Turret press compatible with Hornady LnL bushings

[GarySTL]

I've been loading 308 rifle cartridges on my Hornady LnL progressive. But now I want to get a little more precise and bought a RCBS Chargemaster combo. The LnL is a little inconvenient if you're not using their powder measure, so I'm looking for something else.

I'm willing to batch process by decapping, cleaning, sizing, priming etc. on a single stage, but I'm thinking a turret might be more useful.

I have tools to hand decap, hand prime, so priming on the press is not a requirement.

I'd really like to find one compatible with Hornady LnL bushings. Is there one out there?

 

[Blue68f100]

If I recall it has the 1 1/8 x 7/8" adapter screwed in the top of the frame. If this is the case Hornady sells a kit that you can change out to the bushing to their cam-lock, comes with 4-5 bushings.

What I do is use a set of 7/8" shims under the locking ring. It does require you to remove the die from the bushing, which you probably will have to do any ways since the die will need adjusting due to a different height. But I keep the shim set with the die so it's simple and easy. If I need to lower the die 0.002" all I do is change the shims. Nice for for fine tuning.

Don't thing any thing is available for a turret. Your only options would be shims.

I bought my sets off of Amazon for like $6/set.

 

[GarySTL]

I'm unclear on which press you're talking about? Can you please enlighten me?

 

[burrhead]

This.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/858110/hornady-lock-n-load-press-and-die-conversion-bushing-kit

 

[Reefinmike]

If you are wanting a turret press, why would you want to use those quick change bushings? Get a lee classic turret and your $10 interchangeable turret heads are a quick change bushing for your whole die set. Although I haven't been able to convince myself to buy a chargemaster yet, I like to load as you do. I removed the auto indexing rod from the LCT press on day one. I decap/size my brass as I shoot it, letting it build up until I have enough to do a thousand round run. I usually hand prime with a rcbs aps strip loader for the best feel, but I do occasionally prime on press when I size/decap. Then when i'm ready to load, I simply thumb the turret back and forth between the powder through die(I use the autodisk measure but you could just pop a funnel on top. ) and the seat/crimp die. The 4 hole turrets work out well for me as they hold my three dies per caliber and the appropriate bullet sizing die for my cast boolits. Once you set your dies, you never need to tinker with them again provided you dont switch to different bullets.

 

[GarySTL]

Well, I was thinking that with the LnL bushings I could easily use the same dies switching between my LnL progressive and whatever I buy as another press
But a little more thinking made me realize it won't work that way because unless the dimensions between the shell plate and the dies are the same, which is not likely, adjustments need to be made. So my plan is not realistic at all is it?

 

[dannyd]

look at the new Hornady single stage press

 

[GarySTL]

I saw that one and I'm leaning in that direction. I've ordered the micro mount and quick change plates from inlinefabrication.com so I'll be easily able to swap my LnL and whatever else I buy.

 

[mstreddy]

Gary,

There are a couple of members here that have both the LNL AP and the single stage.
What Blue has done with some shims to get the dies with bushings to match from AP to single stage.
And IIRC there is another that measured the top deck thickness on the two and discussed milling the single stage to the same dimension. I don't remember if he did or not.

 

[GarySTL]

Ah, I think I did not grasp what he was doing with the shims. Now I understand. I know a fellow with a Bridgeport mill, so cutting the deck to match might be possible.

 

[Paddy]

I shimmed a few and it works fine as long as the other press needs the shims. The LnL AP bushings fit down inside making shimming more complicated, but still possible.

I know some of the Hollywood presses have a couple 1-1/4" die holes and a few 7/8". I haven't seen any that have all 1-1/4" die holes which would allow total conversion to LnL bushings.

 

[Kaldor]

Not completely related, but providing the turret press has enough meat on the top plate, one could convert it to use 1-1/4"-12 threads by simply enlarging the holes in the top and threading as needed.

I own a LnL progressive and a LnL single stage. I need to shim up the bushing in my single stage to get the single stage and the progressive to index the same at the top of the press stroke so I can use the dies interchangeably between the two presses. I also have plans to buy a XL650, and providing the toolhead on the Dillon has enough material, I might mill and thread the XL650 toolhead to accept the LnL bushings and shim or mill to height to get them to index with my two LnL presses.

 

[GarySTL]

I appreciate all the suggestions. I plan to relegate my LnL progressive to 40 S&W and 223. I'll use the new press, still unchosen, to my 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. So I realize that there's really no need to swap dies from one press to the next. Not sure where my mind was when I wrote the original question.

 

[Paddy]

Still nice to convert the new press to LnL bush though, but I agree having same height as the progressive makes little sense. In fact I don't even need my progressive press to have the bushings as I never take the dies out