What do you guys think of the new Hornady Iron Press

Z

zanemoseley

New member
I just read about the new Hornady Iron Press in another thread. Honestly it looks pretty awesome. I currently use a Rock Chucker converted for LNL bushings in LH mode, handle on the left and feed from the right. Doing this the feed opening is pretty tight, the iron press is wide open on the front, really amazing. The optional primer feed system looks pretty nice as well. I hope the used primer catching is better than the Rock Chucker.

Not sure if I'll make good use of the accessory tray though. I might just sell the Rock Chucker for an iron press.
 
Hey.... Thats pretty cool!! Might even be able to get me out of my beloved LEE Classic cast press.
Maybe...
I did not notice how they deal with spent primers. But I am going to keep an eye one these.

Hornady has been sneaking me away piece by piece. They got me away from RCBS with the LNL AP.
 
It ain't going to win a beauty contest, but they are moving a better direction. RCBS is building new Aluminum presses and Hornady is going to cast iron....good move, I say! Breath of fresh air!

xctmph5oync.png
I like the open face,too, like the RCBS Summit, but it has the good ole double leverage Rock Chucker-like power. I'm not going to complain much about the LnL feature either....I'll take it....and get used to it.

It's not cheap though, and you have to buy the primer system separate.....but that's what we get these days. Rock Chuckers don't come with them either.

But elegant?........that's going way to far!:rolleyes: If I ever get to have one I'll be naming it Patton. Tank tuff and ugly.:D
 
Last edited:
A pause for the COZ
Hey.... Thats pretty cool!! Might even be able to get me out of my beloved LEE Classic cast press.
Maybe...
I did not notice how they deal with spent primers. But I am going to keep an eye one these.

Hornady has been sneaking me away piece by piece. They got me away from RCBS with the LNL AP.
Click to expand...
If you go to hornady's website that I linked to, watch the video and make the video full screen, you will see a gray plastic tray and ramp to the left rear of the ram. I believe that is the spent primer collection system.
 
I can see some bloody fingers coming from the chauffeuring tool sticking up, so I don't think I'd use it.

I like the wide open front, an auto priming system and the die caddy on the top but again, to me the die caddy is mostly window dressing.

From the video it looks like a true cam over press but there is only one film shot of the linkage at the end of the video showing it going over center.

Really like the auto priming if it works well but I use one of the old press mounted Lee Auto prime 2 systems and it had been working well with my Rockchucker for over 25 years now.

I could see myself buying one if I didn't already have a RockChucker, so I
would have to figure out some excuse as to why I had to part with RockChucker to justify a purchase.

That would be a lot of figuring.
 
It looks good to do some heavy resizing, and the priming system looks decent. Spent primer handling, not so much. I'll stick to my Co-Ax that I've been using for 48 years.
 
Looks like a real nice Heavy Duty Press. Should last years.

Good luck with it. I love the way you can change dies, and all your prep tools are right their.:)
 
I hope the used primer catching is better than the Rock Chucker
Click to expand...

There has to be an old saying that goes something like:

A good tool box starts with two tools, duct tape and WD40. Logic, if it moves and shouldn't: Use duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use WD40.

Then there are those that light candles instead of cussing the darkness. For years I have used black electrical tape from 3M to secure the primer catcher on my Rock Chuckers, I have at least 3. Then, I found a roll of green 3M electrical tape, the color matches the color of the primer catcher. The only way a primer can escape is to sprout winds.

F. Guffey
 
And then? there are rubber bands, not much chance a rubber band is too long for the task if the reloader has a few shop skills, it helps to have a few sailor skills like throwing a hitch on the rubber band. How wide? The wider the better.

Then comes winter. Traction can be gained when primers are imbedded into the soles of shoes. With a little ware the primers become little 'O's.

F. Guffey
 
It looks like a good press and the combo package has pretty much everything that a reloader needs to get started. Haters are going to hate though cant change that.
 
Hornnady's new press: What do you think?

Hornnady's new press: What do you think?
Click to expand...

Haters are going to hate though can't change that.
Click to expand...

Then there is the trapezoid, when the trapezoid is configured to lifting with cables, slings and chokers, the trapezoid wins over other configurations. Then there is the straight lift.

I do not believe the new press will help reloaders understand press flex/yield and strain because they do mot measure press strain when overcoming the case's ability to resist sizing. That has nothing to do with hate, hate is a luxury I do not afford myself.

F. Guffey
 
I have to say that it looks good and solid and I like this idea of the "shell holder platform" but then again -- they don't make it 100% clear that standard shell holders are used.

I want to assume they are standard shell holders... but if it turns out they are not, it won't play well.

Looks like a nice press.
 
I have to watch the video again. If all they have is the quick change bushing feature w/o the ability to screw a die into the press ... no thanks.

I've never been a fan of Hornady equipment and have an even lower opinion of their customer service but this press looks interesting.
 
"I have to watch the video again. If all they have is the quick change bushing feature w/o the ability to screw a die into the press ... no thanks.

I've never been a fan of Hornady equipment and have an even lower opinion of their customer service but this press looks interesting."


Every LNL press that has the quick change bushing can be screwed out and a threaded one screwed in. Just curious though about why you would even consider it giving what you think of them. Just wondering cause when I don't like a company I won't buy nothing from them. :confused:
 
I've never been a fan of Hornady equipment
Click to expand...
Well, I've had a set of 'Hornady' tools (Single Stage press, scales, powder dispenser) since around 1980 and have not been disappointed. Still going strong. Only thing was the primer feed system, but I have a RCSB hand primer anyway that I really like. Each to their own :) .

Looks like a nice press. Problem is ... I already have a good press. But the simple twist and lock looks like a good option. If I could think of a good reason to outlay $$$, I probably would pop for this press.
 
What do you guys think of the new Hornady Iron Press
Click to expand...

I think it's interesting. A combination of C press and O press.

I don't have a need for one. I have a Rock Chuck press (that gets almost no use as it is).
 
I really don’t see any real advantage of the “lock and load” for the dies. All it is is a collate that the die is screwed into and it allows a quick way to remove the die. Ok I agree with that but you’re talking several seconds VS 30 seconds to unscrew a die.
Also the brushes and the case chamfer tools are way too close to other mounted tools. I also don’t care for hand twisting cases on one. I use the RCBS chamfer tool on a power screwdriver. Takes all the wear and tear off the fingers.
I like the openness of the press but don’t like the ball on the end of the rod. They make it difficult to lower without turning your hand on the ball. My RCBS was the same until I got an inline fab roller handle. Greatest addition to the rock chucker. It has a rotating right angle rubber handle that rotates as you push down. More efficient and easer on the arm and hand.
http://inlinefabrication.com/collections/rcbs
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top