Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

[BrettSass844]

Looking for some feedback on the quality and function of this unit. I am considering picking one up next time they go on sale at Midway. How is the quality of the unit, how well does it meter different powders, is it consistent, how long has it been used with good results and so forth? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Brett

 

[mscott]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

I've been using one since Christmas when Santa brought it to me. I've only used a few different powders on 3 or 4 calibers, but it seems to work just as well as I'd expect.

I can't say I'm "old fashioned" because I'm only 40, but I think I prefer my balance beam scale and trickler. I still haven't learned to trust electronic scales. My groups are perfectly fine, so it's obviously working as advertised.

 

[slg888]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

Returned mine, went with the RCBS.

 

[sudnrush]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

I been using one for a little while mostly just Varget through it, but I am very happy with it. It works best if you just leave it on. The scale seems to take a while to kinda settle when you first turn it on. Regardless of calibrating it.
Id definitely recommend some sort of electronic power dispenser as it saves me lots of time.

 

[phillik747]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

One fore sale here on the hide:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...rue#Post2532366

 

[bohem]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

I have one, I'm actually on my second. The first one took a dump on me. I called Hornady, explained what was going on and they gave me an RMA number. Within a week of me shipping the defective unit a brand new one showed up.

The new one has been going strong for about 6 months now without issue, it works very well and I like it.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

Here's a lil writeup I did quite a while ago on mine. Been working perfect since I got it back.

I got one pretty early serial #1297. Worked pretty slick but I had to set it on it's slow setting and also put in 2gr (each time you hit mode it adds .2gr before it starts it's trickle feature) delay to allow it to slow down enough to not overcharge my 260 loads of H4350. I used it for a couple months and the lil buzzer started to fade when it tells you the charge is done. I called Hornady and got a return number and sent it back with some recommendations.

Even on the slow setting it spun too fast and loaded up a LOT of powder in the tube and even with the extra slowdown before going to trickle it still would drop a clumpof kernels which caused a lot of overcharges. I thought either the tube needed to be smaller diameter, the inlet needed to be smaller or the tube needed to be spun slower to not have so much powder lying in the tube.

I got another unit back a couple of weeks later and was a higher serial number. No note or anything about my thoughts but it is noticeably slower and can now be run at the regular speed with no extra delay needed. I'd say now it's 99% right spot on with the very occasional .1 grain over which I've found is about 2 kernels of H4350. For prob the first 200 rounds or so I checked each charge on my Ohaus beam scale and it was dead on. I'm very happy with the unit now and now sure if I got one that slipped thru or they have made changes to the later models or they intentionally slowed my unit down since I only load for rifle rounds and am not worried about the unit taking a few seconds longer to drop a dead on charge.

I've not had an RCBS, Pact or Lyman to compare it to and have for the past 30 years or so loaded all my loads with a powder measure and trickled in the last with a beam scale. I'm very happy with the Hornady now and have no problem using the loads from it for our 1000 yard plate matches. I don't like change but this is one I can live with.

Topstrap

 

[YAOG]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BrettSass844</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looking for some feedback on the quality and function of this unit. I am considering picking one up next time they go on sale at Midway. How is the quality of the unit, how well does it meter different powders, is it consistent, how long has it been used with good results and so forth? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Brett </div></div>

I bought one a few months ago when they were on sale and there was a promotion code and Hornady was giving 100 free bullets. I have been pretty happy with the powder charges it dispenses. Mine tends to go over 0.1 grain but I fixed it by inserting a plastic straw in the tube to use the static cling to keep the extra kernels from falling into the pan. I get about 2 measures out of 100 that are over weight now and my vertical spread on paper targets is just about zero now.

HTH!

 

[RTO]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

Santa brought me a Hornady electronic scale this year for Christmas. Although I have always been a fan of the beam scale. I gave it a try. It seemed horribly slow even on the fastest rate. Checking it with my beam scale it wasnt as accurate as I wanted either. I found I could measure 5-6 with a beam scale in the time it took to do one with the electronic scale. A friend of mine has the RCBS and it is Much faster. I think if I had to use one I would use the RCBS.
I returned mine to the store.

 

[YAOG]

Re: Hornady lock and load auto dispenser/scale

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RTO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Santa brought me a Hornady electronic scale this year for Christmas. Although I have always been a fan of the beam scale. I gave it a try. It seemed horribly slow even on the fastest rate. Checking it with my beam scale it wasnt as accurate as I wanted either. I found I could measure 5-6 with a beam scale in the time it took to do one with the electronic scale. A friend of mine has the RCBS and it is Much faster. I think if I had to use one I would use the RCBS.
I returned mine to the store. </div></div>


I have a RCB 1010 so I know what good beam scale can do but they are slow. I tested the Hornady powder dispenser on the 1010 and it was very consistent. I use mostly stick powders and the LNL can drop 44 grains in 20 seconds and be dead on with my 1010 which takes almost that long to settle down when I stop trickling. Maybe your LNL was bad.