Slight Regret

[socal147]

I was into reloading long ago. I had a Rock Chucker I think. Loved to work loads and see how they performed.

Today I am the proud owner of a Hornady LnL. Trouble is I kind of miss setting up for each individual step of the process. I definitely miss checking the powder throw of each charge. I still dont have good consistancy with the included powder measure. Using Unique I get +-0.3 grains. Not good. .45 ACP calls for 8.1 optimum (per manual, not tested real life). Yes. I did clean the hell out of the measure.
I dont like how the primers seat. There is no 'feel' to it.
I am seriously considering selling this thing off and going back to old school. Any thoughts on my rant.

[grant22]

Nothing wrong with you and it's not a rant. It sounds like you know what you want (lucky for you), you just gotta go get it.

You learned something valuable: The LNL aint for you.

Good luck and have fun (welcome back to the hobby).

-G

[Stoopy]

Sometimes their is more sense of accomplishment doing something the old fashioned way. Hand loading each round compared to just pulling the handle. I think you take more care firing each round instead of just unloading quickly because you know the work and care you put into each round. I have a rock crusher but it's not for sell.

[Fyathyrio]

I have a LnL also, Unique doesn't measure well in mine either. Bullseye does great, and I get good accuracy also...perhaps just changing powder will help.

For the primer seating, perhaps it's as simple as adjusting your seating position. When I first started I was sitting slightly to the left to make grabbing bullets and cases a bit easier, and not getting a straight push on the handle. (Finding a proper height stol/chair may help also.) Once I adjusted my position and was able to push straight from the shoulder I got better feel and much more consistent. I've recently added an ergo roller handle from 1in9twist and the change in handle shape seems to give me more feel for primers seating also. I really like the handle for this as well as the improved ergo's and motion.

I also make primer seating a separate motion instead of just swinging the handle through it's full range and hoping the primer seats. Just a slight pause and conscious change in the motion...dunno how to really explain it better but I'd be happy to show what I mean if you're near San Diego.

[socal147]

Thanks All.

Fyathyrio' Jeeper? Apple Valley here.

[hayaku]

i think this is why many of us have multiple presses.

sometimes you want to go slow and be more involved with each stage...
sometimes you want to develop and test loads so you need more precision...
sometimes you don't have time nor care about super tight quality control and just need mass plinking rounds...

if you do any mass plinking, keep the lnl... it'll come in handy and save you time...

[UNKNOWN SOLDIER]

I have been reloading on my Lee Single Stage but just got my Hornady LNL last week. As of right now I have like 50 rounds of the LNL just because I'm dialing everything in. The powder measure is pretty accurate about + or - .1. The cycling is VERY smooth. But I agree with OP that you can't really feel the primer go in, what I do is I look at the shell plate if it goes down then I know the primer seated properly. Don't want to make a mistake so that's why I'm taking it slow but once I'm confident enough I'll just start cranking 800-1000 rounds an hour. My advise Socal147 would be just to start of slow get everything nice and dialed in and just go from there.

[grant22]

i think this is why many of us have multiple presses.

sometimes you want to go slow and be more involved with each stage...
sometimes you want to develop and test loads so you need more precision...
sometimes you don't have time nor care about super tight quality control and just need mass plinking rounds...

if you do any mass plinking, keep the lnl... it'll come in handy and save you time...

Well stated.

[socal147]

Haya - Agreed

Unknown - Caliber and powder?

[SandDiegoDuner]

One thing that helped my LNL AP powder drop was a nice dusting of graphite. I rubbed some of it into the plastic on the hopper and now it is only off 0.1 grains with Longshot and Titegroup. 748 & BL-(C)2 are almost always spot on.

[UNKNOWN SOLDIER]

Right now I'm using W231 for my 45ACP loads with Hornady 230 gr FMJ-RN, which will be use in my XD Tac. Will be loading up 9mm with W231 behind a Hornady 124 gr FMJ-RN once I get my shell plate. Also I'm waiting on my 223 shell plate.

[BigBronco]

There are times I am in the mood to load just a hundred or so on the trusty old Rockchucker and times I want to load a bunch so then I use the LnL. It is good to have both IMO

Or for the bolt gun I only use the RC.

[XDRoX]

I don't own an LNL, but my buddy has two.

Unique powders like sh1t. But + 3 tenths is not right. Try using graphite on your measure or maybe just breaking it in will help.

I don't care for the primer seating on the LNL either, but it works. Maybe you just have to get use to it. To me it feels like the press is bending a little. I think El_Nino619 may have a fix for this. Maybe PM him.

Don't give up just yet. Give the press another shot. You should be able to work out your problems. Maybe more time though is required to get all the kinks ironed out.

I can walk into my garage and load 100 rounds in 10 minutes. And these are quality rounds that I know will function and be accurate. A single stage press is not required to produce quality pistol ammunition.

Try WST, it meters like an hour glass and is 100 times cleaner than Unique. There's not a better powder for light to medium loads in 45acp IMO.

[socal147]

^^^ WST?

I need to get my powder throws accurate before all else. I read somewhere it may take some cycling to get a good consistant throw. I could try graphite or cleaning again. In the meantime I will pobabely just cycle the heck out of the measure and then check consistancy again.

[XDRoX]

^^^ WST?

No matter what else, I need to get my powder throws accurate before all else. I read somewhere it may take some cycling to get a good consistant throw. I could try graphite or cleaning again. In the meantime I will pobabely just cycle the heck out of the measure and then check consistancy again.

WST is my favorite powder. I use it in 45, 9, 38spl, and 380. Meters great, clean, and bulky. It's not the best powder for full powered loads, but for light to medium plinking rounds it is awesome. It excels most in 45.