Hornady LNL AP

[G__Fred]

Received mine in a trade, BEST TRADE I EVER MADE!

Plus the life-time warranty, you cannot go wrong.

[bogorman]

Thanks for the comments and thoughts, I think given funds availability I'm going to give LNL ap a try.

[bigjason6]

You won't regret it!

[Moonman]

The RED machine is a very good machine. The internet has many things to make it even better as time and finances allow you. UltimateReloader.com has a roller handle and a bullet tray and mount along with a floor mounting post. You could purchase his products or use his designs and fabricate your own. (he has the drawings and dimensions posted). If you make things Rust-Oleum Paint REGAL RED is the close match.

The BLUE machine is also a great machine.

[bbqncigars]

My 550 was a great press for every caliber I shoot except .30 Mauser (pistol) and 25-20WCF. The Dillon munched too many precious brass of the latter. The AP has yet to ruin one out of thousands loaded now. For those who worry about stuff working loose: Loctite 290. A medium grade green wicking threadlocker that is applied AFTER final assembly. It will keep fasteners from moving until you put a wrench on them.

[Mike Kerr]

+1 for Milprileb's comments.

This has been a good thread because posters have expressed their own thoughts and experiences while recognizing there are sometimes alternate viewpoints, also with considerable support.

regards,

[JeffHolt]

bbqncigars,
Thanks for the tip on the loctite 290. I'll give it try.

I've used the loctite (blue stuff) and tried very thin mono filament fishing line also, but the LNL subplate still keeps wiggling loose after a couple dozen rounds. I was thinking maybe some liquid metal or 2 part epoxy.

[bogorman]

Well bit the boolit and have a LNL on the way from Cabelas, now just need to clean up my bench.

[mooko]

Haven't seen anybody bring up the true meaning of pain - the RCBS Piggyback unit. A couple of years of loading .223 with it and continual cleaning of spilled powder drove me to narrow down my options to Dillon or Hornady.
I went with Hornady for several reasons. I like the interchangeable powder measure charge tubes. They pop in and out in a second. So, for $8 I can have a charge tube for each load. The CD that comes with it has detailed videos for setup and adjustment. And all the procedures are simple. The LNL system is great for die changes, and the priming system has worked flawlessly for me.
It works so well, that I am spending a lot more time casting to be able to keep up with my shooting.

[Oreo]

I love my lnl-AP. In its current form its hands down one of the best presses ever made, imo. Better then the competing Dillon presses even.

- I think the lnl priming system is the best & safest design out there. Since the primers are slid from the tube by spring pressure you can't crush-ignite a primer by pulling the lever like you can on some presses. Also, since seating the primer has a dedicated forward push on the lever you can feel exactly how the primer is being seated. On other presses seating primers happens along with everything else when you pull down on the lever making it more difficult to sense primer seating issues by touch.
- I think the lnl bushing system far surpasses dillon's tool-head design in terms of convenience and versatility.
- hornady's powder meters perform brilliantly for me. I use the pistol rotor for pistol & the bench rest version for any rifle caliber up to .30-06 (the rifle rotor included with the press is good, but only optimal for larger rifle calibers. The pistol & br meters are more precise for the smaller stuff.)
-The case activated powder drop is a nice feature that I don't think Dillon offers. I could be wrong though.
-the case retaining spring is easier & more convenient then the pins used by Dillon.
-the 1/8 turn increment auto-indexing makes for smoother operation then the 1/4 turn Dillon system.
- price. Cause feature for feature per dollar the lnl pwns the entire Dillon line-up.
- hornady's warranty = dillon's warranty.

I don't have a case feeder or a bullet feeder so I can't comment on those. Hornady's ptx design sucks though. Luckily there's a really good aftermarket version: http://www.powderfunnels.com

Yep, I love me some lnl-AP.

[milprileb]

It all depends

I suspect if you bought a LNL and a Dillon 650 and both left mfg. plant made right, then out of the box you would be well served with either and differences of either system would be what suits your personal preferences. If there were places that let you test ride both machines before purchase, then one could make the right personal choice. I haven't found that place yet.

Then there is opinions and brand loyalty that further cloud the issue at times. Finding the best machine can be quite an event and like chasing FOG. Sometimes you might not find what is best. My Co Ax has yet to show me its better than my old Rock Chucker but .. that may be a BMW vs a Camero in the hands of a old infantryman who just needs wheels.

In the progressives that index, I think its pretty much Dillon 650 vs Hornady LNL with Hornady value priced and Dillon over priced. As to end state of which makes best ammo, the jury can't decide as the evidence is not there to prove one is superior to the other in my opinion. I equate this to buying a 1911 pistol. I own a ton of Colts but when a Taurus 1911 has gone 5600 rounds out of the box with perfect performance and same accuracy then one has to recognize other makers can compete with Colt in 1911 arena. $1300 Colt vs $450 Taurus...what is best? Best by what? Performance ... I can't tell a difference to justify the pain in $ difference.

Trickling down to bottom lines here: You won't go wrong with a LNL in my opinion and I don't own one. I may though.... as the price of all the conversion goodies on a Dillon 650 to load 9mm on the press is almost half of cost of a LNL press..... and the LNL comes with what I think is a better powder measure. The LNL then becomes worth consideration plus the bullet deal they offer and its far an above a better option than buying the single focus Dillon Square Deal press in 9mm that uses odd dies and is same cost as a LNL.

[Sonnypie]

Well bit the boolit and have a LNL on the way from Cabelas, now just need to clean up my bench.

Oh! That is the very hardest part of this whole deal.
Just set up some pictures of your new press to make the drudgery more palatable.

Lots of good stuff here. None of which I'll ever see. No need to. But lots of good stuff.

PS: You need kegs of powder, piles of primers, barrels of boolits, and cases of cases.

Stand by for FUN!

[Colorado4wheel]

-the 1/8 turn increment auto-indexing makes for smoother operation then the 1/4 turn Dillon system.

I found the LnL was always indexing. So I had to pull the handle slower or I would spill powder. On the 650 it only index's during a small portion of the handle travel. So you can actually get a feel for when you hit the index ramp and control the speed of indexing just during that part of the handles travel. It would seem the LnL setup would be better but in actual use I found I preferred the Dillon indexing process much more. But I load fast. 5-6 mins per 100 rds. At a slower pace it's a non-issue on either press.

[williamwaco]

I own an Hornady LnL AP. About 18 months now. Loaded around 20,000 9mm, .38, and .357s on it.


I have seriously mixed emotions about it. It Makes really good ammo, really quickly but I can't really say I like it.

The LnL Bushings are an abomination. They work loose regularly and in the beginning I found my self regularly picking the resizing die up off the floor.

Ejected primers regularly hang between the primer drop hole and the shell plate requiring the shell plate to be jiggled manually before it will index.

I have now learned that the resizing die and the powder measure MUST be reseated and tightened with a wrench every time I change the primer tube.

I have not used either the Dillon or the RCBS so I don't know which I would choose but If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now, I would try the green or the blue. ( That said, I really do not like the idea of the primer strips used by RCBS.)


"The grass is always greener..."

[Waldog]

I own an Hornady LnL AP. About 18 months now. Loaded around 20,000 9mm, .38, and .357s on it.


I have seriously mixed emotions about it. It Makes really good ammo, really quickly but I can't really say I like it.

The LnL Bushings are an abomination. They work loose regularly and in the beginning I found my self regularly picking the resizing die up off the floor.

Ejected primers regularly hang between the primer drop hole and the shell plate requiring the shell plate to be jiggled manually before it will index.

I have now learned that the resizing die and the powder measure MUST be reseated and tightened with a wrench every time I change the primer tube.

I have not used either the Dillon or the RCBS so I don't know which I would choose but If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now, I would try the green or the blue. ( That said, I really do not like the idea of the primer strips used by RCBS.)


"The grass is always greener..."

Interesting! I have had my LNL for about 4+ years. I have never had a bushing come loose. And, I only tighten my bushings finger tight. As for primers hanging up. I have experienced that one. I adjusted my decapping pin to run a little deeper. Say 1/32" of an inch and I have not had any further problems. UNLESS I GET A CRIMPED WCC CASE. Then the primer may hang up.

This may be a dumb question but, have you talked to Hornady Customer Service? They will make it right.

I have loaded on all BLUE press models and they have their issues as well. If you don't believe me check out http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?act=idx
There are lots of people having issues with Blue presses.

Grass isn't always greener......

[1in9twist]

I have 2 LNL's and am very happy with performance. The 650 is a very nice machine, but the LNL filled the need at a good price point. Plus some free bullets never hurts either.

[Oreo]

There's a real simple solution to the LNL-bushings working loose. You need to replace the rubber O-ring on each one with a slightly thicker one. Harbor Freight sells an O-ring kit that has ones the perfect size. The bushings are real snug this way.

I can't imagine why Hornady hasn't figured this out & made the change themselves yet other then being stubborn. Mr. Hornady himself swore up & down on the phone to me that the old ejection wire system worked perfectly. That was just after they announced the new ez-ject system. I wanted to purchase an upgrade but he wouldn't sell me one. Took a bunch of us hounding the **** out of him before he decided to offer an ez-ject upgrade kit.

[Moonman]

Some very talented people are hard to convince sometimes that they slightly missed the mark.

Oreo, Do you happen to have the number or exact size of the "O"Ring that will accomplish the fix?

Oreo,
Please post it for others to share info with all others if you have or can find it.

[Colorado4wheel]

I own an Hornady LnL AP. About 18 months now. Loaded around 20,000 9mm, .38, and .357s on it.


I have seriously mixed emotions about it. It Makes really good ammo, really quickly but I can't really say I like it.

The LnL Bushings are an abomination. They work loose regularly and in the beginning I found my self regularly picking the resizing die up off the floor.

Ejected primers regularly hang between the primer drop hole and the shell plate requiring the shell plate to be jiggled manually before it will index.

I have now learned that the resizing die and the powder measure MUST be reseated and tightened with a wrench every time I change the primer tube.

I have not used either the Dillon or the RCBS so I don't know which I would choose but If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now, I would try the green or the blue. ( That said, I really do not like the idea of the primer strips used by RCBS.)


"The grass is always greener..."

Hornady will send you a shim to solve the issue of the dies loosening for free. In my experience on my LnL, I only needed it for my Powder Measure. The others dies stayed put. With the shim the powder measure would be so tight I had to use a wrench to get it on or off. Sometimes I would loosen my die adjustment on the measure when I moved the powder measure. PITA. For me the 650 has been a far better machine. It's not even close from a "fuss factor" point of view once the machine is setup properly. I have not used a RCBS Pro 2000.

[KYCaster]

Well, color me lucky!

I have two LNL's and haven't had any of the problems you guys describe.

Indexing has always been smooth and positive. Even with nearly 100% load density in 38 Super I don't get any spilled powder. I admit, I don't normally go at it like killin' snakes but I did try running at 3 to 4 seconds a cycle and no problems.

I haven't had any problem with the LNL bushings loosening....don't quite understand what you're saying. I can't see how torquing with a wrench would help anything.

This is the first I've heard of problems ejecting primers. Complaints of feeding primers aren't unusual, but Hornady's spent primer system is WAY ahead of the competition. Forget to empty Dillon's little catch cup and you have primers all over the floor. The Lee Load Master catches the primers inside the hollow ram...you empty it by sliding a little sheet metal cover and poking at it with a coat hanger. Forget to empty it and it seats the spent primer back into the case you just took it out of. Lee's Pro 1000 doesn't even attempt to catch primers, they just fall everywhere.

The original wire loaded round ejector works very well for me and I see no need to upgrade to the newer system. I have shell plates for anything I can reasonably expect to load in the foreseeable future and it would be an unnecessary expense to replace them all.

So, I guess the bottom line is....we all have a different idea about what is acceptable and each of us has to decide for ourselves which product will suit our needs.

Jerry