Why doesn't Hornady have a LNL turret press??

Z

zanemoseley

New member
I already have the LNL AP press and a Rock Chucker converted to use LNL bushings but just realized that Hornady doesn't even offer a turret press. Seems like a missed opportunity. Sure I could get another brand but then I'd have to spend another $50 just to by adapters to convert it to LNL bushings.
 
An other good question, how about a new manufacturer, for the invented in 1935 (same as I was) Star progressive press, incredible machine.
 
Because the bushings make it just as easy to change dies! A lot of people confuse the use of the turret presses and use them to load one round at a time. Like a manual progressive. The normal way to reload is to process the brass in batches. Size 20-100 rifle cases or 100 to 500 pistol cases at one time then change dies. You can load a lot of ammo this way.
 
Several turret presses have turrets that can hold dies for 2-3 different calibers at the same time (or at the minimum all needed for one caliber) add to that the simplicity of swapping over to a different turret and there is not a lot or reason for QD bushings.

They do make a single stage that accepts them though.

Less stuff to keep up with when its all together. This is dies for 5 different rounds all ready to go.

DSC02166.jpg



It you were wanting to use them both on an LNL AP AND a turret press, that wouldn't work out so well. Between the two LNL's that I had you had to readjust the dies if you used them on the other LNL AP.
 
Maybe I'm over estimating the turret press since I've never used one. Loading a case all the way without removing would be pretty convenient but i guess you just trade it for a lot of turret turning. I'm thinking it would be handy for those pistol rounds where you aren't using enough to swap over your progressive.
 
If you process in batches it goes fast.
One night deprime and clean
Next night size and clean
Next night prime, powder, bullet and FC.
 
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I can do that with a single stage just as fast. A turret press just seems like a solution looking for a problem to me. It doesn't do anything a single stage doesn't do (you still have to set up your dies, so there really isn't any time savings there for all intents and purposes), and it won't do what a progressive will do.

To each his own, they aren't for me.
 
I have a Dillon XL650 and a Lee Classic Turret. I got away from reloading for a bit, and have just got back.

Right now the Lee Turret sees more action than the XL650. I like the simplicity at the moment, and since I'm only loading about 100-200 at a time, it's much easier for me to do it, than setup the XL650.

Now once I get enough brass in reserve and want to load 500-600 at a time, then I'll probably go back to the XL650. I guess I find the Lee Classic Turret easier to tweak while I work up my loads for all my calibers that I use than the Dillon.

In the meantime the XL650 will go back to Dillon for a tuneup, it's going on 24 years of age.

Just for kicks, I still use my RCBS RS (1) or the newer RCBS Summit to decap or load a few test rounds. They all have their place in my setup.
 
Why doesn't Hornady have a LNL turret press??

I already have the LNL AP press and a Rock Chucker converted to use LNL bushings but just realized that Hornady doesn't even offer a turret press. Seems like a missed opportunity. Sure I could get another brand but then I'd have to spend another $50 just to by adapters to convert it to LNL bushings.
Click to expand...

Rather than worry about letting the LnL adapters control everything I ordered a separate die set for loading small batches on the Lee turret. Most of my stuff is done with RCBS Cowboy die sets because of lead bullets and not liking finished cartridges to look like overstuffed sausages. The cases are sized larger. I use a Lee die set (mostly) for anything plated or jacketed (standard size).

My life with the turret has evolved into have separate turrets, die sets, and even dedicated powder measures for each caliber, and then sometimes complete turret setup for jacketed bullets. I do not share die sets for 44/44 Mag or 38/357. They each have their own turret rig, and the 357 has big gun and small gun separate turrets. Overall I reload 13 calibers and have 12 turrets. Lee prices allow that, but it has taken five years to get to this position.

I use the LnL AP when the anticipated batch size is large enough to warrant the setup and sometimes frustration getting it all playing together just right.
 
Good question.

schmellba99, zanemoseley,

The turret press has some advantages over either single stage or progressive. Each type has its strengths.

"you just trade it for a lot of turret turning" If you have a turret that advances to the next die with each stroke of the ram, this is very convenient. But even a manually advanced turret allows you to avoid the multiple insertion/removal hand movements. This, of course is less of an advantage to rifle reloaders who need to perform off-press operations in the middle of the loading process, but straight-walled cases often do not require this.

Turret presses' operations are simpler to monitor than progressives (only one step at a time to watch). The presses are less expensive, too.

Like you said, schmellba99, "To each his own." Whatever gear fills your needs best is the best for you and we all have differnt needs. Turret is a good compromise between speed, simplicity of operation and purchase price....for me.

As to why Hornady does not offer a press to compete with Lyman's, RCBS', Lee's (are there others I forgot?), perhaps they do not see a market niche that is not yet served. Establishing a new line is expensive.

I do see a potential for a linear turret where the dies would be lined up on a bar of die stations. The bar would assemble from individual die stations, so the user could have two, three, four, five or more stations at will. The bar would automatically advance (but return to station 1 would be manual). Lee's limitation of 4 die stations is thereby solved and extra, empty stations would not be an issue. (One was offered decades ago; someone sent me a picture once, but it was not as sophisticated as the one I envision.) I doubt there is enough of a market for my idea, though, justify tooling up.

Lost Sheep
 
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I find 4 stations enough on the Lee turret, because with good lighting it is easy enough to look into the case for powder before placing a bullet. Where it becomes a problem is when the Lee powder through expander is not adequate, risking pinched fingers holding a bullet that doesn't want to stand. You wind up buying bullet types to suit the powder measure or you seat and crimp in the same station to make room for an expander, e.g. an M-die. This is all part of dealing with lead bullets, which are larger than for which the dies and PTE were designed.
 
The Star progressives I owned (all sold off, just buy factory now) were set up as .38 Special, and an other complete machine, for .32 S&W Walther target pistol competition.

The .38 Spl. had the last stage with no die, a hole in the reloading bench allowed the finished rimmed cartridge to fall through, into a chopped milk jug.

Six hundred an hour was easy, normally had my Wife loading primer tubes.

These rounds were used for my classes, copper washed 160g round nosed lead bullets, great for speed loaders. Tried to get local reloaders to help me out (not an activity I liked that much, loading that is) but could not get the quality my Star machine turned out.

With the Star, the base was fixed, the dies went up and down. Great design.
 
I have a Lyman turret press and 3 turrets for it, I like it a lit better than a standard single stage. It's probably not a lot faster but it is faster. Got a Dillon 550 a few years ago and use it mostly now days. Still use the Lyman for .357 mag, and rifle ammo. If you use Lee dies and don't replace the lock rings you should like a turret press. I've replaced most Lee dies, put real lock rings on a couple.
 
I have a Lyman turret press and 3 turrets for it, I like it a little better than a standard single stage. It's probably not a lot faster but it is faster. Got a Dillon 550 a few years ago and use it mostly now days. Still use the Lyman for .357 mag, and rifle ammo. If you use Lee dies and don't replace the lock rings you should like a turret press. I've replaced most Lee dies, put real lock rings on a couple.
 
I do my ammo in batches, usually 200 at a time.
I prefer to seat the bullet and crimp in seperate operations.
The advantage with the turrent press is that after seating, move to the next station and crimp, with the case still in the shellholder.
 
I have to be honest, I can do everything on a single stage that I can do on a turret press, I really don't know why Hornady would need to introduce a turret press.

I honestly don't see the need for turret presses so maybe I need to shut up before I offend someone, which isn't my intentions.

I could just never see the need for one except I do recognize Lee Classic cast self indexing turret press as a valid entry.
 
The turret is particularly useful to raise productivity on handgun ammo. I value the case-activated powder measure especially.
 
I can load 6 calibers on my Redding T-7 turret without having to change dies (.32 ACP, .32 S&W long, .32 H&R, .327 Federal Magnum, .40 and 10mm). When loading up smaller batches for testing, a quality turret like the REDDING is repeatedly more precise than a progressive and quicker / more convenient than a single stage press.

I have basically 3 presses for different jobs:

1.) REDDING Ultramag single stage press for de-cap, press through dies, high precision loads and large caliber neck sizing

2.) REDDING T-7 Turret for testing and uploading in smaller batches

3.) DILLON 1050 for mass-production of verified uploads

If I could only have one press it would be the REDDING turret.
 
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