Every year at Christmas time my wife and I tell each other what we want. For Christmas 2014 I asked for a LnL-AP. The press arrived and under the tree but I wanted to build a new bench before I set it up. Because of time issues and the fact that I had plenty of ammo to shoot, I didn't actually set up the press until the first week of September, a 9 month wait.
I want to say that I spent a good portion of that time dreading the day that I put it into service because I read on a number of forums that I'm active on horror stories about this press. But finally the day came and I was so hyper about it that I just set the thing up without actually paying much attention to the instructions. To my surprise I had it making ammo in about an hour and have had few problems with this press. I recommend it without reservation.
I load for 4 pistol calibers and two rifle. But I shoot mostly 9mm and 38 with some 45 acp thrown in. So I decided to make my LnL handgun friendly and set up for 9mm and 38. One of the reasons I decided on the Hornady is because I wanted a 5 station auto-index and the only other that meets this is the Dillon XL650. I wanted 5 stations so that I could use an RCBS lock out die and separate bullet seating and crimp. That requires using the PTX case mouth expanding die, this die costs about $7.00
Since I had 9 months to prepare for set up day, I collected several items to make handloading and caliber changes easier. So I added the already mentioned PTX dies in 9mm, 38 and 45, shell plates for each caliber, two additional powder measure lower units, a package of LnL bushings, two extra expander linkages, the micrometer for the powder drop and the LED light kit. I mounted the press on an inlinefabrications ultramount and just this week added an inlinefabrications double bullet bin and bin barrier for the ammo catch bin. This is all nice stuff to have but you only need the shell plate for your caliber to enter ammo making heaven.
Here is my press from right after I mounted it:
This is the 9mm PTX die, it is placed at the bottom of the powder drop and it flairs the case mouth at the same time the powder is dropped into the case. It eliminates the expansion die thus frees up one of the 5 stations.
In the view below you can see the expander linkage for 38 special. I have them marked with a sharpie pen so that I can identify which one is used for which caliber (and how it is oriented top and bottom). The same goes with the powder drop lower. Once you set these up you really don't want to change the setting for caliber changes so it's worth the small expense to get them for each caliber. This makes caliber changes very fast and easy. Notice also the RCBS lockout die, the micrometer powder adjustment screw and that I'm using Dillon 3 pc die sets. The irony here is that the only thing in my set up that has given me any trouble at all has been the 9mm sizing die. Dillon replaced the guts of the die for free but not without an argument. Their position was that the part is an consumable but the die was brand new.
From a different angle:
A few things to notice in this picture. The LED light, that white tipped shaft is the lock out die, to the right of the lock out is the PTX die. Notice also that I have placed a lock washer under the cap screw that mounts the shell plate.
The hardest part of setting up the press was getting the powder measure clean. My suggestion is to get a cheap bottle brush and scrub the daylights out of it in dish detergent. Then spray and wipe with one shot cleaner. Then repeat two more times.
Good luck and enjoy your press. Mine kicks *
500 rounds per hour with ease...
