Hornady Lock and Load Kit

Superbrad

Superbrad

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Hey guys,

Fairly new to reloading and want to get better set up..... I currently have hodge podge for gear and was wondering if anyone has any experience / input with this kit.... Yay or nay?

Just for background, I am looking for a decent but inexpensive setup that will allow me to develop loads for my hunting rifle and load for my 9mm handgun.... nothing too serious and speed is not a factor...

Any input would be appreciated....
 
Have you looked at the Lee Anniversary set? $150 and pretty much comes with everything you need to get started (besides dies etc)
 
MCP said:
Have you looked at the Lee Anniversary set? $150 and pretty much comes with everything you need to get started (besides dies etc)
Click to expand...

I have.... is it any good?.... I am started but my gear is a mix of stuff I bought off of the EE and some of it looks and feels cheap.... didn't figure $150 could nab me something that would improve on that....
 
I have had no issues with it nice and strong I do my priming on it and love the lock and load with the dies quarter turn and it's out it is built strong but I did not by the kit just the press and went with a Gen 6 for my powder less space take up on my bench load pretty quickly fill my case and seat the bullet while it depense the next charge
 
Superbrad

For what its worth I bought my Rockchucker press in 1973 and its still going strong.

Below I adapted my Rockchucker for my Red Green Canadian reloading class on how to get perfect neck tension with a Lee collet die.

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For my first reloading purchase, I picked up a lightly used, but complete kit off the EE last year. The only things I have left from the kit that haven't been upgraded or sold for lack of use, are the press and hand primer. The press is great & the Lock-N-Load collars are fantastic - once they're set, you can switch dies in seconds and there's nothing to adjust. I'm loading small batches of rounds for accuracy & precision, so the powder measure wasn't necessary (I use Lee scoops & trickle every charge). The electronic scale was next to useless for my needs, so it went too.

It's hard to know exactly what you'll want/need when you first start out, but if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't buy a kit - I'd buy the stuff I wanted separately and it would all be from different manufacturers.

Also, if you're looking to upgrade your scale, I may know where you could pick up a awesome deal on a really good balance-beam type scale in great condition --> LINK ;)
 
The pistol requirement would make me want to steer you clear of a single stage, although I'm sure many people use them for that. I like Redding stuff - it's high quality and is made on American machinery just down the 81 in Cortland, NY. Their progressive is pricey, though. I have a Big Boss II, but I only do rifle.
 
I moved from the Lee Pro 1000 to the Hornady LNL-AP about two years ago for all my pistol calibres (9mm, 40S&W, 357 Mag, 45ACP). I also have an RCBS Rock Chucker single stage which takes care of my rifle calibres. The Hornady LNL system makes die changes a breeze and I have even converted my RCBS to it. I'd never go back to the lee press after using the LNL-AP. Hornady's customer service when things go wrong has been superb - an email and parts are on the way, free of charge. Hard to argue against the Hornady press unless you have a lot of money hanging around that you want to blow - then you can go to the Dillon systems and Redding dies - they are not really better, just a lot more expensive. An RCBS Lockout die is heartily recommended, and if you use the PTX Powder-through expander system and seat and crimp in the same step, you can even put a bullet drop die on as well.
 
Superbrad,

Since you are just starting, and by your own admission, speed is not a factor, normally I would recommend a good quality single stage press to learn on. I started with the Hornady LnL Kit you are looking at and I have sold everything from the kit. Given that you want to reload 9mm, I would consider a turret press. It will not take long reloading 9mm on a single stage before it stops being fun.

If you can find a Redding T7 Press, an RCBS Turret Press or a Lyman T Mag turret press that is available with a kit, then that would be a good start. Keep in mind that any kit will likely only give you the 90% solution. You will likely find that there may be items that you want that are not included, or that you will want to upgrade to meet your particular workflow. Unfortunately, you will likely not know what these are until after you have been doing it for a while.

I would also suggest that you pick up a couple good reloading manuals. The Nosler one is online, so I would recommend you bookmark it (and Hodgdon) but I highly recommend picking up the current (49th edition ?) Lyman's reloading manual.
 
Truly appreciate the responses guys.... torn between the Hornady and RCBS kits..... I really like the quick switch of dies on the hornady as I will be mostly using this to load 5 rounds of this cal, 5 rounds of that cal etc...... just to try different hunting loads.....

I guess its just like rifles.... nobody can answer beef or chicken without saying pork.... and likely rightfully so....
 
This is my opinion some may disagree.

I started on a Lee 50th Aniversary kit 5 years ago. I went on to buy a Hornady LnL AP Progressive press with case feeder and bullet feeder which I love.
I then found a deal for a slightly used Hornady LnL single stage press with the powder measure and everything else.
The Lee press sits on the left corner of my bench and the Hornady LnL single stage sits on the right hand corner.
The lee loads from the right hand side so you use your right hand to load the shellplate and your left to operate the handle.
The Hornady loads from the left hand side so you use your left hand to load the shellplate and your right to operate the handle.
The linkage on the Hornady feels sloppy even though it is nearly new. The Lee still feels the same as the day I bought it.
I use the Lee 90% of the time.
If I needed a new single stage I would be looking at the Forster Co-Ax or the RCBS Rockchucker.
 
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