The Hornady Lock-‘n-Load, Things that I like, ‘n things that I don’t like:
The “like” list:
1) The Lock-n-load system itself. This is a great system. You can change from one caliber to the next in a minute. In fact, I bot a RCBS single stage rockchucker and did the LNL upgrade for when I do those 5 to 10 round work-up loads.
2) The unit is made of cast iron and is as solid as a rock. The center plunger is 2” thick and will yield to nothing. Oh, nothing X-tra to buy! No mount plates for $48…no plate hold this or handle roll $49 that. It’s all there for the price.
3) The cartridges are held in the shellplate by a spring. This is a very nice feature and makes taking the brass in and out of a shellplate (if you have too) quick and easy. Much easier than the Dillon brass pin system. Ever try to find one of those little brass pins on the floor?
4) Powder measure. Yeah….this should be the clincher. You only need one with the LNL because it’s easy to take off, dump the powder and put a different powder in. You gotta go thru your craftsman tool box to remove the Dillon powder measure. The reason Dillon owners have so many powder measures (at $70 a pop) is because it takes 20 minutes to change powder types. In the 2.5 years of owning my LNL, I never once thought of buying a second powder measure. Just buy the $15 quick change powder die and have it pre-set for each caliber you load. Then your change over is quick and easy. Or, if you don’t want to spend the $15, you will just have to adjust the powder die you have (cheapskate).
5) Auto-advance. This is really nice. Pretty tough to get double powder charges when the unit advances the brass. This can still happen (a double charge) if your foolin around during setup…so caution is always recommended. But, the auto indexing is a wonderful thing!
6) Auto case feed. I bot the case feed when I got mine. If you have the bucks and load a bunch, get it. I love mine. ‘Nuff said.
The “could be better” list”
1) The primer feed needs to have some kind of “weight” to keep a small amount of pressure on the primers to keep them feeding. I bot a $.40 wooden dowel rod, and marked it so I know when I’m going to run out of primers. Works like a charm.
2) Remember those springs that hold in the brass? You know how I said they are just wonderful? Well, they are, but they do break…so, order about 10 replacements and keep ‘em hangin on your bench. ‘Cause if your loadin away and your spring breaks and you don’t have a replacement….you can’t load no more.
That’s about it. Yup….only 2 items on my “whine” list. It’s a great unit. Put it on your “consider to buy it” list.
