I picked up a Hornady LNL AP press (with EZ-Ject) from Cabelas right before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Cabelas didn't have 9mm (#8) or .223/.380 (#16) shellplates so I place a MidwayUSA order for those shell plates and a .357" powder through expander (belling attachment) for the Hornady LNL powder measure.
Prior to purchasing the press I read everything I could find about the various progressives on the market (Dillon, Hornady, RCBS, Lee, etc.). The decision came down to the Dillon 650 vs. the Hornady LNL. I think Hornady makes the best lock rings on the market so I trust their machine work. That and the "Get Loaded" rebate tipped the scales towards the LNL. Cabelas is on the way to my in-law's house so I figured I could buy the press at Thanksgiving and if I didn't like it I could return it on the drive down for Christmas without the hassle of return shipping.
It took me almost a full day to set up the press. Every piece of exposed metal is coated with a protective oil for shipping that needs to be degreased. This is stated multiple times in the directions for the press and the powder measure. Hornady recommends their One Shot Cleaner and Dry Lube (not to be confused with their case lube) which I didn't have. I used brake parts cleaner, compressed air and powdered graphite (for the moving parts). Unfortunately, I got a little bit of brake cleaner on the hopper for the powder measure which instantly discolored the shiny new plastic.
Please learn from my mistake on that.
The first day trying to use the press was a complete nightmare. I've never used a progressive so much of my frustration was no doubt caused by my inexperience.
Here was my press configuration for the first loading session:
Recipe: 9mm - 124gr MG CMJ bullets, 4.5gr W231 powder, CCI 500 primers, 1.145" OAL, mixed brass, light crimp
Station 1 - Lee/EGW Undersized Sizing / Decapping Die
Station 2 - Hornady LNL powder measure with .357" "PTX" case belling insert.
Station 3 - Lyman M Die - Case Belling Die (Needed because the PTX in didn't work.)
Station 4. Lee and Lyman Seater Dies - I tried both.
Station 5. Lee FCD
I experienced the following issues during the first reloading session:
- The powder through expander didn't seem to bell the case mouths at all.
- The primer system kept locking up and wouldn't feed primers consistently causing at least a dozen cases to come through without a primer seated. A few primers were bent and peened over on one edge.
- I couldn't get a consistent OAL on my cases. There was a +/- .020" difference where I usually get +/- .002" on my single stage.
- 9mm S&B cases would lock up the EZ-Ject system.
- GFL cases seemed to experience the most difficulty with primer seating.
The next day I called Hornady to get their advise. I spent about 15 minutes on hold, starting at "Queue position #4 in the queue". The tech support guy provided the following tips:
- The powder measure needs to be adjusted with the directions from the PTX insert not the powder measure instructions. The powder measure should be adjusted so that the charge adjuster on the measure stops against the body of the powder measure at the top of its travel. The powder measure instructions tell you specifically NOT to do this.
-The primer problems were being caused by the primer arm not going back far enough to pick up primers consistently. The primer system needed to be adjusted by loosening the black plastic piece at the top of the "primer cam" and sliding it towards the back of the press as far as it would go. The primer issues were being exasperated by powder getting jammed up in the primer mechanism from the cases without primers.
- The seater die needs to be adjusted with the press fully loaded and operational meaning cases need to be in each position on the shellplate and the other dies proper adjusted.
- The S&B case ejection problems were probably caused by out of spec case heads.
- He didn't have any recommendations on and particular cases or components that work best with the LNL.
On my second loading session the above advice fixed 90% of the problems I experienced with the press. Before starting to load I removed the shellplate and disassembled the primer assembly and used compressed air to remove every bit of stray powder and carbon. I then adjusted the primer cam. The lower half of the powder measure was set to that the PTX insert just touched the unloaded shell plate with the ram extended. I inserted a case and adjusted the upper part of the powder measure so that the adjustment knob bottomed out on the measure's body plus a little more. This required a little back and forth between the upper and lower adjustments until I got a happy medium between the case activation unit working correctly and the powder measure still forcing the case far enough onto the PTX insert adequately bell the cases. Finally I set the Lyman seater die OAL with the press fully loaded. This can be somewhat dangerous as you can easily end up with a double charge or squib if you don't pay attention to the case under the powder measure.
The PTX insert still doesn't provide enough of a bell to allow a bullet to sit on the case without guiding it by hand into the seater die. There is just enough of a bell that if you place a bullet on the case and then operate the press about every forth pull the bullet will fall over and jam up against the seater die. The PTX insert did work well enough that I could ditch the Lyman M die for belling. I simply guided each bullet into the seater die with my left hand while pulling operating the press with my right. Removing the Lyman M die from position #3 gives me an unobstructed view of the powder level of each case before it hits the seater die. I'm hoping to eventually add an RCBS lockout die but the calibrated eyeball is probably a better idea.
Adjusting the primer cam and cleaning the press solved most of the primer issues. This press primes on the up stroke of the handle. I found that by using two upstrokes against the primer stop gave me enough tactile feedback to warn of a missed primer or bad primer pocket.
The press was working as it should and I was finally able to get into a good rhythm:
- Insert a case into shellplate position #1
- Grab a bullet and position it over the case in pos. #3.
- Guide the bullet into the seater die while pulling the handle to raise the ram.
- As the bullet enters the seater die; grab another case.
- Lower the ram and seat a primer.
- Raise the ram a little and lower it down again to make sure the primer was properly seated.
- Repeat
On my second loading session with the LNL I churned out 312 rounds in a little over an hour and a half. All but a couple of round had an OAL within .005" of my target 1.145". The vast majority were +/- .001" ! I'm sure with more experience on the press I'll be able to produce more accurate ammo than with my rickety old Lyman Spartan single stage and in much less time.
Overall, I think this press is a great deal for the money especially with the free bullet offer. It's well engineered and nicely machined. I wouldn't recommend the PTX expander at this point. Hornady makes a .355" belling insert for 9mm which I can't imagine works at all so if you need to free up a station on your 9mm setup buy the .357" insert. I'm going call Hornady again on Monday to make sure I'm adjusting the powder measure correctly for the PTX insert as the directions are somewhat lacking. Hornady is coming out with a set up lead bullet PTX inserts which I assume will bell more than their current inserts. There is also an aftermarket universal case belling insert that supposedly works a lot better but I haven't tried it. Hornady does provide a DVD with nice video tutorials as well as on their website but they do need to proof read and update their written instructions. Also, The Lock-N-Load bushing system is nice but more of a gimmick than an advantage to me. With nice (read Hornady NOT Lee) lock rings I've never had a problem quickly changing dies and while keeping my adjustments correct. I had my powder measure unlock itself at one point during the first loading session. Even with its few quirks, I really dig this press.
Prior to purchasing the press I read everything I could find about the various progressives on the market (Dillon, Hornady, RCBS, Lee, etc.). The decision came down to the Dillon 650 vs. the Hornady LNL. I think Hornady makes the best lock rings on the market so I trust their machine work. That and the "Get Loaded" rebate tipped the scales towards the LNL. Cabelas is on the way to my in-law's house so I figured I could buy the press at Thanksgiving and if I didn't like it I could return it on the drive down for Christmas without the hassle of return shipping.
It took me almost a full day to set up the press. Every piece of exposed metal is coated with a protective oil for shipping that needs to be degreased. This is stated multiple times in the directions for the press and the powder measure. Hornady recommends their One Shot Cleaner and Dry Lube (not to be confused with their case lube) which I didn't have. I used brake parts cleaner, compressed air and powdered graphite (for the moving parts). Unfortunately, I got a little bit of brake cleaner on the hopper for the powder measure which instantly discolored the shiny new plastic.
Please learn from my mistake on that.The first day trying to use the press was a complete nightmare. I've never used a progressive so much of my frustration was no doubt caused by my inexperience.
Here was my press configuration for the first loading session:
Recipe: 9mm - 124gr MG CMJ bullets, 4.5gr W231 powder, CCI 500 primers, 1.145" OAL, mixed brass, light crimp
Station 1 - Lee/EGW Undersized Sizing / Decapping Die
Station 2 - Hornady LNL powder measure with .357" "PTX" case belling insert.
Station 3 - Lyman M Die - Case Belling Die (Needed because the PTX in didn't work.)
Station 4. Lee and Lyman Seater Dies - I tried both.
Station 5. Lee FCD
I experienced the following issues during the first reloading session:
- The powder through expander didn't seem to bell the case mouths at all.
- The primer system kept locking up and wouldn't feed primers consistently causing at least a dozen cases to come through without a primer seated. A few primers were bent and peened over on one edge.
- I couldn't get a consistent OAL on my cases. There was a +/- .020" difference where I usually get +/- .002" on my single stage.
- 9mm S&B cases would lock up the EZ-Ject system.
- GFL cases seemed to experience the most difficulty with primer seating.
The next day I called Hornady to get their advise. I spent about 15 minutes on hold, starting at "Queue position #4 in the queue". The tech support guy provided the following tips:
- The powder measure needs to be adjusted with the directions from the PTX insert not the powder measure instructions. The powder measure should be adjusted so that the charge adjuster on the measure stops against the body of the powder measure at the top of its travel. The powder measure instructions tell you specifically NOT to do this.
-The primer problems were being caused by the primer arm not going back far enough to pick up primers consistently. The primer system needed to be adjusted by loosening the black plastic piece at the top of the "primer cam" and sliding it towards the back of the press as far as it would go. The primer issues were being exasperated by powder getting jammed up in the primer mechanism from the cases without primers.
- The seater die needs to be adjusted with the press fully loaded and operational meaning cases need to be in each position on the shellplate and the other dies proper adjusted.
- The S&B case ejection problems were probably caused by out of spec case heads.
- He didn't have any recommendations on and particular cases or components that work best with the LNL.
On my second loading session the above advice fixed 90% of the problems I experienced with the press. Before starting to load I removed the shellplate and disassembled the primer assembly and used compressed air to remove every bit of stray powder and carbon. I then adjusted the primer cam. The lower half of the powder measure was set to that the PTX insert just touched the unloaded shell plate with the ram extended. I inserted a case and adjusted the upper part of the powder measure so that the adjustment knob bottomed out on the measure's body plus a little more. This required a little back and forth between the upper and lower adjustments until I got a happy medium between the case activation unit working correctly and the powder measure still forcing the case far enough onto the PTX insert adequately bell the cases. Finally I set the Lyman seater die OAL with the press fully loaded. This can be somewhat dangerous as you can easily end up with a double charge or squib if you don't pay attention to the case under the powder measure.
The PTX insert still doesn't provide enough of a bell to allow a bullet to sit on the case without guiding it by hand into the seater die. There is just enough of a bell that if you place a bullet on the case and then operate the press about every forth pull the bullet will fall over and jam up against the seater die. The PTX insert did work well enough that I could ditch the Lyman M die for belling. I simply guided each bullet into the seater die with my left hand while pulling operating the press with my right. Removing the Lyman M die from position #3 gives me an unobstructed view of the powder level of each case before it hits the seater die. I'm hoping to eventually add an RCBS lockout die but the calibrated eyeball is probably a better idea.
Adjusting the primer cam and cleaning the press solved most of the primer issues. This press primes on the up stroke of the handle. I found that by using two upstrokes against the primer stop gave me enough tactile feedback to warn of a missed primer or bad primer pocket.
The press was working as it should and I was finally able to get into a good rhythm:
- Insert a case into shellplate position #1
- Grab a bullet and position it over the case in pos. #3.
- Guide the bullet into the seater die while pulling the handle to raise the ram.
- As the bullet enters the seater die; grab another case.
- Lower the ram and seat a primer.
- Raise the ram a little and lower it down again to make sure the primer was properly seated.
- Repeat
On my second loading session with the LNL I churned out 312 rounds in a little over an hour and a half. All but a couple of round had an OAL within .005" of my target 1.145". The vast majority were +/- .001" ! I'm sure with more experience on the press I'll be able to produce more accurate ammo than with my rickety old Lyman Spartan single stage and in much less time.
Overall, I think this press is a great deal for the money especially with the free bullet offer. It's well engineered and nicely machined. I wouldn't recommend the PTX expander at this point. Hornady makes a .355" belling insert for 9mm which I can't imagine works at all so if you need to free up a station on your 9mm setup buy the .357" insert. I'm going call Hornady again on Monday to make sure I'm adjusting the powder measure correctly for the PTX insert as the directions are somewhat lacking. Hornady is coming out with a set up lead bullet PTX inserts which I assume will bell more than their current inserts. There is also an aftermarket universal case belling insert that supposedly works a lot better but I haven't tried it. Hornady does provide a DVD with nice video tutorials as well as on their website but they do need to proof read and update their written instructions. Also, The Lock-N-Load bushing system is nice but more of a gimmick than an advantage to me. With nice (read Hornady NOT Lee) lock rings I've never had a problem quickly changing dies and while keeping my adjustments correct. I had my powder measure unlock itself at one point during the first loading session. Even with its few quirks, I really dig this press.
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