Used Lock N Load AP?

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VegasAR15

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I have decided that it is time for me to start reloading, and I have settled on the Hornady Lock N Load AP. I have found a used one locally for $300, but it is the older model without the EZject system. It comes with eight shell plates, included in the price. If I am not getting a case feeder anytime soon, is the EZject really necessary? I can always upgrade to the EZject and send the plates in to Hornady to be modified for $10 a piece. I don't want to pass up a good deal if the EZject isn't really that necessary for me at the moment. Would you buy this one, or go new?
 
It depends on how useful the shell plates would be to you. They are cartridge, or cartridge family specific.

A new L-N-L is about $440 and you get 500 free bullets. But, you would have to buy the shell plates you needed.

You did not mention if the press came with dies and/or Lock-N-Load bushings. If included, that would swing the deal in favor of the used press.

See if you can download the manual from Hornady so that you can compare what is supposed to be included with the press and what is actually included from the seller. Some parts may be missing.

My L-N-L has the EZ-ject so I cannot comment there.
 
I know nothing about reloading BUT...

I'm lazy... I'd get whatever is easiest and fastest within fiscally "reasonable" limits. I'm not joking.
 
He gave me the plate numbers, and it looks like about half of them would be useful to me. I think they are about $30 bucks each, so $120 bucks to buy new. Although, if I upgrade to the EZject, then it will cost me $40 to have them modified to be usable with the EZject. I don't think that it comes with any bushings or dies. So I guess if I bought this press, upraded to the EZject and bought those four plates and upgraded them, total price would be about $400, compared to about $540(with 500 free bullets).
 
I am a relatively new LnL-AP owner and have used only the EZject system. My faint recollection is that the only downside of the older ejector wire system was that it got in the way of a few dies (though I cannot remember the details).

You can get a brand new Hornady LnL-AP online for $399 (plus shipping of course. Take a look at this page to judge the value of the 500 free bullets you would get with a new press:

http://www.hornady.com/promotions/get-loaded

A couple things that Hornady is now including with the LNL-AP:

- Plastic rod to put in the primer feeder tube
- Baffle for the powder measure.

THere may be other things as well. As cfullgraf said, my biggest concern would be to make sure that you are getting everything that Hornady ships with the press.
 
I think I will just save myself the hastle and worries and buy new. That way I will also get the 500 free bullets too, might as well get the 45s to feed my new 1911.
 
I am one of two or three people on this board who bought an LnL-AP 2-3 months ago and we're all super happy with them.
 
Buying new makes a lot of sense. You're definitely going to want the EZject - the original wire system was a disaster. It wasn't just that the wire interfered with most dies in the 5th station, it simply never did a good job of ejecting the finished cartridge. I've heard about people who were able to get the old wire to work, but I've never actually met any. It never worked for me so I had to spend the extra money to upgrade to EZject, which works flawlessly - and otherwise I've been very satisfied with my LnL AP.
 
I'm with these guys on buying new. Having said that I'm going to state that my biggest issue with the LnL AP is the large primer feeder. I can't for the life of me get that to work correctly. It continuously locks the large primer slide back and keeps it there when I move the handle on the upwards stroke. Is there a fix to this problem that anyone is aware of?
 
The EZject version is a definite improvement over the previous version and worth the money. I think you are smart to order the new press based on the cost factors you mentioned. I have had my new version LNL AP for about 6 months and it has been excellent with over 10,000 rounds loaded thus far. If you encounter any problems (including priming), call Hornady Tech Support for help. They are great to deal with and if they can't walk you thru the problem, they will have the press shipped back to them for repair.
 
>>>I'm with these guys on buying new. Having said that I'm going to state that my biggest issue with the LnL AP is the large primer feeder. I can't for the life of me get that to work correctly. It continuously locks the large primer slide back and keeps it there when I move the handle on the upwards stroke. Is there a fix to this problem that anyone is aware of?<<<

I had the same problem at first. I used some 320grit emery cloth to smooth the edges of the slide. If you run your fingernail along the upper and lower edges of the long sides of the slide you'll feel the roughness. About 5 minutes with some emery will make those rough edges very smooth. Then apply a little powdered graphite.

I just finished loading 1000 rounds of 45ACP with nary a problem.
 
I vote for a new one.......

Here's one for $362.51.

I've not bought anything from Big Supply Shop before but they've gotten several recommendations here as of late. I just wish their website was easier to navigate. They have had really good prices on the few items I've looked at.

HTH

Seedtick

:)
 
count me in for having a 4month old LNL AP and loving it. I had some issues with large Primers, mostly with them being slightly high, but a call to Hornady, and a new large primer Push and they seat flush or below flush every time now. I just did 1,000 45ACPs in the last 4 days, and have another 1000 i am doing over the weekend before I change it back to small (the only large primer thing I load on it is 45ACP).
 
Dang, I am being tempted again ... it is red in color to blend in with my "other" red presses ... :D

I could really use the free box of 500 .308 bullets too (worth around $100) ... so that's like buying the press for $279!

I will put it on the Christmas list again ... maybe I will get lucky this year.
 
I think I will be ordering it new from Midsouth Shooters. Next question, how are the Hornady New Dimension dies? I see that those are eligible for 100 free bullets, looks like those dies will run me about $30 for each set.
 
When I bought my L-N-L two years ago, some of my 1980 vintage dies did not work mostly because they were too short. So, I had to replace a couple of die sets.

I bought the Hornady in part because of the promotion.

They work just fine. I like the sliding sleeve that holds the bullet during the seating step.

Another nice feature of the Hornady dies is if you want to use a micrometer seating stem, it can be retrofitted to the die, as opposed to buying a whole new die.
 
Another ++ on Hornady Dies, the seating die with micrometer is very good (the sleeve), also very useful is the micrometer for the powder unit, and buy the 10 pack die holders, you will use them! Good Luck on your new hobby!
 
I bought mine over 3yrs ago and upgraded to the ezeject when it was available. If you are reloading short brass like 9mm, 380 the old wire system would hang/bind/pinch what ever you want to call it. Another thing to consider is that the new presses come with rifle and pistol powder cylinders. The original ez only came with Rifle.

As for as primers hanging what I found if you have the sled over traveling (going past) the primers do not have time to drop. Also the addition of weight to the primer column helps a bunch if your clicking along. The reason I use a brass rod with spent primer caps on epoxied on. My press did not come with the plastic pushers, to old.
 
It looks like I will be ordering the press from midsouth shooters as well as the plates and hornady dies for 9mm, 45ACP, .223, and 30.06, more to come at a later date. That should get me 900 free bullets. Add to that the P38 I think I am going to order today and this is going to be one expensive weekend!

Oh wait, then a tumbler, primers, powder, some brass...good thing the wife is out of town for a couple days.
 
I love to help other people spend $$!! Great decision BTW, don't be shy about calling CS at Hornady when you are getting setup, they are very helpful and if you happen to "muck" something up in the process they will replace any part at N/C, in the mail that day. I think you will be happy with your decision, gotta go order a Tumbler, can't let you have all the fun!
 
Oh and...
Keep these guys in mind for components:

Graf & Sons (Starline Brass & Bulk Hornady 45ACP (500) bullets
Starline Brass
Montana Gold Bullets
Midway for misc (good inventory)

I've gotten good fast service from them all in the past few months.
 
because of the free bullet promo, i also got 3 new sets of Hornady dies, they work great, and got me an additional 300 free 185g XTP 45's, not to shabby, my M&P loves these XTPs now, will be sad when i run out.
 
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