Lee Breech Lock question

I can see where it might be useful if you use those crappy Lee lock rings. If you upgrade to a decent lock ring, then I don't see the point.

But if it was Hornady LnL then would it be OK?

I could never see the point, or the extra added expense.

It takes all of 15 - 30 seconds to screw one die out and another one in.

You only need to change dies between sizing, expanding, and seating at most.

Over 50 to 1,000 rounds, depending on how large of batches you process.

I have dies I adjusted and locked down in 1970 in a new RCBS press that haven't been adjusted again.

Using more then one press with one set of dies would require adjustment each time.

And breech-lock or L&L would only slow me down.

IMO: It's an ingenious solution to a non-existent problem!!

rc

The LnL bushings are very nice. I use them and it makes a caliber change very easy and quick. The Lee breechlock system might be nice when swapping calibers on a turret press or progressive, but you typically just swap out the entire turret. I did buy a bunch of breechlock bushings for my rifle dies but I've come to the conclusion that I'm only saving a couple of seconds of having to not screw the dies in versus a partial turn to lock in the breechlock.

Like so many things in life, it is what it is.

I have a breach lock press. .308 set, pass-through, and bullet sizing dies all setup with bushings - drop in, twist, no wrench.

Works for me.

rcmodel said:

I could never see the point, or the extra added expense.

It takes all of 15 - 30 seconds to screw one die out and another one in.

You only need to change dies between sizing, expanding, and seating at most.

Over 50 to 1,000 rounds, depending on how large of batches you process.

I have dies I adjusted and locked down in 1970 in a new RCBS press that haven't been adjusted again.

Using more then one press with one set of dies would require adjustment each time.

And breech-lock or L&L would only slow me down.

IMO: It's an ingenious solution to a non-existent problem!!

rc

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I completely agree with this statement. I see no reason at all to spend additional money on the plugs. As for "the crappy Lee lock rings", I disagree. They work perfectly fine on all my h handgun dies sitting in turrets. Unlike the set screws on RCBS dies they don't chew up the threads on the dies and they don't ever loosen. I like them on turrets.

What bugs me about them is that they are not interchangeable among different Lee presses.

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Same with their mounting holes.

It is a better idea than the Hornady non locking bushing system. If you change dies a lot I guess it would be faster. If your selling bushings and adapters you will make more money than if you didn't...ever wonder why Lee or Hornady didn't just make dies that are for their QD vs machine them 7/8-14 then machining an adapter to go from 7/8-14 to the QD?

Love my breech lock. Just need one more bushing.

Well then get rid of all the extra turret plates and tool heads for progressive presses right??, you don't need them. Dump all your Hornady LnL bushings.

I mean it only takes a "few seconds" to screw dies in right??

"A solution to a problem that doesn't exist"

Such a catchy internet phrase, don't use the darn thing then.

"A solution to a problem that doesn't exist"

Such a catchy internet phrase, don't use the darn thing then.

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+1
UR prolly rite

A friend wanted to get into reloading. He knew I did it a bit of it,,, so he asked me to come over to get him started. He said he had bought a "kit" from Hornady. When I got there he had mounted the Hornady single stage press which came with the LNL bushings. He had read the distructions,, was in the process of trying to adjust the full length die to the correct depth. Every time he tried to turn the die lose, the bushing turned and came out of it's receptacle.

ItIS a solution to a problem that had to be invented! This buddy of mine began to realize that he would either have to buy more bushings, or re-use the ones supplied to use this press. My solution? A couple of drops of red locktite on one of the bushings, insert it into the hole, let it take hold. Then proceed from there screwing the dies into that one bushing like any other single stage press. In fact that's what he did!

I think that Hornady came up with the LNL bushings because they didn't want to make their progressive press with a separate toolhead like the Dillon Possibly a patent got in the way?

Well then RCBS should get rid of their tool heads (die plate) also.

Talk about nonsense. Tool Head, Reloading MACHINE??

I thought it was a die plate and a press??

I want everyone to send me all their extra solutions to problems that do not exist and I will send them all a LEE Classic Loader. They are on sale at Cabelas.

I mean really it's all you need right?:banghead:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/clas...Header%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=lee+loader

I want everyone to send me all their extra solutions to problems that do not exist and I will send them all a LEE Classic Loader. They are on sale at Cabelas.

Click to expand...

Ok, PM me with an address to send a primer pocket cleaning tool and I will with the address for you to send me the Classic Loader

delete

I went with the Hornady press with the LnL bushings. But I do agree that screwing the dies in each time is also fine.

BUT ! ! !...... only if the locking collars on all the dies are replaced with the pinch lock style collars sold by Hornady or a similar pinch lock style collar.

The Lee style with the rubber O rings are useless as they move far too easily. The RCBS style with the set screw is also bad as it damages the thread on the die and makes any future adjustment a problem. Also the set screw can cause the lock ring to lean away from square due to the play in the threads.

So the only GOOD way that provides a secure, square mounted and non-damaging hold is the pinch style lockrings.

The Hornady style isn't perfect but once the dies are set there's no problem and die swaps are easily and quickly done.

Oh, and while I'd like to say that Hornady is better for being able to switch between presses that's not the case. There's likely as not some slight difference due to tolerance issues when moving from press to press. And there's a bunch of You Tube videos on doctoring up a single stage LnL press so the dies can move between the AP press and the SS press.

Here's what I like about it:

I am currently working up loads for two and sometimes three different calibers. I may build 10-15 rounds of each, every few days depending on when I can get to the range. So, to build 10 rounds, then switch calibers and build 10 more, etc., it's darn handy.

There is very little that can go wrong with the system once it's set. Yes, I can screw in and out my dies, but I don't see what a BL collar will hurt, and it takes 1/4 turn then done.

I tend to agree. Having done small batches of this sort the idea of screwing the dies in and out is going to get old pretty quickly. It may be only a few seconds more but when repeated a couple of dozen times in a fairly short while it's going to make one's fingers get rather dizzy....

Is the breechlock or bayonet lock system perfect? Most certainly not. But I far and away prefer it to screwing my dies in repeatedly.

One thing that has often come to mind is that I'd like to drill for a locking pin and notch the flanges of the bushings. That way I can drop in a pin which will prevent the bushing from turning out of lock when adjusting the dies.

I likely wouldn't use it for any other time since the rest of the time I don't need to lock the bushing and it would only be in the way.

rsrocket1 said:

+1
UR prolly rite

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"Probably" another useless internet phrase, "right" or wrong.

Having done small batches of this sort the idea of screwing the dies in and out is going to get old pretty quickly

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It better do it quickly, because it only has about 5 seconds.

I like the Hornady system for my powder measures. I have several and only enough room on the bench for one stand. It makes changing measures quick and easy. I don’t use them for dies however.

cars come with spare tires. You may never need one so would you throw it out or would you keep it? It doesn't cost any time or money to just crank down a bushing and treat it as if it were a threaded press, and any set of pliers will be fine, no lock tite required. Then you can thread in and out as you please. But if you like a quick change, you can use it. No problem. Or, you could even get a dedicated adapter that replaces the whole system like many presses come with, as my new lee classic cast does.

Having options doesn't constitute a problem to me at least.