Hornandy Lock N Load Press

[JagerDog]

I bought my LNL AP from a first time reloading guy who didn't load 200 shells and got frustrated cuz he didn't want to do the homework. Even had the rifle cam in the powder measure for 45 ACP. I even got 400 of the 500 free bullets, sold a bunch of the peripherals I already had and ended up with a dirt cheap press...seriously in the price point of a Lee turret. My gain.

It works very well for my 500-1000 rounds and switch calibers/loads. I still use my Redding T7 for most rifle rounds, but the AP has a permanent home.

Personally, I think any progressive is going to be a headache for 80% of first time loaders. Walk awhile before you try to run. The LNL AP is a bit more flexible.

I forget the author, but there's a youtube explaining a LOT of do's and don'ts. A lockwasher, a bit of de-horning the primer shuttle, etc.

[09cs]

I bought my LNL AP from a first time reloading guy who didn't load 200 shells and got frustrated cuz he didn't want to do the homework. Even had the rifle cam in the powder measure for 45 ACP. I even got 400 of the 500 free bullets, sold a bunch of the peripherals I already had and ended up with a dirt cheap press...seriously in the price point of a Lee turret. My gain.

It works very well for my 500-1000 rounds and switch calibers/loads. I still use my Redding T7 for most rifle rounds, but the AP has a permanent home.

Personally, I think any progressive is going to be a headache for 80% of first time loaders. Walk awhile before you try to run. The LNL AP is a bit more flexible.

I forget the author, but there's a youtube explaining a LOT of do's and don'ts. A lockwasher, a bit of de-horning the primer shuttle, etc.

Bill Morgan I think his name was

[CrysisMonkey]

My LNL works great. I've never had any real issues. I did need to adjust the indexing when I first bought it. I'll sit and run 500 bullets at a time.

It goes back to the debate of which is better - Ford or GM. Toyota or Honda. Dunkin Doughnuts or Krispy Kreams.

It's what you like, and what you can afford.

Do note, all manufactures have built a product that has failed or haven't met expectations at some point. To say "my buddies brand y never worked right so I bought brand x" is not always a valid argument. Could of had a defective unit and didn't get it replaced or repaired under warranty.

[Beleaguered]

I bought my LNL AP from a first time reloading guy who didn't load 200 shells and got frustrated cuz he didn't want to do the homework. Even had the rifle cam in the powder measure for 45 ACP. I even got 400 of the 500 free bullets, sold a bunch of the peripherals I already had and ended up with a dirt cheap press...seriously in the price point of a Lee turret. My gain.

How does one not manage to do the homework for setting up the LnL AP? I got mine a few weeks back and between the manual, DVD that came with, series of videos Hornady does on Youtube, and then videos from guys like Bill Morgan, I found nearly every question I had answered with just a few minutes of searching around.

I can't attest to how well the LNL AP itself works though since I'm waiting for a new drop tube to come. The one I got in with everything had something was completely blocked, so powder wouldn't drop. Hornady was really good about approving the warranty once I described the issue at least.

[at_liberty]

<snip.

I can't attest to how well the LNL AP itself works though since I'm waiting for a new drop tube to come. The one I got in with everything had something was completely blocked, so powder wouldn't drop. Hornady was really good about approving the warranty once I described the issue at least.

We want pics of that "blocked tube". Hard to imagine something that couldn't be poked free.

[Beleaguered]

I gave it a pretty solid push and couldn't poke it free. *shrug* Forgive the image quality. The only camera I have comes on my phone, and I'm not one to really aim for anything beyond "see stuff in photo? good!"

http://i.imgur.com/I5FSeyo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CosiShG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/408O204.jpg

[at_liberty]

I gave it a pretty solid push and couldn't poke it free. *shrug* Forgive the image quality. The only camera I have comes on my phone, and I'm not one to really aim for anything beyond "see stuff in photo? good!"

http://i.imgur.com/I5FSeyo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CosiShG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/408O204.jpg

If you instead order a caliber specific PTX (powder through expander) you will spill less powder. If you are using that funnel, you must have an expander die, so let that do the expanding and just set the PTX to do no more than activate the powder measure. Those funnels will cause powder to fly. If you need to conserve stations in use, then you use the PTX for expanding/belling.

[Beleaguered]

If you instead order a caliber specific PTX (powder through expander) you will spill less powder. If you are using that funnel, you must have an expander die, so let that do the expanding and just set the PTX to do no more than activate the powder measure. Those funnels will cause powder to fly. If you need to conserve stations in use, then you use the PTX for expanding/belling.

Spill less powder? If powder even made it through the tube to my case, that'd be a wonderful improvement over what's happening. It doesn't, though, so I think one of us is misunderstanding something.

Those photos must be pretty bad if you're seeing funnel when the part being shown is drop tube.

[chknlyps2]

Spill less powder? If powder even made it through the tube to my case, that'd be a wonderful improvement over what's happening. It doesn't, though, so I think one of us is misunderstanding something.

Those photos must be pretty bad if you're seeing funnel when the part being shown is drop tube.

What he is saying is that, if that drop tube was the way it should have been... the PTX tubes are much better and you spill less powder than a properly working funnel tube.

This is the funnel part of the drop tube, it seals around the outside of the case and leaks a little. A PTX (Powder Through Expanding) tube seals on the inside while it bells (expands) the case mouth at the same time.

[Pablo5959]

I think that could be your problem.

[Beleaguered]

What he is saying is that, if that drop tube was the way it should have been... the PTX tubes are much better and you spill less powder than a properly working funnel tube.

This is the funnel part of the drop tube, it seals around the outside of the case and leaks a little. A PTX (Powder Through Expanding) tube seals on the inside while it bells (expands) the case mouth at the same time.

And what you're describing still doesn't sound anything like the drop tube -- at least not in the LNL AP that I was shipped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4OEoYpFA1I&t=3m

Mine is exactly like this video. The closest thing I can think of what you and at_liberty are describing which seals on the case is what the Hornady guy in the above video refers to as a bushing. Their manual's parts listing calls them "powder sleeves" unless you start using the PTXs.

Is that what you're referring to?

[chknlyps2]

And what you're describing still doesn't sound anything like the drop tube -- at least not in the LNL AP that I was shipped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4OEoYpFA1I&t=3m

Mine is exactly like this video. The closest thing I can think of what you and at_liberty are describing which seals on the case is what the Hornady guy in the above video refers to as a bushing. Their manual's parts listing calls them "powder sleeves" unless you start using the PTXs.

Is that what you're referring to?

Yes, what I was referring to is what they call the bushing in that video, your pictures look just like it, hard to tell with the light blurring the length, the chipped area on your pic looks just like the funnel end that the case rides up on to charge. I have heard many people call the "bushing" a drop tube. What we were saying is that a PTX works way better than the bushing with the funnel. Here is one for .45 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/591...ProductFinding

[Beleaguered]

Yes, what I was referring to is what they call the bushing in that video, your pictures look just like it, hard to tell with the light blurring the length, the chipped area on your pic looks just like the funnel end that the case rides up on to charge. I have heard many people call the "bushing" a drop tube. What we were saying is that a PTX works way better than the bushing with the funnel. Here is one for .45 http://www.midwayusa.com/product/591...ProductFinding

The PTX may be the second coming of Jesus as far as powder charges are concerned, but it's not going to help if the four inch steel tube sitting above is blocking the flow of powder. I get that a PTX works well, and the point I've been alluding to this whole time as that it's irrelevant to the issue I'm having.

The photos are of what Hornady's parts listing refers to as a "drop tube." In that same video, it's the ~four inch tube that threads into the base of the powder measure and presses against the top of the sleeve. If you bring up the PDF I linked previously -- Page 11, Item #15, Production #392705.

What he calls a bushing in the video that you're saying people are calling drop tubes? Those would be parts 16-20 in that same listing.

[chknlyps2]

The PTX may be the second coming of Jesus as far as powder charges are concerned, but it's not going to help if the four inch steel tube sitting above is blocking the flow of powder. I get that a PTX works well, and the point I've been alluding to this whole time as that it's irrelevant to the issue I'm having

I got that last time, that's why I said

Yes, what I was referring to is what they call the bushing in that video, your pictures look just like it, hard to tell with the light blurring the length, the chipped area on your pic looks just like the funnel end that the case rides up on to charge.

Hard to tell in your pics that your problem is with the 4 inch tube, it seems that at_liberty might have thought the same as me. Good luck and I hope Hornady gets you up and running soon.

[09cs]

For those of you who use the PTX, do you use the Hornady ones of the powderfunnels.com one?