I Ordered the Hornady LnL AP

[morrow]

You LNL lovers can have this thread all to yourself. I deleted my comments, I'm sorry to have told the truth, um, er I mean to have ruffled feathers.

Come one, come all, join the LNL admiration society.

The blind LNL lovers don't like to be given constructive criticism. All they know is their press is the best and that's that. You can't educate or reason with them. Just roll your eyes and move along.
In a few years when Hornady releases a new progressive to replace the current LNL AP and ALL SUPPORT for the current one gets abandoned thennnn they might learn!

 

[dbarnhart]

I suspect my Rock Chucker will still get occasional use. Now and then I find myself with a batch of bullets to pull, for example. And if I decide to get the Dillon 1200 for trimming cases then it will be good for that as well.

 

[dbarnhart]

>>The blind LNL lovers don't like to be given constructive criticism. All they know is their press is the best and that's that. You can't educate or reason with them. Just roll your eyes and move along.<<

Yes, you are absolutely right. When LnL comes up in any thread, instead of chiming in with "You are stoopid you should have bought a Dillon instead of that junk" just bypass the thread altogether. We'll both be much happier.

 

[HK SD9 Tactical]

Amen.

 

[morrow]

instead of chiming in with "You are stoopid you should have bought a Dillon instead of that junk" just bypass the thread altogether. We'll both be much happier.

I didn't say anything remotely close to that, next time read better.

 

[MCMXI]

I didn't say anything remotely close to that, next time read better.

"The blind LNL lovers"

"don't like to be given constructive criticism"

"You can't educate or reason with them"

"thennnn they might learn!"

 

[Walkalong]

For the life of me I do not understand why we cannot talk about presses without feelings getting hurt and people getting pissy.

First in the Lee thread and now in an LNL thread. Simply amazing.

I like X, Y & Z, you like A, B, & C, and we both like H & I. Ok, that's fine. We state what we like about something and what we dislike about something and why, and folks looking for information can take it as they may. We already have our opinions, but many folks are looking for good info for possible future purchases.

*sigh*

 

[morrow]

"The blind LNL lovers"

"don't like to be given constructive criticism"

"You can't educate or reason with them"

"thennnn they might learn!"

All of those things were said after the attacking and insulting began.
Looks like you need to learn to read too!

 

[Canuck-IL]

L'n'L lovers ...

Blue Kool-Aid ...

grow up people - or resist the urge to post.

/Bryan

 

[dbarnhart]

Don't be too hard on people, Walkalong. I noticed that several posters have gone back and edited their earlier posts in this thread. I have great respect for a man who will do that.

Let's be clear: I think Dillon makes fine equipment. I also think that Hornady, RCBS, and the other major manufacturers do likewise. I spent a lot of time studying the features and pros and cons of their products. I even went to the Dillon factory store and spent some time with a 550B.

In the end, the Hornady LnL AP simply was a closer fit for my requirements than any of the others.

 

[Walkalong]

They all make an excellent product. I like the ergonomics of the LNL, meaning what I am doing with my hands and where. I could live with a 650 with a case feeder, but only with a case feeder. I could live with an RCBS 2000, but it wasn't around when I bought my Projector so many years ago (650 either for that matter). I certainly considered the RCBS when I decided to replace the Projector, but that would mean the expense of all new shell plates as well. I still considered it seriously. I considered the Loadmaster as well. I thought the RCBS piggy back press was an overcomplicated mess, but there are many happy Piggyback users.

 

[MCMXI]

I don't care what tools others use but I do value intelligent feedback on a product from someone who can tell the wood from the trees. An owner who has A and B and says that B is better (and provides reasons for that opinion) carries more weight than someone who only has A and thinks that A is the best thing since sliced bread.

I thought the RCBS piggy back press was an overcomplicated mess, but there are many happy Piggyback users.

My PBII is brilliant with the modified Redding powder measures, and if changing from one cartridge to another was easier and less tedious, I wouldn't be looking to upgrade. I'd probably be scouring the classifieds looking for a used PBII. The case feeder of the 650 or L-N-L is appealing though so maybe I would upgrade eventually. At the end of the day, any progressive press that produces quality ammunition, works reliably and has longevity is a pleasure to own. If the press also works well with what I have, and has a higher convenience factor based on how I reload then it's going to be the one I choose. So far the L-N-L is out in front for a number of reasons.

 

[jef2015]

Very informative thread for the ones contemplating reloading. During my research I was looking at all brands of presses. Some of you pro-dillon guys should contact your holy press makers, they would probably pay you not to post because I know who I won't be associated with..FWIW

 

[MCMXI]

I've been pricing the cost to change to a different cartridge on the 650, and as far as I can tell, the caliber conversion kit and quick change kit costs about $180 and that's still without a micrometer on the powder measure. Add another $80 for a quick change priming kit. The cost to change to a different cartridge on the L-N-L is less than $75 (five bushings, shellplate and powder die). It'd cost me almost $1,100 to set up for six additional cartridges for the 650 vs. $450 for the L-N-L. Not to mention that I use two powders and four different loads for .45 ACP, easily handled by a powder measure with a micrometer measuring chamber. Am I missing something here?

 

[Canuck-IL]

...easily handled by a powder measure with a micrometer measuring chamber. Am I missing something here?

That sounds about right ... hint - don't bother trying to read the micrometer markings for each setting - use a caliper to measure the gap for thimble to body - more precise and much easier on the eyes.

In my case, for shells I don't reload that often, I didn't buy a bushing for every die. Once the lock ring is set, it's no big deal to spin off the bushing and use it elsewhere then remount it when needed. The lock ring (cheaper than bushings) holds the setting.
/B

 

[dbarnhart]

>>The cost to change to a different cartridge on the L-N-L<<

I think you have it right. You could go the route of a separate metering insert ($11 each) for each load instead of the the Micrometer Metering insert. I'll be reloading for 3-4 calibers and so for $22 I could have a metering insert pre-set for each.

 

[Blue68f100]

You came up with the same decision I did over 3yrs go when I bought my LNL-AP. The 1000 free bullets made the press cost about $150 when it was done and over. I bought mine just before things went nuts. I have nothing against Dillon, and think a loat of MFG make quality presses.

Enjoy your press. Mine has produced over 15k rounds to date and still going.

ps. If you ever decide to add the brass feeder, you will ask your self " Why did I wait so long." .The only negative is that are very touchy when it comes to getting them feeding 100%. But one you figure that out, it's smooth sailing....

 

[REL1203]

I have 1 powder die insert for each caliber I have a PTX for (4) and then 1 for all rifle loads

 

[dbarnhart]

Thanks. One of the things that weighed heavily in the LnL's favor was the availability of both the case feeder and bullet feeder, yet the press is equally as friendly without them for lower volume operation. I can easily see the case feeder in my future. I don't know that I'll ever have the volume to warrant the bullet feeder but it's nice to know it's available just in case.

And it's only 500 bullets now but that still brings the cost of the press down to about $250.

 

[HK SD9 Tactical]

I've had my LnL AP for just shy of two weeks now. And I know myself and the way I setup my equipment and load, that I will have to have a setup for each and every handgun cartridge I load. Plus another setup for rifle cases. I have the bullet feeder and also the case feeder. With the shell plates, the quick change bushings, PTXs that come with the bullet feed dies, case feeder plates, bushings, spare case activated powder dispenser, RCBS lock out die, spare springs, taper dies, etc, etc.... and for what I was buying and the price difference, the LnL AP fit the bill. Plus there was building a bench, lighting, storage, supplies, brass, bullets and other items that I had to get as well.

I did a lot of research and comparision shopping just like I do with all my other high end purchases. Mercedez or Porsche or Audi or Chevrolet or Pontiac or Dodge or Ford (and not in that order), I've owned all and they have all fulfilled my needs in their time and the LnL AP it is what will fill my need at this time for the price I was willing to pay.

And I got 600 free HP/XTP bullets because I have the 2nd powder feeder. I did not want to keep changing out the pistol drum for the rifle drum.

 

[germ]

...
I already have my can of Hornady OneShot Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube sitting here awaiting the arrival of the press.

I'd recommend getting another can or two. You'll need it for cleaning new dies and such. The stuff seems to work well, but the cans empty rather quickly. And they sure don't give it away!

BTW, I found a little powdered graphite on the primer shuttle does wonders (after deburring).

Sorry, I haven't read through the whole thread yet so maybe someone has already mentioned this. Maybe they changed it since I viewed the Hornady video, but they alluded to alignment of the primer tube and shuttle but then skipped explaining it. Even the manual doesn't (didn't) mention it. Since this part comes pre-assembled, you wouldn't know what to do until you took it apart (or someone pointed it out). The black plastic bracket (#8 in the manual exploded view) secures the top of the primer cam feeder (#18). That bracket is slotted to allow for this adjustment. If you remove the primer housing tube (#6), you can look straight down through #14 to clearly see which way to move the bracket. Takes longer to explain than it does to do.

 

[dbarnhart]

Master Blaster wrote:

>>I noticed the shell plate rotation sticking then heard a spent primer drop into my collection can as the shell plate came free. I checked my decapping and sizing die, and the decapping pin had ridden up in the collet enough that the spent primers were not being fully extracted on every round.<<

This is exactly what was happening to me. As the ram went 'Thunk!' and stopped about 2 inches above the bottom, your words came back to me. Thank you. You saved me a lot of aggravation!

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, if a primer is left halfway out of the case, it will jam up the auto index. Been there done that. It turned out that the depriming pin was sticking in the anvil and pulling the primer back up enough to stick in the PP. I flattened the pin and the problem went away.

 

[dbarnhart]

Success

I finished loading my first 100 rounds in the new LnL-AP today and it went pretty smoothly. The only thing I ended up needing to do was to raise the two timing pawls by 1/8 turn.

With no shells in the shellplate everything was fine but when loaded up with cases the shellplate's rotation would stop short of the detent by a few degrees at both the top and bottom.

I figured that the pawls needed to be adjusted but the manual said "fully adjusted at the factory and should not require further adjustment". So I called Hornady just to make sure.

It's running smooth as a Swiss watch now. I am a happy camper.

 

[CHALK22]

Dbarnhart, I have read most of your posts, but I can't figure out if you already have the case feeder, or are going to order it. If you still need one, Big Supply just got in 6 of them(5 actually, I just bought one!) and they are priced very well at $254.92. They also have the cheapest feeder plates that I have seen around. Shipping was very reasonable as well, as I have seen the case feeder box, and it is good size.

If you are interested:
http://www.bigsupplyshop.com/Hornady-Case-Feeder-Lock-N-Load-095300_p_7968.html