Hornady LNL AP metering

[poke5353]

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to get varget to meter good in the LNL. It seems to very inconsistent bc of it's shape. It sometimes gets fought up in the system and makes it hard to push the ram all the way up. Anyone know how to modify anything to make it work good. I want to use varget but I want a consistent powder measure.

Thanks

 

[mscott]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

I've only used mine for pistols loads and ball powder for .223 ammo. I can't see it throwing something like Varget with enough precision to be worthwhile.

 

[bohem]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

Mine chokes on stick powders. +/-0.3gr when I tried it.

H4350 did a little better than RL22 but the kernels are a little smaller.

I bought an electronic dispenser and I just use it for ball powders on bulk 223/308/30-06 type ammo. Pistol ammo seems to do OK with flake powders but then again, I'm just blasting with them too.

 

[Linkless]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

Mine has generally been fairly decent. The only real issue I've had is static charge making powder stick to the internals. This would cause my loads to get lighter over time as some of the volume was being wasted by kernels that weren't dropping. Not sure what is causing it but it seems to be specific to certain powders.

 

[DamnDave]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

I would avoid stick powders in progressive loading all together. Varget in my early tests were all over the page coming in a +/-.4gr.

Varget is limited to my single stage where I dispense it from my Chargemaster.

 

[Oakfan]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

Interesting, I've just bought a chargemaster for this very reason. Any good ball powders to suggest for .223 or .308?

The other problem I have with the stick powders is that they will occasionally hang up the powder measure and result in the lip of the case being crushed, a true bummer.

 

[gruntbull]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

I use it in mine. Velocity variation +/- 25fps for a 24.5 gr powder through. Im ok with that for my AR platform. If I had a bolt action I would use my RCBS single stage to make ammo.

I found with the powder measure to "clean" it every other hopper with a used dryer sheet, no more static.

 

[bohem]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Oakfan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Interesting, I've just bought a chargemaster for this very reason. Any good ball powders to suggest for .223 or .308?

The other problem I have with the stick powders is that they will occasionally hang up the powder measure and result in the lip of the case being crushed, a true bummer. </div></div>

BLC-2 and A2520 are very close in burn rate to Varget. Both meter extremely well. Neither is particularly temp stable, but they can quite easily be made to work well and will work with a range of bullets in both the 223 adn the 308.

H335 is a great powder for 40-60gr bullets in the 223 and 110-150gr bullets in the 308.

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

I had the same problem. Frustrating.
In my case, I've found that much of the problem has to do with the fact that my reloading bench it's mounted to has a bit too much "give"...

Put another way, when FL sizing a case, especially if I hit a stubborn one, running the ram will really vibrate/shake the powder drop- sometimes pretty heavily.

This is BIG no-no with the extruded powders. It'll cause the already metered charge to compress, and allow more powder into the meter.

Just try this- drop and weigh a charge (any weight) when the powder drop has been vibration/movement free. Then, give the powder drop a few good shakes, drop the "same" charge, and weigh it. It'll be from a couple of tenths, to as much as five or six tenths more.

I've eliminated much of my Varget metering misery by really stiffening up my benchtop, and the rigidity of the AP mounting to minimize vibration/movement during loading.

Don't know if this is part of your issue, it was mine. Varget will never be as dead on as a ball powder, but I'm almost always within .2 now.

 

[mavrick10_2000]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

AA2520 and Ramshot TAC are spherical powders with burn rates close to Varget. These are the easiest to use with a progressive type of press since they flow very well.

It's well documented that longer kernel extruded powders are very difficult to use in progressive press type of powder measures.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Hornady LNL AP metering

Been runnin Varget through my LNL for years. No issues, just keep it clean.