Purchased a Hornady Lock n Load AP press.

Got some bushings so I can use my dies, but forget to get the shell plates.

Any helpful hints/comments/suggestions?

thanks.

Colonel, What are you loading?

38, 40, and 45.

38 s&w #28
40 #10
45 #45
Good luck to you. If you have any questions pm me.

Get some shell plates. For .45 auto #1 will work, #45 is better. .3006 and .308 also work with #1. .38/.357 uses #6.

Get a powder die for each case. Makes switching cartridges much faster, saves a lot of fiddling.

Get some spare springs that wrap around shell plate.

I got the early powder through expanders for .45 and .38, they don't work all that well. The bolt that holds down the shell plate and the bolt in the powder measure tend to loosen. If the case won't always enter the reducing die and tips a bit, hitting the edge of die, make sure the shell plate bolt is tight.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Johngalt has some excellent advice! Pretty much what I would say. I haven't tried the powder through expander since it was an extra purchase and the die sets come with an expander die anyway plus it involves more steps to set up. The standard expander dies and case activated powder drop have worked very well for me. I did buy a separate powder metering insert for each caliber.

My other piece of advice, always make sure you change out the primer tube when you switch from 45 to loading the 40 or 38. As you may know, small primers will fit just fine in the large primer tube but trust me, doing so will cause lots of problems.

76 Highboy on you tube are vids that are very helpful especially in getting the primer assy and the prowls adjusted.

If you find that the shell plate is snapping into place when the plate spins, you can take the plate off and use a punch to gently recess the spring loaded ball detents into the plate.

Clean the powder measure very through before using the press.

I use the Hornady case mouth flair tool at the bottom of the powder drop instead of a powder through case flair die. Any problems that might have been associated with this method must have been resolved. I agree with another poster, buy a separate powder measure lower assy and the link for each caliber you load to save much time changing out calibers. You might not need this or see any benefit if your using a powder through expander die such as the Lee die set. Your press has 5 stations and there are several different ways to use those stations. You may find that what works best for me doesn't work best for you.

Put a lock washer between the cap screw and the flat washer that holds the shell plate to the press.

Hornady sells an LED light kit for about $15.00, just get one.

Enjoy your new press, I love mine and look for excuses to use it.

When you remove or install shell plates, raise the plate an inch or so (using the handle) and insert a small piece of wooden dowel or something similar into the hole that the spent primers fall through to provide a stop you can loosen/tighten the central bolt against. Otherwise, your pawls are serving this function and they can break.

Get a powder cop and/or lock-out die.

I've had my LnL AP for several years now and love it.

Ditto on a light kit. I also use an ergo roller handle. I also advise having a little brush (I buy the cheap tubular metal handle versions in bulk for general shop use) handy to keep the shell plate carrier clean.

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The triple smoker

All good points above! I also recommend a spare primer slide spring and slides for both small & large primers. The little roller/shaft on the slide breaks easily and the spring goes flying. If you have as much stuff in your shop as I do, finding the spring can be a challenge.

Read the manual extra springs are a must have. Buy the powder cop die PTX expander will allow you to expand the case as you throw powder. This will free up one hole in the press for the powder cop die. My press has thousands and thousands of reloads thru it. Also keep it clean if you lube it use something with Teflon in the spray can and this thing will treat you right.