New Reloading Press Arrived on the Big Brown Truck

[Bawanna]

Well my new Hornady Lock N Load progressive reloader arrived late yesterday. I'm headed out to set it up and check it out. Report to follow.

You know where I'll be.

[mr surveyor]

I like new toys.... what time you want me to show up?


surv

[wyntrout]

WooHoo! That ought to keep him busy for a while.:D I love new toys like that.

My credit card got billed by Trijicon for $54, so I guess that covers re-lamping my K9 slide and return shipping! I might have all four Kahrs back next week and have to do some more testing.

Wynn:D

[Bawanna]

I like new toys.... what time you want me to show up?


surv

Come on down. I'm taking it slow, reading alot and easing into this thing. It's a bit confusing but I think I'm gaining on it.
All mounted, up to the powder measuring stage. Long ways to go I think but so far it's looking like a high quality good running machine.
Back at it, had to check in and make sure the fellas wasn't stirring up trouble.

[MikeyKahr]

Sounds like Bawanna will be out of Mrs. Bawanna's hair a fair amount of the day today! Hope you have a fun, instructive and fruitful day, sir! Oh and btw, did you remember to ask the brown-clothed man/woman driving the big brown vehicle if they would be available to help the youngsters in your neighborhood on that bridge project you spoke of earlier? If not, may I suggest purchasing more toys in order to have another opportunity?:yo:


Well my new Hornady Lock N Load progressive reloader arrived late yesterday. I'm headed out to set it up and check it out. Report to follow.

You know where I'll be.

[wyntrout]

Reading the manual... Gasp!:eek: That betrays your manliness! Things like that ought to be intuitive... especially to someone versed in reloading.
Real men assemble, then see how close they got it to correct.
Wynn:D

[Bawanna]

Well after aproximately 4 hours, a half bottle of advil and a touch of the spirits, (kidding on the spirits, I don't abide by the devils kool aid at least while I'm reloading or playing with guns). I'm calling it a grand success.
Most of the time spent was getting all the dies and the powder measure adjusted perfectly.
The directions are slightly confusing but some say I'm direction challenged anyhow. They often refer to doing things that were apparently already assembled at the factory, confusing when your obsessive compulsive like me. I didn't want to mess anything up, blow myself up or do anything that would impact the longevity of my new press in any way.
Anyhow I think it's a great machine, shouldn't be too difficult to change small to large primer etc. A nuisance to adjust dies but once you have them you should never have to mess with them again. Some fine tuning of course if you switch bullets and different brand cases might require a little tweak.
I'd say 10 rounds in the first 4 hours tweaking and assembling etc.
I'll see how many I can build now that it's all dialed in. But first I think a little break, a little devils kool aid and a few more advil are in order before we give it a good workout maybe tomorrow.

PS I did inquire of using the big green truck for the kids jumping off the bridge. He got a good laugh out of that and since the weather has drastically cooled off and school is starting we might both be off the hook till next summer. With luck I'll have me a Wynn Chevy type van by then, probably not but I can dream. But I won't let them use the roof of that one for a launch pad either. Guess they'll hate me but thats the way the cookie crumbles.

[mr surveyor]

dang, Bawanna..... you just said something else that I found we must have in common.... the big green truck..... I always thought them things were some sort of turdmuckeldy green too, and now they try to claim that they're brown. I think everyone else must be color blind.

surv

[Bawanna]

dang, Bawanna..... you just said something else that I found we must have in common.... the big green truck..... I always thought them things were some sort of turdmuckeldy green too, and now they try to claim that they're brown. I think everyone else must be color blind.

surv

Yup, I don't do color too good either, add it to my list a maladys. I think we're right and everyone else is confused.

[Dietrich]

Congratulations on your new machine....I hate you.

[jfrey]

Good on ya - Bawanna, now get to crankin out them bulits. I couldn't help but thinking while reading that my blue machine came already adjusted and ready to go. 30 minute setup and fine adjustment.
Either way you get a lot of fodder for range time. I figure now you loaded 'em, you gotta shoot 'em - right!

[Bawanna]

Good on ya - Bawanna, now get to crankin out them bulits. I couldn't help but thinking while reading that my blue machine came already adjusted and ready to go. 30 minute setup and fine adjustment.
Either way you get a lot of fodder for range time. I figure now you loaded 'em, you gotta shoot 'em - right!

This machine if I had to do over again I could do in 20 minutes no sweat. I'm just a worrier when it comes to reloading and machines with all these moving parts that cost me mucho money. (Actually it was a great deal, under 400 and 500 free Hornady bullets).
They could simplify things immensely if they would note the things that are already done when it arrives. I spent alot of time looking at how to do things that were actually already done.
It is really smooth and positive and I like the fact that it rotates only half a position at a time. I think once I get bonded with it and get the dies adjusted (that's always the toughest part for me, I'm too darn picky) we'll be fine.

Dietrich, I know you hate me and I don't think you ever really liked me but I think your just yummy and I'd love to be your neighbor.

[Dietrich]

You`d like to be my neighbor? Just who do you think you are? Mr.Rogers?

[Bawanna]

You`d like to be my neighbor? Just who do you think you are? Mr.Rogers?

If it pleases you, yes I can be Mr. Rogers.

Many don't know it but Mr. Rogers was a genuine war hero special forces dude. The reason he always wore sweaters was cause he tatoo's all up and down both arms. Same with my hero Captain Kangaroo.
Worlds full of surprises.

[mr surveyor]

I didn't know the Captain was a war hero. I never missed the opportunity to watch CK. My original mentor for instruction in AutoCad applications was Magic Drawing Board.


surv

[Bawanna]

The captain was a Sgt on Omaha beach. Lee Marvin was under his command when he got shot directly in the ********. True story.

[Bawanna]

Well sad news today for the shiney new Hornady Lock N Load press. Guess guns aren't the only thing that may require a trip back to the mother ship. My son came out to my room to check out the operation so I took advantage of his young fresh arm and let him work the handle a few times. About the 8th time the shell holder stayed up and parted ways with the ram. NOT GOOD!
He of course felt horrible that he broke my new toy.
After about a half hour of tinkering and mechanical playing around I found that the drive hub (a cast part with steel threaded insert) had sheared off. Took awhile to get it out but I'm absolutely thrilled that at least I don't have to dissasemble and box and ship the whole press back to Hornady.
I just sent them an email inquiry and I'm hoping they can just send me a new drive hub. I won't lose any of my adjustments, won't take long to put back together and I should be back on the track.
Guess I'll know how good Hornady customer service is in a day or two.
Guess I'll find something else to play with for a few days. Sawdust maybe.

[mr surveyor]

Now you're talking about MY carpentering abilities. I CAN make saw dust. Never figured out why no matter how many times I cut a board... it's STILL too short!

Too bad about the press. It just reiterates the fact that ANY machine can malfunction, no matter the quality.


surv

[hedgehog]

any photos? how much does it cost you to make 50 9mm rounds?

[Bawanna]

I'll try to break out the camera after supper here and take a picture of the set up. I don't reload 9mm so I haven't ever worked the numbers on that round. I'll keep track of component cost and work the numbers on 45, kind of curious myself as I haven't done it for awhile. I know that the price of brass and metals has driven the component cost up just like ammo itself.
I still think it's way cheaper to reload but in addition to saving a few bucks I like to reload, something related to guns I can do when I can't be shootin.

[wyntrout]

The cheapest .45 ACP I've seen is the Federal 230-grain FMJ at Wally World for $15.97 per box of 50, which with tax is $17.09 here (+7%), or about 34 cents a round. I know you can beat that, but mainly because of using your own brass. That would be a good basis for comparison. Just figure the primer, powder, and bullet, without getting into the minutia of the tool costs and your time. At some point, though, you have to consider the investment in equipment and whether or not you'll reload enough to recoup the cost, but of course, there is the joy or pride in producing your own ammo. I sure enjoyed it and hated to get rid of all of my equipment, but having to leave the brass on the floor made reloading cost prohibitive.
Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

Heres a shot of my wounded Hornady Lock N Load press all set up. Hornady sent me word yesterday that they will send the new part so I should be back on line this week I hope.

A pic of the drive hub the way it should look and the way mine looks. Not a pretty sight.

Oh well I still love it and I think we're gonna make lots of beautiful ammo when we get together and rolling.

[Bawanna]

Got my warranty replacement drive hub today!! Got it all back together and I think we're ready to start building ammo again. Added a couple steel supports under the bench to beef it up some. Now when I get to cranking the shelves and storage areas won't be emptying themselves on the floor.