(Update 05 NOV 12 w/pic!) Hornady LnL AP

[Maximumbob54]

I'm going to add the RCBS Lock Out die to the first few items instead of the Hornady Powder Cop die. The RCBS offering seem like it makes more sense.

 

[wheelgun28]

Thank you for the replies!

The bushing system is interesting for sure.

Thanks!

 

[Rule3]

Thank you for the replies!

The bushing system is interesting for sure.

Thanks!

I started with the Lee Breach Lock press/system. It has the bushings that once the die is set to the correct setting you lock it in. To change dies you push a button and pop it out and put in your next die. So you do batch reloading, all deprime/resize, then flare, prime, seat/crimp. I could almost go as fast as a turret press and you could stop any time and you did not really have to pay real close attention until you started to add powder.

If all I felt like doing was resizing than that's all I would do, hundreds of them.

The main drawback is you handle the brass so many times, but that may be good also as you really inspect your brass.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Another power decision: The whole point of this is to go full progressive. So I ordered the .45 shell plate, .45 bullet feed die, and with two more OT extra money paychecks I will then order the Case feed system and then the bullet feed system. It's time to go nuts. I did open the box and watch the DVD on set up. It doesn't look nearly as complicated as I had worried it may be moving from the rather simple Lee Turret.

Now the true test begins... Will I actually remain patient enough to not say fudge it and start playing with my new toys before all the parts come in...

I do feel the need for a little diversion from some newly found minor depression. Maybe I will just cast up a massive pile of bullets.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Well the answer to my previous question was... Heck no, I'm not waiting!!! I need a pick me up bad after a recent huge loss in my life and a nice diversion will help make the medicine go down...

So...

Here she is bolted to my newly reinforced 2x4 + plywood tiny bench:

This is with the Powder Funnels universal case expander installed. The station right after the powder is going to be the RCBS powder lock out die if I can ever catch Graf and Sons when they have them in stock. Yes, those are Lee dies and leave me alone about them and the unholy object that is the LFCD... I have tried several brands of dies and I keep going right back to the Lee brand for dies. And as long as I'm loading auto loader ammo, I do enjoy using the post sizing in the LFCD since mine is milled just right and doesn't swage down the bullet at all unless I have way out of spec brass and then I can feel it squeezing it and I cull that one out.

BUT...

My first complaint: What the heck is up with the priming system. It works perfectly a whole bunch of times and then it takes a break for one primer and I get powder everywhere... WTH...

Now my first loves: Once I throw down for the case feeder, the Ultimate Reloader roller arm and bullet tray comes in, and the RCBS die comes in... This thing is going to slam out some ammo!!!

Epic fail: The bullet feeder says it only works with jacketed or plated ammo!!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Hornady, WHY?!?!?!?

Any more tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated...

 

[SWP357]

TUBES...and the bullet feeder die...the $250 you'll save will buy a bunch of bullets

 

[arc2x4]

Welcome to the HLNL world. The primer feed, you can improve its reliability by taking out the slide, (when there are no primers in the tube, and the inner tube is removed (also check it for burrs)) and polishing it, especially the lead edge to remove any burrs, that could be the cause of your occaisional hang up, a rough part.

Also you need to keep it clean especially the primer punch a few grains of powder can cause it to stick up a little which will hang up the shuttle, it screws in by means of the nut on the subplate (its all one part), or you can vacume it out with the shuttle pulled to the rear. A pair of needle nose pliers helps to reattach the shuttle spring.

Some folks have also found they need to adjust the metal rod that conveys the shuttle back when the arm is lowered(Ram Raised), to adjust the rearward travel. This is a last resort, but can be accomplished by looking under the plastic cover at the top of the rod, a screw that holds the top of the rod sits in a slot and can be adjusted forward and rearward to adjust the rearward travel of the shuttle.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Ultimate Reloader Roller Arm:

If you have even thought about getting this thing, GET IT!!!

If you don't know what it is then go to:

Ultimate Reloader Roller Handle for Hornady Lock-N-Load AP « Ultimate Reloader

And then order it!!!

I'm not joking. I bought this thing just thinking that it would be nice to not have to slip the plastic ball handle up and down over and over in my hand as I'm reloading. If anyone at Hornady ever reads this, "Give this man some money and buy this from him!!!" This should just be a part of the press. I don't remember how the Dillon arm was attached on the RL 550 I tried out but if he can make one for that then all the blue press fans would soak these up as well. I can't stress how awesome this thing is. You don't bend over as far, you get to just lean your upper body weight into the arm to seat the primer instead of shoving against the arm, and it's so ergonomic that you almost want to go too fast. The only two issues I could crab about are so minor they aren't worth really calling complaints. One, I have no idea why he doesn't just charge you the dollar more and match the paint. That's an easy fix though. And two, maybe I just have big ham hands, but I think the tip of perfection for this would be to replace the spiffy chrome roller handle with a roller shovel handle like what the Magma Star lube sizer press has as an upgrade. But in complete seriousness, this thing is very worth the money and the wait for it to come in your mailbox. If he ever makes them for the Lee Classic Turret again then I may get another one for that press.

 

[Moonman]

Maximumbob54,

Gavin sent my roller handle HORNADY RED last year.
Maybe he ran out of Rust-olem "REGAL RED" paint.

 

[raisedin99]

My first complaint: What the heck is up with the priming system. It works perfectly a whole bunch of times and then it takes a break for one primer and I get powder everywhere... WTH...


Any more tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated...

Bob,
I cut a 17" piece of 1/8" dowel rod and attached a flag on it to indicate when I was down to 4 primers. Drop it into the primer holding tube and haven't had a problem since, there is just enough weight to keep the primers flowing freely.

Terry

 

[folkenheath]

I don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but if you get the micrometer powder measure inserts, you only need 1 for handgun, and one for rifle powder measures (if you bought the handgun measure), and then not only it is quicker to dial in your powder level, but you can also return to an infinite number of setups just by writing the number down, returning to it later is cake.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Bob,
I cut a 17" piece of 1/8" dowel rod and attached a flag on it to indicate when I was down to 4 primers. Drop it into the primer holding tube and haven't had a problem since, there is just enough weight to keep the primers flowing freely.

Terry

Mine came with a white plastic rod that does this duty for me. I like the idea of the flag on it and will do that.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but if you get the micrometer powder measure inserts, you only need 1 for handgun, and one for rifle powder measures (if you bought the handgun measure), and then not only it is quicker to dial in your powder level, but you can also return to an infinite number of setups just by writing the number down, returning to it later is cake.

I keep meaning to buy both of them. I have a rather large wish list in MidwayUSA right now...

 

[folkenheath]

I am going to use that dowel rod trick, my primer system works perfect, until I get to the last couple and there isn't any weight above them, this would solve that. I have considered this before but I always forgot until I was already working and didn't have anything that fit, now I am just going to buy a 1/8" dowel rod so I already have it there.

Also, you probably have noticed by now, but if you get to the point where you spilled powder through the primer hole, it was operator error. Since the priming station is on the push stroke, seperate from everything else(one of the things I like about the LnL AP), there is a night and day difference in feel when you go to push the primer in and there isn't one there, you would notice this. So if there was no primer and you didn't notice it until after powder, its most likely because you never pushed the lever to press a primer in, otherwise you would of noticed there wasn't a primer there if it was out (and it must not of been out if it fed one to the next round).

 

[Maximumbob54]

I can only half way agree with you. Most of the primers slide in so easy that it's hard to feel much of a difference.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I keep meaning to buy both of them. I have a rather large wish list in MidwayUSA right now...

I'm sure you meant to say: "gift list for my friends" but it can be overlooked!

Hey there mister progressive, what happened to your case and bullet feeders? Did you ever get those?

 

[GT1]

Something about the Hornady and their powder measure, it just looks good.

Hornady(RCBS, Lyman and Dillon also) will take care of customers when things go wonky. I have read up about the priming issues, and you are not alone. Some have neverending trouble, some are trouble free. I am guessing when machining tolerances stack up in a bad way, maybe.

I am waiting on delivery for an XL650, and not because I drank the kool aid, the best thing Dillon has going for it is not being the best press(I doubt it is, after reading endless forums about all presses and reloading, all manufacturers have press issues that are persistant.), it is the gigantic userbase and then the no questions asked free parts forever warranty.

 

[folkenheath]

I can only half way agree with you. Most of the primers slide in so easy that it's hard to feel much of a difference.

Wow, that hasn't been my experience. What brand of primers are you using? How many times have your cases been reloaded? I usually have to give it some extra oomph to make sure I seat the primer all the way. With no primer, it just feels empty and free and hits the stop. In fact, I switched from CCI to Winchester primers because the CCI primers were difficult to seat all the way. I load about 6 different calibers. Am I the oddball here, do the primers normally go in so easy you can barely tell?

I am waiting on delivery for an XL650, and not because I drank the kool aid, it is the gigantic userbase and then the no questions asked free parts forever warranty.

To be honest I have found Hornadys warranty to be similar to that. There has been 2-3 times over the last 4 years where I broke a small part of a die or what not, and I would call them to order one, and every time they would just send me the part for free, even after I told them that I broke it, and it was my fault.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I'm sure you meant to say: "gift list for my friends" but it can be overlooked!

Hey there mister progressive, what happened to your case and bullet feeders? Did you ever get those?

The case feeder money turned into my new to me 40c:

The bullet feeder doesn't work with lead bullets so is junk to me.

Wow, that hasn't been my experience. What brand of primers are you using? How many times have your cases been reloaded? I usually have to give it some extra oomph to make sure I seat the primer all the way. With no primer, it just feels empty and free and hits the stop. In fact, I switched from CCI to Winchester primers because the CCI primers were difficult to seat all the way. I load about 6 different calibers. Am I the oddball here, do the primers normally go in so easy you can barely tell?

To be honest I have found Hornadys warranty to be similar to that. There has been 2-3 times over the last 4 years where I broke a small part of a die or what not, and I would call them to order one, and every time they would just send me the part for free, even after I told them that I broke it, and it was my fault.

I usually use Winchester primers. With the UR roller handle arm (that thing needs a shorter name) I can swing that arm faster than I can feed the press. With the shape of the arm, I can lean my upper body against the arm and it makes it so easy to seat the primer that it's hard to feel. But when they go in, they go in to the same depth each and every time.

 

[Maximumbob54]

OK, I bought the case feeder which when it's working it's great but it likes to once in awhile not push the case all the way home and if you don't see it then the case gets crushed. But when it's working it's reload magic.

HOWEVER...

All that speed has me missing over and over again that I'm out of primers and I spill powder. Easy to clean up but a bad problem has reared its ugly head at my lack off attention to the primers. They go in so easy that it's hard to feel them when I lean against the arm. So I'm curious if the Dillon primer warning can be mounted to this press.

Yes, I wWOulD aDd bLuE to mY LNL AP!!!

This is an optional part Hornady really needs to offer!!!

Pic of the whole shebang... And yes I know the room is a mess...

Oh, and as you can see, I've abandoned the roller arm. I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. At first it was nice but it's just not the right angles for the bent arm and the handle for my tastes. Oh well.

 

[johngalt]

I use a thin dowel rod with a flag on it as my low primer warning. After loading the primers into the tube, put the dowel rod on top. When the flag touches the top of the primer magazine, it's empty.