Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press

[clarky07]

Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press - MidwayUSA

Anybody have thoughts on this? Any experience with it?

I'm looking into starting reloading and this seems to have great reviews.

Before anyone says it, I'm getting ready to order ABC's of reloading and read before I get started.

Also, while I understand the idea of getting a single stage first, I really don't think it is an option for me. I plan to reload a lot of ammo and know that I will want a progressive shortly. I just don't have the funds to get both right now.

[lowery100]

They are good presses and have good reviews now. They had some bugs in them when they first came out but seem to have been worked out now. But for similar money you could get a Dillon. They have great support form the factory and tons of accessories to load lots of ammo fast.

[clarky07]

anybody have any suggestions on dies for 308 as well?

[USMCJG]

I haven't bought a progressive press yet, but I have done a lot of research on them. If I were going to buy one today, it would be the Hornady. The reviews I have read(many, many of them) place the Hornady as equal to or better than the Dillon and a bit cheaper too. My question is why you would want to use a progressive press to load .308? Most people use progressives for pistol and sometimes small rifle cartridges(like .223), not for large rifle cartridges. Not that it can't be done, but it is rather unusual. For dies, if you just want to quickly load average quality ammunition(the whole purpose of a progressive press), pretty much any brand will do. I like Hornady right now because of the free bullet offer. I own Hornady .308 dies and they work just fine.

Edited September 6, 2010 by USMCJG

[clarky07]

Well, I plan to reload several types of ammo, not just the 308. That's just what I have the most interest in currently. I'll also be doing 9mm and 45 in the pistol ammo department. I realize it might not be top match ammo on the progressive, but it is still going to be better and cheaper than what i'm using currently. Right now I'm spending about a dollar a round on crappy ammo. i think the progressive can more than compete with that.

[glockster157]

Well, I plan to reload several types of ammo, not just the 308. That's just what I have the most interest in currently. I'll also be doing 9mm and 45 in the pistol ammo department. I realize it might not be top match ammo on the progressive, but it is still going to be better and cheaper than what i'm using currently. Right now I'm spending about a dollar a round on crappy ammo. i think the progressive can more than compete with that.

I have been loading on a Dillon 550 for 25 years now and you can make very good quality ammo on it. I am sure the Hornady would be the same. I have never loaded 308's on the Dillon but I have loaded 30-06's and a lot of 223's. One trick I do on the bolt guns is I use a neck sizing die instead of the full length sizing die when I am loading for a varmint or target rifle AND the brass I am loading was fired in that rifle. I use ball powders that measure very accurately in the Dillon powder measure and I seat the bullets to the same length I would in the single stage. I catch them instead of letting them fall into the bin as I don't want to upset the bullet as it is out farther than normal. I have shot groups that were just as good as when I did the same loads on the single stage. If you are loading 308's for an auto rifle like a M1A, them you would not be able to neck size or seat the bullet out but the ammo will still be better than most you can buy because the quality is in the preparation and the components. Prep your cases properly, use good components, be consistent in your processes and you will make good ammo.

[Guest Archminister01]

I have heard nothing but good things about the Hornady. The accessories will definitely be cheaper than the Dillon. I myself, much to the chagrin of others went with a budget minded program. When set up properly, my Lee Loadmaster turns out very good ammo at a very affordable price. Whatever you buy I am sure you will get your moneys worth. Just take the time to pay attention, follow all of the steps, use good components as mentioned above, and measure measure measure..lol. I al so own a Lee Classic Turret and an RCBS single stage. I can load up to .50 caliber on the presses i currently own. Largest caliber reloaded is .300 win mag.

[Mike]

I ave a Hornady LnL and I love it. Dillons are good presses too. You can't beat either. I liked the bushing system on the Hornady over the plate system used by Dillon.

Plus the 500 free bullets was a nice touch.

Mike

[9teeneleven]

I've got one and I really like it. The 500 bullets pushed the value over the top. I got mine with a nice $50 off $500 coupon from midway so I ended up getting it really cheaply. The only quirk that I've found with it is that you have to constantly tighten down the shell plate screw, but that's no big deal.

[bvarnell]

Midway has the LnL on sale for $385.99 this month.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

They are good presses. Mine is the one with the wire ejector. I never upgraded mine,

but I heard good things about the upgrade. I mostly do the pistol ammo on mine, but

have done a bunch of 5.56 and 6.8.

I thought about a Dillon and almost bought one until I asked around, and ended up with the

Hornady on sale at Midsouth at the time. It was 349 (I think) and the bullet deal in 08.

You won't go wrong with one.