Hornady quick change bushing

sdelam · 08-05-2010, 18:25

So I've been wanting to try one of these bushings in my Lee classic cast and see if it would work. I love the idea of being able to set the dies up once and leave them while still being able to develop loads on a single stage.

Since they are on sale, I picked one up and installed it tonight. I took a few rough measurments with the calipers and it seemed about dead on as a match for the LNL So I played with some 9mm and it seems that the classic cast seats about .005 deeper than the LNL. Not too bad but I think I would still like to shim it.

Anyone know where to get a .005 shim to place under the bushing? I've also thought about playing with the amount of turns I screw the bushing into the press until I find the right spot, then marking it and appling some locktite and screwing it back in. Not sure if it would come loose or not, I would really rather have a shim. What you guys think?

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tnumber=799411

GioaJack · 08-05-2010, 18:27

Call Hornady, they'll send you the shim for free.

Jack

sdelam · 08-05-2010, 19:53

Alright, I couldnt wait until tomorrow so I got some feeler gages out and tried to see how much shim I needed. I found that two layers of clear packaging tape is the exact amount of shim I need to make the two presses match. I am stoked over this, I was about to start looking at buying an additional set of dies for the single stage. I may call Hornady anyway and see if they have a shim kit or something, but it will work for now.

IndyGunFreak · 08-05-2010, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdelam

Alright, I couldnt wait until tomorrow so I got some feeler gages out and tried to see how much shim I needed. I found that two layers of clear packaging tape is the exact amount of shim I need to make the two presses match. I am stoked over this, I was about to start looking at buying an additional set of dies for the single stage. I may call Hornady anyway and see if they have a shim kit or something, but it will work for now.

If you get the powder measure shim that hornady gives out for free, I'm guessing it will probably raise it that .005..

IGF

sdelam · 08-05-2010, 20:32

I was wondering if those would work since they are meant to go between the LNL bushing and and the press and not below the conversion bushing which is a larger diameter since the LNL bushing goes in side it. I dont have any to play with since I just use white thread tape on
my powder measure bushing. Thanks guys.

IndyGunFreak · 08-05-2010, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdelam

I was wondering if those would work since they are meant to go between the LNL bushing and and the press and not below the conversion bushing which is a larger diameter since the LNL bushing goes in side it. I dont have any to play with since I just use white thread tape on
my powder measure bushing. Thanks guys.

.005 isn't much, would an appropriate sized washer(under the conversion bushing) work?

IGF

Colorado4Wheel · 08-05-2010, 21:15

Tuning .005" out of a dieset sounds like a lot of trouble for very little gain.

sdelam · 08-06-2010, 05:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

Tuning .005" out of a dieset sounds like a lot of trouble for very little gain.

I agree, it isnt much and might not matter in the big picture but I guess I have a little OCD and want it perfect.

While playing with it last night I used a set of feeler gages to see how much shim I would need. I found .005 was too much, .0025 was just about right. I doubt I find a washer at lowes that is only .0025 so the tape will have to work.

at_liberty · 08-06-2010, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdelam

So I've been wanting to try one of these bushings in my Lee classic cast and see if it would work. I love the idea of being able to set the dies up once and leave them while still being able to develop loads on a single stage.

Since they are on sale, I picked one up and installed it tonight. <snip>

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tnumber=799411

I have Hornady bushings and adapters in hand and find that they fit only RCBS sized, 1 1/2" threads, not 1 1/4" standard, i.e they are not usable on Lee presses. I checked and my part numbers are the same as show on the linked page. I was about to return them as misrepresented when I read your post. I am really missing something here, because you clearly imply that you have been able to install yours.

IndyGunFreak · 08-06-2010, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by at_liberty

I have Hornady bushings and adapters in hand and find that they fit only RCBS sized, 1 1/2" threads, not 1 1/4" standard, i.e they are not usable on Lee presses. I checked and my part numbers are the same as show on the linked page. I was about to return them as misrepresented when I read your post. I am really missing something here, because you clearly imply that you have been able to install yours.

I believe you have to spin that threaded insert out of the Lee/RCBS press, then thread in the LNL adapter..

IGF

at_liberty · 08-06-2010, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyGunFreak

I believe you have to spin that threaded insert out of the Lee/RCBS press, then thread in the LNL adapter..

IGF

I don't find any insert in the press. The die threads are in the body of the SS press as well as the turrets of the others. It makes sense that adapters wouldn't work, if Hornady dies thread directly into my presses. Maybe there is a model of Lee press that has an insert but mine don't.

unclebob · 08-06-2010, 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by at_liberty

I don't find any insert in the press. The die threads are in the body of the SS press as well as the turrets of the others. It makes sense that adapters wouldn't work, if Hornady dies thread directly into my presses. Maybe there is a model of Lee press that has an insert but mine don't.

What press do you have?

IndyGunFreak · 08-06-2010, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by at_liberty

I don't find any insert in the press. The die threads are in the body of the SS press as well as the turrets of the others. It makes sense that adapters wouldn't work, if Hornady dies thread directly into my presses. Maybe there is a model of Lee press that has an insert but mine don't.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/cata...g/classic.html

In the product description...

Quote:

Threaded die adapter accepts standard 7/8 - 14 dies, remove and the press accepts 1 1/4 - 12 large series dies.

So remove the threaded die adapter, and simply thread in the hornady bushing. The conversion kit isn't made to work w/ a tool head(Loadmaster, LCT, etc.). It's really designed for most single stage presses(or any press w/ a 1 1/4-12 thread, that you want to use 7/8 dies in)
IGF

unclebob · 08-06-2010, 08:34

If your press has where your dies screw into looks like a nut. Just unscrew that and install the Hornady adaptor. If your press does not have a nut on top then you cannot use the LNL system.

unclebob · 08-06-2010, 08:38

Also when you install the LNL adaptor read the directions on how too do it first. Its very simple if you do it right. Pain too undo your mistake.

at_liberty · 08-06-2010, 10:49

My presses don't include any insert and nut, and I don't need any better press, so I will just return the Hornady stuff. The description said nothing about the critical feature that defines a generation or model of press as compatible.

at_liberty · 08-06-2010, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

Also when you install the LNL adaptor read the directions on how too do it first. Its very simple if you do it right. Pain too undo your mistake.

The directions are a few sentences that say nothing about an insert and removing it. I guess that requirement would be obvious if I actually had an insert. What it doesn't do is stop me from ordering something I can't use.

unclebob · 08-06-2010, 10:53

What press do you own?

at_liberty · 08-06-2010, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebob

What press do you own?

An Anniversary kit SS from about 2003. I also have the little cheapo C press as a priming station. I have a turret and two progressive models also. I load only 9mm, 40S&W, and 45 ACP pistol ammo.

Now that this has come up at the same time as the arrival of my Redding G-RX base sizing die for 40 S&W and experiencing how much leveraging and force is required to drive a bulged case through the die, I might well spring for a new SS press.

ilgunguygt · 08-06-2010, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdelam

I agree, it isnt much and might not matter in the big picture but I guess I have a little OCD and want it perfect.

While playing with it last night I used a set of feeler gages to see how much shim I would need. I found .005 was too much, .0025 was just about right. I doubt I find a washer at lowes that is only .0025 so the tape will have to work.

Notebooke paper is .003", you could try that.

sdelam · 08-06-2010, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by at_liberty

I have Hornady bushings and adapters in hand and find that they fit only RCBS sized, 1 1/2" threads, not 1 1/4" standard, i.e they are not usable on Lee presses. I checked and my part numbers are the same as show on the linked page. I was about to return them as misrepresented when I read your post. I am really missing something here, because you clearly imply that you have been able to install yours.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=317831

This is the Lee press I have, if you zoom in on the picture you can see the nut on top that has to be removed. This is a far different press than the one that came with the older Anniversary Kits. I belive the new challenger press comes with a quick change system already.

GioaJack · 08-06-2010, 17:21

sdelam:

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're trying to accomplish so if I screw this uo I apologize.

The drift I get is you have a LNL and Lee SS and would like to work your loads up on the SS then transfer the seating die over to the LNL for a production run. (I don't know if that's close or not but if it is.)

Why can't you take your worked up load with the die, install it in the LNL, run the ram up with the completed round, (use it as you would a dummy round) then turn the seating stem to match the completed round? Seems like that would take 5 or 6 seconds, if that.

Am I way off here?

Jack

unclebob · 08-06-2010, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioaJack

sdelam:

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're trying to accomplish so if I screw this uo I apologize.

The drift I get is you have a LNL and Lee SS and would like to work your loads up on the SS then transfer the seating die over to the LNL for a production run. (I don't know if that's close or not but if it is.)

Why can't you take your worked up load with the die, install it in the LNL, run the ram up with the completed round, (use it as you would a dummy round) then turn the seating stem to match the completed round? Seems like that would take 5 or 6 seconds, if that.

Am I way off here?

Jack

If what Jack is saying is true? Why do you need a single stage press too work up loads if you have a LNL? You can do the same thing on the LNL that you can one a single stage press.
But too get back too the original question. If on top of the press, the piece that the you screw the dies into has a head on it that you can put a wrench on. That is what you do, put a wrench on it and unscrew it, then put the LNL adaptor in its place. If it does not look like you can put a wrench on it send the parts back.

sdelam · 08-06-2010, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioaJack

sdelam:

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're trying to accomplish so if I screw this uo I apologize.

The drift I get is you have a LNL and Lee SS and would like to work your loads up on the SS then transfer the seating die over to the LNL for a production run. (I don't know if that's close or not but if it is.)

Why can't you take your worked up load with the die, install it in the LNL, run the ram up with the completed round, (use it as you would a dummy round) then turn the seating stem to match the completed round? Seems like that would take 5 or 6 seconds, if that.

Am I way off here?

Jack

Jack your dead on, I want to be able to use the dies in both press' without having to adjust anything. The key for me is that if the dies are set they dont have to be played with at all when moved from one press to the other.

I dont really need the single stage to work up the load, I just want it I guess. Another use would be sizing rifle cases on the single stage prior to primer crimp removal/trimming and still being able to run the sizing die in station one as a qc to ensure the necks are still round.

It's all about options man..besides what else do we have to talk about?

GioaJack · 08-06-2010, 20:01

Okay, I get it now. Don't really disagree with you... if you have equipment ya might as well use it.

Hornady makes their shims in two different thicknesses, .0005 and .0010. Why not call them, get a .0005, (they're free so get a few), split the washer in half, it won't go around the conversion, place each half between conversion and the press then tighten it down.

That should give you the measurement you want and if you ever want to take it out you just loosen the conversion. What am I missing?

Jack