Auto Bullet Feeder for Wadcutters

[Jingles]

I reload primarily .38 and .44 in either LWC or LSWC, about 1,000 in a run. I'm using a Hornady Lock and Load progressive with an automatic case feeder. I figure an auto bullet feeder would cut reloading time considerably, but the bullet feeder for Hornady is only for plated conical bullets. I have seen some presses that use a tube that you preload with bullets, but not for the Hornady.

Has anyone figured out an alternative auto feeder that will handle wadcutters?

 

[Wee Hooker]

Sorry, no direct experience with the set-up in question but would offer my experience for consideration. On the occasions when I have used a full progressive press, I found the action of placing the bullet on the case, forced me to focus on the powder load/ level in that case. This has saved me a few times from loading an empty case or (at least once,) a double charged case.
Both would have been bad JUJU if I hadn't caught it during that step. For me, trading a little speed for safety has been a very good thing.

 

[Bkreutz]

I reload primarily .38 and .44 in either LWC or LSWC, about 1,000 in a run. I'm using a Hornady Lock and Load progressive with an automatic case feeder. I figure an auto bullet feeder would cut reloading time considerably, but the bullet feeder for Hornady is only for plated conical bullets. I have seen some presses that use a tube that you preload with bullets, but not for the Hornady.

Has anyone figured out an alternative auto feeder that will handle wadcutters?

The reason the collator type bullet feeders won't work with wad cutters is that it can't figure out which end of the bullet is the front BUT DAA makes a mini Mr Bullet feeder where you put the bullets in a tube and mount it to the press. Here's a link DAA Mini Mr. Bulletfeeder

 

[S&WIowegan]

The guys I know that load lots of custom ammo on Dillon 1050s say lead bullets are a nightmare. The collator is fine but the feeding tubes can't always move the bullet.

Good luck.

 

[Bohica793]

Lead bullets in an auto feeder are a problem for two reasons: First, the lube used will collect in the feeder die and muck up the works and, secondly, cast bullets are usually sized .001-.003 larger than plated and jacketed rounds which the feeder dies are not sized to accommodate. Powder coated lead sized to plated specs will work in a feeder but full wadcutters (unless you use the old double ended ones) are still an issue for the reason mentioned previously.

I have a Hornady LNL and have not been able to get lead to feed reliably so I just stick to hand placing them in cases.

 

[noylj]

Any press that can take a Lee seating die can use the Lee bullet feeder.
The problem I see is the time it takes to fill ANY tube negates any small time savings you made using the bullet feeder.
You can check YouTube for a bullet feeder that works for HBWCs.

 

[bluetopper]

I've used the Hornady LNL for several years and never saw the need for case or bullet feeders. The cases and bullets have to be individually loaded in the tubes anyway don't they?

 

[Duckford]

I bought the RCBS 7 stage reloader only to find I can't use the bullet tubes very well, and I got the extra stages for almost no extra gain with my current operation. On the plus side, I leave one stage open after powder drop to hand place bullets, and this has turned out to be a hidden blessing. I use the 4th stage after powder to pull cases for random weight checks, if I have a hiccup, the blank stage allows me to more easily keep things organized to get back in, and helps to prevent a double charge incident, but most of all hand seating lets us know if a case has gone to hell from resize and belling stages, so we can cull a bad case before it comes out the end as a finished round. If the bullet doesn't fall in right, check the case, something that isn't as easy with a bullet die.

Progressive has been fun, but my cautious single stage nature has taught me patience and value of hand feel of things for constant quality control. Hand seating bullets and checking for quality mid process aren't so bad after all.

 

[noylj]

>I've used the Hornady LNL for several years and never saw the need for case or bullet feeders. The cases and bullets have to be individually loaded in the tubes anyway don't they?

I don't need a case collator, but my 1050s came that way.
Case and bullet collators work by using gravity and the difference in weight from one end of a bullet or case to get them oriented correctly, so NO, they all don't need you to fill a tube.
I do, however, use the Lee Bullet feeder purely in manual mode sometimes as with old age I have lost some fine motor ability and find it easier to fill a tube by hand and then cycle the bullet feeder so bullet is aligned, rather than my spending 15-60 seconds trying to get a bullet lined up right.