[boogity8k]

When you buy a hornaday lock n load auto progressive press do you need both shell holders and shell plate ?

[Jim Watson]

No.

[boogity8k]

what set-up works the best starting out with pistol, in 9 mm 38/357, thanks in advance

[scotch827]

You need shell plates. They are caliber specific. Some shell plates will load several similar calibers.

Scott

[rsrocket1]

You need a #6 shell plate for the 38/357 and a #8 shell plate for the 9mm. No shell holders necessary. The shell plates are about $30.

[cfullgraf]

Once you have purchased the Hornady L-N-L, for the press, you will need a set of dies and a shell plate appropriate for the cartridge. I forget the exact number of L-N-L bushings that come with the press, you may need a few of those as well.

To add additional cartridge capabilities, you will need at least another set of dies, the appropriate shell plate, and bushings. There are some other things that you may want to get, like a powder drop die, that make the cartridge change easier and quicker.

If you are new to reloading, there is a bunch more equipment needed for reloading that is not specific to the press. See the sticky at the top of the forum.

Hope this helps.

[Steve C]

As others have written you will need the appropriaate shell plate, a die set for each caliber, and if you want to use the quick change feature a set of bushings for each additional die set after the first. The LNL AP press initially comes with a bushing for each station, 5 total. Midway has additional bushings in packages of 3 or 10 at about $4 a bushing.

[Lost Sheep]

A shell holder and a shell plate perform the same basic function. It holds the cartridge case(s) to push/pull the case(s) in and out of the dies(s).

A shell holder is used with a single-stage press or a turret press (basically a single stage lower end with a multi-station top end). One cartridge case at a time.

A shell plate is used with a progressive press, It holds multiple cartridge cases and pushes/pulls them in and out of the dies simultaneously.

A progressive press never uses a shell holder. A single-stage or turret press never uses a shell plate. They are incompatible with each others' designs.

Lost Sheep

[918v]

Hornady

[Branden967]

On a non-related note about Hornady....... excellent customer service. I just purchased the LNL press and there help desk is awesome. Plus I've done a couple of major "stupids" and they replaced the part I broke for free....multiple times. :fire: Im a slow learner.

[nyc71]

X2 on the great customer service.

[Walkalong]

If you do not prime on the press, you will want a shell holder to use on a hand primer like Hornady and RCBS sells. If you buy a Lee hand primer, it uses special case holders, but a complete set is inexpensive.

Most of us end up, or started with, a single stage press and the shell holders are used for those little tasks we still do on a single stage from time to time.