Hornady Lock and Load AP, the New One!!!

[skarke]

I just received, installed, and set up my brand new Hornady Lock and Load AP with the New EZject case ejector.  Man, what a SUPER machine!!!!!!

Admittedly, I have never had the pleasure of using a Dillon 650, which I am positive is also a fine machine.  I bought the Hornady because it was was getting good reviews, and it was $150 cheaper.

Well, if the Dillon is a better machine, I can't imagine where (my two experiences with Hornady warranty was also no BS, and fast). Here's my experience.

I received the press from Midsouth (people are nice and so are the prices) in a well designed box and in perfect condition.  All the pieces were there, well machined, and the press itelf was mostly pre-assembled.  From the first touch, I could tell that I was handling a precision instrument (no kidding, the mechanism is smooth as glass).

The assembly instructions were adequate, but I must admit they could be better (youtube helps).  However, anyone with basic mechanical understanding, and the color pictures on the box, can figure it out quickly.  It was a step by step process, and the press installation took about 2 hours.  You'll need a few tools, and I recommend mounting the tool using a few wooden blocks stacked up and screwed together to raise the machine IF your reloading bench is short.

Here's the beautiful part, after die adjustment (another hour or so), the machine works FLAWLESSLY, SMOOTHLY, PERFECTLY, and any other positive adjective that I could think of.  The elmination of the wire ejector (replaced by EZject), the primer system, the powder measure, everything was down right sexy.  A real bonus is that it takes about 10 minutes to change calibers (pistol to rifle takes about 15 minutes) using the Lock and Load bushings.

Basically, it did exactly what it is designed to do EVERY TIME I pulled the handle.

Things that I'm going to buy more of include the following:

1.  LNL bushings
2.  Primer tubes
3.  Powder measure adjustment doodads (so you don't have to adjust the settings changing calibers)
4.  Some dry lube (the powder measure is aluminum and steel, not brass, so it'll need lubing)
5.  An auto case feeder (when it's my turn to do the checkbook ) she's frowning on my recent expenditures

Bottom line, this press, with its new modifications (ejector wire gone, better powder measure linkage, etc) is OUTSTANDING!!!  I'm glad I bought it.

[Siskiyou]

Good report, what do you plan on loading with it?

[skarke]

I'll reload, in this order, 45 acp, 38sp, 9mm, 223 (don't want to shoot out my 223, barrels might be hard to come by)

I shoot pins and plates with 45 and a Smith and Wesson 627 v comp 357, with 38sp loads.

The die bushings are really cool, but everything is pretty hard to find now, especially parts for equipment.  I've found the primer tubes and the bushings, but the powder measure inserts for the pistol rotor just aren't anywhere.  I'll probably buy the micrometer one so that I can at least write dowm the settings.

[Hairtrigger]

You can spend more money than the Hornady LNL AP but you cannot buy a better progressive press