Well this was a heckuva find!

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chokeu2

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Many moons ago, as in probably 10 years worth, I bought a Hornady Lock-n-Load AP. I had the noble intent of learning reload.

Well, at the time I was in the middle of some domestic sparring that earned me the right to divorce satan's spawn.

Long story short, I packed up my life; and promptly forgot about my Hornady LnL.

I found it while cleaning out some boxes in the utility section of my basement. A place not often ventured...

Now here is the problem. I have NO CLUE where to start with reloading; and frankly, I have no idea if I have everything that I need. The reason I didn't get started immediately when I got the rig was because there was no documentation that came with it. At the time, spending time chasing it down was not a luxury I had. :banghead:

So, could someone tell me what I'm looking at; and what appears to be missing?

I'm going to reach out to Hornady and seek out whatever documentation exists for this thing.

Then I guess I'll find a reloading for dummies book. :)

HornadyLnL.gif
 
You could take a ride to Advanced Bullets in Temple (I-20 West). Really good people, they will probably be glad to show you about the press (and sell you a manual, powder, primers....) If you want, PM me and I could meet you there one day.
 
as far as learning to reload goes, you could check into a NRA certified class if there is one in your area. there were a lot of times that i wish i would have.
 
Thanks guys!
I have to say I'm blown away. You guys just made this super easy to get my head around.

I'll make good use of the time ya'll took in responding.

MtnCreek, I'll drop you a line; that is a trip myself and a buddy would love to take.
 
I just downloaded the manual, and found Hornady's youtube page, where they have a series of 12 instructional video's; starting with setting it up, to using it.

And not only did those video's show me that I have a LOT to learn; but it also showed me how many parts did not come with my LnL. It make me remember why I didn't get started when I first got the system. No manuals, parts missing, no real assistance from the place I bought it; which by the way was Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna GA.

I guess I'll be seeing just how helpful Hornady customer service is! :D
 
Don't be upset that it doesn't come with everything you need to start reloading. You still need dies, scale, trimmer, calipers, etc. The Hornady LNL AP is a good machine. Enjoy.
 
ABC's of Reloading

The ABC's of Reloading is an EXCELLENT resource to with which to start. It is compiled by a group of editors to give a good primer in the reloading hobby. Full of information (but not load recipes), it describes the process and most of the equipment out there.

It is a "must have" for handloaders from novice to expert. Any edition will do. (They vary from year to year, but as an instructional source for the new handloader, the basics are all pretty much the same. The editorial "voices" may differ, but the variety is what you want.

$17 at Amazon.com and probably also available at your local library.

Almost any handloading manual has its early chapters devoted to the basics of handloading as well. I like "Lyman's Loading Manual", but Lee's "Modern Reloading by Richard Lee" is good, too, though a little self-aggrandizing.

Go with the "ABC's", "Lyman's" and Hornady's web site and Customer Service is my advice. Certainly get Hornady's Owner's manual specific to your press--Absolutely!

There are also many good videos on line that did not exist when I started loading.

What will you be loading for?

I suggest, when you do start, do not use your press in its full progressive capacity. That will have multiple operations occurring simultaneously. Too much to keep track of all at once for the novice (in my opinion)

Better to do your loading in one of two ways (at first, until you are familiar enough with the process to do instinctively)

1) Batch processing: Put one cartridge in the shell holder carousel and do one operation on it and take it out and place it in a loading block. Do 20 or 50 of those (a box's worth.) Then pass those same 20 or 50 through the next operation. Then the same 20 or 50 "batch" of cartridge cases through the next operation. Until you have a batch of completed cartridges.

2) Continuous processing: Put one cartridge in the shell holder carousel and pass it through all the operations, one at a time until you have a completed cartridge, then take it out of the press. Then do the same with the second cartridge.

Either way, do one operation (die station) at a time.

Later on, you can insert an empty cartridge case into each slot of the shell holder carousel (more properly known as a "shell plate") as they come around to position one. In this way (after the first few strokes, until you fill all positions on the shell plate) you produce a finished round with each stroke of the press handle. But then you have several operations happening simultaneously (which makes me nervous, even after 35 years reloading). I prefer to watch things one at a time (so I use an auto-indexing turret now). But that's just my preference. The speed of the progressive is a real benefit, and my progressive press was not as sophisticated as your Hornady.

Good luck. Thanks for asking our advice.

Lost Sheep


The Put one cartridge in the shell holder carousel and pass it through all stations until you get a completed round
 
@Lost Sheep: I love that guidance, and the methodical approach you advocate. I have to admit, I would not have thought of that on my own; in part thanks to the sheer volume of information I'm trying to digest.

In fact, that makes me want to go get a basic loader that requires you to do a single operation, on a single bullet at a time. It would obviously take longer, but I'm not reloading to crank out bullets quickly. I want bullets to perform better, and making them quickly doesn't enter into that.

Oh! And I also found Lee's Modern Reloading in another box last night. Wonder what else I'll find... None the less, I'm literally enroute to Barnes and Noble to see if they have the ABC's in stock, after I eat this righteous burger; and pop off about 50 rounds at my range (which is on the way to the book store.) :)

Again guys, thanks for the guidance. I will be heeded.

And the links to those sites, makes this part of the shooting hobby as interesting as the shooting part itself. Thanks for that. I think the sensation is called.... fulfillment.
 
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