I just pulled the trigger...

[nobody_special]

...and ordered a Hornady LNL AP from Midway. They're on sale for $350 ($20 off); still listed cheaper at midsouth, but out of stock there and they don't expect it for a while.

I also ordered bullets (1000x M80 ball, 1000x Rainier 9mm 115gr. plated round-nose, 100 Hornady A-max 155gr.), shell plates, RCBS powder check/lockout die, extra die bushings, and an RCBS mic/shell gauge for .308. I already have dies, case lube, powder/primers/brass, Speer manual, bullet puller, and a Lyman case prep kit. AFAIK, the only thing left for me to get is a case trimmer.

I'll start loading 9mm for a while, and once I'm comfortable with that I'll think about loading for my M1A.

Aside from the case trimmer, all that's left to do is weep for my bank balance...

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Powder Scale with which to set/verify the powder measure?

Andy

 

[dmftoy1]

Yup, you definately need a scale!

I think you've got a good plan. What I'd probably start doing .308 wise is to just start trimming/prepping brass a little at a time. It's really nice to have 300-400 rounds cleaned/resized/trimmed/chamfered/deburred/flashhole deburred sitting on the shelf and ready to go. I tend to work batches of 100 through one operation at a time when the inlaws are here . .it gets me away from them and eventually I end up with brass where I can reload it pretty quickly when need be.

I don't know if you have a ton of .308 brass laying around, but if you don't then it's a good deal to pick up the seasonal "once-fired" lc brass from Midway. I've got it setup so it sends me an email when it becomes available. You'll need a SB die though to resize it the first time.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[KaiserBen]

Also, don't forget your 1000 free bullets from Hornady. They offer a limited selection, so if you don't see anything you want, get the 125gr .38 XTPs and send them to me

 

[Hunter0924]

Here is a write up I did on my Hornady L-N-L press. It may help some.
http://ezine.m1911.org/HornadyLNL.htm