Help with a Hornady Lock N Load AP

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Txtriple

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Howdy folks...just found this forum last week and have been lurking 'till now.

Seems to be a bunch of knowledgeable, level headed individuals here.

Anyways, I'm looking at trading hobbies and getting into shooting/handloading.

Was wondering if anyone could tell me the verticle stroke of the Lock N Load AP. Also, what keeps the ram indexed to the frame itself?

Thanks in advance.
 
If you have never reloaded before the best advice I can give you is get a reloading book read it from front to back before ever pulling a lever and get an inexpensive single stage press to start off with and learn each step very well. A progressive press can be overwhelming to an experienced reloader, much less a newby.
 
The ram itself moves about 4 1/2", the handle about 23". There are pins that index the ram to the frame, and they are adjustable. They need to be adjusted frequently when the press is new, but very seldom after the press is broke in.
 
Parasite's right. There are several good instuctional books on reloading. "The ABC's of Reloading" is probably the best. Hornady and RCBS have a DVD that shows the basics also. It doesn't take much of a mistake to damage, or blow up a gun....and yourself at the same time.
 
what they said^
I love my lock'n load ap, but I was quite over whelmed with just learning the process of how the progressive worked, can't imagine doing that and learning how to reload at the same time. I started with an old lyman turret press(used it like a single stage), then later bought a single stage just for the heck of it. Take it slow and easy to start, pay attention to details. Progressive presses don't promote those values very well. I sincerely wish I had bought some of those books as I was directed by others before I began. I am hard headed and learned everything the hard way before I picked up a book a couple months later. Fortunately I had a healthy respect for following load data and being careful with primers. good luck!

PS good to see you are familiarizing your self with equipment before diving right in and investing all that money(wish I had learned more about the different equipment out there first too). smart move.
 
The OP asked a specific question regarding the mechanics of the AP which dawico answered.
Click to expand...

if he doesn't want our advice, he doesn't have to take it. I am sure he'll let us know either way.
 
if he doesn't want our advice, he doesn't have to take it. I am sure he'll let us know either way.
Click to expand...


Can't argue with this.

My point is that all but one post was off topic.

Regards,
Richard
 
The responses were not off topic AT ALL. The OP said we wanted to get in to shooting/handloading then asked a question about a progressive press.
From experience, we don't think a progressive press is the way to go for a new reloader.;)
 
Yes, from YOUR experience. It is good to learn from others. It is also good to remember everyone's experience may differ. Talent + Training = Skill. There is more than one component and we are not all the same.
 
Awww....see? I feel like family already. Thanks for the info, AND the advice. Actually, I'm about halfway through the Complete Reloader's Guide by Stoeger Publishing. That's where I started looking at the benefits of a progressive press.

The funding for this endeavor is gonna be all or nothing, so I'll probably get a single and a progressive...get my feet wet with the single, then set it aside for fine tuned stuff and do bulk with the AP.

I think my OCD combined with a little knowledge will keep me from making any really stupid mistakes...


> my dad..."A LITTLE knowledge can be a dangerous thing!"

Again...thanks.
 
I just started reloading a few weeks ago. I went ahead and bought both the Hornady LnL as well as the classic single stage. It's true that the progressive is more mind boggling but if you take your time, check and double check yourself, there's no reason why you couldn't start with the progressive. I would recommend only putting one case through the progressive at a time at first to learn the rhythm and quirks. Once you're comfortable and have all your depths and powder charge correct, then you can start cranking them out.
I know this goes without saying, but especially for people using progressives I would make sure there are no distractions or interruptions while you're loading.
 
I concur. There's no reason you can't start with a progressive. I did. A progressive press can be easily used as a single stage. Just install 1 die starting out.
 
if you really want a progressive, but are new to reloading either get a 550B or 650 from dillon (you will thank me later for this when hornady discontinues the L-N-L AP and doesn't honor their warranty for it, like what happened to their previous progressive presses). The 550 is not self indexing and is really easy to use like a turret style press... the 650, you can deactivate the indexing feature.... If you are reloading for accuracy you will want a single stage press like a rock chucker or even better a forester coax (makes die changes instantaneous).
 
I don't know if this will help you or not, but . . .
i started out on a cheapo lyman single stage. It took me about 250 rounds to get comfortable with the whole process. Even now though, there nuances that i have trouble with.
Once these 250 were under my belt, the transition to my LNL AP wasnt difficult.
Like you i have a bit of OCD, and maybe overly so. Read, re-read, and read some more.
and don't hesitate to ask people here. there are some very knowledgeable and might i add KEY people who make this forum a success and make the transfer of knowledge much easier.
-RAD
 
Started with lnl AP and bought a single stage later for rifle ammo. Attention to detail and study beforehand makes it very doable for anyone with average mechanical skill. It is not really very complicated at all. There seems to be a tendency to make reloading or even gunsmithing "mysterious", which amounts to self aggrandizement. Remember these skills are honed fastest when there is intense interest! I have observed that most gunsmiths, even top-notch ones, have less formal training than a nurses' aid at the local old folks home.
 
I have also started reloading pistol cartridges on a LNL (first time reloading). Did alot of reading before purchasing the press. I started by using all five stations (the forth being an RCBS powder check lock out die) but only cycling one case at a time, carefully watching and paying attention to each stage. Once that one case was complete and dropped into the receiving tray, I would add the next case in station 1 and again carefully watch and pay close attention to each stage in the cycle. I would check each cartridge for overall length and test it in a pistol barrel to confirm consistency. As I became more comfortable, I began reloading progressively (five cases in the press cycling at the same time) but moved VERY slowly.
I humbly respect when others suggest a single stage to start with and I completely understand, but I wanted a press I could "grow into" as well. I chose to start with a progressive press but was/am more than willing to take my time learning to utilize it. I am also very willing to listen to suggestions/advice from more experienced reloaders.

In my opinion (take it with a grain of salt as I am a new reloader) the RCBS powder check lock out die is well worth the expense.....It seems to work like a charm and provides and added level of safety when loading on a progressive press.

I don't currently shoot much rifle (not enough to warrant reloading), but when I do, I can see myself buying a single stage for those cartridges.

Be safe and shoot often!
 
While I began loading on a single stage press back in the 70s, I now use the LNL AP press for pistol reloading. As mentioned above, this press can easily be used as a single stage while learning and as your confidence and ability grows, you have a great progressive press to work on. For the money, this is an excellent press that produces excellent ammunition.
 
Depending on what you mean by "indexed to the frame", the LNL AP shell plate has ball detent devices that align it with the corresponding holes for each of the 10 positions on the sub-plate (5 while at the top of the stroke, and 5 while at the bottom of the stroke). There are adjustable pawls or fingers on the toggle at the bottom of the ram that engage a star wheel which rotates the shell plate from one ball-detent to the next. The sub-plate is aligned to the press frame (and therefore dies) by the toggle and linkage arms at the bottom of the ram.

Hornady has their instructions for the LNL AP on their website, and it includes an exploded parts drawing:

http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/manuals-current/metalic-reloading/LNL_AP.pdf

To elaborate on Universal Frost's comments regarding Hornady's support for out-of-production progressive presses, Hornady publishes the parts drawings/lists for the previous two progressive presses (Pro-7, and ProJector, out of production for 15 years) on their website for free download. Dillon does not put any manuals or parts diagrams for any out-of-production presses on their website, even for the AT-500 which was discontinued less than 10 years ago. Neither Dillon nor Hornady maintain replacements for all parts on out-of-production presses.

Andy
 
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