Lock-n-Load AP

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Howland937

Howland937

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Ok experts :) Just picked up a gently used LnL press and curious as to run of the mill problems I should expect, whether it's mistakes I'll certainly make or inherent parts failures.

Don't have the shell plates for the handgun rounds I'm going to mostly use it for, so at this point I've just kinda tried to make sure everything's there. Also, any must have add-ons? (auto case feeder isn't in the budget this quarter) Gonna mostly run 38 Super, 9mm, .45, and .380 on it.
 
The alignment of the the primer feed system. Some a thin piece of metal where the primer pin rides on the casting. And indexing are the 2 most problem areas that most have getting adj right. Once set they run very smooth.
 
Download the instruction manual and read the bit on Indexing. If it has the LNL powder measure, read that manual too.

I immediately added Hornady's bullet feeder dies, tuned them to feed HiTek coated cast lead, and made my own feed tubes.
 
Is the press new enough to have the ez-ject plate and snap free primer cam? If not, I would 100% recommend the update.
 
The large center hex bolt that holds the shell plate can loosen a little after many cycles which may cause the indexing to be off just a little; I keep the bolt handy and check every so often.
I found it easier to flare AFTER dropping powder; otherwise after flaring, dropping powder closed up the flare causing problems.
 
Look for Drainsmith's posts on tuning the LNL AP. He has some good info.

Spare parts should include the plastic clip/cap that holds the primer tube in place and a couple of case retaining springs. The press comes from the factory with a few spare parts in the box. IIRC a feed pawl, the aforementioned clip, and can't remember what else.

There's a few of us running the press and it can work pretty well. I sent you a PM on shellplates.
 
Blue68f100 said:
The alignment of the the primer feed system. Some a thin piece of metal where the primer pin rides on the casting. And indexing are the 2 most problem areas that most have getting adj right. Once set they run very smooth.
Click to expand...

I did notice when just operating to watch the moving parts, the piece that seats the primer is binding in the part that slides the primer into place, so it doesn't appear to have enough upward travel to seat a primer. Figured I'll take it apart and make sure it's clean.

rule303 said:
Is the press new enough to have the ez-ject plate and snap free primer cam? If not, I would 100% recommend the update.
Click to expand...

Not sure how to find that out.
 
mstreddy said:
Spare parts should include the plastic clip/cap that holds the primer tube in place and a couple of case retaining springs. The press comes from the factory with a few spare parts in the box. IIRC a feed pawl, the aforementioned clip, and can't remember what else
Click to expand...

It did come with a couple of springs, but I went ahead and ordered another 3 pack when I ordered the shell plates this afternoon. Will look into getting another primer feed tube clip. It has one with it and 6 of the quick lock inserts.
 
One thing that drove me crazy was the powder measure wobbling loose. I got shims for it and have never had a problem since. Can get these free from Hornady. I also use a lock washer for the shell plate, solved the issue with the shell plate working loose.
 
I used a Dillon low primer alarm and rod on the ones I had. One of them needed a thicker oring on the powder measure bushing because it would self quick release.
 
rule303 said:
Is the press new enough to have the ez-ject plate and snap free primer cam? If not, I would 100% recommend the update.
Click to expand...
If it is not the ez-ject system it will have a wire over the shell plate to eject the cases.
If it doesn't have the wire over the shell plate, it's the current system and doesn't need updated.

I would recommend grinding out the area where the case retaining spring takes a dive to get under station five so the spring doesn't drag on the case rim.
@Walkalong has some really good pictures of what he did on his and I have done the same. Haven't kinked a case spring since and case don't get caught under the spring when case is ejecting.
This area under the shell plate.
Here. sub base mod lnl-ap.jpg
That nub sticking up is the ez-ject ejector. It is current on the sub base. Walkalong did a much cleaner job of grinding his out then I did but it solve the spring kinking issue permanently.

Grinding this out keeps your springs from looking like this
springs.jpg
It's just beyond me why Hornady has never fixed this problem. It makes all the difference in the world.
I deprime with my LNL-AP using the case feeder to get it over with quick. After I do I clean out in front of the priming shuttle, grit and dirt accumulate there and keep the shuttle from coming forward far enough and primers will start hanging up.
I had to adjust the indexing wire that the pushing the priming shuttle in and out when mine was new, to get it to prime right, I haven't had to readjust it in the last 8 or 10 years I've had it. It primes well.
That's all I had to do to mine, except I added a case feeder to mine a couple years after I bought the press.
 
I almost forgot because I have been using the Control Panal and accessories on mine for a couple years now.
I put a piece of black electrician tape on my primer follower rod to make a flag that sticks out so when I'm almost out of primers the black flag is on top of the primer tube.
That way I know I out of primers before the tube is empty, Mine leave about 5 primers in the tube when the flag hits the top of the tube.
primer follower.jpg
You just have to keep an eye on it. If you set the o-ring on your follower high enough the rod will lock the primer shuttle in the back position but this is when your completely out of primers and you may or may not have already sent a case through to the powder measure with no primer.

I would get an RCBS powder lock out die if you don't already have one and put it right after the powder measure.
 

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Reeferman said:
If you get some of these you won’t have to worry about springs. Powder spillage from short cases will be gone.



View attachment 943248
Click to expand...
Reeferman, I've been looking on amazon for the rubber orings you have pictured on Amazon. Have been unsuccessful. Other rings pop up, but not the one's with the SKU and SN information you have posted. Is there any other informaiton you could provide or another website that might have it?

TIA

CH
 
cardinalorange said:
I suggest the upgrades by inline as well- I have the ultramount and the ergo handle and really like them, and am debating ordering the improved bin holders:
Click to expand...
That's a rabbit hole I've gone down...and very happy I did.

1. I started with the Ultramount just to get the shell plate closer to eye level. (The Ultramount was originally designed around the LNL AP; there is about 1/16" clearance between the bottom of the ram linkage and my bench top).
2. Since I was getting the mount, it only made sense to get the Ergo Handle...I spoke with the owner and he recommended the shorter one.
3. Next I added the Improved Bin Holder...rotates a larger bin 90 degrees
4. Then I added the Piggyback die rack
5. The last ILF thing I added was the Double Bullet Tray system on an articulated arm

You'll also benefit form extra light on the case mouths. I highly recommend the KMS Squared UFO system https://kmssquared.com/ufo_h.html
 
Crazy Horse said:
Reeferman, I've been looking on amazon for the rubber orings you have pictured on Amazon. Have been unsuccessful. Other rings pop up, but not the one's with the SKU and SN information you have posted. Is there any other informaiton you could provide or another website that might have it?

TIA

CH
Click to expand...

When I first saw this on Brian Enos sight https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/283615-hornady-lnl-ap-powder-jump-fix/ he showed the Mr Oring ones. I couldn’t find them at all up here in Canada but did find them at a local Hydraulic supply shop. You could try https://www.mcmaster.com/9262K939/ or something similar.
I used to kink case springs within 50 rounds and went through a ton of them. Decided to try something different and took a Dremel, polishing wheels and jewels rouge and polished all my shell plates where the spring rides. That extended spring life tenfold at least. But I did try the o-ring before polishing and had some issues but after using Unique case lube it works very well.
I use the o-ring for 9mm and there is no powder spillage anymore.
 
Reeferman said:
When I first saw this on Brian Enos sight https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/283615-hornady-lnl-ap-powder-jump-fix/ he showed the Mr Oring ones. I couldn’t find them at all up here in Canada but did find them at a local Hydraulic supply shop. You could try https://www.mcmaster.com/9262K939/ or something similar.
I used to kink case springs within 50 rounds and went through a ton of them. Decided to try something different and took a Dremel, polishing wheels and jewels rouge and polished all my shell plates where the spring rides. That extended spring life tenfold at least. But I did try the o-ring before polishing and had some issues but after using Unique case lube it works very well.
I use the o-ring for 9mm and there is no powder spillage anymore.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I'll give it a try. My springs last longer, but they do eventually kink and break. I'll have to try your recommendation to smooth things out. I'd really like to get the powder spillage elimination and smoother operation benefit.
THX

CH
 
Mine doesn't really spill powder much. I find some grains on my shell plate after loading but they are from my powder lock out die. Nothing I can do about that, if I want to use a lock out die, I have to put up with it.
But it really isn't enough to bother me, just a flake here and there. Some of these presses must really click in hard.
 
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