Hornady Lock-n-load AP

[roadappletx]

I fixed my reloading problem today. I mounted a brand new Dillon RL550b on my bench. It did not take near the time the Hornady did to set up. After I adjusted my dies where I needed them, I filled the powder measure with W231, and adjusted my powder load where I wanted it. It threw 20 straight throws of the exact amount of powder I wanted. I started loading .45ACP, and before I knew it, I had used up a box of 230 grain FMJ (100 count). While I was loading, I kept checking for high primers and did not find any. I also checked the powder charge about every ten rounds. It was right on the money. I have reloaded more in the first evening that I received the 550, than I have for the last 4 months on the Lock-N-Load. I'll still try to find a way to make the l-n-l work. I might just use it for brass prep. It does everything well, except priming.

 

[zxcvbob]

I thought I was the only one who thinks the LNL-AP press sucks. Especially the priming station -- I feel like I'm going to break the handle off just to get a primer seated flush, not a few thousandths below flush where it belongs. Also I finally took the ejector wire off and remove the finished ctgs by hand. (I have an older one without the EZ-ject thing.) It's still faster than using a single-stage press, but not much faster.

 

[High Altitude]

roadappletx,

Congrats on the new press.

How do you like the manual indexing of the 550b compared to autoindexing?

 

[Waldog]

I don't get it! I have the LNL. I polished the primer slide and ramp, PROPERLY ADJUSTED the primer slide actuation rod, polished the end of primer drop tube and loosened the shroud tube 1/2 to 3/4 of turn. My primer assembly runs like a ROLEX. I have load 35,000+ 9mm, 357 Mag, 40 S&W, 45acp, 44MAG. I have used the following primers; Win, Rem, Fed and Wolf. I don't have problems.

 

[joed]

Why do I keep seeing the LnL with priming problems? I have 2 friends that won't even prime on the press. If it were me I would sell it, I buy a progressive to automate.

Good luck.

 

[bofe954]

How do you like the manual indexing of the 550b compared to autoindexing?

I am not the poster, but I use a 550. The manual indexing is no big deal. To me unless you get a case or bullet feeder you don't give up much. You need to add a bullet and case every stroke anyway. It's pretty easy to just index after you grab a bullet. It's also easy to deal with if something goes wrong. If I haven't used the press in a while I'll check my powder throw a few times, etc.

I am not saying I wouldn't like a 650 with a case feeder and a bullet feeder...

 

[marcus40]

My brother and I purchased the Hornady LNL AP press at Christmas time, I set the press up, and all was going well with the small pistol primers, I loaded about 200 38 cal loads, I did have to remember to push the handle back fairly hard but it worked. Then I started with the 243 Winchester ammo which uses the large rifle primer. The first one I did, I worked the handle back like I did with the 38cal pistol case and the primer hung far enough out of the case that it wouldn't continue around until I pushed it harder and the primer came out and got under the shellplate and sheered the key off of the Drum head, they had to send me a new Drum head. I have a hand RCBS primer tool and the six cartridges that I was able to load, I had to finish seating the primer into the case with the hand primer. It was interesting reading that all of you have run across the same thing, for me it was just the large primers.
Does the Dillon press allow you to use Hornady or RCBS dies with their progressive press? I know they make a 550b and I hear they have a 650 model also.
I guess I will play with the Hornady, since we did pay $399 for it. I have been reloading since 1976 and before this progressive press, I have always used a single stage press, the regular RCBS and then I moved onto the Rock Chucker. After using a progressive press, I don't want to go back to the single stage presses with all the loading trays where I would batch process the loading process.
I hope that I can get the Hornady working, I didn't get the case feeder, I figured since I had to insert a bullet that I may as well have insert the case. For the 38cal, once I got the powder thrower set right, I loaded shells really fast, in about 1/4 the time of using a single stage press. After stopping with the 6 243cal shells, I haven't had time to get back to it, I did put the drum head in.
Anyway, at least I know that I am not doing something wrong.
Thanks,
Marcus

 

[joed]

The Dillon uses regular dies, the SD is the exception which is why I won't buy one. I've been very happy with the Dillon performance. But if an opportunity came up to grab a Hornady I don't think I'd hesitate. Heck, I'd even like to get my hands on an RCBS progressive.

The only priming problems I've ever had with my Dillons were when it wasn't mounted to sturdy. I kept getting primers seating upside down, took a little while to figure out why. Other then that no problems to speak of.

I keep hearing LnL owners complain about priming and I'm somewhat bothered by that. I don't think the Hornady is a bad press but I keep hearing the same complaints from everyone. Two friends own them and they won't even prime on the press. If it were me I'd figure out what's going on and fix it. Just seems counter productive to have a progressive and off load some of the work like priming.

Never seems like an easy fix either. I've heard from a few people that ended up sending the press back to Hornady because of the priming problems. One got his press back and it still wouldn't prime correctly.

 

[marcus40]

Joed, when you say regular dies are you indicating that my Hornady and RCBS dies will work in the Dillon press? Also what do you mean by "SD", is this some form of the Dillon presses?
Thanks in advance,
Marcus

 

[zxcvbob]

"SD" is Dillon's "Square Deal" (or "Square Deal B" or "SDB") press. It is smaller and cheaper than a 550, requires its own special dies that only come in a dozen or so pistol calibers, and it auto-advances like a 650. That's all I know about it.

 

[roadappletx]

I like the manual indexing. It works, and it does not slow you down. The 550 is so much easier to set-up, and it is easier to seat primers. I loaded over 100 .45 ACP, shortly after I configured the press. That said, I spoke to a Hornady Tech Rep. today and we went over the most common causes of primers seating high. We finally found that the retaining spring had a couple of small kinks in it. I did not think that it would be the cause of the primer issue, but it was. I placed a new retainer spring on the shellplate, and it started seating primers flush. I hope this helps someone else.
Thanks for all the help.


Jim

 

[dannyd]

Is the Lock-n-load AP that hard to use

On April 13 loaded my 79,507 round on the LNL AP. It has worked fine for 5416 rounds easy to use and changing dies is fast. Love to load 357 mag and cast 9 different bullets, so I have a lot of seater dies. I can leave the expander, re-sizer and crimp die in all the time. Just change powder measures and seater and away we go. The AP is a good press. I have owned Lee, RCBS, and the water walker Dillon (both 550 and SDB about 60,000 on them). I would tell anyone to look at an AP. Dillon's are very good presses, But they have their short comings to.

 

[Seedtick]

I musta dozed off...

Originally post by dannyd: On April 13 loaded my 79,507 round on the LNL AP. It has worked fine for 5416 rounds easy to use and changing dies is fast....

Am I missing something?

Did you struggle through the other 74091 rounds you loaded on your LNL AP?

Did it take you 74091 rounds to finally get all of the bugs worked out?



I'm either confused or you are the most patient and persistent person I've ever heard tell of.

Seedtick

 

[showmebob]

I've been following this thread with interest. My bro-in-law has a Dillon 550 with priming problems. And yes, I've loaded on it and watched him load as well.
I've got the LNL AP and have very few problems with priming (I"m over 11,000 rounds now). A few things I've found : pawl timing as was mentioned, run a patch through the primer tube every so often to clean it, make sure the fiberglass primer follower (if you use it) is square on the end next to the primers, and usually when I get a slightly high primer (about 1% of 357 mag cases, mixed head stamp)it is caused by the primer hole being off centered in the case. Rotate the case 1/2 turn and the primer seats easy.
As far as the auto indexing is concerned I love it and feel it greatly improves loading effecientcy. The way I load I don't think a case or bullet feeder would increase speed one bit.
I realize there are lemons in every brand but I'm very happy with my press and wouldn't trade for any other brand.

 

[dannyd]

Lnl ap

Got the AP in January before that used a 550 and SDB. The AP a good press if people can't use it there is always a singe stage Lee.

 

[Knucklehead2]

Anyone with this problem of priming on a LNL wants to send the press to me I will fix it for free but you have to pay shipping both ways. Just PM me.
Background of 45 years machinist/toolmaker and CNC programming and setup, 30 of which have been installing repairing and training on CNC equipment. Limited to High Road people of course.

 

[Sommerled]

wow. just discovered this thread. Have three LnL AP's and have little priming issues at all as long as things are set up properly, clean, and dry lubed. My first LNL ap press, bought in 2001, had a small issue with the knurled nut that retains the primer plunger assembly loosening but was cured with a drop of loctite. I do, however, hand prime rifle match ammo because I can inspect each one easily.

A friend of mine had issues with priming on his LNL AP that I cured for him by cleaning and dry lubing it after I ground the primer plunger end square (the end that doesn't touch the primer). I also epoxied a thin steel shim on the press frame and made sure it made full contact with the end of the primer plunger. (i.e. square)

Perhaps many of the problems that some of the posters on this thread are caused by a primer that is introduced to the primer pocket off-axis and thus hangs up or isn't inserted fully.

 

[marcus40]

After reading the post after mine and seeing others have great sucess, I am very anxious to get back to mine. Great ideas from several of you.
Thanks,
Marcus

 

[Knucklehead2]

Yes Sommerled that is the problem. See post #11. Once I saw the case tilting when I tried to prime I realized all the pushing on the handle would not seat a primer. If the instructions had us check the timing first most of these high priming issues would not exist. When the primer punch makes the little hole in the casting in the wrong position that is where the problem lies.

Anyone with primer problems can easily check to see if the case is tilting, when it does no amount of pressure will seat the primer. The punch needs to push straight up on the primer.
It is easily fixed as you figured out.

 

[OldRook]

Fords and Chevy's

both of them have good and bad points, comes down to the color of paint you like

I've owned them both and there is no way a 550 compares to a LNL AP

apples and oranges... Like both units by the way..

 

[Whiskey11]

I'll jump in, my experience is limited to all of one hour on the LNL AP and 101 rounds of .45 ACP as I just bought the thing today. I labored over which progressive to get and I don't have any regrets. Walked out of Cabelas with one sans case feeder for 470$ with 101 remington cases and 1lb of Hodgdon HP-38, went back and spent 32$ on a #1 shell plate and set it up.

Took very little time to set up. Cleaned out the powder measure and degreased it per instructions. I left all of the rest of the factory grease on the remaining parts. I had to adjust one of the timing paws to get it to time correctly. I loaded 101 pieces of .45 ACP using Lee dies and the Hornady powder measure and their primer system. Used CCI 300 LP primers and didn't have one issue priming. A little rough, but not any rougher than priming on my Lee Anniversary press. It went through all 101 cases without issue. All of my primers are below flush and straight on, no case damage, and consistent powder throws.

Well worth the cost for me. Now, granted, like I said, this is only 101 rounds, it's probably not even broken in, but it's working like a champ. I almost wish I had the case feeder too. Next time my budget allows I guess!

 

[clutch]

On what stroke does the AP prime?

I've been looking at the Hornady L-n-L as a replacement for my Lee Loadmaster that I have given up trying to prime on.

The Lee primes on the upstroke and that affects travel of the ram and seating depth of loaded rounds.

How does the AP do it and while I'm at it the Dillon offerings?

Thanks,
Clutch

 

[Whiskey11]

It does it on the down stroke. Let me get a video of it.

See Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80V9IH7myJ0

 

[thump_rrr]

I'll jump in, my experience is limited to all of one hour on the LNL AP and 101 rounds of .45 ACP as I just bought the thing today. I labored over which progressive to get and I don't have any regrets. Walked out of Cabelas with one sans case feeder for 470$ with 101 remington cases and 1lb of Hodgdon HP-38, went back and spent 32$ on a #1 shell plate and set it up.

They should have sold you the #45 shellplate.

 

[Whiskey11]

They didn't have one, so I grabbed the #1 because it was known to work OK for .45. I don't have the case feeder to cause problems with it. Turns out it works fine when loading cases individually by hand. I'll pick up a #45 when I get the case feeder!