Getting start and trying to price everything.

sapper043

sapper043

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I have been doing a LOT of reading and watched at least a hundred videos online about all the presses and I have decided to get the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP.

I still have a few questions about everything I will need.

I am going to try and keep everything Hornady.

Here is my list.

Hornady Lock-N-Load AP
Hornady Lock-N-Load Case Feeder
Case Feeder plate Small Rifle
Case Feeder plate Large Rifle
Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner (2L – 110 Volt)
HORNADY ONE SHOT SONIC CLEAN SOLUTION
Hornady Lock-N-Load Case prep center
Hornady Series I Custom Grade Full Length Die Set, 308 Win
Hornady Match Grade New Dimension Full Length Die, 308 Win
Norma Rifle Brass (308 Winchester, 100 ct)
CCI Primers (CCI BR2 Large Rifle Primers – 1000)
Hodgdon Powder Varget - 1 lb


1. What else should I be getting to go with the list above? I am a mechanic by trade and have a very large selection of hand tools. I would like a decent manual case prep tool set as well though.

2. How much powder will I use doing 1000, 308 rounds (around 45-46 grain).

3. Also with the above I get bullets free from Hornady but I have no clue which ones I want. I was considering 168 Grain SST rounds anyone make a reccomendation?

4. Where (who) should I get everything from? The local places here are charging nearly 1/3 higher than I have seen anywhere online and I asked them to price match everything but they laughed, there is a reason I hate dealing local.
 
1) you'll want a good digital scale.
2) about 150 rounds.
3) hunting or target shooting? I use Amax 155's for F-class, but a heavier weight might wok for you depending on your barrel twist rate.
4) sorry, don't know suppliers in your area. Good luck!
 
Seems pretty complete. A fire extinguisher is a good idea; keep the landlord and wife happy.

WRT how much powder you will use, there are 7,000 gr per Avdp pound. At 45.5 gr, as stevebc notes, you'll get just over 150 rounds from a pound of propellent. For 1,000 rounds, therefore, you will need rather over six pounds.

BTW - nothing wrong with Hornady; they make good stuff. But there's no real reason to stick to one brand. Most of us wind up with a multicoloured bench eventually.
 
Thank you all for the replies.

I forgot to add a digital scale to my list.

I also plan to add a single stage press to the list for sizing and setting up the powder measure for custom loads.

I was planning to use the 168-180 grain for my RFB which once set it will always use the same load for hunting and target. This is not a sub MOA rifle. I do plan on adding to the rifle inventory but I wanted to really dial in the RFB loads and then make a lot of ammo for it. I also want to be able to reload for all my other rifles in the future and plan on getting an .223 and pistol which will also see a lot of range time hence why I want the LNL AP, I want to spend more time shooting than loading.

How well does the LNL AP handle .338?
 
A hand priming tool is nice, I have the RCBS one and you get a good feel for the primer seating. Bye the way I had a problem with one of my LAL bushings not locking into the adapter in my RCBS press. A email to Hornady and they sent me a new one right away, didn't even have to send the old one back, excellent customer service. Cheers Roscoe
 
I don't know about others but I like to deprime before I tumble, so I have a universal decapping die from redding that I installed in the cheapest single stage I could find. That way I don't have to keep switching dies just for depriming!

A good caliper is also a requirement for any reloading bench.

As for case prep tools, that seems to be a personal preference with most, I have several manual tools but find I use the RCBS power station more than anything! I hear great things about Hornadys as well.

Regards, Bill
 
RoscoeP said:
A hand priming tool is nice, I have the RCBS one and you get a good feel for the primer seating.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna echo this too. This is SUCH a huge time saver. After I tumble and decap my brass, I do all the priming at once. Once you have a rhythm going, you can probably prime up 1000 cases in about an hour all while watching tv.

Now is a good time to get one too, since RCBS is offering in mail in rebates until the end of the year. The difference between the standard and universal models is about $30. If you end up reloading more than 3 different calibres, get the universal so you don't have to get different shell holders at $10 a pop.
 
So even with the AP manual priming is prefered?


Also I was planning to do my de-priming as it's own stage using the case feeder to cycle through all the rounds then clean, size, debur before an actual reload session. I know this means the brass will be processed 3 times in the press before reloading but I want to take advantage of the case feeder and the cycle rate I think I could do it rather quickly. I eventually want to add the bullet feed as well.

I think I will add the RCBS Lock out die to my list as well just in case.

Calipers I have several dial and digital versions already for when I do engine overhaul work.
 
As far as the free bullets go, hornady gives you a list of projectiles to choose from. A friend got the lnl ap, I think the only .308 were the 150 grain sp.
 
For the calipers I'd still go out and buy one from Princess Auto. A simple 6" dial caliper can sit on the bench and not do anything for 6 months, but when you need it, it sure beats having to go to your work and fishing out your calipers from the toolbox. I've never felt the need to use anything more expensive, except for the time I couldn't find my cheap calipers and ended up using a good mititoyo caliper.
 
I am the type of guy that has really 3 sets of tools. Tools that never leave work, tools that never leave the house and tools that never leave the truck. I have a set of calipers that already live in the gun cabinet.

Tools are something I never cheap out on as I use them to live by and I plan on keeping them for the rest of my life.




I guess I will have to try out what hornady provides and then sell what I don't use or need.

One other item I figure I should add to the list is the Micrometer Rifle Lock-N-Load® Powder Measure to help with set-up and consistency.
 
I have a LNL Powder Measure and like the micrometer so I can record a setting for a certain load. Makes setting up the measure a lot quicker when you load many many different loads for many calibers.
 
Still trying to find a retailer that carries everything so I can see about getting a package deal put together.

Can you import reloading equipment other than the powder, bullets, and brass?
 
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