Questions about Hornady L&L AP Press

[Rule3]

I am thinking about moving on up to a progressive press. I do not need mass quantities of ammo BUT do load almost all pistol/revolver calibers so ease of changing dies is most important to me. I started looking at the Hornady as it has quick change bushings like my Lee Breech lock. Or, should I just stay with Lee and get their progressive?

It seems I need shell plates for each caliber and bushings. Other than that is there any additional items needed?

Does anyone know if the Lee Powder through expander die will work on this press? The Hornady sales rep was not sure.

Thanks for any input on this press. Yes, Dillions are blue, Dillons are great but I can not afford one. I like RCBS products also and they have the best customer service but again $$$

 

[browntown]

Lots of good press about the hornady on the internet. Usually compared as a dillon 550 price with some 650 features. The free bullet promotion makes it even more tempting. I've been holstering the credit card resisting this purchase myself.

 

[1066]

I have a Hornady L&L and have had good luck with it.

One thing that has me a little mad lately is Hornady's nickle and dime approach to warranty. In the "old days" they were a lot like Dillon, broken parts were sent out free of charge. Now they charge for almost any replacement part unless you work the phone to death to get it under warranty.

Otherwise, it is a great press. You do need a Hornady shell plate for each caliber. Many of the plates are good for several calibers though so its not as bad as it seems. Try this link:

http://www.hornady.com/media/2009_catalog/78_shell_plates.pdf

I do use some Lee dies on my L&L because of certain calibers are not available from Hornady. They are a little hard to use because the thread area is not as long as the Hornady dies, but they work fine if you adjust them correctly. I have also used other brands with no problems.

Although I do use the Lee dies, I only use the powder expander to neck up the cases, and do not use it to charge the case. I assume it would work since the expanding works fine, and you simply drop the powder on the upward stroke, but I have not done it myself. I use the Hornady powder measure instead, and can highly recommend it.

Hope that helps.

Mike

 

[oldRoger]

LnL Recommended

I have had better luck with warrantee parts from Hornady, so far anything I needed, which wasn’t much has been sent NC.
I have a mix of dies (Lee, Lyman, Hornady, Redding, RCBS) and have no problems, I use the Lee Taper Crimp Dies, thread engagement is a near the end but OK.
+1 for the Hornady Powder M. in the LnL progressive.
Since there is considerable set-up for a Powder M in a progressive, I use it only there.
You will need a bunch of breach locks for fast set-ups.

 

[Rule3]

1066,

Thanks for the link to the shellplate pdf.

I think that now it's a deal breaker. I would need 7 shell plates at almost $30 each so adding $210 to the price is nuts. Kinda weird that the only one I can use twice is # 22 for .380 acp and 30 carbine.

Maybe I'll just get a Lee Turret press although I do not think it will be that much faster than batch loading. But then I would need turrets for quick change? Maybe a little less handling of the brass.

 

[Skip Sackett]

No and again I say NO!

Or, should I just stay with Lee and get their progressive?

Does anyone know if the Lee Powder through expander die will work on this press? The Hornady sales rep was not sure.

Thanks for any input on this press. Yes, Dillions are blue, Dillons are great but I can not afford one. I like RCBS products also and they have the best customer service but again $$$

Several things here to mention: Staying with Lee for their progressive is not something I would suggest. I have never had one but know folks that have. Tinker with this and fool with that. The spend more time adjusting or fixing than reloading. Definitely not the way to go.

As far as the powder through die, you don't need it from what I understand. The Hornady has a powder dispensing system all it's own. The Dillon is caliber specific but fits in the same "7/8" housing", for lack of a better term.

As for Dillons being blue, I'm not sure that is a factor. Certainly your manhood isn't going to take a hit because there is a red press on your bench. If so, there are other factors that might be indicating those tendencies!

All joking aside, there is a Dillon press at the price level you want AND their guarantee is priceless. The advantage of the L-N-L is that it comes stripped down, no bells and whistles and that makes it's original cost seem lower when in fact, it isn't. Shell plates and all the "truck" are just as pricey. If you can still get the free bullets, that is a plus, no doubt.

If I didn't have 4 presses on my bench and 3 single stages under it, I would look into a L-N-L. I like the 5th hole. A powder check die is a must for those that load a bunch of ammo and a safety for anyone.

I know I can get shot for saying this on this forum but for that reason alone I wouldn't get an RL550, only 4 holes, just me though. I have some Square Deal's that only have 4 holes too but I got them for cheap. I don't have $600 in the three I have so.......................

Try ebay. You may find something used there, it will be blue though as folks are just starting to get those new red jobs!

 

[pinkymingeo]

I'm wondering what parts Hornady charges for. Admittedly I've only got 30-something thousand rounds through my LnL, but the only part I've ever needed was the case retainer spring. Although I have two spares, I told Hornady mine broke and they sent me a replacement. I can't imagine what else to worry about.

 

[Rule3]

Smith Crazy, I like the Blue color. I have a Blue Dillion scale. I only mentioned that to try and ward off the "Get a Dillion" replies. I'd love to have one so as you have so many, donations are always appreciated.

No, I will not get a Lee Progressive for the reasons you mention. Maybe I will get their classic turret press and only need a few extra turrets. No it's not a progressive but might speed things up just enough. If I charge and prime on the press then that alone will shave off a bunch of time plus I will not handle the same piece of brass 3-5 times.

I read some good reviews on their turret press so if anyone has comments on that press we can shift the topic to those.
Thanks for the input.

 

[2Loud4You]

I'm working up to an LNL-AP. I've bought my shell plates and almost all my die sets. For every die set I get 100 free bullets and when I pick up the press I'll get 1000 free. I'm on the fence about a .380 die set, that sucker is $90, that's even more than my .460 die set! I do have a .223, 9mm, .40, .45ACP and .460 so far.

 

[johngalt]

I've been using a Hornady LNL AP for about 2 years now, and I still think it is excellent.

Hornady has not charged me for any warranty parts. A few months back I bent the primer wire that the slide rides on, ruining it. I called up Hornady, explained that I bent it and needed a new one, and they said they would drop a new one in the mail that day. I also asked for a new primer slide and punch, they threw those in too. They sent it priority mail and didn't charge me a cent.

When I got the EZ-Eject upgrade, a screw was seized up and I stripped a screw head trying to remove the original base plate. I called up Hornady and got an RMA. I sent the press (with everything removed), the EZ-Eject kit, 2 shell plates for upgrading, and $20 to upgrade the shell plates.

They sent the press back all fixed with the EZ-Eject installed, a new large primer assembly installed (I sent it stripped), and 2 brand new shell plates instead of my old ones. The EZ-Eject kit was $29 to upgrade it yourself. Hornady was originally charging $100 to do the upgrade at the factory.

I essentially got the $100 factory upgrade for $29, and 2 brand new shell plates instead of my old converted ones, and a new primer assembly.

I don't know how dillion compares, but Hornady is first class.

 

[shadowrider]

I've got one. I love the powder measure. You can get extra metering inserts for about $10 and keep them stored with your dies. They are a "quick change" sort of design. With Dillon it's really just easier to buy a whole powder measure for each caliber conversion. The Hornady is actually a direct competitor to the 650. It's a 5 station with auto indexing. And it costs about what Dillon's 550 4 station manual press does. And the Hornady's powder measure makes it superior to both IMO. As for powder through expanding I don't know if the Lee's will work or not, but Hornady has a conversion for that too. I've used it for 9mm and .45 and is the preferred method if using a powder cop die. My only complaint is I got some shaving with lead bullets so I went back to the normal expander method and don't use the powder cop die with lead. It works great with jacketed bullets though. I may try it again with lead.

I just got my ez-ject conversion installed last night and love it.

If I were buying again I'd give a serious look at the new RCBS progressive. But I still think the Hornady has it beat because you can use the powder measure in a couple of different stations if you so choose. Don't think you can do that with the RCBS, though they still have Dillon beat in that department.

No way would I stick with Lee for the long term. I use some of their stuff but it's just not in the same league as Hornady, RCBS, Dillon, etc.

Another route you might want to go is with a turret press. You say your not loading massive quantities so it may be you best route. It's a nice trade off between the single stages and progressives. This is a good one: