Progressive press question

[Srruger762]

Looking to invest into a reloading press, looking at a Hornady Lock N Load Auto Progressive Precision Bullet Reloading Press Gun Tool. Any thoughts on this press or is there a better built design of press. Want to make sure I purchase a good quality press. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Dandecoteau]

Lee turret press.
Great quality, excellent customer service, inexpensive parts, etc.

If I'm cruisin pretty good in a rhythm, I load 250 rounds per hour.

It's almost impossible to double charge or make a squib load.

Also the auto disc measure is pretty damn accurate.

I love it so far, just got done loading some test loads.

If you have any questions I'll try and answer them best I can

 

[Hillbilly77]

I don't have experience with the Hornady progressive, but I do have a Hornady single stage and find their tooling to be solid stuff. I really like the lock-n-load bushing setup.

The more than $100.00 worth of free bullets is an added bonus.

 

[k22fan]

My first thought is change your thread title. Progressive presses like the Hornady in your picture are not called Turret Presses. Apparently you want to compare Progressives. I like the Hornady for its automatic shell plate rotation but with an updated thread title I can guarantee you'll get a flood of responses from Dillion lovers. There is a separate thread running on turret presses. To change your title click on edit then Go Advanced.

 

[Srruger762]

My first thought is change your thread title. Progressive presses like the Hornady in your picture are not called Turret Presses. Apparently you want to compare Progressives. I like the Hornady for its automatic shell plate rotation but with an updated thread title I can guarantee you'll get a flood of responses from Dillion lovers. There is a separate thread running on turret presses. To change your title click on edit then Go Advanced.

Thanks for the correction, learn something new everyday.

 

[hd-dude]

I have had the Hornady AP for almost 5 years now and it's a great press. Be sure to watch the videos on YouTube for setup.

 

[Hairtrigger]

I have used Hornady progressive presses for almost 30 years. You can spend more money but you cannot buy a better press
Backed up with great customer service

 

[spearcrow]

Decided on the /hornady lock n load progressive loader four years ago. It certainly took some getting used to, but it is really well made and won't break the bank. I am still very happy with my decision. I still haven't went back and purchased the case and bullet feeder, it's pretty quick just like it is. Good luck.

 

[Twoboxer]

At the moment, there are only two progressive presses to consider: the Hornady LNL AP you mention and the Dillon 650XL. There are other progressives out there . . .

- few would recommend the Lee except when picked up as a second-hand bargain . . .

- RCBS just announced two presses that are too expensive and too new for most people to recommend given early teething problems.

- Dillon makes three other presses . . . the SDB (uses proprietary and pistol-only dies) . . . the 550 (a 4-hole, manual indexing press . . . and the 1050 (very expensive, meant for near commercial operation, significantly harder to change calibers, and only a one year warranty.)

Both the Hornady LnL AP and the Dillon 650 are 5-hole auto-indexing presses. 5 holes are important . . . depending on *what* you are hand loading there may be times you will wish for 6 or 7.

The Dillon is more expensive to start, especially since the Hornady can be found on sale and with a 500 bullet "rebate" while the Dillon sells only at flat-out MSRP. If/when you add a case feeder the Dillon's price gets closer to the Hornady's, but it gets more expensive again with each caliber change you add.

Caliber changes take a little longer on the Dillon, but many feel the Dillon runs smoother.

Both presses will work for you and have their advocates. Both presses have their quirks and will likely take some learning, patience, and fiddling to get running smooth. The priming system is the weak point of any progressive press - it's hard to get those little things to march into their little holes Both companies have unconditional lifetime guarantees on this equipment. Yes, REAL warranties . . . most often beyond what anyone would expect.

I use the Hornady with case feeder and load about 7k pistol rounds per year in 380auto, 9mm, and 45ACP. It works fine for me . . . the Dillon would too. Watch some user videos on youtube showing the presses in operation, check your budget, and make your pick.

 

[fredj338]

I own a dillon 550 & 650, i have loaded about 1000 rds on a lnl. Here is my take. If you want auto indexing & NEVER want a case feeder, the lnl is a decent press. It is easier to use w/o a feeder vs the better dillon 650.
What makes the 650 a better press with the feeder, is the press was designed for a case feeder, so it works better imo. The 650 priming system is also superior & priming is the weak point of any progressive. Equipped the same, a 650 is only $75 or so more.

 

[Goblin]

I have the Hornady you asked about and I love it. Unfortunately, I don't have hands-on experience with any other progressive except the Lee, but I can tell you I greatly prefer the Hornady.

 

[johngalt]

I've been using a hornaday for about 7 years. Maybe 8 now. I like it a lot, have no regrets.

 

[Ballistic147]

I just bought the Hornady LNL last month. I am a true beginner and had never reloaded at all until a few weeks ago. The Hornady was pretty easy to set up and I had no trouble at all getting the dies dialed in. One of the reasons I decided on the Hornady was easy, inexpensive caliber changes. In the end I'm looking to load 6 different calibers. With pistol calibers you need a shell plate and die set which will set you back about $80 and with the Lock-N-Load bushings you can switch from one caliber to another in 15 minutes or so.

Once it's up and running It took me several hundred rounds to get comfortable with it but so far it has worked out great for me. I know nothing about any of the other brands but the Hornady is a nice unit.

 

[NJM15]

Looking to invest into a reloading press, looking at a Hornady Lock N Load Auto Progressive Precision Bullet Reloading Press Gun Tool. Any thoughts on this press or is there a better built design of press. Want to make sure I purchase a good quality press. Any advice would be appreciated.

Lee works for me, the Honady has more bells and whistles
but also cost a lot more. My Lee progressive has done about 10,000 rounds and still works great. I have two one for pistol one for rifle. Clean and lube at about 1000 rds

 

[THEWELSHM]

I'm a Hornady guy, when you get the press strip down all parts clean and replace and set up. Learn the press by watching Highboy youtube videos never look back. Great customer service

Thewelshm

 

[Carrier]

Have a LNL and works good. It doesnt have a case or bullet feeder on it but I can load enough that i need with it. I would like to try a Dillion if I buy another press but with the dollar exchange the way it is up here in Canada it will be awhile before that happens.

 

[smokindog]

I've got two LNL-APs and absolutely love them. The highboy videos are a must as our friend the WELSHMAN has pointed out

Customer service is first rate too.

Enjoy! Currently on sale for $389.99!!! On an impulse I picked up a case feeder for one last week when I saw it on sale for under $300. You also have to buy plates for the case feeder at about $28 each (lrg/sm pistol and rifle). I bought the two pistol plates. Don't know when I'll have a chance to "play".

Lock-N-Load AP Auto Progressive Press by HORNADY RELOADING TOOLS

 

[novalty]

A relative of mine, who I helped get set up to reload a couple years ago, contacted me recently as he wanted to get a progressive, and was considering a Dillon 550 like mine. He wants to only load 9mm and 45acp on the press as he shoots those calibers the most. So gave him a list of the options. A new Dillon 550 was going to cost around $610 shipped set up for one caliber and adding the other caliber conversion and a quick change kit (tool head, powder measure). Since he already has a RCBS Uniflow, I advised he could just add the case activated linkage kit to his powder measure, and have it set up for one caliber. Where he mentioned he liked the auto-indexing feature, I mentioned the Square Deal B press, but he wasn't sure about adding new calibers in the future--perhaps .223 for his AR, which ruled out the Square Deal.

Granted it isn't entirely a fair comparison, since he already had a powder measure. With the Hornady LNL AP being on sale at MidSouth Shooter Supply for $389.99, adding 2 shellplates, extra case activation kit, lower assembly, PTX expanders, 2 LNL Bushings--the total came to $595 shipped. He said he wasn't interested in adding a case feeder or bullet feeder, as I mentioned it was cheaper to add a case feeder to the Dillon 650, but the cost of the 650 would be higher as it being set up for 1 caliber was going to be about $585 shipped (only $10 less than the Hornady with 2 calibers).

So with the added promotion of the 500 "free" bullets, he went with the Hornady LNL AP. I'll be very interested to see the press set up and in action. My only concern with the press is that he casts his own bullets, and I suspect the PTX expanders will have issues on lead sized larger than it's FMJ/Plated counterparts--which might mean that he will have to use his expander dies. The ability to have a visual powder check die is a nice option to have as well with the added station over the 550.

I still am very pleased with my 550, and have cranked out thousands of rounds on it. I haven't had any problems with the powder funnels expanding my brass enough to accept my cast bullets. Hopefully he will be equally as pleased with the LNL AP.

 

[teletech]

Oh, I guess I'll be another guy with nice things to say about my Dillon presses.
They pretty much don't break and if you mess up or something isn't right a call to the factory will get you knowledgeable help and promptly shipped spares.
No, they aren't the cheapest solution but they will last a lifetime of shooting and be easy to get along with.

Oh, and figure you should buy a couple of whatever you have.
I have a pair of 650s and picked up a SDB on a bit of a whim but actually have enjoyed having a dedicated press for 38spl. It's not nearly as fast if I'm running several hundred rounds of whatever the 650 is set up for but if I just want to crank out a box or three it's right there so actually can be quicker.

Of course, I hate to be a spoilsport and want people to be self-sufficient and all but don't get into reloading to save money or time!
If you are shooting something rare and obscure like .455 Webley or expensive like 338 Lapua it might be worth it but honestly right now components cost more than loaded ammo for a lot of applications and if you enjoy it you WILL always find a way to spend more money on cool equipment.

 

[Tom S.]

At the moment, there are only two progressive presses to consider: the Hornady LNL AP you mention and the Dillon 650XL. There are other progressives out there . . .

- few would recommend the Lee except when picked up as a second-hand bargain . . .

- RCBS just announced two presses that are too expensive and too new for most people to recommend given early teething problems.

- Dillon makes three other presses . . . the SDB (uses proprietary and pistol-only dies) . . . the 550 (a 4-hole, manual indexing press . . . and the 1050 (very expensive, meant for near commercial operation, only a one year warranty.)

Both the Hornady LnL AP and the Dillon 650 are 5-hole auto-indexing presses. 5 holes are important . . . depending on *what* you are hand loading there may be times you will wish for 6 or 7.

The Dillon is more expensive to start, especially since the Hornady can be found on sale while the Dillon sells only at flat-out MSRP. If/when you add a case feeder the Dillon is cheaper, but gets more expensive again with each caliber change you add.

Caliber changes take a little longer on the Dillon, but many feel the Dillon runs smoother.

Both presses will work for you and have their advocates. Both presses have their quirks and will likely take some learning, patience, and fiddling to get running smooth. The priming system is the weak point of any progressive press - it's hard to get those little things to march into their little holes Both companies have unconditional lifetime guarantees on this equipment. Yes, REAL warranties . . . most often beyond what anyone would expect.

I use the Hornady with case feeder and load about 7k pistol rounds per year in 380auto, 9mm, and 45ACP. It works fine for me . . . the Dillon would too. Watch some user videos on youtube showing the presses in operation, check your budget, and make your pick.

That is a very fair comparison between the two presses, and I'm died in the wool Dillon user. The only other thing I would add is the Dillon is known to keep it's resale value. My 650, bought in the early 90's could be sold now for a lot more than I paid for it. I'm not sure if the Hornady holds their resale value as well. Additionally, should you ever wear your press out (100,000's rounds if not millions), Dillon offers a very affordable rebuild service. There's even a story about a guy who sent in a 550 that had been in a garage fire. Dillon replaced it for free. As twoboxer pointed out, caliber changes can be very expensive on the 650, depending on how quick and effortless you want to go. To buy a set of Dillon dies, the toolhead, a dedicated powder measure for that caliber, a dedicated powder check system for that toolhead, and the caliber conversion kit, will set you back nearly $500. On the other hand, if you swap powder measures and powder checks (or don't use one as many don't), it will be about $200 cheaper. But again, all this stuff holds it resale value very well, and even used Dillon products sell very quickly on various websites.