L-N-L AP Inquiry

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kingmt

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I have always been a Lee fan & never seen a reason to use any thing else even tho I started with RCBS. That was until last night at the gun show when I found a LNL AP. The only way you could tell it was used is there was powder stuck in the hopper because the oil was never cleaned out. For $175 I decided to give it a try. I thought I got a good deal & hope I did.

Just hope people that use or used this press will chime in to tell me things to look/watch out for. If there is any mods that improve the press would be nice. Most of all where is the best price on the accessories.

I'm not even sure I got the whole thing yet. Hopefully I will get it set up today & find out.
 
Congrats on the find. Clean the powder dispenser really well. There are videos on the Hornady site. I love mine, and I am a Lee guy as well. There are a few threads about some issues here recently. Drive hubs being one of them but it sounds like Hornady has been sending them as fast as they break. The primer seater has also been in some recent threads but I think you have found a great deal.
 
Any links to the threads with the problems. Since I did have one, know anything about it, or plan to get one I never paid any attention to the threads.

Is this the wrong shell carrier for the EZject or what am I doing wrong installing it? It snags on the ejector.
ShellPlate.gif
 
The EZ-ject shell plates have a recess cut in them for the ejector. It is not there on the picture you posted.

Hornady will modify it for you, at a price of course.

If you got some other shell plates with the kit, one may have the EZ-ject channel if the press has the EZ-ject system on it.
 
That price is very good, you did good.

Hornady sells a upgraded base plate to update to the newer EZeject. They can also modify the older plates to work with the newer system ( ~$10). If I recall that included shipping but that was several years ago. If your not going to be running small base brass like 380, 9mm you may not need the update.

Need to see if you have both rifle and pistol rotors for the powder dispenser.

Did you get all of the primer sleds (Small & Large) and tubes?
 
That is the only shell plate I got with it. Here is a pic of the sub plate.
subplate-001.gif
Should the be recessed, flush, or above flush?

I got both powder drums & 3 drop tubes. I also got 2 LP slides & 1 SP slide. I got the tubes also.

The shell plate box says Pro-Jector only but has the part number listed in the book. I assume the Pro & EZ are two different presses.
 
It looks like you have the EZeject base and the older v1 shell plate. Hornady can modify the shell plate if you don't want to buy a new one. That is why their is rub mark on the shell plate. I suspect someone bought the shell plate not knowing there were 2 models.

Good BUY.
 
Another question:I read the #1 plate will not work for 45ACP but will the #45 plate work for 30-06 & others with the same head?
 
That's a great deal, congrats on the press. I'm still a Lee guy, but won't use their progressives after I bought a Pro1000. One thing to be aware is that the LNL does not have a case activated primer feed like the Lee progressives. Best to get the dies and powder measure adjusted, and fill the primer tube last. I like to take a primed case and make sure everything is right first. Your Lee dies will have to be screwed most of the way down to work in the LNL bushings.
 
The #45 shell plate is for 45 ACP only. As mentioned, you can send your shell plate to Hornady for modification ($10.00 per plate and you pay shipping) or buy a new one for around $30.00. You got an excellent deal on your press. You can download the operator manual from Hornady's web site.
 
The more I read the more I wish I would have passed it up & bought the Load Master. Most I read is problems & finding shell plates is getting tiring.

For a press so old why is all the parts on back order everywhere?
 
That is an outstanding deal. I upgraded mine to the EZject and had all of my shellplates machined by Hornady - just give them a call and they will take care of you. New shellplates are manufactured with the groove. A quick review on MidwayUSA shows that several are in stock and the rest are ok for backorder.

I use Lee dies exclusively and I also use an RCBS lockout die. I recommend the micrometer pistol powder measure insert and the powder through expanders. I had a little challenge getting the timing right, but have had no problems since I got it set up over a thousand rounds ago.

I use a bent coat hanger to show when I am getting low on primers. The powder hopper is plenty generous and will outlast the primer supply. I just check the powder and refill as needed when I add primers.

I have used a loadmaster and a Dillon and believe the LNL to be superior. I am sure the blue crowd disagrees. At any rate, don't get discouraged, you got a good deal.
 
I think that is a great deal and I'd have bought that even though I don't need another press. :)

There doesn't seem to be a huge need to 'upgrade' to the ez eject if you have the older version, though. I've watched that 12 video set put out by Hornady on youtube and it looks like a great press.
 
kingmt

If you are regretting your purchase I will take it off your hands for you. Send me a pm if you are interested. It is a nice press.
 
I bought aused LNL AP and was missing a few small parts... I called Hornady and they sent me all the small parts for free... They walked me through the set up and about 4000 rounds later I love this press.. Sold my turret press a few weeks ago.

Don't be afraid to call Hornady if you need something... I like their customer service..
 
The only way I could contact Hornady is by email since I'm at work when they are in office. Seems the only shell plate I can find that I need is #6. Everyone else seems to be out of #1, 8, 16, & 45. I hate to order one from one place & go somewhere else for another. I don't want to pay shipping that many times.

DEP589

You may get a PM from me. I have noticed a rush of new reloaders on this form so maybe the tax season has produced more sales then expected. If I can't find plates that don't cost more then presses I'll sell it.
 
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=464088

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=460396

These threads may help.

Be patient with it. In the end I think you will like it.

I had to buy a #45 to do .45 ACP because the #1 simply would not eject well. The good news is the #45 works flawlessly. I use the #1 for .308, .35 Rem, & .30-06. The #45 may work for those, but I have not tried it. I also have an older silver #1 unmodified shell plate.

Buying shell plates does add up, but the money is soon forgotten as you enjoy the press. As posted, Hornady will cut the old ones for you. They did the first five free for me, then it was $10 a pop.

Bushings add up as well. A couple of folks I know just used low strength lock tight to install five bushings, and screw their dies in and out.

The RCBS and Redding measures can be made to work with the Hornady auto powder linkage set up. I bought a micrometer insert for my LNL measure, and it makes it quick to get a charge dialed in.
 
I agree with Walkalong. The more I use my Hornady, the more I appreciate it. One of the great benefits is the flexibility of doing several different tasks just by inserting different dies in different positions. Think outside the box and do not get roped into using the press just for loading from fired case to loaded round.

I do agree that component supply is difficult. Bushings, shell plates and powder drop dies can be difficult to find at times. And they do add up.

i have seven or eight powder drop dies and decided to make my own drop tubes so that i don't have to adjust a powder drop die or buy any more. Stay tuned for more information here.

Instead of gluing with Loc-tite the bushings in the press, I would just the lock ring on the die and swap the bushings as necessary.

The only issue I have had with my press is the priming system. The priming system and i do not get along. I hate re-work of cartridges worse than trimming cases and one badly inserted primer in 1000 is too many in my opinion.

But, I prefer to clean my cases between resizing and loading. I process cases shortly after shooting and store them away for future loading. Also, I can prime a 100 cases by hand just a tick slower than filling a primer tube so i removed the priming system from the press. (as a note, I similar problems with Dillon SDB's priming system. 45 and 9x19 are resized on the Hornady and loaded on the SDBs)
 
When I have needed shellplates and other accessories I check Midway USA and Natchez Shooters Supply; if one is out the other usually has what I need. Natchez has a good price on the Hornady dies if you need a set.

My LNL works better the more I use it. I polished my primer shuttles before using them which helps. About every 200-300 rounds I pull the shellplate and clean the primer plunger and shuttle. Bits of fired primer residue (even though I tumble my cases) and flakes of unburned powder and other grit and sludge can work their way into the primer feed system and cause problems and I try to keep it clean to avoid that. Some recommend lubing the shuttle channel with graphite powder; I do that on occasion but it seems to run pretty well now without the graphite.

Keep your shellplate snugged down to a firm "finger tight". Loose shellplates can cause problems. Watch the timing on the indexing pawls. Just after I bought my LNL a Hornady rep came to a local store and set up little demos and clinics. I watched him run an LNL (loading 9mm) and his press was out of index! After he cycled the press it did not fully advance and he had to nudge the shellplate until it locked. The index is adjustable so I could not understand why he ran it that way. The rep also recommended using a bit of case lube (even with carbide or nitride dies) for smoothest operation. I did follow that advice.

If I could get a second press for $175 (and if I had room to mount it) I buy it and set one up for large primers and one for small. Of course, the primer changeover is pretty quick on the LNL.

For each caliber I load I have a powder measure lower die assembly with its own bushing, a powder measure stem (set for my favorite powder and charge) and, for autopistol chamberings, a PTX. This makes caliber changes pretty quick and easy.

I also use an RCBS Lockout Die on my LNL and really like it. I only have one so I do have to spend a few minutes resetting it when I change my load or change calibers.
 
One tip on installing a shell plate is to not let the bolt pull the hub up to the plate when tightening. Use the bolt to pick up the hub and finger tighten it holding the hub up against the plate with the bolt. Then snug it down a bit. This will keep things square and smooth.

There are a number of ways to hold the shell plate still while snugging the bolt down.

Striker Fired makes a great tool for it.

jmorris also makes a tool that looks good.

The old Projector tool works. It is just a flat piece of steel rounded to fit the cut out in the plates.

Just snug. We are not torquing down lug nuts.
 
To keep from kinking the shell retainer spring set it in the slot where the brass is loaded. Place the shell plate on and finger tighten. Flip the spring up and out of the way while you tighten the shell plate. Once tight you can stretch the spring around the shell plate. I've been running on the same one for 2 yrs now. This work good if you have the brass feeder like I have.

I put 2 pieces of brass in the shell plate to hold while I tighten it down. I wish they would supply some spring washers to keep tension on the bolt so the constant snapping doesn't loosen it. When ever I finish I unload the spring, leaving it in the slot where the brass is loaded.
 
Blue68f100 said:
I wish they would supply some spring washers to keep tension on the bolt so the constant snapping doesn't loosen it.
Click to expand...

What you are looking for is a belleville washer.

I have not had any problems with the shell plate bolt coming use. I hold the shell plate with one hand and tighten the bolt with a hex wrench with the other.

I am still using the original case retaining spring from 2-1/2 years ago. Lots of kinks but I do not use a case feeder. I have probably only run 10,000 cases through it in ten years though.
 
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