Author Topic: Hornady Lock n load (Read 610 times)

coltfan · « **on:** December 25, 2003, 04:49:27 PM »

My son and I are considering the purchase of a progressive reloading press. He loads .38/.357 while I load .44 mag. and 7X30 Waters. I'd guess between us, we currently load a total of about 5000 rounds annually. We've got a couple questions. Is this enough volume to justify a progressive press? I'm a big RCBS fan, how does the Lock N Load compare to the RCBS and Dillon presses? Final question - I vaguely remember a product review of the Lock N Load by GB back on the old forum. Anyone know how to find this review?

williamlayton · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2003, 12:47:56 AM »

I have been digging thru tha graveyard tha last few days, fer different reasons than you. I'm jest tryin to see if this stuff suits me. I digress, an from what I read, what tha boys say, here an some other towns around, I'm guessin 70/75% of em are usinin tha Dillion stuff-550's an up.
Me, i'm thinking i'm gonna start off real slow and simple an tha Dillon doan specialize in that stuff.
blessings

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2003, 03:51:04 AM »

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/product_test/review-29.shtml

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2003, 04:23:25 AM »

I have both machines. I first purchased the Hornady Projector (pre L N L )
I kept reading how great the Dillon was so I bought one to find out what I was missing.
The Hornady has aprox 1/3 less parts.
Both are great machines covered by a lifetime warranty. The Dillon cost a bit more and also more for caliber changes.
I guess since I started on the Hornady and like the fact that it is less complicated I would buy another Hornady instead of a Dillon.
I am sure the Dillon would be easier to sell as they have a cult following but if you look for a Hornady they are not easy to find used!!
I think the Engineers at Dillon tried too hard to reinvent the wheel and made their machines too complicated, Too many small, fragil parts. Dillon sells a parts kit for their machines to keep on hand, what does that say??

Watt · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2003, 03:08:09 AM »

I guess I am the only dissenting voice on the LNL machines :? I don't wish to bash Hornady, but I did not find their LNL press to be satisfactory. I replaced it with a Dillon 650 and find the difference to be like night and day.

When the LNL came out, I got one because I thought it would be a better machine than the Dillon. In fact, the cult thing that you see on Dillons was a big factor in staying away from them. They must be justifying what they bought, right?

After fighting with my LNL for over a year, then fighting with their new case feeder, I gave up. While I think they had a good concept, IMHO they just didn't get it right. The machine has to work well to sell the concept.

I'm not a member of the Dillon cult. After getting a 650 and case feeder I see why people like them, though. I've had none of the problems I had with the LNL.

So I'm one of those few people who have owned both a LNL and a Dillon 650. I don't work for either company. I load eight or nine calibers regularly. I'd still get another Dillon. I wouldn't get another Hornady LNL.

billmaly · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2004, 01:34:22 AM »

I've been involved w. a discussion on the LnL Progressive over at Shooter's Forum. If interested, take a look, there's a really good cost comparison there between the Hornady's and the Dillon.

Sorry about posting the link to another forum, but it seems relevant.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=7127

Bill

Watt · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2004, 03:42:17 AM »

Ain't modern marketing wonderful? :roll:

That's why I make it clear that I don't work for the company when I post my experience with a product. You can't always be sure of what you're reading - experience or something else.

Perhaps anyone who is really comtemplating buying a press should talk to his/her shooting friends and see what they have, see if their friends will demonstrate the press, explain the pros and cons, etc. I'm not going to go join some other board to follow those folks around. Let them convince you, spend $500+ for the bells and whistles and see if you like the results you got.

I personally know about 15 people who load on Dillon 650s and they love them. Count me in that camp. I didn't get one at first because I thought those folks were weird - they all said the same things, like "Stepford Reloaders."

I don't personally know anyone else who has a LNL, just a few folks that I *know* bought one and don't work for the company. Only one of them says he likes his.

My experience was that I should have bought the Dillon first. I felt like I wasted my money on the Hornady. I'm using it as a very expensive single stage press and batch processor.

I can't use a Lee Factory Crimp Die in my LNL fifth station because it hits the ejector wire. If they fixed that, they didn't tell me about it. They didn't tell me that they had fixed their casefeeder to work with .40 S&W, or replaced the old plastic primer feed base with a metal one that doesn't break, etc. They didn't offer to send me those fixes for free, or just shipping, etc.

A Dillon is not cheap, but it's cheaper than buying a Hornady LNL and then being glad you replaced it with a Dillon.

Good news is that I'll quit commenting on the subject :grin:

billmaly · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2004, 06:01:15 AM »

"Ain't modern marketing wonderful?

That's why I make it clear that I don't work for the company when I post my experience with a product. You can't always be sure of what you're reading - experience or something else. "

I WISH I worked for Hornady OR Dillon, or Ruger, or Cabela's or.....

Sadly, I'm a corporate chump who sends his hard earned money to the above mentioned!

"I can't use a Lee Factory Crimp Die in my LNL fifth station because it hits the ejector wire. If they fixed that, they didn't tell me about it. They didn't tell me that they had fixed their casefeeder to work with .40 S&W, or replaced the old plastic primer feed base with a metal one that doesn't break, etc. They didn't offer to send me those fixes for free, or just shipping, etc. "

The primer feed is metal. I can't comment on the casefeeder working w. anything other than 357, as that's all I have loaded to date. I also don't know about the problem w. the ejector wire. Sorry.

"A Dillon is not cheap, but it's cheaper than buying a Hornady LNL and then being glad you replaced it with a Dillon. "

The LnL is hundreds less than the 650. I am not knocking the 650, I'm sure it's a fine product and the people who use it are no doubt beyond reproach in manners, personal grooming, and eloqution.

However, for me, and only me, the LnL is a fine press and I am quite happy with it. When I damaged a part, Hornady sent me the replacement at no charge.