I saw this press and after reading about it, it seems pretty good. What do you guys think of this press? What else would I need to get started if I got this one? Keep in mind that I am a total noob when it comes to reloading so any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks.
Hornady Lock-N-Load AP
- Thread starter Jeremy
- Start date
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
I have a lock and load and quite like it. The press is well made and hell for
strong. Along with the press you'll need a set of dies in the caliber you want and the shell plate. shell plates are about 30$ and do multiple calibers. dies are caliber specific (with a few exceptions like .38 spl/.357 mag) and are about the same. For a pistol you may want a taper crimp die (19$) You'll need a powder scale to set your drop weight (60-150$ depending)
If you've never loaded before, I would strongly suggest you borrow or buy a single stage press or a turret style press and learn the ropes on. With a single stage or turret machine, you can preform one operation at a time and concentrate on that, rather than trying to see 5 things at once. Once you know whats going on in each operation, your ready to go progressive. If you decide to go ahead and get a progressive first, well, at least only cycle one case through at a time. If you goof, that way you'll catch it and not compound the mistake, or repeat it several times unknowingly.
Trying to learn reloading and how to run the progressive at the same time is an invitation for trouble in the form of squibs or double charges that you don't have the experiance to catch before they cause trouble. That being said, the hornady is a very easy press to set up and caliber changes are a breeze. The lee is also a very good machine when you take the price into consideration. It's lighter built, but if your not loading 1000 rounds a month, it'll do you fine. Dillons are good, expensive for what they are, but the warrentee is gold plated. Have fun, every one here will help you on the way!
strong. Along with the press you'll need a set of dies in the caliber you want and the shell plate. shell plates are about 30$ and do multiple calibers. dies are caliber specific (with a few exceptions like .38 spl/.357 mag) and are about the same. For a pistol you may want a taper crimp die (19$) You'll need a powder scale to set your drop weight (60-150$ depending)
If you've never loaded before, I would strongly suggest you borrow or buy a single stage press or a turret style press and learn the ropes on. With a single stage or turret machine, you can preform one operation at a time and concentrate on that, rather than trying to see 5 things at once. Once you know whats going on in each operation, your ready to go progressive. If you decide to go ahead and get a progressive first, well, at least only cycle one case through at a time. If you goof, that way you'll catch it and not compound the mistake, or repeat it several times unknowingly.
Trying to learn reloading and how to run the progressive at the same time is an invitation for trouble in the form of squibs or double charges that you don't have the experiance to catch before they cause trouble. That being said, the hornady is a very easy press to set up and caliber changes are a breeze. The lee is also a very good machine when you take the price into consideration. It's lighter built, but if your not loading 1000 rounds a month, it'll do you fine. Dillons are good, expensive for what they are, but the warrentee is gold plated. Have fun, every one here will help you on the way!
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
Jeremy said:
well, every one has a favorite, and most people feel that their favorite is also the "best" when most of the time its what their familiar with. People like what they know, but don't nessisarily know what they like.
How much shooting do you do? The volume of loading your looking at has (or how much you want to spend) has a bearing on what you buy. All of the progressives for sale today are good machines, and have their own strenths and weaknesses. And every machine has its detractors and enthusiasts. I'm assuming one of the SIR kits is a single stage setup? It would be a great way of getting into reloading simpily and picking up the basics. When you want to jump to progessive, (and if you shoot more than a couple hundred a month, you will) base your decision on whats important to you (cost, name brand, pride of ownership, bragging rights......) rather than what you get told. If you never load rifle, you don't need a 550-650 dillon, a square deal or a Lee is the way to go. If you do load rifle, then I like the hornady, but the 650 dillon is nice as well. Good luck!
Jeremy said:
It is a bit overwhelming. But you have to start somewhere. Without a doubt the best place to start is with a single stage press. Get an "O" style press, in cast iron. After you put a thousand rounds through it then you will have a great feel of what reloading is all about.
Remember, reloading is not just about the equipment, it is about your final product, the reloaded cartridge. There are many ways to get there and when starting out, all you really need in the end is to fabricate a cartridge that goes boom when you pull the trigger. You will get infinite satisfaction when that happens and the equipment that you used to get there will not matter.
Get some reasonable quality equipment to start with. Single stage Lee cast iron is a good press. Learn tips and tricks and then you can decide from there. Even when you have a progressive, you will still end up using a single stage for many functions.
I have a Lee Loadmaster but will be getting a Hornady Lock'n Load AP. I also have a 35 year old Pacific (Hornady) single stage press that I learned on and still use quite frequently.
I was looking at these 2 from SIR. No idea which is best...
http://sirmailorder.com/show_prod.php?product_id=742604&cat_id=10&subcat_id=107&PHPSESSID=1ed39914206fb6f825ef7a36bca48d71
http://sirmailorder.com/show_prod.php?product_id=743017&cat_id=10&subcat_id=107&PHPSESSID=1ed39914206fb6f825ef7a36bca48d71
http://sirmailorder.com/show_prod.php?product_id=742604&cat_id=10&subcat_id=107&PHPSESSID=1ed39914206fb6f825ef7a36bca48d71
http://sirmailorder.com/show_prod.php?product_id=743017&cat_id=10&subcat_id=107&PHPSESSID=1ed39914206fb6f825ef7a36bca48d71
Hello Jeremy,
I went through your dilema a back during the winter, and decided to buy the Hornady LnL. I'm quite happy with it, and have produced a few thousand pistol rounds.
Here's the links to a few older CGN threads where we've discussed progressive presses. They may help with your decision. In the third link I went into a fairly lengthy description of my decsion process in choosing between the Dillon 650 and Hornady LnL. Hopefully some of the information is useful to you.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=613628#post613628
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58798
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=307044#post307044
I went through your dilema a back during the winter, and decided to buy the Hornady LnL. I'm quite happy with it, and have produced a few thousand pistol rounds.
Here's the links to a few older CGN threads where we've discussed progressive presses. They may help with your decision. In the third link I went into a fairly lengthy description of my decsion process in choosing between the Dillon 650 and Hornady LnL. Hopefully some of the information is useful to you.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=613628#post613628
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58798
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?p=307044#post307044
I believe the RCBS press is aluminum. I am not certain about the Hornady, maybe someone else can answer that question. (This entire discussion refers to the single stage presses, not the progressives)
The Hornady comes with a primer feed on the press, no need to hand prime, and the Hornady kit also comes with a powder measure. It is priced a bit more but you are getting a bit more.
The Hornady comes with a primer feed on the press, no need to hand prime, and the Hornady kit also comes with a powder measure. It is priced a bit more but you are getting a bit more.
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Definatly go with the Hornady kit. No question.
The LnL die set-up will let you load a lot faster, when that's important.
The powder measure is very usefull when you are loading pistol and short range or plinking ammo for the rifles. (it's even good for very accurate rifle loads; but only with some powders, you'll have to experiment).
The LnL die set-up will let you load a lot faster, when that's important.
The powder measure is very usefull when you are loading pistol and short range or plinking ammo for the rifles. (it's even good for very accurate rifle loads; but only with some powders, you'll have to experiment).
for single stage the Rockchucker Supreme with Hornady lock n load bushing installed is the best bet in my view. Also the RCBS presses are all cast steel I believe. some parts may be aluminum (die plates in the 2000 for example), but the press itself is steel. Progressive? well there are all sorts of reasons to go with any of the top out there.
I've heard that some presses are good for certain cals and not for others. So if it helps at all, I'd be loading 9mm, 45acp, 243, 270, and 458. Of course being a gunnut there will be more toys down the road in others cals as well.
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
Jeremy said:
Any of the single stage units will load all of those calibers. If you go with the hornady single stage unit, it will be an easy transition to the progressive one.
(I can't help it, I like red presses
