Asking Santa for a progressive reloading press?

[Jessesky]

It sounds like while the dillons are higher quality as I expected, they are only meant for focusing on one cartridge at a time, and the LNL is better for multiple different cartridges.

I currently have a single stage press. I load only a couple hundred rounds per month, from 357mag to 375h&h. I would load more per month but I find now I am limited to the efficiency of my setup of the single stage press and having to do each step individually.

With the efficiency of the press I can easily see loading 800-1000+ per month. To give an idea of my needs. Currently I load for 11 cartridges.

 

[cheygriz]

Jesse, to take advantage of the progressive, over a year or two, transition to loading 500-1000 of the same calibre as a "batch."

That will cut down on "set up" time.

I load in batches of 1000 or (mostly) 2,000, so I only need to load .38 special, .44 mag, .40, once or twice per year.

9MM and 5.56 get loaded every couple of months.

 

[Jessesky]

Jesse, to take advantage of the progressive, over a year or two, transition to loading 500-1000 of the same calibre as a "batch."

That will cut down on "set up" time.

I load in batches of 1000 or (mostly) 2,000, so I only need to load .38 special, .44 mag, .40, once or twice per year.

9MM and 5.56 get loaded every couple of months.

Are there any added headaches of using a progressive as a single stage? say I want to load only 50 rounds of something like my 375h&h where I’m not pumping out a ton of cartridges. Or will I want to keep my single stage

 

[ATLDave]

Are there any added headaches of using a progressive as a single stage? say I want to load only 50 rounds of something like my 375h&h where I’m not pumping out a ton of cartridges. Or will I want to keep my single stage

You will almost certainly want to keep your single stage press for that kind of volume.

 

[Jessesky]

You will almost certainly want to keep your single stage press for that kind of volume.

Okay thank you, I’ll hang on to it as well if I do end up getting the LNL. Mostly I’m wanting to load large amounts of 44 mag, 357, and 45-70 as I shoot those the most. And then I load my magnums like 375h&h, 300rum, 454casull In smaller batches of 50-100

 

[cheygriz]

By all means keep your single stage.

I use my Redding Ultramax for load development as well as extra small batches.

 

[ATLDave]

Think about all the things your hands do during the loading of a cartridge on a single-stage press. Think about how there are variations in those things depending on cartridges. Now remember that the progressive will have to be re-adjusted to most or all of those variations every time you change a cartridge.

 

[Jessesky]

It sounds like maybe a turret press may be more suited for my needs. Or is there not an appreciable difference and may as well get a progressive. Realistically I’ll be doing sessions loading 200-300 of 357 at a time on the high volume. I want to cut down on time, but sounds like the setup for loading that little takes just as long.

 

[cheygriz]

A turret is not a substitute for a progressive.

Go ahead and get what you're going to end up with. You'll eventually get a progressive, so why waste money on something else in the interim.

 

[Texas10mm]

The press will come with one full set of LNL Die Bushings (5) for one set of dies. You will need to purchase a Shell Plate for each caliber you plan to reload.

The bushings can be left in the press and you can screw your dies in and out, but they are designed to have the dies left in them so that dies can be easily switched out. I also recommend the Hornady Sure-Loc die rings.

Much like the eternal quandary of hot dogs and buns, bushing come in packages of 10 while rings come in packages of 6

Actually you'll need a shell plate for each CARTRIDGE FAMILY. One shell plate can work with many different calibers. There's a big difference between cartridge and caliber.

 

[cfullgraf]

Are there any added headaches of using a progressive as a single stage? say I want to load only 50 rounds of something like my 375h&h where I’m not pumping out a ton of cartridges. Or will I want to keep my single stage

Yes, you will want to keep your single stage press. There are some tasks that are best done on a single stage.

That said, one of the advantages of the Hornady L-N-L is the bushing system instead of a die plate. The bushings allow you to easily and quickly shuffle the dies around to different positions when you want to do an abbreviated process.

I routinely resize and expand the case mouth of hand gun cases on my L-N-L at one session, usually shortly after shooting them when the number of cases is small. Then I clean the cases and put them away for a future, long, loading session. At the loading session, I charge the case, check the powder level, seat the bullet then crimp the bullet. I only install the dies I need for the operation that I am doing.

This could be done with multiple die plates or spinning the dies in and out of the die plate but the L-N-L bushings make it more convenient.

I do most of my resizing of cases on the Hornady but I also have an RCBS Pro2000, a Dillon BL550, and three Dillon SDBs that provide some advantages for reloading some cartridges better than the Hornady.

 

[Laphroaig]

It sounds like while the dillons are higher quality as I expected, they are only meant for focusing on one cartridge at a time, and the LNL is better for multiple different cartridges.

I'm not sure what you mean here. Assuming your dies are mounted on a tool head, caliber switch might take 5 minutes (assuming same primer size) on a Dillon 550. Conservatively add about 10 more minutes if you need to swap primers. I can't see the LNL being much easier than that.

 

[Texas10mm]

I'm not sure what you mean here. Assuming your dies are mounted on a tool head, caliber switch might take 5 minutes (assuming same primer size) on a Dillon 550. Conservatively add about 10 more minutes if you need to swap primers. I can't see the LNL being much easier than that.

I've had both a LnL and a 650. Cartridge changes take about the same amount of time....till you get to the primer switch. The LnL is much quicker in that one area.

 

[Jessesky]

My single stage is a 50bmg press as I used to load it, but sold that gun long ago. I think from all the helpful comments the LNL is a good step up and will suit my needs for a while. Probably will sell the 50bmg press and pickup a Lee classic to match the LNL, and buy a ton of bushings for the LNL.

Ps: how does the powder meter in the LNL? Is it consistent enough to do full house loads or will I want to give myself a safety margin. A full grain variance of a fast pistol powder can be a bad deal. Or too little of H-110.

 

[ATLDave]

I have both a LCT turret and a Dillon 650. I use the Dillon for my USPSA gamer loads, where I need to fill ammo cans. I have the LCT for runs of 50-200 (or less). If 200 is your real, real max run size, an LCT may be almost as fast, since changeover time for an LCT is measured in seconds.

But if you get a true progressive (especially coming from a pure single-stage background), you will be amazed at how fast and effortlessly you can crank out ammo once it is set up for the caliber you want. It's addictive. You'll walk by your reloading area and accidentally crank out another 50!

 

[jmorris]

It sounds like while the dillons are higher quality as I expected, they are only meant for focusing on one cartridge at a time, and the LNL is better for multiple different cartridges.

It depends on what Dillon you are talking about, what calibers you are changing from and to.

I can convert from 7-08 to to 458 socom (or any other case that uses the same head and primer size like 45 ACP, 243, 308, 30-06, etc. in under 30 seconds.



It’s not as fast but still pretty quick vs resetting charge weight all the time, to swap pre set powder bars and it’s a lot cheaper than a dedicated measure for every setup.



The 550 is pretty hard to beat when it comes to how fast you can change primer sizes on a progressive press.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Probably will sell the 50bmg press and pickup a Lee classic to match the LNL, and buy a ton of bushings for the LNL.

If you get the Lee Classic Cast (non-Breech Lock), you can add a Hornady Conversion Kit to allow use of the Hornady bushings. That way you can easily move dies between presses...you may have to calibrate between presses to allow for differences in deck height

 

[rskent]

I like my Hornady AP.
There are a number of great presses out there. But for a lot of people like me, that load 500 rounds or less at a time the LNL works out great. Where the LNL shines is versatility and quick change over.
I’m not saying that you can’t load a thousand rounds at a sitting on a Hornady. But if I needed that kind of volume I would buy a Dillon.

 

[9mmepiphany]

But for a lot of people like me, that load 500 rounds or less at a time the LNL works out great.

I usually only load about 100 at a time...each time I take a little break from my computer, I walk by the LNL and crank off 100 rounds

 

[Skgreen]

750 rounds of 45 ACP in about ~3 1/2~ hrs last night. Press was set up, but tubes still needed to be filled, and had to break for dinner,,,,
Pretty happy with my LNL AP.

 

[Blue68f100]

My single stage is a 50bmg press as I used to load it, but sold that gun long ago. I think from all the helpful comments the LNL is a good step up and will suit my needs for a while. Probably will sell the 50bmg press and pickup a Lee classic to match the LNL, and buy a ton of bushings for the LNL.

Ps: how does the powder meter in the LNL? Is it consistent enough to do full house loads or will I want to give myself a safety margin. A full grain variance of a fast pistol powder can be a bad deal. Or too little of H-110.

The Hornady powder dispenser is the rotary type like the RCBS. W296/H110 is a ball powder and meter very good with the pistol rotor installed. It's the stick/extruded and Large Flake powders that can give you fits.

As far as doing small quantity it is a good press for that provided your not dealing with a brass feeder or bullet feeder. For a quick run setup is less than 5 min with most of all that time getting the powder dispenser dialed in. The use of the micrometer heads makes fine adjustments a lot easier.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I'm happy with my LNL-AP also. I bought extra primer tubes and bushings and the Four shell plates that I load handgun for. I usually load 100 to 2k at a time and I couldn't be happier with it.
I load 9mm, .357 mag, 41mag and .327mag on it. It takes about 20 dumps to get the powder measure tuned in and if I have all my primer tubes full and my cases ready to go then it just runs.
I have no problem running 50 at a time or 2000 at a time. When I'm running 2000 I take a couple breaks through that. Once the dies are setup and locked in the bushings, you just lock them into the top of the press, and there is nothing more to do except set the powder measure.
Tuning in the powder measure takes the longest of any of the setup. My Hornady measure will usually hold + or -.1gr of variance, it's the most accurate measure I have of the three measures of the press mounted type.
I almost bought a second LNL-AP on the black Friday sale at Midsouth for $394.00 but I couldn't get it past the war dept after already spending $200.00 on other reloading items.
Dillons are fine machines also but I have never ran one so I can't say any comparisons there.
I took my Hornady in steps and bought a little for it every year until I had it the way I wanted it. The only thing I'm missing from it being a Ammo Plant is the bullet collator. Maybe someday but probably not. The case feeder for me was way more important than a bullet feeder is. For me, that would hold true for any brand of press I would buy. The bullet feeder is just cream on the cake after everything else is there.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have had my LnL around 10 years. It has loaded at least 100k rounds. I have had very little trouble. I did have a problem with it ejecting the loaded round at about 30k rounds. I believe the little nub that kicks the round off had worn. I called Hornady and told them my problem and theory. They sent me a new sub plate in 3 days and only asked that I return the old one so they could test its hardness.

 

[Dudedog]

I like my LNL and am quite happy with it.
If you are reloading pistol I would recommend getting the RCBS lockout die, handy to have IMO.
The lockout die does not work for rifle brass however.

http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/19/rcbs-lock-out-die-part-i-theory-of-operation/

If you are doing rifle as well a powder cop instead.
You have to watch the powder cop however the you don't need to watch the lockout die.
http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/10/15/reloading-safety-conclusion-and-summary/
http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/26/hornady-powder-cop-die-overview/

I would order a couple extra shell retaining springs when you order the press handy to have spares around.

Watch for sales, most of the time they come with 500 "free" bullets (you pay shipping.
ONe thing to think about is to take the most expensive bullets you would use, say .45 or .30 cal rifle, even if you are buying the press to load something else first.

 

[Jessesky]

I like my LNL and am quite happy with it.
If you are reloading pistol I would recommend getting the RCBS lockout die, handy to have IMO.
The lockout die does not work for rifle brass however.

http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/19/rcbs-lock-out-die-part-i-theory-of-operation/

If you are doing rifle as well a powder cop instead.
You have to watch the powder cop however the you don't need to watch the lockout die.
http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/10/15/reloading-safety-conclusion-and-summary/
http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/26/hornady-powder-cop-die-overview/

I would order a couple extra shell retaining springs when you order the press handy to have spares around.

Watch for sales, most of the time they come with 500 "free" bullets (you pay shipping.
ONe thing to think about is to take the most expensive bullets you would use, say .45 or .30 cal rifle, even if you are buying the press to load something else first.

Good point, if it doesn’t specify a max price, I don’t see why I cannot get Hornady .375 300gr bullets which are usually the most expensive I load for