Hornady Lock and Load AP questions.

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

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Just got a Hornady LnL AP press. Just a few questions.

Is it normal for there to be a little vertical play in the shell plate drive hub? With the shell plate bolt loose I can sift the whole assy about 1/4 inch. When I have the plate tightened down and you can move the whole assembly that the shell plate sits on moves vertically slightly, maybe about fifteen thousands. Not a whole lot but enough to notice.

Also, The shell plate seems to be very tight to the ram. I tried to remove it but could not, I did not want to force it and damage the drive hub, this normal?

And lastly, is setting up the dies same as on a single stage? Just screw down until the die contacts the plate then tighten the lock ring?

Thanks.
 
Is it a brand new unit or did you buy it second hand?
Does your shell plate have a groove for the EZ ject?

Old wire eject version on left.
e6.jpg


Are the two screws holding the shell plate assembly to the ram tight?
5:13 into the video
 
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If I am understanding what you are describing - it sounds fishy to me.

When I load 9mm, there is a 5 thou difference in OAL on loaded rounds depending on if I also size a case at station 1 or not. They tells me there is at least that much flex in the platform.
 
Bought it "used" but it was never used or even removed from the box, everything was still in factory wrapping. Previous owner had it for about a year but never used it. All he did was open the box. I am quite certain thats as far as he got since like mentioned, everything was still in sealed bags and wrapped up.

As for the shell plate I am not sure if it does have the groove, as I can't remove it to confirm. Although it does function normally.

Its hard to describe I suppose. But there is play in the drive hub. I sized a few test cases and you can see the ram begin to move before the shell plate does. I might have over estimated that play however.
 
OK, The shell plate does have the groove, I can see it in the cutouts.

As for the screws holing the plate to the ram ill have to check, unfortunately the press is not set up at the house right now so will have to wait to check.
 
My ram moves about .500-.750" before the shell plate turns. Makes sense, or else the priming stud would interfere with the shell plate turning.
 
diopter said:
My ram moves about .500-.750" before the shell plate turns. Makes sense, or else the priming stud would interfere with the shell plate turning.
Click to expand...

What I was referring to, is if I grab the shell plate itself, I can move it up and down slightly, separately from the sub plate itself, when the shell plate bolt is removed, I can move the shell plate and hub up and down about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Like mentioned it functions but the play has me wondering if its normal or me just looking into things.


Maybe the play is just the normal play since the hub is just kinda sandwiched between the sub plate and the drive shaft? Could also be that since the shall plate is such a tight fit that even though the bolt seems tight the plate might not be 100 percent seated? I wish I had the press here to check.
 
Cool, good to know, thanks.

What about setting up the dies? I set the re-sizing die up as I would have on a single stage by screwing it in until it touches the shell plate. correct?

Also, another thing that I noticed was on the last stage before ejection, there is a cut out on the sub plate that will cause the case to angle slightly. I had the seating die placed there since I figured it would be convenient for placing bullets and the case would actually hit the edge of the die due to the angle.

This is my first progressive press so I am pretty green with them.
 
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I have had the same press for 3 years now, this is not unusual. Also, a good tip is to get a lock washer and put in on top of the shell plate you are using and thread the plate retainer through that. This will help keep the plate from loosening when loading.

Congrats on the new press. I can be tedious to get tuned in at times, but when it is working it is like mechanical magic!
 
Correct for Sizing/decapping die. Other dies usually do not touch shell plate.
Note that if you get a LNL single stage press, the setup for those dies will differ from the AP set dies since the two presses are not exactly the same travel.
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
Cool, good to know, thanks.

What about setting up the dies? I set the re-sizing die up as I would have on a single stage by screwing it in until it touches the shell plate. correct?

Also, another thing that I noticed was on the last stage before ejection, there is a cut out on the sub plate that will cause the case to angle slightly. I had the seating die placed there since I figured it would be convenient for placing bullets and the case would actually hit the edge of the die due to the angle.

This is my first progressive press so I am pretty green with them.
Click to expand...

Yes. Set it up just like that. If you are having any issues whatsoever, there is a myriad of excellent YouYube videos to help you out.
 
mikeydagunz said:
I have had the same press for 3 years now, this is not unusual. Also, a good tip is to get a lock washer and put in on top of the shell plate you are using and thread the plate retainer through that. This will help keep the plate from loosening when loading.

Congrats on the new press. I can be tedious to get tuned in at times, but when it is working it is like mechanical magic!
Click to expand...

Lock washer, now that's a great cheap idea!

Thanks!
 
Check out this thread on the M4carbine forum on smoothing out that LNL AP.

ht tp://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?144901-How-to-tune-the-Hornady-Lock-N-Load-AP-progressive-press

Check out this guy's videos and you will never have a problem or will know what caused any hiccups on your LNL.


You can make a poor man's bullet feeding using the Hornady Bullet Feeder and plastic aquarium piping. Hornady released their own bullet feed tubes that work with the bullet feeder a couple years ago.

h ttp://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/349969__28_00_Bullet_feeder_for_Any_Progressive.ht ml
 
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