Hornady LNL AP BUSHINGS

[deltaenterprizes]

I just got my second LNL AP and I am making bushings so I can do away with having to buy Hornady bushings for all my die sets.
I started out with a Pro-7 in the early 80s and I am not in a big hurry when I change calibers so I am making this press and have made my other one with fixed 7/8”-14 holes.

I was wondering if I could just have Super Glued the quick change bushings and saved myself a lot of time?
I like the quick change bushing for the powder measure, it makes it easy to empty!
Bushings finished and installed!
Now to install and set the dies!

[cheese1566]

Same boat here.
Never too impressed or felt need to save time with the bushing idea. But it is handy with the powder measure.
I contemplated tapping set screws on the side of the holes to lock the bushings.

But I have enough bushings now for all me dies.

[W.R.Buchanan]

The LNL bushing system doesn't really help you all that much with a Turret or Progressive press. both tend to be left "Set up" for long periods.

Where that system does come in handy is on a Single stage press. I sell a LnL version of my Hand Press and it works really well for loading pistol rounds like .44's as it is quick to change the dies as you run thru a batch of 50 cartridges. There are 5 die changes for my .44's so it does speed things up.

if you are loading short runs of Rifle ammo with only two dies it is pointless.

Randy

[Moleman-]

With their excellent split rings that will lock in a die I don't see the need to go to the LNL system. At some point I will upgrade my projector press and if I have to get one with the bushings I'm liking the set screw idea as I also use them on a single stage press and see no reason to change or get bushings for a couple dozen die sets.

[44magLeo]

Quick lock bushings, Lee or Hornady, both just a gimmick to make a bit more cash.
Leo

[W.R.Buchanan]

Leo: in some cases these parts do benefit the reloader. For simple reloading of common Hunting Rifle cartridges for short runs like 20 or 50 rounds they don't help very much.

By the same token you could get the same results with a Lee Classic Loader for that amount of ammo for $35.

If I was only loading for one or two rifle rounds like lets say, .243 and .30-06, I wouldn't have any more reloading gear than a couple of Lee Loaders a priming tool and a scale, and plastic hammer,,, which is exactly what I started out with in 1971, and I still have all of it.

I bought my first press, a Rock Chucker, in 1978 because I started loading .44's and was doing 50-100 at a time and needed to move faster. I then started Casting my own Boolits with Lee Moulds and now have every reloading tool known to man and produce some of it myself.

The great thing about Reloading is you can get into it with as little or as much as you want.

This is America and we are still relatively free to do what we want.

Randy

[Carrier]

Well if the Hornady bushings are a gimmick it’s one that I sure like.

[Muddydogs]

Quick lock bushings, Lee or Hornady, both just a gimmick to make a bit more cash.
Leo

Your not kidding. Wish I would have just used the set screw idea and locked the bushings into my LnL years ago and saved a bunch of money on bushings.

All this talk about saving time changing dies is just talk, were reloading not working piecemeal so the extra minute or so it takes to screw 5 dies out of the LnL and screw in new dies isn't that big of a deal. Its along the same lines as guys needing to justify wanting another LnL press so they use the excuse that one is set to large primer and the other is set to small primer because the 2 minutes it takes to switch primer systems is such a hassle that it justify's spending $500 on a second press.

[Petander]

Years ago I got a L'n'L for free from a friend who didn't like it and went with Dillon. Thanks again O.T.E.

The first thing I did was lock the bushings.

Those O-rings in the bushing system basically turn your good dies into Lees.

[BK7saum]

Years ago I got a L'n'L for free from a friend who didn't like it and went with Dillon. Thanks again O.T.E.

The first thing I did was lock the bushings.

Those O-rings in the bushing system basically turn your good dies into Lees.

I would disagree. The lee system has to be reset each use or adjusted periodically. I am NOT a fan of the lee o-ring die nuts. I have no issues with the LNL bushings. The O-rings in the bushing system are just there for friction to keep them from backing out. The die adjustment is set by the engagement surfaces on the busing system, just like headspace is set by the lugs on a bolt action rifle. The bolt may travel forward just as the die may have movement downward, but the critical measurement is maintained as the rifle bolt lugs sets back against the lug abutments upon firing or the bushing engagement surfaces maintain contact upon performing the die function. You can rotate the die and bushing some and still maintain the same critical die setting. You CANNOT rotate a Lee die with oring nut and maintain the same die setting. A die moves 0.0714" per rotation, that is 0.0089" per 1/8 turn of the die.

[W.R.Buchanan]

The LNL system works as advertised. As far a being a gimmick, well that is in the eye of the beholder.

I sell my BPM Hand Press as a plain 7/8-14 top plate or with a LnL top plate. If you are loading pistol rounds where you are using 4-5 dies then the Quick Change feature is useful. If you are only loading a few rounds with only 2 dies then no so much.

I sell twice as many LnL Presses as Standard ones. Reason being, the LnL Version can be used either way.

The place the LnL feature really helps is when you are working up loads at the range and loading 5 or 10 rounds at a time. With a die change time of seconds and having to use 4-5 dies to complete the rounds, the savings in changeover time quickly pays for the $20 more the LnL costs over the standard version.

Here's a video of me loading 5 rounds of .44 Mag Mid Range in <8 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEpYQMdnxHY&t=1s

I only keep LnL bushings on dies that I use frequently like my .44's. For 2 or 3 die rifle sets like .308's where I use a Lee Crimp die, I leave the dies adjusted but take the bushing off after use and recycle them onto other dies as needed. I kind of have an advantage here as I buy quantities of Conversion Bushings and Die Bushings direct from Hornady for my product so I always have a bunch laying around that I can use as I see fit.

By the same token, having a set of Die Bushings on every set of dies you own seems like a waste to me,,, unless you are using all of your dies frequently. This seldom happens to me as I usually reload in spurts and load ammo as needed. If I am loading my high volume ammo like .40 S&W .45 ACP .223 then I set up the Dillon 550B and make lots that will last me for a year or so.

I load all my .308's .30-06's .303's .45-70's .44 Spec/Mags and anything else that comes along that is short runs on my Hand Press now as it is as fast or faster than my Rockchucker. Also sitting at the dinner table in my dining room/living room is much more comfortable than my shop which is currently today at 49 F and a Virtual Tomb.

Everybody figures out their own way to partake in this hobby. Some buy everything known to man, others get by just fine with a Lee Loader and a plastic mallet. However a good solid understanding of how and why people do what they do is always helpful in understanding the discipline.

My hope is that all of you share your experience with others here, and those nearer to you. Passing the info along will keep this Hobby going for a long time as you never know if you will need to use it for its real intended purpose. IE: Defense of the Republic.

Never think for a moment that just because Trump said last night, that the US will never be a "Socialist Country," that they won't keep trying. The whole reason why they have been going stupid for the last two years is because they almost had us in the bag with Obama, and with Hildegard they would have been able to push this country over the edge into the Socialist/Communist form of population control.

We were that close !!! Just remember what the 2nd Amendment is really all about. It may need to be used for that purpose in our lifetimes. And if you are old and think your time is past then consider this,,, what about if you come back in your next life to a world under Communist Control. That would really suck wouldn't it.

Just be willing to fight until you die !!!

Hope this was inspirational?

Randy