I Ordered the Hornady LnL AP

[dbarnhart]

Thanks. I don't have the case feeder. I do plan on adding one but it will probably be a while before I get it. My budget needs to recover ;-)

 

[1in9twist]

I like the case feeder. It is a nice addition to the LNL. Works good, I can dump in 500 or so .40 cases and be able to concentrate on more important things on the press.

 

[Walkalong]

I cut off the mount for the case feeder. I like putting each one in the shell plate. Yea, I'm weird.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=107180&d=1255490691

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=102185&d=1248571982

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=102058&d=1248397552

 

[raddiver]

Yes you are.

 

[clutch]

Dear Dillon Disciples,

Do you understand that you are not doing Dilllon any favors? Some people find your eagerness to denigrate everything not painted blue to be obnoxious and rude. One of the reasons I bought something other than Dillon is that I do not want to be associated with a group treating everything else so disparagingly and I do not want to be thought of - guilt by association - as one who does so. I do not want people thinking "Oh gawd, not another Dillon Disciple" about me.

I'm sure you firmly believe Dillon is best-in-class, but I can tell you from first-hand experience it is possible to do so with a little less hubris.

I'm with you. If I had a Loadmaster question I'd prefer not to get a Dillon response either. I've looked seriously at a Hornady since it primes on the downstroke and would seem to give you better feel than my presses prime on up stroke. Priming seems to the weakest part of a progressive press.

Years ago, I build an airplane (http://www.davebarnhart.com/rv6) Those of us who owned and built this brand of airplane firmly believe it's unquestionably the best in the world. However even when speaking among ourselves with no one else listening you would never hear "XXX is cheap", "YYY is crap" , or "Go Van's or don't bother". To owners/builders/buyers of other brands, we were helpful and supportive, almost to a fault. As a result, we were not only held in the pinnacle of esteem in our little universe, it reflected very positively upon the manufacturer and helped them grow immensely because people wanted to be a part of such a welcoming and supportive little community.

Oh that is awesome. You completed a homebuilt aka experimental aircraft. I had dreams of building an Avid Flier or a KitFox years ago and I've never given up on the idea but the financial reality of numerous interests and the need to save for retirement has put that out of reach at the moment. I'll be renewing my EAA membership this month, member since 1987.

I started this thread to share my joy and excitement of buying my first progressive press.

Keep going, I have not made it though all the posts but you are the sort of guy I want to learn from. From what I've read on the web the Hornady can be made to work well if you learn how to make it happy. If you can build an aircraft with all the complexity that involves, that progressive press should be a walk in the park after you filter out the chest beater's comments.

Clutch

EAA #288608

 

[jeepmor]

LNL bushing kit for single stage

I suggest you go buy the bushing kit for you Rockchucker. It's really nice. However, be warned that the position is not the same as it will be in the progressive and you'll need to make a spacer or adjust as you move from one press to the other with your dies.

I did this with mine and love the increased operational efficiency I gained for single stage loading. I load most of my rifle stocks on the single stage.

 

[Ledhore]

Approaching 20k on my LNL ap, mostly .40 and 7.62x39 and loving it. Agree about the dillon guys always chiming in about the percieved deficiencies. I had a dillon and they are fine.

Seems like the same few guys are all over the web bashing the LNL. To me, the guy to listen to is the guy who knows how to make his machine work, not the guy who never could.

 

[dbarnhart]

>> I've looked seriously at a Hornady since it primes on the downstroke and would seem to give you better feel than my presses prime on up stroke.<<

I can clearly feel the primer seating. I had some concerns about that initially but for me at least I can feel the primer seat and it feels very different when a primer is missing.

>>You completed a homebuilt aka experimental aircraft<<
yes, it was something I'd always wanted to accomplish. I don't know how much time you spent on that site but I named the airplane after my wife. The most important factor in the completion of a homebuilt is the support of your spouse.

 

[Seedtick]

yes, it was something I'd always wanted to accomplish. I don't know how much time you spent on that site but I named the airplane after my wife. The most important factor in the completion of a homebuilt is the support of your spouse.

I enjoyed reading about your airplane building and escapades and I looked over most of your pictures. Very nice.

The most important factor in the completion of a homebuilt is the support of your spouse.

You got that right and it's right about many, many things. I can't imagine the past 30 years without the support of mine.

Don't you tell her I said that.

Seedtick

 

[MCMXI]

dbarnhart, add me to the list of Hornady L-N-L owners. I've been reloading since '92 and have used an RCBS progressive press since '95 which still works great. When I decided to add another progressive, there were really only three choices, the RCBS Pro2000, Dillon 650 or Hornady L-N-L. Based on what I need and how I reload, it was an easy decision for me. Now I just need to decide on which box of bullets I'm going to order ... probably the 185gr .45 ACP.

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.

I really need to thank you for that link. I was all set on ordering an L-N-L from Midway along with a case feeder, but after taking a look at Big Supply Shop and comparing prices, I ordered everything from BSS. The total cost of all of the items listed below with shipping was less than the total cost from Midway without shipping. The cost from Midway with shipping via USPS Parcel Post was almost $100 more than BSS using USPS Priority. With USPS Priority Mail, Midway wants almost $200 more. I guess Midway has to pay for their fancy website somehow! I order a lot of things from Midway, but if BSS gets my order right, and everything shows up as it should, Midway might be getting a lot less money from me in the future.

Here's what I ordered.

(1) 45359 Hornady Lock N Load Loader AP 095100
(1) 45362 Hornady Case Feeder Lock N Load 095300
(1) 45364 Hornady Case Feeder Plate Large Pistol 095312
(1) 45363 Hornady Case Feeder Plate Small Pistol 095310
(1) 45365 Hornady Case Feeder Plate Small Rifle 095314
(3) 52127 Hornady Lock'n Load Die Bushing (10 Pack) 044096
(1) 54533 Hornady Shell Plate #45 392645
(1) 7613 Hornady Shell Plate #6 392606
(1) 7616 Hornady Shell Plate #16 392616
(1) 7619 Hornady Shell Plate #30 392630
(1) 7620 Hornady Shell Plate #32 392632

 

[dbarnhart]

Get a couple cans of Hornady's Aerosol Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube. When the press arrives you'll need to clean the protective oil film off of everything, particularly the powder measure, but that is covered well by the instructional DVD that is included.

The other thing I bought this week was the drain insert for the powder measure. Hornady is including a baffle for the powder measure now. In the past at the end of a reloading session I've just dumped the unused powder from the measure back into the original powder container. With the baffle in the powder measure, Id be pouring powder back into the can, the baffle would come rattling down and I ended up with a mess. I'm hoping the drain will make this task a little neater.

 

[Blue68f100]

The drain works good.

Tip: Cut you a block of wood to prop the powder piston in the dump position. This will keep any slips from dumping powder all over the place while you change to the drain. I have mine in the back side between the upper and lower bracket. No need to remove the spring this way.

 

[dbarnhart]

>>Cut you a block of wood to prop the powder piston in the dump position. This will keep any slips from dumping powder all over the place while you change to the drain<<

I figured that one out the hard way the very first time I used it! ;-)

 

[MCMXI]

The other thing I bought this week was the drain insert for the powder measure. Hornady is including a baffle for the powder measure now. In the past at the end of a reloading session I've just dumped the unused powder from the measure back into the original powder container. With the baffle in the powder measure, Id be pouring powder back into the can, the baffle would come rattling down and I ended up with a mess.

Can't the baffle be adjusted so that it doesn't rattle around inside the hopper? I don't plan on using the Hornady powder measure and will be using a Redding 10X and BR-30 instead. I already have them working perfectly with Hornady case activated linkages and powder dies on my RCBS so set up will be a snap with the L-N-L. They have stainless steel baffles that don't rattle around so I've never had a problem pouring powder back into the original container.

 

[Walkalong]

My Redding measures have aluminum baffles (older ones) and they stay put. I have no problem pouring the powder back in the containers.

 

[dbarnhart]

>>Can't the baffle be adjusted so that it doesn't rattle around inside the hopper?<<

The baffle is a simple piece of bent metal and looks a lot like the one RCBS sells:



I dropped it into the top of the powder reservoir and slid right down to the bottom where it belongs. When I turn the reservoir over to dump out the powder it comes sliding out.

 

[Walkalong]

I keep the baffle 2/3's of the way up the hopper.

You can bend the baffle out ever so slightly and it will stay put like it should.

 

[MCMXI]

I dropped it into the top of the powder reservoir and slid right down to the bottom where it belongs. When I turn the reservoir over to dump out the powder it comes sliding out.

Listen to Walkalong. You need to open up the baffle so that it's a little snug and place it anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 from the bottom of the reservoir. The baffles in my Redding powder measures look the one shown and they don't move. I have the baffles positioned approximately in the middle of the reservoir.

 

[dbarnhart]

Ok. Thank you. The drawing provided by Hornady shows it at the bottom of the reservoir. I'll bend it a bit so it sticks in the tube instead of resting on the bottom.

 

[REL1203]

I still dont really understand what the baffle does and why its needed? Is it just to take some weight off the PM so as to not pack it so tight?

 

[MCMXI]

The baffle maintains a constant weight of powder above the metering chamber. If the weight of powder above the metering chamber is constant (and sufficient), the amount of powder packed into the metering chamber will be "constant". This is why I wouldn't place the baffle at the bottom of the reservoir. Using a powder such as Trail Boss with low density, it's possible that there wouldn't be enough powder weight above the metering chamber to obtain consistent results. If the baffle is too high, you'll need to keep adding powder. Half way seems like a good compromise and works for me.

 

[dbarnhart]

I have run about 300 rounds through the LnL-AP now and things are running smoothly. I'm not yet ready to set any speed records but operation has settled down into a nice rhythm.

As I lower the ram I push the handle forward and say 'Prime' (in the beginning I was forgetting to push the handle forward on occasion). I visually check the powder even though I'm using an RCBS Lockout Die. Then I insert a case. Then set the bullet . So with each upstroke of the handle I say to myself: 'prime - powder - case - bullet' and then raise the ram.

I'm probably going to get Gavin's Bullet tray (http://ultimatereloader.com/2009/04/12/new-hornady-modular-bullet-tray-system/) and find a better container for empty cases. Both of these will contribute to efficiency and less wasted motion.

 

[MCMXI]

I'm probably going to get Gavin's Bullet tray (http://ultimatereloader.com/2009/04/...t-tray-system/) and find a better container for empty cases. Both of these will contribute to efficiency and less wasted motion.

Gavin has very informative videos, but $57 for that bracket and plastic container?! No thanks ... I'll design and make my own if I decide I need one. I'd lose my job if I designed a bracket like that.

 

[CHALK22]

I really need to thank you for that link. I was all set on ordering an L-N-L from Midway along with a case feeder, but after taking a look at Big Supply Shop and comparing prices, I ordered everything from BSS.

You are welcome 1858, but I cannot take all the credit for it, as I recieved it from another THR user a few weeks ago, when they were sold out of case feeders. I signed up for an email notification when it came back into stock, and low and behold, I did get that email from them. I was pretty impressed, I had been waiting finacially for it to show up, and when it did, I ordered it. They had better prices than anybody on most of their stuff. Don't get me wrong, I order from Midway also, but BSS seems to be a pretty cool place. That being said, my casefeeder is scheduled for delivery tomorrow!! Also, for anyone who is wondering about the wait time on the 500 free bullets, I sent in my check on July 5th, and they will be at my house on the 22nd. That is pretty quick, I think. FWIW I ordered the 185g .45 XTPs.

So far for me, it is Hornady FTW!

Also, while I have watched many hours of Gavin's videos on UL, and I think he has a great catalog of information I also had a hard time with the price of the bullet bin and bracket. I dug into the scrap bin at work and in about 10 minutes I had a bracket bent, welded, blasted, and ready for paint.(I already had the bin at home) I am sure it is not as pretty as Gavin's product (cause he seems very, very apt at fabrication) but it seems to work awesome. I think I may end up ordering his roller handle, though......

 

[dbarnhart]

I decided I can live without the roller handle. Given the height of my bench and my personal height, the stock handle seems just fine.