks, I tried to understand the PTX a few weeks ago, and thought it would be too hard for me to set up. Is there any link you can recommend with regards to PTX? Does it mean I won't need my regular expander die? Also, I'm afraid I'll screw it up on caliber change-overs.

I won't be casting yet, so jacketed it is, for now.

Why do you ask about Ezject? I believe it is - I just bought it 2 months ago - but was wondering why it makes a difference...

Thanks again - and I mean it, this is not the first time you help me out. - ardo.

P.S. Seems like a lot of ppl are bashing the Hornady PTX. I just came across this universal one for $25US plus shipping:
ht tp://www.powderfunnels.com/products.html
Still, no idea how it is adjusted. Maybe it'll come once I install the powder measure - right now, I have no clue.

 

[acrashb]

Is there any link you can recommend with regards to PTX?
[...]
Does it mean I won't need my regular expander die?
[...]
Why do you ask about Ezject? I believe it is - I just bought it 2 months ago - but was wondering why it makes a difference...
[...]
P.S. Seems like a lot of ppl are bashing the Hornady PTX. I just came across this universal one for $25US plus shipping:
ht tp://www.powderfunnels.com/products.html

1) http://www.hornady.com/store/PTX-For-Jacketed-Bullets/ - it just goes into your powder drop lower assembly instead of the flat-faced case-activator that is in there now. When you change calibres, you either adjust the lower assembly, or just pickup several lower assemblies (http://www.hornady.com/store/Case-Activated-Lower-Assembly-1-Each/) and leave one adjusted for each calibre (which is what I've done).

2) yes. the ptx is an expander, through which powder flows.

3) the older style would not work with fcd or other non-hornady crimp dies without modification.

4) the 'bashing' is because the original ones do not flare, which is a non-issue with jacketed (lead users can now get http://www.hornady.com/store/PTX-for-Lead-Bullets/ ), and which helps your brass life in any event because it works the mouth less. The gizmo in your link is a flaring tool which does not expand, and on which the adjustment will be, at best, challenging (due to slop and wear in the linkage).

Having said all of that, if you're mechanically inclined or have someone to show you how, go for it. If not, you may find it easier to use the expander die at first.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

Order your primers online from SFRC, a sponsor here from Eastern Ontario.Excellent to deal with. I'm in the London area and usually get my orders within two days.

WOOT! thanks for the heads up! ordered a couple o bricks myself!

 

[corney]

1) http://www.hornady.com/store/PTX-For-Jacketed-Bullets/ - it just goes into your powder drop lower assembly instead of the flat-faced case-activator that is in there now. When you change calibres, you either adjust the lower assembly, or just pickup several lower assemblies (http://www.hornady.com/store/Case-Activated-Lower-Assembly-1-Each/) and leave one adjusted for each calibre (which is what I've done).

2) yes. the ptx is an expander, through which powder flows.

3) the older style would not work with fcd or other non-hornady crimp dies without modification.

4) the 'bashing' is because the original ones do not flare, which is a non-issue with jacketed (lead users can now get http://www.hornady.com/store/PTX-for-Lead-Bullets/ ), and which helps your brass life in any event because it works the mouth less. The gizmo in your link is a flaring tool which does not expand, and on which the adjustment will be, at best, challenging (due to slop and wear in the linkage).

Having said all of that, if you're mechanically inclined or have someone to show you how, go for it. If not, you may find it easier to use the expander die at first.

I wasn't aware that they made lead expanders. I have been having a hey of a time using my PTX with 38 wad cutters. It shaves bad and causes me all kinds of grief. My linkage is in bad shape as well. I'm not sure I'm adjusting where its expanding at the right point. I have a new set of linkage and I don't want to stretch that one out.

Any pointers?

 

[aridan]

if you're mechanically inclined or have someone to show you how, go for it. If not, you may find it easier to use the expander die at first.

Thanks for a detailed description. I am not that good mechanically I think... Don't want to screw it up and then wear out or break the linkages on my powder measure. I think I'll stick with a separate expansion die for now. The question is: can I seat the bullet without crimping, dump the round into a box, then crimp in a separate stage later on? Will the bullet stay seated in-between those operations?

BTW, here's a video of a guy who made an adjustable stop, to avoid wearing out the linkages:
h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx9LsX0IZko

 

[acrashb]

Any pointers?

Try the lead ptx's, or use a standard expander/flaring die, and keep your new linkage very well lubed.

 

[Airwolf]

... I need small pistol primers. No joke - everyone else needs them too, but I need them more because I have NONE. Please PM me if you have an idea who may carry these...ardo.

I`ve PM`ed you....

 

[aridan]

Order your primers online from SFRC, a sponsor here from Eastern Ontario.Excellent to deal with. I'm in the London area and usually get my orders within two days.

You were right, their service is amazing. Got the primers 2 days after ordering them. Thanks for the tip!

I only wish the price was slightly better than $50/1K - that's what it came to after shipping & taxes...

 

[aridan]

Anyone with PTX experience in Toronto?

I checked youtube and found just 1 video about PTX usage. Is there anyone with Hornady PTX experience in or near GTA? I'd love to see how it is done & then decide if my mechanical skills would be good enough to replicate that experience. I'd hate to ruing my brand new powder measure.

 

[Quigley]

Order your primers online from SFRC, a sponsor here from Eastern Ontario.Excellent to deal with. I'm in the London area and usually get my orders within two days.

Mine showed up in two days...great service!

 

[savage112]

You were right, their service is amazing. Got the primers 2 days after ordering them. Thanks for the tip!

I only wish the price was slightly better than $50/1K - that's what it came to after shipping & taxes...

Yes,the shipping does eat up any savings and the taxes we can't do anything about . However the service and delivery is fast and painless right to your door. That's worth a lot nowadays.I know I will be going back for future purchases.