Are hornday LNL's really that much trouble

[Mike 27]

I have had mine for about 9 months and no issue. I love it. Have had 0 issues with it. I still have my Lee SS and still use it on a regular basis as well (just figured I would throw that in there). I would recommend the LNL no problem.

 

[Bovice]

I've been using one for two years. It has glitches, but if you figure them out, there are simple ways around them. It works fine.

 

[the count]

My 2 cents worth: any progressive press is like a steam engine that you have to watch over and tweak. But when they work good it's a pleasure.

 

[EddieNFL]

But when they work good it's a pleasure.

And some are more pleasurable than others.

and every year or so I break a case retainer spring.

Still using the original on my '86 Projector.

Cord/Duesenberg?

Headed to the dealership to check prices.

...those that have loaded on both Dillon and Hornady brands are probably in the minority.

I'm a member of the minority. Wonder if I qualify for a government funded reloading program?

 

[A-FIXER]

I'm a member of the minority. Wonder if I qualify for a government funded reloading program?

I for one believe you should contact your senator and start a line on this type of entiltment for all americans..

 

[Bowfishrp]

I have had my LNL for about 5 years now and I dont have any issues with it. I really love the cheap cost of changing calibers since I reload lots of different calibers. Primer seating was something I had to learn but 99% of the time I have a problem with it, its because its dirty. I suspect that would be the same for any press.
Get the case feeder and you will really see this press shine!

 

[jmorris]

If you have had no problems in 5 years loading "lots" of different calibers using an LNL case feeder you are in the minority for sure.

 

[mag41uk]

I have th LnL with case feeder.
Have only loaded 41/44/45acp and its been totally reliable.
May be loading 9mm in the future so will need to start using small primers.
I love the ease of changing calibres and the initial cost of setup.
There are many variables that can lead to a machine becoming unreliable.
In correct adjustment,poor components or combination of and pure old hamfisted operation!
I believe that latter to be a major issue in the reloading world.
Have friends with 650`s and they look so complicated in comparison!
I did come to the LnL from a loadmaster that was pretty frustrating!
Cheers,
Tony

 

[ranger335v]

"...those who start with pot metal junk go to Hornady or Dillon when they actually want to reload."

I wonder if you're unaware that both Hornady and Dillon use your so called "pot metal" for their press bodies - usually refered to as a very high grade alum alloy - and so do some RCBS presses.

 

[Bowfishrp]

I will say this...knowing what I know now, it I had it to do over again I would get a Dillon 650. Why? I think the Dillon warranty is better and I think its a little better engineering. It could also be because I dont have one and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
I wish I could get a Dillon 1050 but just cant justify it.

 

[Rmeju]

I own a LnL, and just got a friend set up with one. The final choice is up to you, they are both good machines... your problem seems to be that you like the LnL on paper, but you're worried that it might not turn out to be the good machine that you're hoping it is.

My advice is don't hesitate to buy a Hornady LnL. It's a great press. If other presses were perfect, this might be more of an issue, but other presses are not perfect. The Hornady holds its own quite nicely against a Dillon 650, and the customer service at Hornady is every bit as good as Dillon's, even if they don't advertise it as much. Changing calibers is easier and cheaper. And of course, the 500 free premium bullets just blows anything Dillon offers right out of the water.

As others have noted, the priming system is the LnL's weakest link. This is not to say that it doesn't work, but it can certainly be finnicky. That is the press's only real issue.

 

[whtsmoke]

just fixed the old rod popping out of its small indent, took a piece of 3/4 aluminum angle 2.5 inches long drilla hole in one end and then positioned it so the other hole i drilled and tapped was over the rod. tapped a hole and used a thumb screw with a jam nut to apply more downward pressure on it. i ran it through the cycle for about five minutes and the sucker didnt even move, problem solved.

 

[sugarmaker]

small dia cases like .223 can be a bit of a pain with the case feeder, priming has been reliable. The press has trouble ejecting .223 if you're just processing brass but does OK with loaded rounds. That can be fixed by making a removable extension to the ejection tab on the base plate. I'd say if you're mechanically inclined you're OK, if not it may prove a bit frustrating with the case feeder. W/O case feeder anyone can use it.

 

[Schwabee1]

"making a removable extension to the ejection tab on the base plate."
Could you please post picture of this. Thanks

 

[Blue68f100]

If it's hanging on ejection the relief cut for the spring to drop out of the way is not enough. Just take a dremel/grinder and cut it back a little more. I tapered mine back about another 3/16-1/4". Mine was hanging when I ran brass through for deprimeing with my brass feeder. It would randomly hang. After this mod I can run as fast as I can go and it ejects flawlessly. If I recall it was Walkalong that came up with this mod.

 

[Shmackey]

I've owned both the LnL and the 650. Both are excellent. Here's my take: The LnL is ideal for loading smaller quantities of multiple calibers, whereas the 650 is ideal for cranking out larger quantities of the same caliber.

Once you get the Dillon set up and running, it's like a locomotive. Keep feeding it brass, bullets, primer, and powder, and it will just keep making rounds. But there have been many times when I felt like loading caliber X and the machine was set up for caliber Y, and I just wasn't in the mood to change it. (I do have separate toolheads for each caliber, each with its own powder drop. This helps a lot.)

On the other hand, it's far easier to get the Hornady set up for a particular caliber, but I very rarely was able to get it to run for 1000 rounds straight without some kind of little hiccup, be it priming or ejecting.

Dillon for quantity, Hornady for flexibility.

 

[Walkalong]

If it's hanging on ejection the relief cut for the spring to drop out of the way is not enough. Just take a dremel/grinder and cut it back a little more. I tapered mine back about another 3/16-1/4". Mine was hanging when I ran brass through for deprimeing with my brass feeder. It would randomly hang. After this mod I can run as fast as I can go and it ejects flawlessly. If I recall it was Walkalong that came up with this mod.

Originally Wilburts idea.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=464088