Upgrading from LCT to ABLP?

[blackd24]

I have a LCT that I’ve loaded many rounds on. It works fine, but after getting a progressive hornady lock n load, I don’t know if I can go back to LCT for anything. My original plan was to use the lock n load for all of my calibers - 9mm, 38 special and 357 mag. I shoot much more 9mm that 38/357 and I have it perfectly dialed in. With the case feeder going, I can easily load over 500 in 1.5 hours. I really don’t want to change over to 38/357 and mess something up. If I were to switch calibers, I probably wouldn’t mess with the case feeder.

So my question.. I have everything I would need to go from LCT to the “semi progressive” Lee press. I could set it up for 38 and 357 and never have to change the shell plate. It’s only $135 and I could probably sell the LCT for around $100. Has anyone gone this route?

Any tips or advice for caliber changes on the hornady lock n load? I THINK the manual said for 38/357 you would actually need to buy the large pistol plate for the case feeder.

 

[1KPerDay]

The ABLP looks to be awesome from what I can see, and has the much preferred (by me) safety prime setup rather than the "progressive" type gravity-feed slide which I haven't had good luck with. IMO don't sell the LCT though. It's the best and most versatile overall press in the world IMO. You can change calibers in 10 seconds, including primer sizes. You may find that just loading .38/.357 on your LCT is fast enough for your needs. But I understand the desire for a full progressive in your major calibers.

 

[Blue68f100]

I switch calibers all the time on my LNL-AP. As long as your using good locking rings on the dies so they don't move it's not a problem. For the powder there are several ways to do it. I have a separate Powder die base with the PTX all set. So I just move the powder dispenser over to the new base. I use the micrometer head on my dispenser so I just dial in the saved setting for the powder, cycle it 20 times then check and adj as needed. Another option is to buy extra adj stems for each caliber, then swap it out with the push of a button to release it. For the brass dispenser changing tubes and setting every thing takes the most time. Still I'm up and running in 15 min or less. If I don't use the brass feeder you only looking at 5 min or less.

To make the powder dispenser work with out adj you do all of your adj on the die body. Your PTX Stop is locked and NEVER Adjusted again. If you touch the PTX STOP it will throw all of your settings off when you change calibers.

 

[kidneyboy]

Has anyone gone this route?

I have. Bought an ABLP for 45acp, which I load the most. Liked it enough to get a second one just for 9mm. My objective wasn't speed, it was reducing lever pulls per completed round. It is, however, quite a bit faster. Haven't used the LCT since getting the second ABLP.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I use a LNL-AP for 9mm and 327FM and the ABLP for .357 Mag. It works well for me using those two.
If you want to use the Hornady for 9mm and 357 and don't want to change the case feeder setup you can drop the empty cases down through the funnel when the ram is up.
That's how I load 327s on it. It works well enough. I don't have to change any settings to do this. I've never been able to get the case feeder to feed .327FM or .357Mags either one with out it running continuously and never being able to keep up.
That's why I moved it to the ABLP.
PS- I have the large pistol plate for the case feeder and have put the washer between the plate and the drive hub to raise it up and it still won't feed .357 mags well.
It will feed 41 mags as fast as it will feed 9mms and that's fast. Go figure.
Don't think the case head on a .357 weighs enough to make it drop into the shell plate very well. So when I need to load another caliber on that press I drop the cases through the funnel.

So you have a few options, buy the powder measure base, shell plate, and LNL bushings, or buy the ABLP press, shell plate, breech lock bushings, and Hornady die nuts.
I ended up having to buy Hornady die nuts, (clamping type) for my non-Lee dies because the RCBS, Redding, and just about any other companies die nuts hit together and keep you from getting the breech locks bushings in the top of the press.
Not a lot of room on top of the ABLP.
I don't prime on my ABLP so I won't comment about that.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I wouldn't try to dissuade anyone from getting a new press if they want one; after all, I have a Lee ACP just for priming cases.

However... I load both 9mm and .38Spl on my Hornady LNL AP, for competition (lots of rounds), and switch between the calibers on my press all the time (after, maybe 500-1k rounds).

I have different: Powder Drop dies for the different calibers I load already set up... so I don't have to change to accommodate case length.
I use separate powder measure metering inserts for the powder measure rotor for each of my favored loads...so changing powder drops is just a push of a button to change inserts.
I use the Intermediate Drop Tube for the case feeder, which feeds both 9mm and .38Spl cases.

The only real adjustment, when switching between 9mm and .38Spl, besides switch the shell plate on the press and the shell plate in the case feeder is adjusting the Drop Tube to clear the longer case above the pivot block

 

[LeftyRed]

I will mimic the advice of don’t get rid of the LCT. I did that too many times and always acquired soon afterwards The LCT and a Classic Cast are two that if you have them, keep them.

As for the Lee ABLP, I think they are great presses. I have the Pro 4000 version, in 40SW.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

You could wait and go for the new Lee 6 station press thats supposed to be available any time now.
https://leeprecision.com/pro-6000-six-pack-reloading-press/
You can get the press by itself for $350.00

 

[Bartojc]

I very much am considering this as my next move. In fact I have just ordered the quick change set up from Inline so I can change to a press I don't even have yet
Mine would be exclusively for 9mm and I'd use the Turret for 45 Colt, 223, and other Rifle rounds. I'd still find uses for the turret, but churning out lots of 9mm would use the ABLP.

-Jeff