Howdy,
I'm a long term LnL owner and I've answered your questions in context below
Does anyone have any experience with the Hornady Lock-N-Load Progressive Press?
Had one for 7-10 years now, can't remember when I bought it, it's been so long ago.
I am looking into one, but have some questions. Here they are:
What kind of dies do I need?
Depends on what you're reloading for. If you're reloading rifle, the Lee dies (RGB) will work fine or the Deluxe dies will work fine. I suggest you read up a bit more on what each of those definitions from Lee means so you can select what you want. Get yourself a copy of ABC's of reloading and Metallic Cartridge Reloading, then read them as well before you buy any equipment. Will save you a lot of money long term. See the sticky for new reloaders above for other things you may want to consider.
-Will Lee RGB dies work (For rifle, sure)or do I need Lee Pacesetter dies (I'd buy the Deluxe die sets before the Pacesetts dies unless Lee doesn't offer them in Deluxe sets.)or do I need some completely different kind of dies?
For pistol the Hornady dies work well, don't cost a lot more than the Lee and don't interfere with the ejection wire. That said, you can grind a little off the crimp die (the one that interfers with the ejector wire) on the ejector wire side of the die or you can remove the ejector wire. I grind a little off the Lee dies I use, as I like you, like their price.
I ask because these are much less expensive than just about all the others.
Yes, they are and they work as well as any. I use mostly Lee dies to reload now. Though I also mix and match dies from various companies to get the best features from all companies. You may want to consider that later on.
Are the shell plates included with the press or do I need to buy a shell holder for each caliber I plan to reload?Several calibers overlap, but generally, you'll need to buy one for each caliber. I suggest before you run out and buy multiple shellplates, just get one for the caliber you shoot the most and learn to reload, then go back and get more as you need them. They're not that expensive, relatively speaking. But you need to realize using a higher end (quality and pricewise) progressive is somewhat expensive, regardless of brand.
Do I need a powder scale?
You absolutely do. It's a major safety factor. I recommend any of the scales that sell for around 50-75 dollars. Dillon, Hornady, RCBS or Lyman
Do I need a powder trickler?
Not for progressive reloading, but if you're going to want to reload single stage and have carefully controlled weighted charges, you'll need one. I have one, but I also have a single stage (very useful item, I recommend Lee's Classic Cast single stage
Do I need a case length gage?
You don't need one, but it's an item that makes setting up your bullet seating and case length much, much easier. I recommend a set that can be used with a caliper, such as the Hornady/Stoney Point set. Covers several calibers and is a quality tool.
Hope this helps,
Dave
