I'm thinking about second press to load rifle cartridges and supplement my Dillon RL 550B that is set up for pistol cartridges. I've been considering the Hornady LNL but hear there are some issues with it. Namely, any powder debris stops the primer slide in it's track and over time the primer seater punch causes a divot in the frame resulting in improper primer seating. Hornady's auto indexing, 5 stations, and a powder measure that appears better suited for stick powders used in rifle cartridges looks very appealing.
What are the Hornady LNL issues and how does reliability compare with the RL550B ?

Loose powder will gun up any priming system. The LNL AP is pretty well thought out. I don't feel like any rotating drum powder measures are better for measuring stick powder. Personally, I will only use ball powder in mine. I did use some polish to clean up the priming parts just to make it work a little better. If I had to say there is an issue with that system I would say nothing like that should come without a roller handle. Reliability? That's a Ford vs. Chevy kind of debate. They are both great systems but I feel the RL 650 is a better comparison to the LNL AP.

I have had my LNL for about six months and have loaded about 2000 45 acp. I love this machine it has never had a problem. I am using Bullseye and get very consistent charge weights. The thing that always concerned me about these machines was the chance of getting a double charge. I purchased the Powder Cop Die to get a visual on every powder drop.

the hornady powder measure has worked great with variety of powders I have used
primer system hangs up maybe once every few thousand rounds.
main complain on the hornady lnl ap is the ejection of small pistol cartridges. 9mm especially not so much 40sw.

hornady needs to go to work on powder through expansion and cut the expander to meet casing at full pull instead of having to adjust the whole powder measure and expander every time want to change a caliber.

I have had a Dillion 450 upgraded to 550B for way over 20 years.The system works!!! I have aquired a early LNL to add a second progessive press to the bench. It has had one problem after another. When I call Hornady customer service, I seem to know more about the press than anyone I've talked to there. I figured out how to fix the primeing problems buy using Dillion parts left over from upgrades. You already have and know how to use a great system, find a second one used and go from there: you will only have one type of shell plates. I ended up putting a Dillion Powder measure on the LNL as it is easy to adjust for case mouth flair. I would have been better off $$$ wise to get a second Dillion myself as the shell plates have run $35 to $39 each. I also have indexing problems I haven't worked out yet. Dillion customer service techs have to be shooters and reloaders or they don't get the job. The Dillion "No B.S." warrenty has been great. Keep your loading bench blue or you will be seeing red and bleeding green. Ivan

I plan on loading ,223, .243, AND .30-06 and will do the typical 2 phase process of case prep and removing case lube followed by normal reloading. I can hand prime but would prefer to use the press if I can "feel" the priming. Using a RL550 since the 80s, it has been a great press and I’m aware of keeping everything clean and I've have no priming issues with the primer tube feed system. It does concern me that LNL priming is done on the opposite side [back] of the press where I'd guess one can't see a primer problem.
Stick powders shoot fine but the Dillon's powder measure certainly isn't made for them. LNL's powder measure should work as well as a RCBS Uniflow that I've used until I use up old stick powder and switch to ball.
What intrigues me about the LNL is the auto indexing and the ability to add a casefeeder to load rifle as well as pistol cases like the XL650. The RL550 flaw is one can only load pistol cases even with a RL550 casefeeder. Although the XL650 might be a better upgrade the initial cost is much more [~$180] and the numerous caliber conversions I'd need would all but break the bank. The LNL sells for about the same as the 550 and much less than the comparable XL650.

I have no idea how many .45ACP's I have now reloaded on my LNL AP and as long as I do my part to keep it clean I can lose all track of time and reload for hours on that thing without it failing. You can indeed "feel" the priming. Also, the Powderfunnels.com -- Fully Featured Powder Through Exapnder PTX will make you throw away the Hornady brand models. It's great for cast bullets as well. I know nothing about the earliest LNL AP model but mine runs like a champ and the priming runs even smoother once I completed the already mentioned polish to the shuttle.

If you already have a 550, just get some more quick change assemblies and set them up for rifle. I have 30 head assemblies, from 380 to 45-70, and plan on 2 more next week (30 Carbine and 223).

Sorry about your troubles with your used 'early' LnL, lord knows where that thing has been...!

To the OP, I've had my LnL about three years now. I load 5 calibers on it (adding 2 more this week...), and have loaded thousands and thousands of trouble free rounds. It's a great press, very nice quality. I have not had primer feed issues with mine, but I do keep it well lubricated. The suggestion to get the powderfunnels.com expander is a very good one, check it out if you go with the LnL.

I also run the case feeder, and it's a nice addition once you get it dialed in right. I have had some frustration in getting the case to feed in to the shell plate consistently, but again, you just have to dial it in/set it up right.

Again, overall, if you are looking to try one, I don't think you'd be disappointed with the LnL, I really like mine. Of course, I'm sure you can just get the necessary tool heads for your Dillon and call it a day...

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NRA Life Member

After reviewing Midway's replacement parts comments for the LNL I discovered the primer shuttle is apparently made of cast aluminum. I assumed Hornady would make the shuttle out of steel. Based upon this and the shuttle's reported susceptibility to damage, it appears the primer shuttle is the LNL's Achilles heel. Additionally, some other replacement parts were reportedly "made of soft material" so that they fail so other more expensive parts don't. I'm getting the impression that I might just be better off investing in a second 550; I haven't broken ANY parts since I bought my old 550 in 1987.

+1 for Powderfunnels.com. I hand or bench prime all brass for LNL and 550.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Thanks guys for all the insights. I think this thread has run it's course.