First of all, I want to thank GWhis on ARFCOM for helping me put this together. He gave me the tube sizes and some insight which helped a lot and eliminated some trial and error.

I only made this for 9mm, so can't comment on other calibers.

$27.58 not including tax and shipping

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aBycOUiNEk



Parts needed

Hornady Bullet Feeding Die $23.99
36" 7/16" OD Plastic Tube $2.59 each
Black Tape
5/8" Hitch Pin Clips (2 for each tube)($0.50 each at Home Depot)

The Bullet Feed Die comes with a .355 PTX Powder Through Expander, so you don't need to buy one for your Powder Measure.

Installation of the Bullet Feed Die

1. The die doesn't come with any instructions at all. I read up on the internet on how to do this.


2. First clean the die and all parts of the packing oil all over everything.


3. Collet A goes in 1st, then Collet B goes on top of it. Screw the top back on until it contacts the collets and then back it out 1/2 a turn. Tighten the lock ring.


4. Insert a resized and flared piece of brass in the station you are going to use. I use station 3.


5. Raise the ram all the way up and screw the die in until it just kisses the brass.


6. Lower the ram and screw the die in 1/2 - 3/4 of a turn. (Mine was fine at a 1/2 turn)


7. Tighten the lock ring after completed.

Preparing the tubes

1. On 1 end of each tube use your black tape and make 3 complete revolutions around the bottom. This will give your tube a snug fit in the die.


2. About 1/4" above the black tape, drill a hole all the way through so you can insert your hitch pin clip. Drill another hole on the opposite end about 1/4-1/2" from the ends.

As you can now see, the hitch pin clips are there to keep the bullets from falling out of either end. Insert the hitch pin clip on the bottom (side with black tape) and start inserting bullets. I use Montana Gold 124g JHP and the tube can hold about 60. Another 8-9 will fit into the die. If using Montana Gold 124gr JPH 9mm, you can fit exactly 100 bullets into a 5' tube.


You will need to support the top of the tube to something as the weight will bend it and probably snap the tube. I used a simple backstrap with an eye screw.


All done! When your tube is empty, just put 8-9 more bullets in the die and add another tube. I keep about 5 tubes handy and pre-loaded.

NICE! I think I'll try this for my pistol reloads.

Very cool. I wonder if you coud rig something up with 4 tubes that rotated like some of the case feeders our ther for Lee and other progressives do. If you could make that work (albeit heavy) you could easily get 100 bullets on hand, which matches a lot of case and primer chute capacities.

So now if you added a case feeder, you would just have to sit there and crank the handle after you make sure everything is set up right?

The expander comes with the bullet feeder die. So if you're using the Hornady lnl powder feeder it will flare it for you. So you won't need to use another station.

This is very cool. I'd be interested in a few other sizes too.

1/2" PVC pipe would work fine for 45acp.

Very nice! Looks like I am going to have to add one for my LNL.

Congratulations AlliedArmory! Your idea had to work, and the hitch pin really does makes it like an oversized primer tube, only a way safer application of it. Great Idea!

The clear tubing from "Linens N Things" comes in sizes 1/16" apart with 1/32" walls. That means each next bigger size telescopes into the one smaller. For my Hornady Bullet Feeder project I bought several sizes, and you can buy a clear tubing for any size bullet. That means you don't have to use opaque PVC for .45 just get a bigger size. AlliedArmory's Link at the top of this thread, has all the sizes.

As he shows, for 9mm the tubing, a wrap is required to increase the size of the base to fit tight. (you could also try one or more layers of electrical shrink tube). For some of the other calibers, I had to use a Dremel abrasive wheel for plastics to cut a single slit up an inch on one side. That allows the tubing to squeeze a little and slide tightly into the appropriate feeder die. See the bottom tube in the picture below:
That's 1/2" tubing, and 9/16" coupler just above it for .45 cal.
Sorry! Memory was bad.....To fit the Hornady .45 cal feed die cut a 3" piece of 5/8" tubing, cut a 1" slit in the bottom to allow is to squeeze just a hair and then run 9/16 tubing through it. (9/16" tubing for the storage tubes with 5/8" coupler if you wish.)

As described by Allied, the tubing is only 3' high. You can couple the tubing easily with a 2" piece of the next larger size and some super glue. Cut 2 inch pieces of the larger size. Glue half of each piece to the top of each tube, and then next tube can be dropped in.

The bullet feeder manufacturers really don't want to see Allieds idea you know....keep your use mum or they may "package" the dies only with the feeders! Wonder what they will think when they discover their feeder dies are flying out of the factory at a disproportionate speed compared to the Collators???

You guys don't really want AlliedArmory's idea to disappear in the archives do ya? Also Allied, if more people are going to see this, you ought to rename the thread, "$28.00 Bullet feeder for Any Progressive" Do it!

Awesome! I'll have to keep this in mind whenever I have some money freed up for reloading fun. It would definitely speed up reloading on the 550B.

I set the toggle so this thread won't slip into the archives.

If it seems to disappear look at the last 3 pages of the forum, that's where all of the toggled threads collect.

You can always find it there.

freakin cool!
thanks i like it

want my second born???

He just invented it...so no...that's your job. The Hornady Feed die will obviously screw in to the Dillon's tool head....you screw it down until it releases the bullet. The only other requirement is your normal Dillon powder loading station for pistol reloading has to properly expand & bell the case so the bullet sits upright as you index it to the seater die. Right? Any problem Dillon people?



If you want exactly 100, just permanently couple another tube together by gluing a 2" sleeve of the next bigger sized tube. Cut the second tube to just fit 100. Super glue works if you're patient and let it setup. But better, would be to just use two temporarily coupled tubes as already described. (which loads 120 9mm) You don't have to load all 120.

As for the 4-tube setup, it's possible no doubt....maybe Richard Lee will come to the rescue.

The only thing I don't like about all this, is.......I didn't think of it before I bought Hornady's Collator, and went to all the trouble to mod it.