Hornady Lock N Load?

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Palmetto-Pride

New member
So I got into reloading a couple years ago and I bought the Hornady LNL kit I liked the idea of being able to quick change the dies without having to "reinvent the wheel" every time I needed to change the dies out. Now I am having second thoughts on the LNL system because when you run the case up the die there is a very small amount of movement from the O-ring that keeps the die in place my concern is that its not sizing and seating consistently. I know theoretically as long as it moved the same amount every time it should be the same, but I am thinking about some how replacing the LNL bushings with regular die threads and just have to set up my dies every time I need to change them out. What are yalls thought on it?
 
O-ring that keeps the die in place my concern
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Are you using Lee dies? Hornady dies use a locking collar. Bullets vary and will give you different seating so OAL will no seem consistent. You also failed to mention if you are case length trimming each case.

Give us more about what you are doing as part of your routine and you'll get better direction from the members here.

If you are using Lee dies. Replace the locking gaskets with the Hornady locking collars and see what you think.
 
Ok so I guess I didn't make it clear what I am referring to. What I am talking about is with the Hornady Lock N Load bushings and how they lock into the press. I am using Hornady dies, but it doesn't matter what dies would be set up in the bushing it would do the same thing. The whole idea behind the LNL system is that you set your dies up once in the bushing and just change them out without having to set them back up every time. The LNL bushing cams over and locks into place, but it is not as solid as if you were to use say a RCBS press and have the die installed and locked directly into the press. When running the press and you have your hand on the die you can feel very slight movement in the bushing that is locked in place. I was just wondering how others that use the Hornady LNL system feel about it.
 
I have a LNL AP press, and have not noticed any issues due to the slight movement of the Hornady bushing. I use Redding dies exclusively for rifle calibers, and Hornady dies for pistol calibers. My resizing and seating are very consistent.

When seating bullets for rifle rounds, almost all of them are seated exactly to what I set the die for. I use a micrometer seating stem for seating. If they are off, it's usually ~.002" either way.
 
Well, I feel that it uses the accuracy of the machined lugs and bushings to align with upward pressure on it. This should be very accurate.

Especially compared to blue's entire plate movement...
 
I want to make clear that I am not saying I have had any problems with it or that even the slight movement makes for less consistent/less accurate ammo my problem is I have never loaded ammo with any other press to compare it to. I was kind hoping someone else in here has to provide a comparison feedback.
 
I own a LnL AP press as well. I've noticed the slight movement but havent ran any inconsistencies in my finished rounds.

From my understanding, the slight movement is actually a good thing. This gives the die some "float" to help align the die with the shell. If you look at the Forster Co-Ax press, the die is locked in the Z direction but has some float in the X,Y direction for better concentricity.
 
Hornaday makes a very thin washer to place under dies that has to much movement. This is normally seen used on the powder die but I have one under one of my older Lee re-size -de-caper die as well.
Takes all the movement out.
I had to call Hornaday to get the washer.
 
The machined lugs on the bushings control vertical movement not the rubber o-ring. The o-ring simply holds the lugs in the correct position to engage.
 
I compared 30-06, .270 win, and .40 s&w rounds that I made on my LNL AP vs the same rounds that I made on my Rock Chucker using the same dies, same bullets, etc.

The rounds made on either press were interchangeable and identical in every way I could measure. I don't think the rubber bushing makes any difference whatsoever.
 
The small movement you see is to allow you to compress the rubber O ring to be able to remove the male end of the bushing. When you size a case, as the case goes into the die, the die/bushing will firmly seat against the female end of the bushing in the reloading press. Metal against metal. My LNL is just as consistent compared to my Rock Chucker.
 
I compared 30-06, .270 win, and .40 s&w rounds that I made on my LNL AP vs the same rounds that I made on my Rock Chucker using the same dies, same bullets, etc.

The rounds made on either press were interchangeable and identical in every way I could measure. I don't think the rubber bushing makes any difference whatsoever
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Ok this is what I was looking for thanks to all who have replied!
 
OP you can either try to find some 3mm thick orings or just phone Hornady and tell them the powder measure is turning in the hole after several rounds and they will send you shims that will tighten everything up and there will be no movement.
I should have stated that it is to prevent the powder measure from turning and coming up. It does tighten up the dies as well but doesn't make any difference in the up or down movement.
 
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Well, I feel that it uses the accuracy of the machined lugs and bushings to align with upward pressure on it. This should be very accurate
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The rounds made on either press were interchangeable and identical in every way I could measure. I don't think the rubber bushing makes any difference whatsoever
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These and the other posts are the right answers, I have the LNL-AP and the Rock Chucker Supreme single stage, among others, I bought the LNL adapter for my Rockchucker, and also have noticed no difference in the quality of my ammunition that I make. I've seen no difference in any part of it.

You didn't hurt yourself by buying what you bought.
 
loose bushings

Had the same problem, dies wiggling loose. (powder measure and sizing die).
Used a strip of plastic electrical tape placed on top of bushing entrance.
May need to renew it from time to time.


DaD
 
The machined lugs on the bushings control vertical movement not the rubber o-ring. The o-ring simply holds the lugs in the correct position to engage.
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^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^

I use the LnL single stage press and I know what you are seeing . That movement stops when sizing and bullet seating because all the pressure is on the lugs . You can see this by sizing a case using FL die with expander ball . Size the case like normal and pull the ram all the way back down ( handle up ) . Now slowly raise the ram back up untill the expander ball is being forced back into the neck . Notice that the die or bushing does not move . Once you have the expander ball just past the neck inside the case pull it out and that's when you se movement in the bushing . That's because when the case is being pushed into the die the die/bushing is being supported by the lugs on the bushing . When it's removed you get the flex from the o-ring . You only need the support on the up stroke . I just so happened to do a test as to how consistent I can seat my bullets measuring from the head to the O-give . out of 10 rounds measured I had an ES of .0015 and a SD of less the .001 using my L-n-L press . I actually impressed my self with those measurements . So yes the L-n-L press can give you very consistent results .

The bigger issue I have found with my press is the press deflection/flex in the linkage of the press . I can screw my die down until it is touching the shell holder . When I then size a case like 308 or 270 there is quite a large gap in between the die and shell holder when the ram is at the top of the stroke . The gap is around .008 and to me that's a lot of flex . It was playing havoc on me when I was trying to bump my shoulders back only .002 . Sometimes I'd get a .003 or .004 bump and other times I'd not get a bump at all . For awhile I was shimming the case up with feeler gages to get just the right bump but I ultimately chose to start using competition shell holders . This allows me to make HARD contact with thedie and shell holder . When you do that ALL press deflection is removed and the result is very consistently sized cases .

Anyways you should be GTG hope that helped
 
I think you have your answer.

I installed the bushing system in my Rock Chucker. Well worth the money to be able to pop the dies in and out of the press.
 
The machined lugs on the bushings control vertical movement not the rubber o-ring. The o-ring simply holds the lugs in the correct position to engage.
Click to expand...

X3

This is a non-issue.
Forces exerted against the die from the press are bottom-up, where it is metal on metal- just like the locking lugs on a rifle bolt and receiver.

Zero play.
 
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