Hornady L-N-L AP press questions.

[jms92]

I am in the process of ordering a Hornady Lock-N Load AP press from Midway. I plan to load 5 calibers 223, 38, 9mm, 30 carbine, and 45 ACP, so I need these 5 shell plates. I also need L-N-L bushings, and the pistol powder insert. Do I need anything else? I am trying to avoid forgetting something that will be a show stopper.

Questions:

1) I have Lee and RCBS dies, are there any known problem with using them on this press? Should I order the Hornady taper crimp dies? Are they required?

2) Will the Midway brand (Vibra-prime) primer tubes work with this press?

3) Is there anything else you can recommend I order? If so, what and why?

4) Where can I get a digital counter and a low primer alarm? I can’t seem to find these on Midways, or RCBS web page.

I have been loading on a chucker for over 25 years and need a progressive press. I have friends that bleed blue, and I originally was going to get a 550. I knew blue was pricey but I needed to call the EMT’s when the price of a 550 with 5 conversions was close to $900. I don’t need top shelf and the L-N-L will serve my needs. The C&R discount from Midway and a 1000 free bullets from Hornady also sweeten the deal. Before I place my order I am looking for any feed back good, bad, or indifferent on this?

Thanks in advance,
Jayme

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Jayme,

Here's some answers:

"1) I have Lee and RCBS dies, are there any known problem with using them on this press? Should I order the Hornady taper crimp dies? Are they required?"

a. If you use a Lee FCD in the final station, you'll need to remove a bit of material from one side of the die to clear the ejection wire. Or you can simply buy a Hornady taper die if you're loading ACP type cartridges. You don't need the fifth station unless you want to seat in one station and crimp in another. This generally makes the operations easier to setup and run smoother, but isn't required.

"2) Will the Midway brand (Vibra-prime) primer tubes work with this press?"

You can use the vibra prime. I own one and had to adapt it a lttle bit, since it was designed for a Dillon, but it was a simple task. I haven't found I needed the extra primer tubes. I just load the primers right into the tube on the press.

"3) Is there anything else you can recommend I order? If so, what and why?"

Read the post at the top of the page for new reloaders. There's a bunch of stuff listed that can be mighty handy if you have a progressive reloading setup.

"4) Where can I get a digital counter and a low primer alarm? I can’t seem to find these on Midways, or RCBS web page."

Industrial supply houses sell these, McMaster Carr, etc. or you can find them online.

"I have been loading on a chucker for over 25 years and need a progressive press. I have friends that bleed blue, and I originally was going to get a 550. I knew blue was pricey but I needed to call the EMT’s when the price of a 550 with 5 conversions was close to $900. I don’t need top shelf and the L-N-L will serve my needs. The C&R discount from Midway and a 1000 free bullets from Hornady also sweeten the deal. Before I place my order I am looking for any feed back good, bad, or indifferent on this?"

I owned a 550 and got rid of it for a Hornady LnL when they first came out. After a good bit of time with a 550, my LnL and using a buddy's 650, I haven't found any significant differences in customer support or quality between the Hornady and the Dillons. What I have found is the Hornady is a better press due to it's much newer design. Significant points: 1. It's cleaner than any Dillon 2. It's much faster to change calibers. 3. It has a better powder measure (handles a larger variety of powders without problems) and it's easy enough to setup/adjust you don't have to buy any more measures. 4. You can change out any die station at any time without affecting the others, such as swapping a full length die with a neck die. 5. It's much cheaper to change calibers. At most/worst case you only need the LnL bushings, a shellplate, a die set and a casefeeder plate (assuming you buy a casefeeder). In many cases, you'll only need the bushings, which can be bought in a pack of 10 pretty inexpensively. 5. It's significantly faster than a 550 and as fast as a 650.

Final thoughts: My buddy bleeds blue too and he argued longly and strongly when I went from blue to red. He's loaded on my LnL several times now and has had to eat quite a bit of crow in the last year or two. As far as warranty service goes, they're about the same. Fact is, RCBS has the best warranty service around at this time and Lyman appears to have the worst of the reloading equipment manufacturers. I'm not 100% positive on the Lyman, this is based on internet postings I've read, so take with a grain of salt.

You'll not regret purchasing the LnL. Just make sure you take your time, learn how your new machine works and learn to clean, lube and adjust it properly. Once you do that, it'll run smooth as can be.

Regards,

Dave

 

[mscott]

As long as you are a little bit handy you won't have any problems. I'd say Dave gave you some good answers. You might want to order a few extra case retainer springs as I've broken a couple. I have a buddy that eats them, but I haven't checked out his press for him yet. I use a Dillon low primer alarm and it works great. It will need to be adapted with some tape or something. I'd post a pic, but my camera just died. One other important thing it to keep it lubed. The press has grease fittings, so use them. It really does make a difference. A little gun oil on the ram works, but doesn't last as long.

 

[robctwo]

I went through this process in 2004. Decided on the LnL as well. I just tallied 34,000 rounds plus. Loading 45 ACP & LC, .40, 9mm, .380, 300WSM, .308, .270, .243, .223, .204. Caliber changes are fast and easy. Powder measure and primer feed first rate. I've fought with my ejection wire to the point where I simply removed it. Maybe not the best solution, but it takes little time to pull the round while setting a bullet.

I have no opinion on most other presses. I learned to reload on my buddy's Lee Loadmaster. The LnL is a step up from that machine.

 

[Canuck-IL]

I don’t need top shelf and the L-N-L will serve my needs.

THe L'n'L IS top shelf...650 performance for better than 550 pricing, including caliber changes.

Re the case retainer springs...the ends on those are simply 'screwed' into each other. When one eventually opens up, just twist it back together. I bought a bunch of spares 8k rounds ago when the first separated and then discovered they were just a twist fit ... still going on the supposedly 'broken' one.
/Bryan

 

[Empyrean]

Jayme,

I just received my LNL AP press so what is needed is still pretty fresh in my mind. You will want to get the pistol rotor and standard metering insert to load for your handguns. You will also want to order a standard metering insert for every caliber you want to load. They make separate rifle and pistol inserts. The standard metering insert designed for the pistol rotor needs to be ordered directly from Hornady as it is not on their website nor does Midway sell it without having to buy the pistol rotor at the same time. The part no. is 050116.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I believe you will need the powder-through-expanders for the pistol calibers you wish to load. This allows you to free up a station and use a powder-cop die if you like.

I too have been looking for a inexpensive digital counter. I keep checking eBay but haven't found one that suits the need. They are also called "totalizer" so you'll want to search for that term also.

Lastly, there is a specific shellplate #45 (I believe that's the number) that is designed for 45ACP. The shellplate #1 (I think) that can do .308/45ACP will work but the #45 plate was designed for 45ACP. If you have no need to load .308 Winchester then it is probably a good idea just to get the plate designed for 45ACP.

Hope this helps!

--AJ

 

[Idano]

I think you're making the right choice, I just bought my Hornady a couple of months ago and have already run about 4,000 rounds through it. I can't stress enough to get a low primer alarm. I started without one and I ended up pull a few bullets because I forgot to watch the primers; the press runs so smoothly once you get it setup a 100 rounds goes through in no time. My buddy picked up the RCBS Low Primer Alarm on eBay for $6, it is exactly like the Dillon alarm, and I didn't have to do any modification. I simply clamped it on the black plastic tip of the primer support tube and ran my powder measure in station three. I also added a digital case counter to my press an mounted to the case feeder support tube with a bracket I manufactured out of a 1"x2"x6" piece of steel tubing. The case counter is a battery operated (4 year battery life) Red Lion CUB 2 up counter I purchased on eBay for $15 and added a reed switch to the base of the press next to the cartridge bin with 3M auto body tape and placed a magnet on the bottom side of the shell plate assembly. I attached pictures of the counter and the low primer alarm below, but here is a over all picture of my setup; you'll notice I use the RCBS Uniflow Powder Measure and linkage instead of the Hornady powder measure and linkage. I couldn't get the Hornady setup to be as consistent as the RCBS setup which I had used on my Lee LoadMaster

If you need any help with the case counter let me know I'll be glad to help.

 

[Luggernut]

I just ordered a LnL and was wondering how you are supposed to even load the primer tubes? Do I need to get soemthing else to do this?

 

[raz-0]

The pres comes with two primer pickup tubes. You bascily poke the primers like a pencil, and the plastic nipple thing grabss them. Then you use that tube to load the primer tube on the press.


if using the vibraprime, get the three packs of FA primer tubes for them. (or 2 3 packs if you laod large and small), as they will fill the press just fine and are cheap.

Also, I highly recommend the micrometer metering inserts.

One thing i recommend is to get a couple nice thin dowels that will fit in the primer tube. On the end of one dowel, i put a 38 super or 9mm inside a 40 inside a .45 using duct tape to make it all fit snug and stay on the dowel. Then with an empty primer system on the press, insert nad cut it down until you have a bitof wood left showing (maybe 1.5 inches). Use a marker to mark the dowel just above the primer tube opening. Now when you fill the tube with 100 primers, put the dowel in on top. It will help the primers to feed smoothly without missing, and you just glance at the dowel now and again to see hwo close you are getting to empty.

 

[1911user]

The normal method is a primer flip tray to get the primers oriented for loading the tube.
Step 1: dump primers on ribbed tray.
Step 2: gently shake sideways until all primers are open side up.
Step 3: Put flip tray lid on tray. Turn tray over. Remove tray.
Step 4: Use primer pickup tube to load primers from tray lid.
Step 5: Put primers into press open side up.

 

[Luggernut]

Wow... seems tedious still. I have a handheld RCBS primer that has a tray I can use to flip the pimers.. but is there a better way to do this?

Does it make sense to get extra tubes?

Thanks!

 

[jms92]

Thanks all. This is great information here!!!


Jayme.........

 

[Empyrean]

Jayme,

I almost forgot. You'll want a powder die with each caliber you load for. They are adjusted just like a normal die and it will be removed and put aside with your dies for that caliber.

--AJ

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Luggernut,

Get a Frankford Arsenal Vibra prime. With a Vibra Prime you can forget about primer flip tray stuff.

It's cheap, so you'll have to clean up the flashing, but it works great if you do a little "fluff and buff." The other method is to spend a ton of money and get a Dillon primer loader. Does the same thing, but for tons more money. The Dillon does work a little bit, but not enough in my mind to justify the difference in cost between the two machines.



Dave

 

[VARifleman]

I'm also going between the LNL and the 550, although I'd be getting my LNL from Midway like the poster would be, I could get a 550 for about 310 or so from a local dealer. I'll mainly be loading .45, although some friends of mine would want to load .40 on it (gotta check the loading, but 5.6 grains of n340 seems to be what said dealer uses in both .45 and .40 for IPSC, so I don't think I would need another powder die for the two? mabye I'm wrong about that), and I'll probably get into loading .308, or some other 7-8mm caliber in the future. I've heard of problems arising because of the quick change system that the LNL uses? Have any of you found that to be the case? Thanks.

 

[Empyrean]

The powder die is adjusted based on the caliber you are loading. You will need one each for 40 and 45ACP.

 

[Shoney]

VARifleman

I've heard of problems arising because of the quick change system that the LNL uses?

I'll bet you heard this bull from someone who has a Dillon and knows nothing about the LNL. I know, I used to be a member of the blue buffoon battalion, who, because of blind loyalty, would dishonestly spew the “lots of BS” blue bullroar.

I have the LNL and a 550, and the LNL is so much better it hurts. I changeover between 6 pistol and 2 rifle cartridges. NO PROBLEMS. The two most time consuming parts of the changeover is the shell plate change and resetting the powder measure. At most, powder changeover takes 5 min each. On the powder measure, once you have the proper seting, you log them and reset. With the micrometer insert, it's a snap.

 

[jms92]

Its a done deal.

I shot my order off to Midway...

1- L-N-L AP Press
5- shell plates 1,6,8,16,22
2- 10 packs of L-N-L bushings
1- L-N-L drain insert
1- Powder measure handgun rotor & metering assm.
1- Powder measure rifle micrometer metering insert
Misc replacement parts.

Everything is in stock but the shell plate 16 for 223. I have enough to get me started so I can wait for it. I would have ordered the micrometer insert for pistol but Midway does not carrier it. I may try to simply things by using one powder for 9mm, 38 special, and 45 acp, maybe 3.5 grains of bullseye for all three or solo 1000. This would eliminate the need to change anything went loading pistol. If anyone does this I am open for suggestions....

I want a Vibra-Prime or equivalent, I hope Midway rethinks their decision to drop them. Maybe extra tubes to prefill down the road. Has anyone come up with tips and tricks for fill primer tubes fast...???? Are primer tubes a standard size? Could you get some glass or metal tubing to make your own?

I am confused about the need or what extra powder dies will do for me, and I have no idea what the powder through expanders are for. I was debating about calling Hornady to ask them.... I printed the instruction manual and will read it daily until press gets here. I can't wait! This will be so sweet after all the years of rolling them one by one.

I will be hunting for a primer tube alarm, Vibra-Prime, and a counter.

 

[Mtdew]

Everything is in stock but the shell plate 16 for 223. I have enough to get me started so I can wait for it. I would have ordered the micrometer insert for pistol but Midway does not carrier it. I may try to simply things by using one powder for 9mm, 38 special, and 45 acp, maybe 3.5 grains of bullseye for all three or solo 1000. This would eliminate the need to change anything went loading pistol. If anyone does this I am open for suggestions....

Just order the pistol micrometer from one of the other suppliers. Or you can just get the pistol metering inserts by themselves. I belive they are around $8-$9. You can set one up for each load and just swap them

I am confused about the need or what extra powder dies will do for me, and I have no idea what the powder through expanders are for. I was debating about calling Hornady to ask them.... I printed the instruction manual and will read it daily until press gets here. I can't wait! This will be so sweet after all the years of rolling them one by one.

they bell/expand the case mouth and allow the powder drop at the same station..It frees up one of the stations to use a powder check die. You need one for each caliber

from midway's site...

Expanders are available (sold separately) in .355, .357, .400, .430, .451/.452, .475 and .500 diameter. The Expanders allow you to charge the case while expanding the case mouth (Hornady suggest you fill that station with the powder cop die so you can ensure that each case is properly charged with powder. The Powder Cop die is sold separately).

 

[VARifleman]

I'll bet you heard this bull from someone who has a Dillon and knows nothing about the LNL. I know, I used to be a member of the blue buffoon battalion, who, because of blind loyalty, would dishonestly spew the “lots of BS” blue bullroar.

He has a 550 and a 650, although he said he is underwhelmed with the 650, I get to see how they both work in about a week.

So accuracy differences are not noticable from what you've seen between the two? I'll be using it for IPSC but will probably make some rifle cartridges after I get a centerfire rifle.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

VARifleman,

I reload 30.06 on my Hornady. The powder measure handles IMR4895 accurately without any problems. I shoot these calibers at all ranges excepting 600. I (and most serious high power competitors) use a single stage for reloading the 600 cartidges they need (not many) to insure they get the best accuracy possible at that range. That said, I'm getting minute of angle at 100 yards with my highly tuned NM M1 Garand. If I do my part, the reloaded cartridges and rifle will do it's part fairly easily.

My buddy's 650 does well in most instances, but he's had more problems with rifle powders by far than I have (He's had a bunch, I've had none with the powders I've used.) If you're reloading rifle, you'll want a powder baffle, the RCBS one fits the Hornady with minimal effort or you can make one out of a coke can fairly easily if you're at all handy.

Regards,

Dave

 

[1911user]

The big weakness with the dillon powder measure is that it does not handle extruded rifle powder nearly so well as the rotary drum type measures.

It's not difficult to use a rotary measure on a dillon press. Either use a hornady/rcbs type CAPD or a dillon 450 powder die and a dillon measure adapter. For the minor cost difference, I'd buy one of the new CAPD so the powder drop would be automatic.

 

[jms92]

I got my press on Friday. I started setting it up late Friday night. It took me around 2 plus hours to setup. I cleaned powder measure real good, read all documentation, and I had to clean off my reloading bench to make room for it . I started loading 45 ACP yesterday and I really like this press. I can see that this is going to get out of control! All my coffee cans of empty brass will become ammo cans of loaded shells.

What I learned so far:
1) Hornady documentation is weak, but once you have the press in front of you it's not difficult to figure out.
2) Powder measure throws very consistently, I was weighting many rounds to make sure I had it adjusted correctly.
3) The L-N-L bushing are an excellent idea!! I like them so much I will probably convert my Chucker to L-N-L.
4) This press is very smooth and easy to use.
5) I am even mored pleased now that I realize that most Hornady shell plates support numerous calibers. Shell plate #1 fits 34 different calibers.
6) No issues with other manufactures dies.
7) I am debating about getting a powder cop die for my empty hole.
8) This is the bargain of the century! A auto indexing progressive press for 300+ dollars. Plus a rebate of a 1000 free Hornady bullets, that's hard to beat!
9) Need more bullets.