Asking Santa for a progressive reloading press?

[Jessesky]

Christmas is around the corner, and I’m asking for a progressive press. I can not afford the $500+ presses. I have heavily be looking at the Hornady lock-n-load press. Any experiences with it? Is it good? Or the Hornady name on a piece of overpriced junk.

 

[Hunter86004]

In my house, I am Santa. If I asked Santa's wife, she'd just laugh and tell Santa to get whatever he would like.

 

[Blue68f100]

I've been using one for over a decade now. Like with any AP they must be adjusted correctly to run smoothly. I even prime on my press, never a problem feeding or seating. Early on there was some primers that were very hard to seat and took extra care to make sure they were seated properly. I added a brass feeder to mine 1 yr later. Now it is very touch to make it run smoothly. Hornady has upgraded there line and started using a heavier plastic bin and have fixes to make it run these days. My main use is 45acp, 9mm, and 223. Has well over 100k rounds through it.

 

[Jessesky]

In my house, I am Santa. If I asked Santa's wife, she'd just laugh and tell Santa to get whatever he would like.

Don’t tell me you don’t believe in Santa anymore?

 

[Hunter86004]

Don’t tell me you don’t believe in Santa anymore?

Not since I was married and started writing all the checks at Christmas.

 

[Hoopjj]

I had the lnl ap for about 2 years. Never had any issues with it. Never did have a case feeder for it but did buy the bullet feed dies and the bullet tubes for it. Ran good never any priming issues with it. Just make sure you take the time to set it up correctly. Watch 76highboy videos on you tube, great series on the lnl ap

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've been very happy with my Hornady LNL AP. What I really like is the adjustability and the half-position rotation.

If I needed more press, I'd move up to a Mark 7 Evolution

 

[George P]

The LNL is AWESOME and find a deal and you are GTG. You WILL need the base plate, and extra bushings if more than one cartridge is the goal

 

[Jessesky]

I had the lnl ap for about 2 years. Never had any issues with it. Never did have a case feeder for it but did buy the bullet feed dies and the bullet tubes for it. Ran good never any priming issues with it. Just make sure you take the time to set it up correctly. Watch 76highboy videos on you tube, great series on the lnl ap

I’m not so learned on the lock-n-load quick detach system. Will I need to buy adapters for my current RCBS dies? Or I can use them as is

 

[Demi-human]

I wasn't nearly good enough to ask for a progressive press this year.

The quick release bushings can be left in the press. Then dies can be threaded in and out like normal. They can be used with any brand die. Get a ten pack of bushings, then leave all the dies set for next time.

 

[LiveLife]

I can not afford the $500+ presses.

Over lifetime, you will spend tens of thousands of dollars on reloading components and cost of press will become moot. Life is short and you should buy whatever press (or presses) you want. So far, I have spent over $115,000 on various shooting and reloading related costs the past 27+ years of shooting way over 500,000+ rounds (just in pistol calibers). So for my lifetime, even the cost of several Dillon 1050s won't matter much.

I was trained to reload on Dillon 550 and Lee Pro 1000 and currently reload on Dillon 650 with case feeder, C-H/RCBS single stage, Lee Classic Turret, Several Pro 1000s dedicated to caliber, and recently Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro (along with C-H 3/4 station H type).

And guess which press is most often used?

Pro 1000.

For reloading high volume pistol cartridges, it's hard to beat Pro 1000. Walk up to a dedicated press for caliber, add primers/powder/brass and reload away. How many presses/measures can produce finished rounds with .001" OAL variance and meter with less than .05 gr for Sport Pistol? Not many and Pro 1000 is used to load essentially all the test rounds for my THR load development/range test threads (Rest are loaded on C-H single stage) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...progressive-press.833604/page-2#post-10779806

For Christmas, I am asking Santa (Me ) for new 2018 model Lee Pro 1000 with solid flat steel base, through-ram spent primer disposal, through shellplate pin index (Like Auto Breech Lock Pro), etc.

But having said all that, if you need to load both pistol and rifle calibers, many are happy with Hornady LNL AP, like Walkalong and 9mmepiphany (And they should know ).

Did I mention life was short and we are all going to die?

 

[9mmepiphany]

I’m not so learned on the lock-n-load quick detach system. Will I need to buy adapters for my current RCBS dies? Or I can use them as is

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

 

[9mmepiphany]

Over lifetime, you will spend tens of thousands of dollars on reloading components and cost of press will become moot.

This is one of the ultimate truths of reloading.

I learned to reload on presses belonging to friends...Dillon 550 and Lee Classic Turret...and loaded 100s of rounds before getting my own press. I now load on a Hornady LNL AP and a Lee Classic Cast single stage...what I'd like to have is a Mark7 Evolution and a Forster Co-Ax

If I was only reloading for handgun, I'd seriously consider the Lee Auto Breech Lock Pro...but I really prefer at least 5 die stations with a progressive

 

[George P]

I can not afford the $500+ presses

Turning this over towards shotguns, this is the parallel : People want a shotgun , especially an O/U for under $500 that will go tens of thousands of rounds. When told to not do that they don't get it.
In over 35 years, I have shot about 500K shotgun rounds, with about 375K in my 12 gauges, 300K in one O/U. I spent $1K in 1994 on the gun, spent another $100 on new springs and pins.
300K at >50 for target and ammo, means $150K through a $1K investment. Look at your press in the same vein and you will realize the gun/press/other hardware is the cheapest part of this hobby.

 

[egd]

I have the LNL ap and I love it.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I like my Lock N Load AP. The key is to take your time setting it up and dialing everything in. So long as you don’t rush through the set up, you should be fine. I like how you can find the LNL on sale for under $400 shipped and then Hornady gives a 500 bullet rebate (essentially ~$100 in bullets). I think it’s probbly the best dollar to performance progressive press out there.

I see lots of people complaining about their Lee progressives. The RCBS progressives aren’t super popular and are rather expensive; they tend to get like warm reviews. The Dillons are the top of the line with respect to progressives, but are pricey and Dillon parts/accessories are not as widely available as those from Hornady, Lee, RCBS, etc.

Every press, especially progressives, have their pros and cons. It’s mostly a matter of researching and seeing what pros/cons suit your situation. If you want the Hornady AP and take your time setting it up, I think you’ll be perfectly content.

 

[Huskerguy]

I too have the LNL and have been pleased with it. I don't know what changes have been made since I purchased mine several years ago. The first thing I did was polish the primer moving parts and just spent some time understanding what all is going on each time you pull the handle down. I went with the universal expanding die which doesn't create nearly as wide of a bell but I only have to buy one and it works fine. Keep the shell plate tight and any debris getting into the priming system can cause a problem. I keep a soft bristle brush by my press and keep it brushed off. I would also suggest a good light kit - In Line Fabrication has them on sale during the Holidays and they are a good value. I load, 38, 357, 9, 40, 45 and 223 if that helps. I have a friend who has a Square Deal and a 650 and I have loaded with him on occasion and they are not immune to primer spills, primer misses and other issues as well.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have a friend who has a Square Deal and a 650 and I have loaded with him on occasion and they are not immune to primer spills, primer misses and other issues as well.

There are no progressive presses which don't have issues. What I like about the LNL is that it is easily adjustable.

When you get your press, be sure to adjust the alignment of the shell plate on both the upstroke and the downstroke. It is awkward to see under the dies to insure that the cases are centered when entering the mouths, but the effort is well worth it in the operational smoothness of the press

 

[George P]

The weakest area in performance with progressives, both metallic and shotshell always seem to be the primer area; and it doesn't seem to matter how expensive or cheap, they ALL tend to have OOPS in that spot the most of any other aspect of the machine so ALWAYS pay attention to make sure the primer drops and drops correctly.

 

[ATLDave]

Just throwing this out there: Don't assume you have to buy new. I bought my Dillon 650 used. It had some bent parts and one or two things missing. Dillon sent me replacements for free, even though I told them I was the 3rd owner. It runs like a new one, but it didn't cost me like a new one. Note, this is not a ding on other progressive presses (I have no opinion on them), just pointing out that there may be another option out there in or close to your price range.

 

[alfsauve]

100k+ on my LnL AP and am happy. If I were to only load one caliber, setup and forget, I'd probably do Dillon, but for multiple calibers, multi tasks, the LnL has been well worth it. When I first got it I was going to keep both my Lee Turret and my Herter's C presses, but they are long gone. With the LnL system you can do special setups and special runs very easily.

 

[jmorris]

I wouldn’t call the LNL AP junk at all but if it’s Santa’s money, I’d pick something else.

 

[Bang!]

Do you reload, now? Much experience? How much do you reload? Calibers you want to reload for? What do you think your future reloading needs will be? Mechanically inclined? Needs as well as budget will help narrow down the answers. 50 rounds of pistol a month would be a single stage. 200 rounds of four different calibers would be a LCT press. 2000 rounds a month for pistol competition would be a Dillon XL650.

 

[edwardware]

I like my LnL AP. I've found that their bullet feed dies in .45 and 9mm can be made to feed cast bullets in .357/.358 and .452 pretty well, despite warnings to the contrary. I'm happy with it.

You need a solid mount; I use a .375 steel plate on the bench.

I WISH Hornady would sell the case feeder without the collator. . .

 

[cheygriz]

I only have experience on Dillons, so I can't opine on other brands.

However, regardless of brand, there are certain features to look for. Make sure that somewhere down the road you can add a case feeder and bullet feeder. You can get by quite well without them in the beginning, but you will want them down the road.