My new "Powder Cop"

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I purchased this Endoscope Camera with Light, 1920P HD Borescope with 8 Adjustable LED Lights on Amazon for $13.99 and added it to my Hornady LNL press, using velco strips, to use as a powder cop. Loaded 200 rounds this morning and it worked great. It also has 8 LED lights around the camera that lights up my shellplate nicely. You download the app, plug it into an iPhone or Android phone, and you're up and running. Nice cheap powder cop.

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

D'ats kwel 

[Pistol Paisan]

Now that’s genius, sir! Thank you!

[Griff]

Mine plugs into my laptop... much bigger picture!  

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Mine doesn't make pretty pictures.  It just screams if the charge is too light or too heavy or missing altogether.  It's a Dillon.

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

I added this to my XL750 back in December.  A few days ago the price (on Amazon) jumped from $36 to $50, but presumably it will come down again.  I use it the same way -- the display shows the view looking down into the case before the shell plate lifts the case up to bullet drop die.  It is great.

[Joe LaFives #5481]

I prefer the RCBS lockout dies.  NO sound but the press stops and so you KNOW the powder is not right.  (happen to have a couple if someone wants btw)

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

8 minutes ago, Joe LaFives #5481 said:

I prefer the RCBS lockout dies.  NO sound but the press stops and so you KNOW the powder is not right.  (happen to have a couple if someone wants btw)

Joe, the problem is that there is no room for the Hornady Powder Cop or RCBS lockout die in a 5-station XL750 toolhead once you've added the bullet feeder at station 3, if you want to seat the bullet at station 4 with a seating die and then crimp separately at station 5 with a Lee Factory Crimp Die.  There is a work-around -- swapping in the Double Alpha extra-short powder bar which allows installing the powder dropper die at station 4 and then using an RCBS combo seater/crimper at station 5.  But not everyone wants to do that.

[Red River Rudy, SASS #8490 LIFE]

Thanks for the info!  I just ordered two

[Sheriff Dill]

2 hours ago, Nostrum Damus SASS #110702 said:

I added this to my XL750 back in December.  A few days ago the price (on Amazon) jumped from $36 to $50, but presumably it will come down again.  I use it the same way -- the display shows the view looking down into the case before the shell plate lifts the case up to bullet drop die.  It is great.

Are you able to send me the link ?

 

 

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

21 minutes ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Are you able to send me the link ?

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PBW52SF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

That should be it.  But there are others with good ratings in the $30-35 range -- I don't know why you'd need to spend $50 when they all come from the same factory located at Inspection Camera City, DingDongXing Province, Area 6, Block 19, Alley C, Bldg.20, 4th floor.

[Sheriff Dill]

6 minutes ago, Nostrum Damus SASS #110702 said:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PBW52SF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

That should be it.  But there are others with good ratings in the $30-35 range -- I don't know why you'd need to spend $50 when they all come from the same factory located at Inspection Camera City, DingDongXing Province, Area 6, Block 19, Alley C, Bldg.20, 4th floor.

Ty 

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

I have the screen part zip-tied to the support post for the bullet feeder, and the camera end of the fiber fitted into a hole I made in a small cork that fits very nicely into the hole shown below.  It would be better if that hole was between stations 2 and 3 but it is still good enough where it is to see partially into the case to see that there is in fact powder in it.

[Joe LaFives #5481]

3 hours ago, Nostrum Damus SASS #110702 said:

Joe, the problem is that there is no room for the Hornady Powder Cop or RCBS lockout die in a 5-station XL750 toolhead once you've added the bullet feeder at station 3, if you want to seat the bullet at station 4 with a seating die and then crimp separately at station 5 with a Lee Factory Crimp Die.  There is a work-around -- swapping in the Double Alpha extra-short powder bar which allows installing the powder dropper die at station 4 and then using an RCBS combo seater/crimper at station 5.  But not everyone wants to do that.

I never saw the need for the bullet feeder.  That could introduce more of a problem though if you failed to inspect every round prior to the bullet autoseating don't you think especially if it's just say a charge and 1/2? That might be difficult to tell? Just a thought.

Edited March 12 by Joe LaFives #5481

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

48 minutes ago, Joe LaFives #5481 said:

I never saw the need for the bullet feeder.  That could introduce more of a problem though if you failed to inspect every round prior to the bullet autoseating don't you think especially if it's just say a charge and 1/2? That might be difficult to tell? Just a thought.

The most reliable component / subassembly of my press, hands down, is the powder drop assembly.  3.2 grains of Red Dot each and every time.  Without fail; even the first drop of a new loading session.  In my experience it is crazy good reliable, unless of course something catastrophic happens, like the entire fail-safe linkage falling off when its mounting screw backed out.  I noticed that when it happened.  Apart from that, I have never had an undercharged squib load in what is by now probably 20-30 thousand rounds.  Still, I understand your point, and it is a risk I take in order to load 400-500 rounds per hour, taking my time.  

[Joe LaFives #5481]

10 minutes ago, Nostrum Damus SASS #110702 said:

The most reliable component / subassembly of my press, hands down, is the powder drop assembly.  3.2 grains of Red Dot each and every time.  Without fail; even the first drop of a new loading session.  In my experience it is crazy good reliable, unless of course something catastrophic happens, like the entire fail-safe linkage falling off when its mounting screw backed out.  I noticed that when it happened.  Apart from that, I have never had an undercharged squib load in what is by now probably 20-30 thousand rounds.  Still, I understand your point, and it is a risk I take in order to load 400-500 rounds per hour, taking my time.  

That's cool.  Are you using Dillion's?  If you are doing the maintenance, then you're right, it shouldn't be a problem.  Static build up, and dirt from the grains can reduce the reliability.  

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

1 hour ago, Joe LaFives #5481 said:

That's cool.  Are you using Dillion's?  If you are doing the maintenance, then you're right, it shouldn't be a problem.  Static build up, and dirt from the grains can reduce the reliability.  

Yes, Dillon 750.  I get no static build-up; I have grounding wrist straps, the kind you wear when working on delicate electronics, on my powder hoppers and connected to ground on the wall behind my bench.  I don't leave powder in the hopper for more than a few weeks, and verify accurate powder drops at the start of each session.  I empty the dregs and blow out the passageway with compressed air when I do caliber changes as each caliber has its own dedicated fully equipped toolhead. 

[Lucky R. K.]

This is the setup on my 550. It works great.

Lucky 😁

Edited March 13 by Lucky R. K.

[Nostrum Damus SASS #110702]

Here's how mine is set up.  Also works great.

I wet tumble my brass with stainless steel pins so the insides of the cases are bright and shiny.  It is very easy to see the difference between a bright shiny empty case and one with a dark powder charge in it.

Edited March 13 by Nostrum Damus SASS #110702