Newbie Questions - Considering Hornady Lock N Load kit - What else do I need?

quikcolin

quikcolin

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Hey everyone,

I'm so new to this I don't even fully understand the terminology of the different dies, etc.

I'm considering buying a Lock-N-Load from Hornady (let me know if there is a better option?). I'd like to reload 6.5 Creedmoor, .223 and 9mm. Do I need to purchase those "dies" separately? Anything else that doesn't come in the kit? I literally have no clue.

I think I need to get a tumbler to clean the brass, right? Replace the scale it comes with? Do I need a trimmer (for when the brass is a bit too long?), anything else?

PS - is there such a thing as a tumbler that won't drive my neighbours crazy and make my wife want to shoot me? I understand they're annoyingly loud and need to run for hours.

Any advice to someone looking to get into reloading is appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Welcome to reloading! You will love it!

First, yes you will need dies for every type of bullet you reload. You will need a bullet seating one and a case resizing one. They are normally sold together anyway.

Tumbler to clean the brass is not a MUST but if bullets a very dirty then yes! I clean mine all the time, but seen other reloaders that dont.

Yes you will need a trimmer. With the 6.5 creedmoore I am guessing resizing will make you need to trim for consistency with accuracy as well and case height.

Tumbler makes noise. I normally do it mid day when it's noisy anyways in the garage. Your neighbours should not hear it from your home unless you are in appartment.

Advise, just start make two three bullets only, follow a reloading book, do not deviate on minimum and maximum load required. Test them, then enjoy a long learning and exploring hobby.

Pm me for any help.

Good luck
 
Colin,
You are still in the research phase of this new hobby to you. I recommend a reloading manual first. Read it and then check you tube for some ideas. The more effort you put into the research the easier it will be to get going.
 
I have had a classic Hornady press for about a year, So far I have de-primed a lot of brass of various calibres. Lee does tend to come with shell holders with the other brands selling them separate. Look up online what shell holders you are likely to require and just buy the lot as a first step. You can't reload until you have deprimed brass so if your starting with a budget but 1 or 2 sets of full dies for whatever main calibre you want then get a generic depriming die and just use whatever brass you want with whatever shell holder you want to build up a stash of deprimed brass. Unless its filthy brass washing it with the primers out works much better and they dry much faster. Then its reloading time when your ready, follow the direction in the book.

extra's I bought so far over and above the classic single stage presss
- a set of those tighting rings to place on each die to secure them.
- extra set of lock and load adapters for several dies
- .308 dies, 9mm dies, 223, 8mm dies
- shell holders for the above and the Russians (some shell holders do double duty like the .308 shellholder working for both 30-06 and 8mm as well)
-1 universal decapping die
- 1 extra spray of case lube, the other option is paste that looks and feels like vegetable shortening.

My plan is to eventually try reloading 9mm first which if I can master should be easy to expand to other calibres. It just takes time and the ability to focus on what your doing, something I thought I had a lot more of until I bought a press.

*** I highly recommend looking into on of the press standing unless you have a dedicated spot on your bench for it or building one. I drilled holes and mounted it to a table top and really i'd prefer the ability to have a set up and tear down stand instead. Also be careful you don't catch your hand or fingers in the press the amount of leverage it creates is enormous....
 
Extras for the lock and load:
Bushings for the drop and lock system.
Case retaining springs for the case holder.
Primer tubes

Also I bought a used one that was nicely broken in and smoother. I have a friend who bought one brand new and it took a while to smooth out the action and prevent powder spillage in pistol cases.
Another quirk I've noticed with mine is the metal under the primer loader is soft. The plunger has worn a divot into the metal resulting in improper seating of the primer. Easily patched putting a harder washer under it but something to be aware of. Also putting a lock washer under the shell plate bolt keeps things snug.
 
If your looking at the hornady press buy there reloading manual and read it the specific gear to reload does not matter understanding the processes does, if you can find a knowledgeable friend to make some rounds with you and show you that would be good but get a reloading manual and read it before you drop thousands of dollars on gear.
 
don't do it, its an addiction you'll get hooked then you will have to the newest glizzist things that you didn't realize that you couldn't live without. and then 6 months later something newer and glizzier
comes and you delegate the first one to a box under your bench. and it keeps on like this forever
 
Thanks so much, guys. Do I have to order "Hornady" dies? Or do all brands interchange? I'm still a little foggy, but I think that's part of the process. You've all been a big help.

I keep asking myself if I can build a bullet that will perform as well as Hornady VMAX 55g .223 bullets? When I say my T3x varmint stainless like those, it's an understatement. I'd love to do some testing (it's called load development I'm learning) to see if I can better that ammo. But is it possible to replicate that vmax factory load?

What makes a bullet better? Tighter tolerances?

Thanks again!
 
quikcolin said:
Thanks so much, guys. Do I have to order "Hornady" dies? Or do all brands interchange? I'm still a little foggy, but I think that's part of the process. You've all been a big help.

I keep asking myself if I can build a bullet that will perform as well as Hornady VMAX 55g .223 bullets? When I say my T3x varmint stainless like those, it's an understatement. I'd love to do some testing (it's called load development I'm learning) to see if I can better that ammo. But is it possible to replicate that vmax factory load?

What makes a bullet better? Tighter tolerances?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Dies are pretty much interchangeable so you don’t have to get Hornady dies.

Yes you can definitely produce ammunition that will perform as well as any factory load. You will be able to duplicate your preferred factory load. Keep in mind commercially loaded ammunition doesn’t use canister grade powder so you can’t simply use the same powder. Generally you try whichever powders give the highest velocities and do your load tuning from there.

Better bullets are more consistent and better designed. Different rifles prefer different bullets.
 
I’m beginning to get confused again lol.

I’m now looking at the Lee Precision Breech 50tg Anniversary Press Kit. https://www.gotenda.com/shop/reloading/dies-press/lee-50th-anniversary-breech-lock-challenger-kit/

I’m trying find reviews and difference between this and the Hornady lock-n-load. Sounds like the only real difference is the quick detaching does in the Hornady? So for the Hornady at double the price, is this not the best way to go? But I do like the built in trimmer on the Lee. Just need the trimmer for for each caliber.

Are Lee dies okay? Is there a better die? I’ve read hundreds of reviews on Cabela’s website. Some say RCBS dies aren’t meant for a cheaper press like the Lee?

Can someone just tell me what to buy. Hahaha. Full shopping list for 9mm, .223 and 6.5 Creedmoor haha
 
You should really do more research. they are totally different units. The Lee is a single stage press vs the Hornady is a progressive press. Basically the Lee you can do one process at a time with a single die...ie you would deprime/resize all your brass at once, then change the die and do the next step in the reloading process. With the LnL you all your dies would be loaded and with each pull of the handle it will do 5 processes at once. Progressive reloading is a much steeper learning curve. Rifle/precision reloading usually (not always the case) is done with single stage presses and pistol/semiauto (stuff with more volume) done on progressive presses. I have both.
 
Have you bought a reloading manual and read it yet? if not your going to waste money and possibly hurt yourself or worse somebody else the equipment decisions are not what makes good ammo understanding the process and quality control does.
 
Akito said:
You should really do more research. they are totally different units. The Lee is a single stage press vs the Hornady is a progressive press. Basically the Lee you can do one process at a time with a single die...ie you would deprime/resize all your brass at once, then change the die and do the next step in the reloading process. With the LnL you all your dies would be loaded and with each pull of the handle it will do 5 processes at once. Progressive reloading is a much steeper learning curve. Rifle/precision reloading usually (not always the case) is done with single stage presses and pistol/semiauto (stuff with more volume) done on progressive presses. I have both.
Click to expand...

I’m looking at the single stage lock-n-load. Both are single stage. There is a progressive and a single stage version of the Hornady.
 
quikcolin said:
I’m looking at the single stage lock-n-load. Both are single stage. There is a progressive and a single stage version of the Hornady.
Click to expand...

my bad...so the Lock'n'load classic (I had to look it up since my single stage is an RCBS)
I personally would go with the Hornady. I have the AP and find the quality and support from Hornady very good. The Kit will come with the reloading manual so you can get more in depth info as well.
 
Akito said:
my bad...so the Lock'n'load classic (I had to look it up since my single stage is an RCBS)
I personally would go with the Hornady. I have the AP and find the quality and support from Hornady very good. The Kit will come with the reloading manual so you can get more in depth info as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much. I’m just hoping to buy the kit, which provides 90% of what’s needed. Then read the manual and order the appropriate dies, trimmer, etc. I would never touch a press or make ammo without fully understanding the exactly process :).
 
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