Hornady lock n load auto progressive press

[CAG23]

I'm new to reloading and I have done my homework and I know that a single stage press is ideal for beginners but I don't think I could stand the monotony. I have tried researching this press but didn't come up with much so I am here to get ur guys opinion. Also, this press doesn't come in a kit so is there anything else in addition besides components and dies that I would need? I'm mostly going to be loading 45 &40 withtthe possibility of some rifle cartridges later on. Thanks!

[ar15barrels]

What you need before anything else is a reloading manual.
Read the getting started section and they will talk about all the other things you need.

I recommend the Lyman 49th.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=462564

[morphius]

Here's the owners manual for the LNL AP for more reading. This press is very comparable to the Dillon 650, but $125 less. It can be found for ~$359 + delivery or <= $400 delivered. Grafs has them in stock. Often there are some promotions with free dies or bullets, or when I bought, free shipping, T-Shirt and set of dimension dies.

Aside from the press, you'd want a set of digital calipers where you can easily switch between imperial and metrics (~$20 and up) and a reloading scale (digital one that convert grains to grams & ounces, etc).

[CAG23]

I understand and have read a few guides on reloading and they all seem to vary a little when they tell you when you load certain loads even though the guide tells yoy not to deviate from what the guide says. So then I decided to check out stuff about the presses. My idea behind that was if the guides stated how and what to load to and not to deviate then I thought it would be best to get the tools that worked best for me in my situation and reload according to the guide the company recommends. Example, hornady makes a reload guide and presses so I thought that the hornady manual would make since to have with a hornady press, likewise with RCBS and speer. Or does that not matter?

[CAG23]

Ok....great....so you still need a scale and calipers and all the stuff to recondition the brass. Oh and the stuff to trim the cases? Do handgun rounds "grow" like rifle rounds?

[ar15barrels]

Do handgun rounds "grow" like rifle rounds?

No.

[Blademan21]

Do yourself a favor and start with a single stag press. You can find press kits with almost everything you need to start reloading handgun ammo. A progressive press for a first time reloader is too much. Read the link on the Hornady LNL and see if you can follow it,having never reloaded before. You can't without first knowing the basics and how that appiles to the single stag. After you can master the single stag,then move up to a progressive press. You can always use the single stag to size rifle brass..ect. Like others have said,get yourself loading books and READ. Good luck.

[ar15barrels]

Do yourself a favor and start with a single stag press. You can find press kits with almost everything you need to start reloading handgun ammo. A progressive press for a first time reloader is too much. Read the link on the Hornady LNL and see if you can follow it,having never reloaded before. You can't without first knowing the basics and how that appiles to the single stag. After you can master the single stag,then move up to a progressive press. You can always use the single stag to size rifle brass..ect. Like others have said,get yourself loading books and READ. Good luck.

I started with a progessive, but I just used it as a turret press to load one case at a time until I was comfortable with running multiple cases.
It's easy to defeat the auto index on almost any progressive press.
Just make sure that the powder measure is case activated if you do this.

[CAG23]

I have read a few manuals/online resources......like my other post stated......I didnt think the handgun ammo grew like rifle ammo did (I didnt find anything about this in the maunals that I read). I dont mind reading manuals but I would like to only have to read one, the one that I will be using. That is why I started looking at presses. I have thought about a turret press because I think that would help me to not get too discouraged with the time consuming aspect of a single stage. I know that this stuff is DANGEROUS if done correctly and can damage my guns (wouldnt want to do that since I just dropped 1400 on a Kimber), but I think I have the ability to start with a progressive or at least a turret press. I know that this doesnt matter but I able to multi-task well while paying attention to details. My job kinda requires me to, but like I said that all goes to the wayside here. Slow and cautious is the key (its in the manual). The LNL is powder case activated. I liked that the RCBS progressive (pro 2000 maybe) locks out if the case is over filled or under filled. So really, I wanted to know if this press did the same or is that a feature of all the presses nowadays? Thanks all for your help.

[ar15barrels]

I recommend the dillon 650 because of the option to run the powder check die.
It visually shows you the powder level as you are loading and rings a buzzer if the charge is out of range.

[CAG23]

Besides...couldnt I use this press as a single stage press. Just put one case in at a time?....the powder will not drop unless there is a case present.

[ar15barrels]

Besides...couldnt I use this press as a single stage press. Just put one case in at a time?....the powder will not drop unless there is a case present.

now you are getting it...

[M47_Dragon]

I don't think there is anything wrong with starting on a progressive if you think you can handle it (It sounds like you can). I did, but I was lucky enough to have a couple of buddies who were experienced reloaders on speed-dial.

In addition to whatever load books you go with (and you really should have more than one), I also recommend this book - ABC's of Reloading. It does not contain load info, but it is considered by many to be the bible of reloading. A reference you will use for years to come.

[SkyStorm82]

In addition to whatever load books you go with (and you really should have more than one), I also recommend this book - ABC's of Reloading. It does not contain load info, but it is considered by many to be the bible of reloading. A reference you will use for years to come.

What you need before anything else is a reloading manual.
Read the getting started section and they will talk about all the other things you need.

I recommend the Lyman 49th.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=462564

I just got both of those books last week and they were/are money well spent.

[Trakker]

use the progressive as a single stage first, one die at a time to understand what is going on.

If you do get a single stage, get a good one, cast iron preferred. Resizing rifle catridges are so much easier