Help with Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press

[Amanda357mag]

I just bought a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Prgressive Press and my measures are soo inconsistant. My last loader was a LEE single stage press and i would check every 10-20 charges, and for the most part, they were good. I shoot competition PPC, so I shoot a 38 special but only use about 3.1- 3.2 grains of powder per charge. With the Hornady, I'll set it at 3.1 and it will stay the same for about 3 charges, then go to 3.2. It was stay at 3.2 for a few charges then jump to 3.5! Can someone please tell me why it is doing this and what I can do to fix it. My dad has a Dillon 550 and loves it. He hasn't had to change his charge since he set it. I can't even get mine set. HELP!!

 

[1911user]

First, are you using the stock powder measure insert? It's really made for rifle size powder charges. The pistol-sized powder drum and insert are an optional $25. Second, you should cycle the powder measure 10 times after adjustments (or periods of non-use) to let the powder settle normally. The LNL-AP does not have a powder baffle which doesn't help charge consistency. I use a baffle made for the rcbs uniflow and it drops in just fine. I added the baffle mainly for consistency in rifle loading. My goal for pistol shooting is reasonable accuracy at high speeds. PPC probably has different priorities.

PS: I'll be the counterpoint to Idano and state that powder drop consistency is fine with the LNL-AP.

 

[Steve C]

You definitely need the pistol drum and insert for small charges. The rifle insert would be fin for 10grs and more of slow pownder Like mag loads of 2400, H110 or very bulky powder like IMR Trail Boss.

I load both Unique and W231 in the .45 acp with my Hornady LNL using the pistol insert. It is very accurate with the W231 ball powder, charge to charge variation doesn't even exist but I'll sometimes get .1 gr changes over time with Unique.

 

[Idano]

Good luck. I never could get mine to be consistent even on rifle loads with 23 grains of 2200. I ended up installing my RCBS Uniflow with the RCBS Case Activated Linkage I had used with my Lee Load Master.

 

[Empyrean]

I just purchased the LNL AP as well. I plan to reload 3 pistol calibers and bought three sets of the pistol rotor with standard insert for around $30 bucks each. This seems to be a common complaint because they didn't sell the standard metering inserts for the pistol rotor. Well, after speaking with Hornady the last few days I found out that they do sell just the standard pistol metering insert for $10.95. The part number is 050116. So, make sure to only buy one pistol rotor set and then just the metering inserts for additional calibers. You'll save some money that way. I'm going to return my two other pistol rotors as a result.

I hope you get the powder metering issue worked out as I have a brand-new press sitting here waiting to be used once some expanders come in!

 

[hairtrigger]

I made a powder baffle out of stiff plastic for mine. Along with the pistol insert it works just fine.

 

[Shoney]

Have you cleaned your powder measure??? Have you read that in your manual or here:
http://www.hornady.com/media/LNL_AP_Powder_Measure_Feeder.pdf
where it tells you to disassemble and clean a new measure because it has a rust preventative that will prevent proper operation?????

After I cleaned mine, it has been very accurate with ball powder. Even with flake powder like AA7, it still throws with less than 0.1 plus or minus variance.