edwardware
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4,426
I've determined it's time for a progressive press, and I'd like input on my research.
After reading around, I believe I've narrowed it to the Hornady LnL Auto Progressive, or the Lee Loadmaster. The Dillon's are too expensive, and the Lee Pro1000 only has 3 positions.
My loads utilize Lee-profile cast FP bullets (either HiTek or powder coated) and whatever primers were on sale at Cabelas 3-4 years ago. I am not going to buy specific primers, or specific bullets. I also use the Lee FCD to crimp and post size. I figure to load 1-2k/year, and I don't want to spend 10-20 hours doing it. I am on the high end for mechanical proficiency and I don't mind fine tuning.
I observe:
Hornady LnL AP, ~$400 with parts for 9mm and 45ACP, and 2 bullet feeding dies, subtracting the ~$100 in bullets as rebate.
1) I would need to polish out the bullet feeding dies for my bullets. I can live with that.
2) The priming system is brand-agnostic. This is good.
3) I would manually feed cases since the case feeder is stupid expensive, and Hornady doesn't appear to offer the feeder without the collator.
4) It's a Hornady, and should work well, with great warranty support, forever.
Lee Loadmaster, ~$280 with kit for 9mm and 45ACP.
1) I would need to constantly tweak and fiddle to keep it running. I can live with that, but. . .
2) The priming system is supposed to be haunted and very finicky, and I won't buy specific primers for it. Can I polish into working order?
3) I would manually feed bullets, since the build-in case feeder looks great, and the bullet feeder looks weak.
4) It's a Lee; brilliant low cost engineering requiring constant fiddling.
If you have experience with these presses, I would like your input on the above. I also want to know:
1) Am I missing anything? Making any incorrect assumptions?
2) Can I buy a case feeder for the Hornady LnL AP that's just a feeder, not a collator, for reasonable money? This would let me manually set bullets, which I prefer.
3) Can I fiddle/polish/modify/finish the Lee Priming systems to be reliable with any brand primers?
4) Can I fiddle/polish the Auto Disk or Auto Drum powder measures into reliability?
Your advice based on experience is appreciated.
After reading around, I believe I've narrowed it to the Hornady LnL Auto Progressive, or the Lee Loadmaster. The Dillon's are too expensive, and the Lee Pro1000 only has 3 positions.
My loads utilize Lee-profile cast FP bullets (either HiTek or powder coated) and whatever primers were on sale at Cabelas 3-4 years ago. I am not going to buy specific primers, or specific bullets. I also use the Lee FCD to crimp and post size. I figure to load 1-2k/year, and I don't want to spend 10-20 hours doing it. I am on the high end for mechanical proficiency and I don't mind fine tuning.
I observe:
Hornady LnL AP, ~$400 with parts for 9mm and 45ACP, and 2 bullet feeding dies, subtracting the ~$100 in bullets as rebate.
1) I would need to polish out the bullet feeding dies for my bullets. I can live with that.
2) The priming system is brand-agnostic. This is good.
3) I would manually feed cases since the case feeder is stupid expensive, and Hornady doesn't appear to offer the feeder without the collator.
4) It's a Hornady, and should work well, with great warranty support, forever.
Lee Loadmaster, ~$280 with kit for 9mm and 45ACP.
1) I would need to constantly tweak and fiddle to keep it running. I can live with that, but. . .
2) The priming system is supposed to be haunted and very finicky, and I won't buy specific primers for it. Can I polish into working order?
3) I would manually feed bullets, since the build-in case feeder looks great, and the bullet feeder looks weak.
4) It's a Lee; brilliant low cost engineering requiring constant fiddling.
If you have experience with these presses, I would like your input on the above. I also want to know:
1) Am I missing anything? Making any incorrect assumptions?
2) Can I buy a case feeder for the Hornady LnL AP that's just a feeder, not a collator, for reasonable money? This would let me manually set bullets, which I prefer.
3) Can I fiddle/polish/modify/finish the Lee Priming systems to be reliable with any brand primers?
4) Can I fiddle/polish the Auto Disk or Auto Drum powder measures into reliability?
Your advice based on experience is appreciated.
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