What else Hornady LnL AP needs?

[GreyAwakened]

Hi guys,

I have searched earlier posts, and read as much as my brains can take, but I'd still like to ask a few simple questions.

I have ordered the Hornady progressive press, plus a .45 ACP shellplate. I have already Lee carbide dies (3-set) for .45 ACP, and the whole Lee Anniversary Reloading Kit. I have everything possible for single-stage reloading, but what else do I need for *progressive* reloading? Like must-haves?

I only will load .45 ACP with it.

For example:

- do I need some extra die for powder, or are the Lee dies enough?
- do I need some powder stem or microcaliber-pistol-drum-doohickey?

Thanks

 

[Canuck-IL]

You'll need the Hornady quick release bushings to mount the Lee dies in. Not a must have but I would also get some Hornady lock rings and chuck the rings on the Lee's - the Hornady's snug down securely and make settings easy to repeat when dies are moved. The Lee's tend to wander some.

The Lee dies will work but you'll have to set them very deep into the bushings ... Lee dies have a shorter body than all other brands.

Get the bushings and lock rings at Midway.
/Bryan

 

[GreyAwakened]

Thanks for the reply.

I checked out the instruction manual, and if I understood correctly, the press should come with four (4) bushings and o-rings.

 

[1911user]

A Hornady brand taper crimp die for 45acp. Any other brand will need to be modified, just buy the hornady one and save the hassle. This allows seperate seat and crimp steps which is a big advantage of using a progressive press.

You'll also want to buy the pistol powder drum/insert. The powder measure insert that comes with the press is for rifle-sized powder drops.

If you bought a brand new one that has the newest style powder drop, get the 45 auto expander plug to go with it. That'll drop powder and expand the case neck in the same step which opens up a die station for something else. You could also do this to use any brand taper crimp die in station 4 and leave station 5 empty (it has the ejector wire that normal crimp dies will cut).

 

[caz223]

A coat of blue paint?

No, seriously, I thought about the LNL AP and the lee classic cast working together, and it would just be a thing of beauty.
That would just be way too easy, I think I'm gonna trade my twin 550s and 10 quick change kits for 10 loadmasters.
I bet I could do the trade even up if I started selling stuff on ebay.
10 case fed and bullet fed progressive presses already set up in my basement?
Doesn't that bring a tear to your eye?

 

[EddieCoyle]

A bigger bucket to hold the finished ammo.

If you're going to make a lot of ammo, I recommend the case feeder.

Pay attention to 1911user's advice and go for a Hornady crimp die. All other crimp dies are long enough that when you adjust them to the point where they're actually crimping the cartridge, they'll hit the ejector wire. I had to grind down the non-Hornady dies to make them work.

 

[GreyAwakened]

Ok, guys, thanks for the suggestions.

It seems to me that I have already all the basic things I need, rest is optional and just adds comfort. I may get them at later time.

 

[1911user]

rest is optional and just adds comfort

Which parts are you considering optional that might be added later?

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Buy yourself some akro bins. You'll be extremely glad real quick you did that.

See my post for for new reloaders. Has some information that'll help you make final purchase decisions.

 

[Darth Muffin]

+1 on the pistol powder drum insert. The stock one isn't very accurate and is very tough to use below about 10 grains. It's sort of like pushing in thumbtacks with a sledgehammer, technically it CAN be done but...

Hornady one shot case lube is a good addition. Works good for lubing the moving parts of the press (powder measure, primer system, lock plate) and still helps with pistol brass even though you're using carbide dies that don't require lube.

I'm saving up for the case feeder for mine. I also want to get one of the vibrating primer loaders that Midway sells. Loading primer tubes gets old fast.

Other than that I love it. Great press!

 

[GreyAwakened]

1911user,

I thought that everything else than the L-n-L + shellplate + dies (Lee carbide 3-set) would be optional.

The pistol-powder-stem (or something like that) sounds like it's almost a must to get, but could you help me out which part(s) these are? (product numbers, please).

I looked at Hornady website, but since I don't have the press yet, and have no experience of progressives so far, I don't even know what many of the things are in the web pages

They should add "dummy-descriptions" to the products so that beginners like me would know what to buy

 

[1911user]

This is the pistol powder drum: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=164839

Unless you can find old stock somewhere (doubtful), Hornady has set it up so you really need to buy this part for consistent pistol loading. You'll also need a powder scale to adjust how much powder is dropped from the measure (if you don't have one already).

I would recommend buying a hornady taper crimp die for 45acp. That will allow seperate bullet seating and case taper crimping operations.

 

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I can't prove, but suspect Hornady and RCBS have entered into some business agreements and combined some manufacturing setups, because the Uniflow and the LnL PM's are getting more and more similar, with the RCBS case activated powder drop looking like a clone of the older Hornady model. They're probably trying to reduce costs.

 

[GreyAwakened]

1911user,

ok, thanks for the clarification. I will most propably order it soon.

I will also consider buying the taper crimp die too ...