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Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

marc308

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Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 3, 2010
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Southington, CT
I think I am going to buy one of these presses after Christmas. To those of you that use this press, are there any accessories that you would recommend buying with it? I only plan on loading pistol rounds on it, 9mm, .40, .45. I will most likely be using Hornady dies as well. Is their bushing system worth the money?
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Rob01 will be along shortly to get you knowed up.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

I like my Hornaday L-N-L Press.I would recommend buying some spare bushing.That way once you have your dies set up for that cal you are all set.It also makes Cal change over fairly quick.

Regards,Mike
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Exactly. Get a spare set of bushings so all you do is pop out the dies and pop new ones in.

The Hornady taper crimp pistol dies work great. I have loaded about 1700 rounds of 9mm over the past couple weeks and is worked great.

Get a powder cop as well so you can make sure you don't miss appended charge or double one up.

The brass feeder is also a great to keep production fast. I would get í over the bullet feeder if you were choosing.

Maybe a few extra priming tubes as well so you can have a bunch loaded up a d ready to dump when needed.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

I too would recommend the case feeder! I don't have one for mine yet, but its on my list. I feel that I could really speed things up if I got one.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Would this be useful to help with powder metering when changing calibers? Case activated lower assembly

I'm not exactly clear on what it does.

I think I figured out what it does, it holds a powder thru expander for a particular caliber. Seems like you would want one setup per caliber?
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

pick up a package of case retainer springs you will need them sooner or later with out it your dead in the water also with your case chamfering tool put a little chamfer on the top of the primer pickup shuttle mine would not pickup a primer every cycle after doing mine it pick's one up every time.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Thank you for all the advice. I will be making a list.
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Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

+1 on the case feeder! I held out for about a year and finally got one; I love the thing. Beyond that the only accessory I got was the ergo handle from In Line Fabrication. I got sick of the plastic ball on the end of the Hornady handle and I've really liked the In Line handle more than I thought I would- I would definitely recommend getting one if you can.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magstang1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I would just get this accessory right from the start. It makes dialing in the powder drop much easier.

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/425241/...tering-assembly

</div></div>

I would recommend not getting that assembly but the one for handguns as he is loading all handgun rounds. This set up

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/164839/...tering-assembly

It's what I use with mine and makes dialing the smaller pistol powder charges easier and more accurate.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Your press should have come with the case activated powder drop. If it didn't GET IT! Next, especially if you're doing handgun ammo, get the case feeder. I have also changed both metering inserts in my powder measure over to the micrometer ones.

I personally hate the LNL bushings and I wish Hornady made a version of this press without them. I reloaded for the last 20 years with the Hornady Projector press and I like that aspect of it better. I bought the LNL a couple years ago to take advantage of the case feeder.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Yes, get the bushings ... as stated earlier, will save you time later.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Hornady PTX expander work very well. Got them for .40 and 9mm.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Powder-Through-Expanders/ </div></div>

So, yesterday I got a head start by purchasing 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP Hornady taper crimp die sets, powder cop, and the shell plates I will need. The Hornady die sets that I bought contain a sizing die, expander die, and a seating/taper crimp die. Add the powder measure and powder cop and that is 5 stations.

Are the powder thru expanders used if you are seating and crimping in two different stations so you can free one station for the powder cop?
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

They are used for an extra spot if you are using the bullet feeder. Set up like you are is fine if you will be hand placing the bullets on the expanded cases, which is a fine way to do it. I think the powder cop is very important to have to keep an eye on the powder charges.

If you ever did get a bullet feeder the bullet feeder dies come with an expander in it for the powder thrower.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magstang1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I would just get this accessory right from the start. It makes dialing in the powder drop much easier.

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/425241/...tering-assembly

</div></div>



I would recommend not getting that assembly but the one for handguns as he is loading all handgun rounds. This set up

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/164839/...tering-assembly

It's what I use with mine and makes dialing the smaller pistol powder charges easier and more accurate. </div></div>

My original link was for the rifle insert. I changed my first post to the correct, pistol insert.

The rotor and metering insert you link here is part of what comes in the kit with the press. Unless I'm missing something, it would be unnecessary to purchase this.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marc308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Would this be useful to help with powder metering when changing calibers? Case activated lower assembly

I'm not exactly clear on what it does.

I think I figured out what it does, it holds a powder thru expander for a particular caliber. Seems like you would want one setup per caliber?
</div></div>

This should come with your press. You don't need to buy another one.

I don't use powder through expanders, so I'm not specifically familiar with them. I would imagine that it just drops into the assembly you linked above like the standard powder drop insert.

When changing calibers you need to adjust the powder drop in the bushing so that the case fully throws the rotor. I would say that since you are moving the powder drop anyway, it would be just as easy to switch the powder through expander at the same time.

I wouldn't spend the extra money.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marc308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Are the powder thru expanders used if you are seating and crimping in two different stations so you can free one station for the powder cop? </div></div>

I never seat and crimp at the same time, with the same die.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Lots of good tips in this thread. I find it handy to have a couple extra primer shuttle springs as well as the shell plate springs.

Another small tip, I have all my dies in bushings, and all my non hornady dies now reside in hornady die boxes. They fit with the bushings installed.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magstang1</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magstang1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I would just get this accessory right from the start. It makes dialing in the powder drop much easier.

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/425241/...tering-assembly

</div></div>



I would recommend not getting that assembly but the one for handguns as he is loading all handgun rounds. This set up

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/164839/...tering-assembly

It's what I use with mine and makes dialing the smaller pistol powder charges easier and more accurate. </div></div>

My original link was for the rifle insert. I changed my first post to the correct, pistol insert.

The rotor and metering insert you link here is part of what comes in the kit with the press. Unless I'm missing something, it would be unnecessary to purchase this. </div></div>

Yes it does come with the pistol and rifle metering system. I grabbed the wrong link as well I meant to grab just the metering portion so you can have a few on hand so you just have to pop it out and pop the new one in when changing calibers. I don't find a need for the micrometer version for the pistol. It's simple to set it with the standard set up and it stays accurate so no need to touch. I just loaded 2000 9mm and the powder charge was checked a few times randomly and it was always right on.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iamironman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I never seat and crimp at the same time, with the same die.</div></div>

Why not? As I mentioned I just loaded 2000 rounds and used the Hornady 9mm dies with the taper crimp and seater in one die and it worked flawlessly.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

I prefer the Dillon primer tubes over the Hornady's. I've picked up a few of them and I think they were a little better. It isn't as hard to fill them. The Hornady's require a little more "force" to get the tube to pick up the primer. Because the Dillon's require less force, I can do it quicker.

Personal preference, but give the Dillon's a try.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

While I'm thinking about it, a primer flipper tray is handy to have as well.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Iamironman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I never seat and crimp at the same time, with the same die.</div></div>

Why not? As I mentioned I just loaded 2000 rounds and used the Hornady 9mm dies with the taper crimp and seater in one die and it worked flawlessly. </div></div>

Seating and crimping in the same step is like closing a door and trying to walk through it at the same time. At some point it's not going to work.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Well when I hit that time I will let you know but for now I am using it. Going to get another set of 40 dies like it as well.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Get bushings for every die you have. an couple extra primer tubes are a must. You will go thru 100 primers in no time, and its a PITA to reload a tube every time you go thru a 100. case feeder is a must as well. Ive loaded about a zillion rounds with mine, and that is a low estimate. paid for itself over and over.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

These were taken from this months "Reloader" magazine. Not breaking your balls Rob, just the way I've always reloaded. BTW I didn't renew at Ledyard, it was just too far a ride for me.

IMAG0404_zps99588367.jpg


IMAG0408_zpsf9fc7e9e.jpg
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

That might be the case with a roll crimp on a lead bullet but a taper crimp on a fmj does just fine with the Hornady dies. Maybe it's the way the dies are made in that its set in two steps. Not just adjusting the die into the press but two adjustments on the die itself.

Not trying to change your mind but just giving my experiences using this die set. Works great for me.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

I think you are taking that out of context...

I got the same mag. and at that point I believe they were talking about cast bullets...

Plus if you aren't using a heavy recoil load you won't need to crimp as tight, thus not doing damage to the bullet. That picture was for .44-40 which I would say has alot more recoil than a 9 mm or 40sw which he said he was loading with his press.

Plus I don't really take the word of someone selling something to say it is better when it involves you having to spend extra money...
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

Here is a pic from the catalog of the Hornady taper crimp/seater die to clarify more. It has two portions to adjust. The seating stem which is #5 and then the #11 part screws into the body to adjust taper crimp. It works very well. It is only available for 9mm, 10mm/40S&W and 45 ACP right now though.

photo6.jpg
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Captramrod01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Besides the inline fabrication stand I also picked up one of these for flaring in the powder charger.

http://powderfunnels.com/products.html

I have not used Hornady's PTX to compare it to but its worked really well for me. </div></div>

That product is the invention/patent of a good friend of mine from College.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

I just purchased and LNL AP. I just got it setup and have slowly ran about 100 rounds of 45 ACP. I say slowly because I am coming off of a LoadMaster and the sequence is different on the LNL. I am working my way up to speed.

I am using the bullet feed die setup with a PVC pipe to feed it. That is working well. I am using the PTX that came with the die in the powder measure for expanding the case mouth. That is also working well.

So far I really love this thing. So smooth. Hasn't missed a beat yet. The LoadMaster worked but there was a lot of crashing and banging going on. I think you are really going to enjoy it.

By the way mine came with 3 case retaining springs.
 
Re: Hornady L-N-L AP press accessories

I ordered my LNL AP yesterday. I built a bench for it today. Rearranged a few things to make room for it.

Now I'm just waiting for it to come in.