Reloading guidance

[Chaosh1]

I currently use the Lee turret classic deluxe and am considering the Hornady Lock n Load AP.

I currently reload:
9MM
.223
.308
30-06
6.5 creed
300Blkout

For the most part I use the Lee as a single stage as the powder dispenser isn't so great for rifle rounds.

Would my dies from LEE work in the Lock n Load AP?

Is it worth the investment?

how is the powder dispenser on the Lock N Load AP?

[waveslayer]

Your dies will work fine in any press. I use a Dillon 650 with a bullet feeder, I can bust out ammo so fast. If you are loading precision stick to the single stage. Or do all the bulk brass prep etc on the progressive rock and then hand load the powder then go back the progressive you will be fine. . Also on the Dillon you can buy a trimmer to make 300 blackout brass super easily.

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[Jmoreno88]

i use the Hornady lnl and extremely happy. Yes to all your questions and the i have no issues with the powder dispenser at all and I don't plan on changing mine

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

[Chaosh1]

Can someone explain how the powder drop is adjusted.
What increments? that sort of thing. and how close is it to your "Set" amount?

I have read numerous reviews and the only thing I see is it would appear that powder drop adjustment is done in .25 grain increments for the small drop but can't confirm. I cant find info on the Big drop and unfortunately this is where a majority of my rounds would come from.

[Michael in California]

The LNL powder drop does not have pre-defined increments. Nor do other similar designs. If you believe it has pre-defined increments, you haven't done your homework. I have no clue what you mean by "big drop" Hornady has no such verbiage.

You have a screw in a hole in a rotor. All you are doing is adjusting how deep the screw is placed in the hole which defines the volume of powder in the rotor.

You are measuring powder based on volume, not weight. Same as most other systems on presses. If you have an inconsistent powder density, you get inconsistent results. Stick powders meter less well, fine powders meter best. Same as any other rotor based powder drop.

[Chaosh1]

One of the reviews listed here:

http://www.realguns.com/archives/191.htm

stated this:

"The powder measure is packaged with two rotors, one for larger powder charges, 5 - 100 grains, 5 grain adjustment per full metering plunger rotation. The smaller pistol unit dispenses 0.5 - 17 grains in roughly quarter grain increments. The rotors are easy to change with a spring loaded, "press to release" buttons on each. Case actuated linkage adjustment and charge calibration were simple tasks. Multiple drop tubes are included with the kit."


This is the only reason i ask.

[Michael in California]

Just read up on rotor based powder drops. Its dirt simple. Its a screw in a hole, you can adjust it anyway you want. The problem is repeatability, and that is a function of the powder.

For instance, I have to adjust the powder drop each reloading session just a bit. It varies with temperature and humidity. During a reloading session, I get .1-.2 grain variance using titegroup for 9mm and .45.

I weight 30-06 on a scale for use in my single stage.

Powder drops, regardless of brand are imperfect. You just have to deal with the variance.

I do not reload rifle calibers on a progressive. I do some prep work, but the bulk is done on a single stage for repeatability. I deprime and size on the progressive. I trim on the single stage. I prime on the progressive just because I don't have priming tubes for the single stage. I weigh powder and the seat on the single stage.

If I did .223 for plinking, I'd do it on the progressive, otherwise, more precise loads are done on the single stage.

[Chaosh1]

All I really do is plinking. I can live with a .1 or .2 variance. I will be looking to buy one, I noticed amazon has them for $392, free shipping.


On a side note. Is the plate that the dies sits in removable? or do i need to setup each die every time I change ammo type?

[BigBronco]

The LNL powder measure is one of my favorites. The quick release and removal of the metering screw allows for some real time saving advantages. First you can purchase a funnel tube that allows you to drain the powder back in to it's storage bottle with out removing it from the press as if the twist and remove feature was not enough. Next you can buy extra metering screws. This allows you to store them with your dies and for the most part after double checking once they are set they should be realitivly close to the setting they had before removal. This is a huge cost savings over the Dillon guys who seem to buy a complete powder measure for each caliber they load for.

[Michael in California]

You really aren't reading enough or looking at enough videos.

The lock-n-load is called that for a reason. It is supplied with 1/4 turn fittings for each die. Set them once, remove and replace as often as you like without adjustment. There is no head replacement like a Dillon. 5 individual "quick change" die fittings. Real simple.

Caliber changes without a primer size change take about two minutes excepting powder drop adjustment. The primer size change takes another two minutes or so. Its super easy.

You do need to by LnL fittings for all your dies sets. The press comes with one set of 5. If all you do is one caliber, you are golden. Try to find the 10 packs as they are the best deal.

Watch the LnL Youtube videos from Neutered10. You will learn everything you need to know to set up the press. Do this before you buy. If you don't like what you see, buy the Dillon.

[Michael in California]

This is a huge cost savings over the Dillon guys who seem to buy a complete powder measure for each caliber they load for.

The other side of that coin is if you want to buy a complete second powder measure, you have to buy multiple parts. They don't have a ready to go LnL powder measure as just a catalog part.

You have to buy the measure and then the lower half separate. Of course, you can also just but lower halves and keep the same measure and get most of the benefit.

[stand125]

I have had all kind of presses ( loadmasters, 450's, 550's and numerous single stages ). I honestly keep going back to my LEE Classic turret. It is so simple to change calibers and it just never has any issues. I can easily make 50 pistol rounds in 15 minutes which seems plenty to me and the disks cover all my pistol powder drop needs. I did love the DILLON 550's but it took longer to change everything over to a new caliber so sold it and went back to the LEE Classic Turret. You could buy alot of components for what a new Progressive would cost.

Keep in mind though that all this opinion is coming from a guy who load develops at the range with a LEE hand press so I am not a guy that pumps out a ton of ammo. I also spend most of my time shooting the breeze with buddies at the range and hardly ever shoot more than 50 rounds.

[dwalker]

I have had all kind of presses ( loadmasters, 450's, 550's and numerous single stages ). I honestly keep going back to my LEE Classic turret. It is so simple to change calibers and it just never has any issues. I can easily make 50 pistol rounds in 15 minutes which seems plenty to me and the disks cover all my pistol powder drop needs. I did love the DILLON 550's but it took longer to change everything over to a new caliber so sold it and went back to the LEE Classic Turret. You could buy alot of components for what a new Progressive would cost.

Keep in mind though that all this opinion is coming from a guy who load develops at the range with a LEE hand press so I am not a guy that pumps out a ton of ammo. I also spend most of my time shooting the breeze with buddies at the range and hardly ever shoot more than 50 rounds.

I resemble this remark. I have had progressives and I keep going back to the classic turret. I use it as a "semi" progressive to load pistol rounds.
The process is not bad, I deprime on a single stage and so handle every single case so they all get checked, then I hand prime them. Yes, I could do both operations on the press, BUT its my process and I am sticking with it.
I then go back to the press and expand, charge using a Lee auto disk with the adjustable setup rather than the disk, then seat the bullet, then crimp. Fairly efficient and meets the needs. I sometimes miss having the progressive throwing out a few hundred rounds an hour, but for the most part I dont.

I do all rifle loading on a single stage press. Yes, even when loading 500 or more .223 rounds for 3gun matches.

[actionwatcher]

Unlikely

Is it worth the investment?

The correct answer will be "it depends".
More likely answer will be NO.

I have both classic and LnL. For the small amounts < 2-3K a year I don't see any financial benefits (or on that matter any others) using LnL instead of Lee classic. Unless you buy LnL for $200 with all the plates and bushings and expanding inserts/dies and sell your Lee for at least $201.
But again I have absolutely no trouble with powder measure on Lee and I use my turret press as a turret press. My variations of powder drops are on the border of accuracy of the mechanical scale. Granularity of powder drops is around 0.2 grain and I found it completely acceptable. I yet to feel and outshoot that kind of difference in rifle rounds but that's me.

So for me LnL does NOT provide
- more accurate rounds (in the terms I care)
- faster round production
- take less space
- faster caliber change

But that is about all I care. But than why did I buy LnL? Pure cheapness. It was less than half price with almost all the plates I needed. Plus I already had Hornady bullet feeder.

[tonyjr]

1st , I run a load master - I have maybe 10 powder disks and have put ll of them in the tumbler with walnut , then corn . This polishes them .
2nd - I only use hodgdon ball powders .
A .2 variance is fine for the 357 , 40 , 44 , 45 and 50 .
A .1 variance for the 25 32 and 380 , 38 and 9 mm .
I keep adjusting till I get 5 dumps in that range .
For those who use Lees , I have "touched / reamed / counter sunk different disks . I polish the ream ones with a dermal and the cotton balls .