Hornady die bushing rant.

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Muddydogs

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I like the Hornady die bushings and the flexibility to add or remove dies as I need but I always seem to need another 10 pack of the darn things. Every time I turn around I'm short a bushing and robbing one of another die to get something done. At $40 a 10 pack they are getting expensive, I think I already purchased 3 10 packs and a couple 3 packs here and there. I could use about 10 more right now and might as well just pick up 20 so I have some setting around. I like the idea of converting the Rock Chucker over to the bushing but then I would need another 20 bushings at least to cover my single stage rifle dies so I guess I will continue to take the couple extra seconds to just screw the die into the RC. Hornady should be offering free bushings instead of bullets with their presses and dies.

Ok carry on, rant over, nothing to see here.
 
I load on an LNL and shoot a wide variety of calibers, so I feel your pain. :)
 
I just got my lnl and I will add that to every order for new dies. Thanks for the heads up. I do enjoy it. I like that feature though.
 
Jeez, I thought I had it bad.. buying Lee four hole turret rings at $8 a pop or so.. at least I can get two rifle sets on each ring though..
Oh, I bought extra too.
 
Certaindeaf said:
Jeez, I thought I had it bad.. buying Lee four hole turret rings at $8 a pop or so.. at least I can get two rifle sets on each ring though..
Oh, I bought extra too.
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Me too:D I like the turrets!

I started out with the LEE Breach Lock and kept buying the 3 packs (I load a lot of calibers) I have a whole drawer full of them. At least they are not that expensive.

Anyone know if they fit the Hornady??
 
I understand your frustration. I'm in the process of converting from the LnL AP to a Dillon 650. I reload for 13 or so different calibers. I had a LOT of those expensive bushings! Once I had my primary calibers moved over I started selling off LnL parts on eBay. I listed the bushings $5.00 each +$2.50 with $0.50 additional shipping per if they bought more than 1. I sold out (I think I had close to 50 total for sale) in under 2 days! So if you ever need quick cash....
 
Yes, the cost of bushings add up, but having a powder drop die for each cartridge gets expen$ive. I load 8 to 10 different cartridges on the L-N-L.

I ended up making custom drop tubes so that one powder die works for all cartridges. An excellent excuse to use the lathe.:)
 
Don't get me started on the powder die and bullet feeders. I have 6 or so powder dies and need a couple more along with 5 bullet feeders which all need bushings as well. For a pistol set up it takes 5 bushings which is 20 bucks, $20 powder die, $7 PTX stop and $20 bullet feeder with PTX. Geez 67 bucks plus dies. Who ever came up with reloading saves money? At least its a lot of fun and its better then spending money on booze and lady's. Don't tell the wife how much I have invested in this or she will want me to spend some money on her.
 
I am in the same boat. Short 4 bushings now. I did convert my Rock Chucker..slick operation I must say. I also can tell you that the dies in the bushings won't interchange between the LNL and the RC. The different thicknesses of the presses, where the bushing sits, throws the die setting off. Did that make sense?
 
"I always seem to need another 10 pack of the darn things."

Not being sarcastic but the ratio of dies to quick change bushings hasn't changed since you got the things. But, to each his own, if you like to use them you got to pay.

Given that there's no need to wrench dies in place anyway, I can screw swap my hand tight conventional dies in less than a minute without hurrying. Even if the bushings were instant swaps they still wouldn't 'save' enough time to change my life style so I won't fool with the things. If I did, with some fifty plus die sets and four presses on my bench, it would cost me a lot so I don't/won't ever use 'em.

IF someone gave me a press I liked but it used those bushings, I'd epoxy or hot glue one set in place so I could use my dies conventionally.
 
".. the dies in the bushings won't interchange between the LNL and the RC. The different thicknesses of the presses, where the bushing sits, throws the die setting off. Did that make sense?"

jgh, it's certainly understandable but it still doesn't make sense. Some things just don't work out as well as we may have hoped.
 
Not really any different than any other progressive. Hornady is $20 for 5 bushings, RCBS is $20 for a die plate, and Dillon is $22, $28, or $200 for a tool head (550/650/1050, respectively).

So, it can't really get any better for you, but could be much, much worse.

For my LNl, I always keep a full 10-pack of bushings on the pegboard. The day I crack that package open, I order another 10-pack. Haven't run short yet. :)
 
Midsouth has the price at $40.89 per ten pack (of course they are out of stock). So thats a little over four bucks each. I feel your pain but the system is a good one and if you have a LNL you have no choice. The LNL accepts the die bushings only. I have ten spares at the moment.
 
I have enough of the bushings for now.

There are a number of cartridges I load with a range of bullets, and that requires adjustment of the dies anyway. It's the ability to quickly swap dies that made me decide on the LNL instead of another press.

There are also cartridges that I load only occasionally, so having bushings on those dies is overkill. When I buy my next rifle, I'll buy dies, but I think I'll skip the bushings. I can share a set with another cartridge that I don't reload very often.
 
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In the grand scheme of things reloading, screwing a die into it's spot in the press is a minor thing IMHO. Quick change bushings are a marketers add on to boost overall sales I believe.:D If they work for you---buy away.:) I would rather use those dollars to buy more dies or bullets personally.;) YMMV
 
I have the conversion in my Rock Crusher and made a .234"(IIRC) shim for under the adapter, This way my dies can be swapped from either press with no adjustments. Anyone needing one I can make you one or if you have access to a lathe. I am about 15 bushings short right now, I'm thinking I need to find a way to make my own in one of the cnc's.
 
I would also be interested in a shim. Thought about doing something like this so I could quickly drop in my Hornady LnL dies in the single stage if I want and then just screwing my single stage dies into a bushing just like screwing them into the RC now. This way I could use some of my neck and body dies easier that get switched from the LnL to RC.
 
How much time does the bushings really save? Not enough to justify the expense.
For me, they've been more trouble than convenience. Apparently I'm not alone, hence the shims.
 
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