Ok, so before I make a mistake purchase...

[Gothboy]

So here's my "planned 45 acp setup" based on all Ive read and seen on here and on the interwebs. If my paycheck turns out to be the right size this week, I'll be ordering my new press from Cabelas. The hornady lnl AP ammo plant with all the fixin's bullet and case feeder.

My question is regarding dies. I know I only have 5 stations to work with here so teach me please. I was thinking of running a powder thru expander dealy, the bullet feeder, and a lock out die. The reason for the powder expander is my limited # of space w the lock out and bullet feeder. I think this means I need to seat and crimp in one shot.

Will this 3 die set work for me? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/140...-set-9mm-luger Im working with 45acp but I mean this die set as a refrence. Im ordering thru cabelas so I need something I can find there if this type wont work.

If my first hour working with this press nets only 10 good bullets and no bad it will be considered successful. After all, its my first reload. I can work up to speed once I know Im doing it safely and properly.

Any input welcomed, thank you.

[Bill Steele]

So here's my "planned 45 acp setup" based on all Ive read and seen on here and on the interwebs. If my paycheck turns out to be the right size this week, I'll be ordering my new press from Cabelas. The hornady lnl AP ammo plant with all the fixin's bullet and case feeder.

My question is regarding dies. I know I only have 5 stations to work with here so teach me please. I was thinking of running a powder thru expander dealy, the bullet feeder, and a lock out die. The reason for the powder expander is my limited # of space w the lock out and bullet feeder. I think this means I need to seat and crimp in one shot.

Will this 3 die set work for me? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/140...-set-9mm-luger Im working with 45acp but I mean this die set as a refrence. Im ordering thru cabelas so I need something I can find there if this type wont work.

If my first hour working with this press nets only 10 good bullets and no bad it will be considered successful. After all, its my first reload. I can work up to speed once I know Im doing it safely and properly.

Any input welcomed, thank you.

With the powder check and bullet feeder, you will need to seat and crimp in the same step, which it not a problem, just a little more complicated to setup the crimp.

The die set is a 9mm die, not .45ACP, but yes, you won't need a crimp die with your planned operation. The powder die in the Lee set won't be used either, you will want the Hornaday PTX setup with the hornaday powder drop, I think.

One thing to check out is how long the threads have to be on the die to work with the LnL bushing setup. Some presses require longer thread bodies, I just can't remember if the LnL is one of them.

Sounds like you will have a very sweet setup. Good luck, have fun.

[Cowboy T]

Adjusting seating/crimping dies isn't hard. Here's an example of how to do it. While I use Lee dies in my example, most dies operate on the same basic principle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uZbTZCsIGQ&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmaOpFwNVaI&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBRcUk7uRc8&feature=relmfu

[shooterbill]

I would stay away from the Lee dies for the LNL. They are short and with the bushings, you need a little longer die body. I use RCBS dies in my LNL and they are a little short for my liking. The Hornady dies are made for this press. You shouldn't have a problem seating and crimping in station #5.

[Dark Mod]

No problems, it will work fine

1. decap/resize
2. PTX
3. lockout die
4. bullet feed
5. seat/crimp

Your taking on a big project learning to reload on a full ammo plant setup, but youve got the right idea: take it slow and figure everything out, work on speed later.

It will probably take a few hours to set everything up, maybe longer since its your first time. The most important part is setup.

Take your time with setting up and mounting the press, the powder measure, and priming system. make sure all that stuff is good to go before setting up dies.

The dies will have the biggest effect on the quality of your ammo. Make sure the sizing die isnt so far down that it impedes the travel of the shellplate, but its far enough to full length size the brass.

Ensure the correct bushing is in the powder measure so you get a full range of motion on the arm and a consistant powder drop. Make sure the expander is set up to very slightly bell the case. Too much will screw you up and not enough will as well.

Get the lockout die set up properly and test it a few times, it will save your neck.

the bullet feeder and associated die will be a journey of its own setting up. Good luck with that and the casefeeder. Id set aside some serious time to get these functioning.

insure that your not overcrimping the cases with the seating die and measure OAL for seating depth. Just remove the bell unless you really feel you need a crimp. With crimping, minor adjustments are the way to go.

Id actually suggest you run a few rounds through the press without the bulletfeeder or casefeeder before you set either up. The setup of the dies and press is that important.

Good luck, glad you did all your required reading and dont get discouraged if something doesnt pan out. Everyone on calguns will jump in to help you out when you hit a roadblock

[rsrocket1]

You can easily use the Lee Dies in the LnL AP. All my rifle and pistol dies are Lee. If the ring does not engage the threads, either flip it over or if you don't like that, buy these. I've only needed to flip the lock nut on the decapping die so that means $3.99 per caliber extra. Still a lot cheaper than the other brand of die sets.

I've loaded up about 4k 40 S&W with my Lee Deluxe die set and te only thing that has needed replacing is the decapping pin/rod due to having it snap when I stuck a case with a 22LR inside it. The 357 and 45ACP sets have been working fine without any replacements.

Hint: after adjusting each step with a dummy round, run your first batch "turret" style. That is, only one case at a time from deprime through seat/crimp. Do that with your first batch. Then go to 2 cases all the way through, then 3, etc. Go as slow as you want watching the process at each step.

[Gothboy]

Ok. That helps immensely guys thank you. And yes my initial plan was to first learn on the machine manually. Dropping brass and loading bullets by hand. I want to be 6 million percent sure I got this down before I even think of trying "full auto". Such is my thinking behind the lock out die instead of an audible sensor. So where do I find a powder thru expander (PTX) for this setup in .45 acp? There's a lee one at midway, will that one work? Midway also has the seat crimp die available in hornady. But if I have to buy each die separately then where do I find a lone deprime and sizer? Any other good places to go either on the net or in person to buy dies?

I think I'm on the same page now as you guys. I just picked up 1k brass from ShooterBill so I have a lot I can practice with. Primers and powder come after I get the casings working correctly.

[shooterbill]

The PTX will be in the die needed for the bullet feeder. They are separate from the dies you will need to process your brass. You will buy your die set and your feeder die for each caliber separately. Load without the feeders first. After getting used to everything, then install the feeders.

[bandook]

See if grafs has all your items in stock.
Free hornady reloading manual with purchase of $250+ ( not for dealers)

[stand125]

LEE Classic turret press set up and a good digital scale. I use the Hornandy scale that cost about $30.00.

[Gothboy]

Ok last questions...I think. The only powder thru expander (ptx) I can find is the LEE one offered both at midway and at grafs.

Will that one work or is there a different one I need to find?

Where do I find the other one if there is a better one?

[bigdrunk92037]

The PTX will come with the bullet feed die for .45 ACP. The PTX fits inside the powder drop which comes with the Hornady powder measure.

I will echo what everybody has said here, but recommend setting up your press initially with the bullet feed die, but not the bullet feeder mechanism. The die itself holds about 7 bullets and is very, very easy to set up. I think it is a good idea to run the bullet feeder die in your initial setup so you can be very sure you are belling your cases enough. I have found you need a little extra bell in the case when using the bullet feed die vs. hand feeding the bullets.