rjbmjb
Member
x2 on the Powder Check die- I have one for my LnL AP and wouldn't run the press without it
My Hornady progressive press has arrived, beauty
- Thread starter BillBloggins
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RugerOldArmy
Member
Congrats! Tools are good things.
Pay no mind to the Red/Blue/Green rivalry.
Pay no mind to the Red/Blue/Green rivalry.
rskent
Member
No rivalry here.
Larryswn
Member
Not sure if someone's told you yet but make sure you use a lock washer on the shell plate or it gets loose.......I can't tell you how many times I forgot to prime and made a mess too.
Blue68f100
Member
Not sure if someone's told you yet but make sure you use a lock washer on the shell plate or it gets loose.......I can't tell you how many times I forgot to prime and made a mess too.
I have not needed a lock washer on mine, ever since I started using the Hornady LNL-AP Wrench to hold the shell plate. Makes me wonder on those that need one if the indexing is right. The snapping into the detents are loosening it up?
OP
OP
BillBloggins
Member
Appreciate the input. I have my press mounted directly to my bench and not on a mount that raises it up. I reload standing up and the height allows me a direct look in the case to ensure the powder level is where it needs to be. If I ever go to a mount like the Inline Fabrication style I will definitely get a powder check die- there is no way I could be comfortable not verifying a powder charge.
DRAINSMITH
Member
I got good news and bad news. Reloading is a lot of muscle memory and your eyes are part of that. When I first started loading I looked into every case. Then I got a lock out die that will stop the press with to little or to much power, and I still look into every case. It is a good habit to check.
RealGun
Member
Shooting 500 rounds a week is breathtaking compared to what I shoot, and I thought I was extravagant and obsessive, perhaps 500 in a month sometimes. That is revolver only. Like others I probably go through ammo a lot quicker with an occasional inclusion of a semi-auto to keep my skills up with that type of gun/trigger. Once I shoot 50 rounds, I call it enough and move on to another gun and caliber.
My LnL AP has a case feeder and Bully adapter bullet feeder, so changing out a setup is far from trivial or quick. I save it for big runs of 40 S&W or 45 ACP. Also did my first batch of 223 using it on a couple quiet winter days. Week in, week out, I can swap out a setup on my Lee Turret really fast, partly because I do it often, but there aren't many steps to it. I do all of my priming on the press, whichever one. It's what they're for, in my view.
Lot's of good resources to support the Hornady, including THR.
My LnL AP has a case feeder and Bully adapter bullet feeder, so changing out a setup is far from trivial or quick. I save it for big runs of 40 S&W or 45 ACP. Also did my first batch of 223 using it on a couple quiet winter days. Week in, week out, I can swap out a setup on my Lee Turret really fast, partly because I do it often, but there aren't many steps to it. I do all of my priming on the press, whichever one. It's what they're for, in my view.
Lot's of good resources to support the Hornady, including THR.
I do not use a lock washer either. I'd snug up the shell plate bolt using my hand to hold the shell plate in place, then the Hornady wrench after i got one of them. Using the wrench is easier on the fingers.
A few years ago, someone on the forum made their own wrench that fit the shell cut outs in the shell plate like the Hornady wrench.
My shell plates do not come loose in use.
Paddy
member
Guys I struggled with holding the shell plate too until I saw the correct way to do it! On YouTube can't remember who but he turned the shell plate until you can see the primer drop hole, and he dropped an Allen key down the hole. Locks the rotation easy as pie.
While dropping a pin or allen wrench down the primer hole would hold the shell plate in place, I'd be careful applying too much force while tightening the shell plate bolt. I'd be concerned with distorting the primer hole when tightening the shell plate bolt. Many folks tend to hawg down too much on stuff when tightening things.
Many live by the saying, "If a little tight is good, more is better."
The Hornady wrench is not very expensive and it has some other parts for tightening various locking rings on the Hornady dies.
It is the owners choice as long has he understands the limitations.
Paddy
member
Hawgers probably aught not be in the reloading room. However, if anyone considers themself a hawger then feel free to substitute out the Allen key for a pencil, or gi joe arm, or 223 bullet or any other pointy device that won't get lost down the tube.
captain awesome
Member
When I got mine it was a cost thing. Cheaper caliber changes, and the press itself costs less than the 650. Some say the 550 is the competition to the Hornady but the 650 is much more comparable. They all have their quirks and issues that need ironed out. I have spent far more time than I should researching them. And there are certain parts and work arounds that will need done, replaced or serviced eventually. If you are handy you can do a lot of it yourself.
One thing that will save you a lot of headaches is use a lock washer on top of the shellplate washer. If you do you may never realize how much you appreciate it, if you don't you will definitely wish you had.
Zendude
Member
Once everything is tuned and adjusted, watching your progressive press in action is a thing of beauty.
OP
OP
BillBloggins
Member
"...use a lock washer on top of the shellplate washer. If you do you may never realize how much you appreciate it, if you don't you will definitely wish you had"
Sound advice. I quickly found that the hand tighten with the hex wrench could be overcome as the shell plate rotated. I was wondering why it was not cycling smoothly and sure enough the shell plate was a little loose. Lock washer time.
Sound advice. I quickly found that the hand tighten with the hex wrench could be overcome as the shell plate rotated. I was wondering why it was not cycling smoothly and sure enough the shell plate was a little loose. Lock washer time.
Larryswn
Member
No, indexing is perfect. The shell plate kept coming loose every so often. I put an allen in the discarded primer hole to hold the shell plate in place while tightening it so it's def tight. For some reason the nut would loosen up after about 200 rnds. After the lock washer I went through at least 1000 rnds before making a mess because I forgot to prime. Shell plate was still nice and tight when I took it off to clean up the powder underneath. Seems every press has its quirks.
Larryswn
Member
FYI, I tried the lock washer on top of the original washer first,still kept coming loose so I tossed the smooth one and only use the lock. Works like a champ
ColtPythonElite
Member
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Surprises can happen to the single stage loader. I was standing beside one who blew up a. 357 last year. He swore he checked and double checked each case for charge level before seating the bullet.
Single Stage can have it's pitfalls if you get careless or allow your concentration to slip , I'll admit.
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