Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press

Product #: 679228
| Manufacturer #: 095100
   Date Expected In-Stock: 3/2/2010
Quantity

An automatic 5-station press with Lock-N-Load quick change technology. This progressive press features fully automatic indexing, a 5-station die platform that accepts most standard 7/8"-14 threaded dies and the EZ-ject System which delivers 100% reliable cartridge ejection. The Lock-N-Load AP is capable of loading rifle or handgun cartridges with large or small primers.

Wondering what extra parts to purchase? Well, the press comes complete with a Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, case activated powder drop, cartridge catcher, primer pick-up tubes and 5 Lock-N-Load Bushings, so the only thing left for you to purchase is the easy access shellplate, dies and any additional bushings you'll need. (all available at MidwayUSA).

Technical Information

Warranty:

  • Lifetime factory warranty

    Special Note:
  • The EZ-ject system is designed to work with updated shellplates. Earlier version shellplates are not adaptable with the EZ-ject system. To tell if shellplates need to be updated turn the shellplate upside down and look for a groove that runs in a circular pattern around the shellplate. For further instruction please refer to the "what to look for" link below. If there is no groove present Hornady will modify old shellplates to work with the EZ-ject system.
    What to look for

    • Application Charts & Information

    Overall Rating:
    4.8 out of 5
    Used this Product?Rate It
    5 stars
    Adam B of jefferson, ME
    Date posted: 5/11/2007
    This press works great. I loaded 900 .45 ACP loads in the first day with this press. My Rockchucker is hard to beat for accuracy, but this thing kills it on speed. It has been a top notch product at a fair price. 1000 free bullets is just icing on the cake (With as fast as this press is, you soon run out of components and you need free ones to keep using your new "toy").
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    5 stars
    John Clark of Brick, NJ
    Date posted: 1/23/2007
    This is by far the best press I have owned, it beats the Dillon Presses, having owned a 550b. The set up time on the Hornady lnl ap was a whole lot easier compared to the Dillon. The Hornady had a lot less parts. The press works flawlessly. I am very happy with this press. I also have the case feeder which speeds up the loading time, it also was not complicated to set up.
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    5 stars
    Donald Goodman of Auburn, NY
    Date posted: 6/27/2007
    I love this press I have loaded thousands of rounds with no problems, if you use Hornady components you won't have any problems either, it loads perfect bullets a great press you can't go wrong truly I feel this is a great press and a great price for what you are getting. Thanks Don
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    5 stars
    Jim Riccart of Earth City, MO
    Date posted: 6/22/2007
    I replaced my Dillon 550 with this machine without regrets. It's a lot better with auto index and a 5 station system which allows me to install a powder check die. The Dillon has only 4 stations requiring periodic visual checking of correct charge. It's also a lot cleaner to operate with the decapped primers pushed down a brass tube under the shell plate ut to my trash can. Dillon has their spent primers collecting in a bin connected to the ram. A lot of the residue spills around the press making it dirty after a few hundred rounds. I haven't had to clean my press from primer residue after almost 4,000 loaded rounds. The LNL feature is also more secure than the removable tool head of Dillon which can cause jams with my Lee dies due to sloppy fit of the toolhead. Hornady price is also nice and same as Dillon. I'm getting the auto case inserter next week. Hornady AP is now the No 1 reloader in my book and most probably for most new reloaders as well!!!!!!!!!
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    5 stars
    Werner Standie of Charleston, WV
    Date posted: 1/2/2007
    Well designed. Unlike other progressives, this unit primes the case midway between stations, not direct under the powder station; which reduces chances of accidentally detonating the powder in the measure. The half-index also reduces spilled powder for tiny / short cases like 25 acp or 32 H&R. The depriming system also results in a cleaner press as the decapped primers is ejected below the shell plate direct to a brass tube then out to a trash can. Dillon 550 uses an open decapping system resulting in dirty press after a few hundred rounds. I use this unit to reload 357 mag, 45 acp and 223 Rem. Have had no problems after 5,000 rounds. Lastly, the Hornady press is cheaper than Dillon 550 or RCBS Pro 2000. Overall, excellent value and with common sense care, the machine can last a long, long time.
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    5 stars
    Clark Badgett of Floyds knobs, IN
    Date posted: 12/13/2006
    Simply put, this press is awesome. In my opinion this press is much better made and smoother operating than the others that I have handled.
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    5 stars
    Earl Gracie of Little Rock, AR
    Date posted: 1/10/2007
    I looked over RCBS2000, Dillon 650 and Lee Loadmaster presses before deciding on the Hornady LNL. The Hornady has the best value with auto-index and the use of LNL bushings. The RCBS and Dillon has removable tool heads. Some of these have very loose tolerance, they can be rattled while installed causing some slop and round-to-round variation in seating depth and OAL. The LNL system of Hornady is more steady with almost zero play. Great for accuracy! Hornady also the has more reliable priming system than the Lee which tends to jam a lot due to a design defect in their priming system. Lastly, the price for Hornady is nice. I have been doing well so far with my Hornady press, loading close to 5000 rounds of 45 ACP and 357 magnum and 308 Win with zero problems. Most of my reloader friends also use the Hornady LNL. All-in-all a very good choice and suggest you try one too!!
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    5 stars
    Ken P of Reidsville, NC
    Date posted: 1/2/2007
    Instructions could be better. The press itself is dynamite. The auto index takes a little tuning to get right but then the thing rocks. Was using a Lee 3 hole turret press with auto index. The LNL makes the Lee look like junk.
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    5 stars
    Mark Monreal of Aurora, CO
    Date posted: 1/28/2008
    Great Press!!! I just purchased this press and can say that I LIKE IT. I consider this LNLAP to be better than the Blue(Dillon) or the Green(RCBS) progressives. I have used it to load .223 Rem, .44 Mag, 45ACP, .357 Mag, .338 Win. Mag. and .308 Win. I like the powder drop once set, it is very consistent and accurate. Another great reason I appreciate this press is that you can load in either the progessive or in a single stage. All you have to do is remove the die. It is very easy because of the LNL bushing system. I would recommend this press to any serious hand loader or competent beginner.
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    5 stars
    Mike Burton of Houston , TX
    Date posted: 1/13/2008
    All I can say is WOW!!! This is a really smooth press. I've owned a Dillon 550 and a Lee Classic Turret which I really like, but nothing comes close to the smoothness of this press. I purchased a case feeder also and can easily produce about 500-600 rounds an hour without trying..The shell plates are a quick and easy to change along with the AWESOME LOCK AND LOAD BUSHINGS/DIES. Not to mention the shell plates are steel and half the price of Dillon's caliber conversions. The only disappointment was the instructions on assembly for both the press and case feeder. I'm mechanically inclined, if you're not and have never assembled a press and are not familiar with reloading presses you may need to find someone who is to help you with this press. Mine is a new model much of the press is already assembled for ya, the instructions do not cover that fact. The case feeder is awesome once you've adjusted it and have it dialed in. The only real let down is the top of the press is machined off and the alloy is exposed unlike the display picture, just cosmetic. I do recommend using Hornady dies for this press as much as possible. It's not that the Hornady dies are better made, they are built taller to fully maximize this presses ability. Other dies will work, just not on the 5th station. Hornady dies cost slightly more than lee dies and I believe the fit and finish is better. Not to knock Lee, I've loaded some great ammo on Lee Dies and I own a bunch of them..If you want a truly progressive press, get this one with the case feeder its simply AWESOME.
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    5 stars
    Nick Thompson of Louisville , KY
    Date posted: 2/24/2008
    I bought it last week and fell in love with it immediately. It didn't take long for me to sell my Dillon 550B on Ebay after using this. The primer system is more reliable and easier to set up and maintain than the Dillon. The indexing system is automatic which cuts out an extra step or two so it is faster to operate and less labor than a 550B. You have five stations instead of just 4 stations for better quality reloading. It is massive. You can easily see what is going on at each station. I could go on and on about how superior this machine is to a Dillon 550 and some other presses. Technical support seems to be excellent if you break a part while setting the press up. The only negative that I can think of is that there is no video to show you exactly how to install and set it up and the instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired. The manual fails to explain items in detail. The manual refers to parts with technical terms, it will often vaguely describe what to do. It often assumes a consumer already has a substantial knowledge about reloading and how to set up progressive press. Looking back in hindsight the operation of this press and installation is simple. But you have to read the manual, scratch your head a couple of times in amazement for what is left out as descriptions on how to install it and finally use good old trial and error before you finally discover how a spring is installed under the shell plate or how to change from large to small primers. Only after playing with it for about 4-8 hours can you finally figure it out and fall in love with what was engineered well as a reloading dream machine. But part of the fun was setting it up and the process of disassembling it a couple of times helped me to understand it better than any manual or video ever could. So although it caused some profanity and thoughts of shooting the manual writer perhaps they engineered that also.
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    5 stars
    Jake Roberts of Padukah, KY
    Date posted: 2/19/2008
    The No. 1 five station progressive press IMO. This equipment is high quality and has best features in its class - lock n load, auto index, lots of caliber choices, clean primer disposal system, accurate powder drop and excellent service. I languished on my 550 long enough and got this press - I'm in heaven!!
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    5 stars
    jim lequia of beloit, wi
    Date posted: 10/5/2007
    I just purchased a new Lock and Load AP from Midway. Well I can tell you Hornady finally got it right! This newest version works flawlessly! As with any progressive, it takes a little time to set it up. Timing was perfect out of the box! One slight adjustment to the primer guide rod and it was good to go. If you are looking for a progressive this is it!! Forget Dillon and RCBS!
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    5 stars
    M Maloney of Colorado Springs, CO
    Date posted: 9/3/2007
    I appreciate others' reviews here on Midway's site, so here's my contribution: I bought this press several months ago and have been very pleased with it. So far, I've only loaded .45 ACP (about 1,000 rds) but it works smoothly and produces excellent cartridges. I added the smaller handgun rotor and metering assembly for the powder measure and got even more consistent powder measurements. As a newbie to reloading, I'm glad I started off with this press. No regrets and nothing to "move up to" - except maybe the Hornady automatic case feeder. I've never used another press, but I can highly recommend this one. The current "1,000 free bullets" promotion from Hornady doesn't hurt a bit either!
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    5 stars
    Scott Friswold of Cove, OR
    Date posted: 5/3/2003
    OK, If your like most people I know, Its very tempting to just jump in and start assembling things by looking at the pictures in the manual. For 95% of the time this will work just fine but for the LNL AP reading the instructions is a MUST DO. I was not very happy at first till I found that most of the problems I was having were self induced. After starting over and reading every step I am astounded at how smoothly this machine operates! I have read where several people have said the powder measure was not all that accurate; Not true! I used the One Shot cleaner as suggested and am throwing consistent weights of single and double base to within less than half a grain. As for the primer feed, it has failed twice in over 2000 rounds loaded due to an incomplete lever stroke on my part. When that happens STOP! You have to clean the powder spill or it will jam the primer punch every time. Over-all I would highly recommend the LNL AP to anyone. 5 stars...
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    5 stars
    Robert Peebles of Spring, TX
    Date posted: 10/8/2007
    Love it! Had to adjust the timing a little, even though the manual said it was done at the factory but it only took turning two screws about a 1/16 of a turn each. The ejection wire I don't have right for smaller cases like 223 but it perfect so far for 308 and 45. The instructions need a little more since some of the part names do not match the number from the illustration. With all that said, I cannot say enough good things about this. Powder dropper is very accurate and this thing is very well built. I look forward to many years of service.
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    5 stars
    Jorge Jansen of Kansas, KS
    Date posted: 11/5/2006
    High praises for this press. Within 3 days of studying and working the machine, I can now load 400 rounds/hr of 357 magnum easy. Lock and load feature is highly convenient as you only set the dies once on the LNL bushing. Plus the machine auto-indexes unlike Dillon 550 or RCBS2000. Powder drop system is pretty consistent; within 0.1-0.2 gr. Would buy again if given choice to start over.
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    5 stars
    KEVIN G of st cloud, MN
    Date posted: 6/27/2005
    I love my Hornady progressive. for the money you cant beat it. i have loaded thousands of rounds with it and not one real problem. i any press you need to clean it once in a while mainly under the shell plate. i do it when i change them. all you need to do is wipe it off with a rag and you are good to go. i have had to readjust the primer mech once but it was easy. over all i would give it 6 stars instead of five. personaly i would rather have one of these than two dillons
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    5 stars
    CHARLIE GLACKMAN of FAIRLAND, IN
    Date posted: 6/22/2005
    I HAVE LOADED AROUND 5000 ROUNDS WITH MY LOCK N LOAD AND ALTHOUGH I HAD SOME PROBLEMS AT FIRST EVERYTHING IS GOING VERY SMOOTH. I TIMED MYSELF TODAY AND I CAN PRODUCE A LOADED ROUND EVERY 10 SECONDS AND I DO NOT HAVE A CASE LOADER. I LOADED 200 ROUNDS OF 45 LC TODAY WITH NO PRIMER FEED PROBLEMS AND I DO NOT HAVE THE NEW RETROFIT ON MINE. I DO PUT A 15" LONG 1/8TH ROD ON TOP OF MY PRIMERS IN THE PRIMER TUBE AND I SEEM TO GET BETTER RELIABILITY THAT WAY. I WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR MY OLD LYMAN ALL AMERICAN OR FOR THE PRICE DIFFERENCE OF A 650 DILLON.
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    5 stars
    Mike Kennedy of Shandon, CA
    Date posted: 12/28/2005
    I have had my press for a couple weeks now and I am very happy with it. I read the reveiws on this site about it and they repeatedly say through " my stupidity" well I have one of them storys. Always remember to put the shell extractor spring down before you go up or it will get destoyed ! The press works very well but don't assume the dawgs that rotate the press are properly adjusted from the factory. They're close but not exact. They are easy to adjust and as far as I can tell only need to be done once. A+
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    5 stars
    M Thomas of Boulder, Co
    Date posted: 12/3/2005
    I love my press. I to broke a case retainer spring. Not really a problem I called Hornady and they shipped me another. No charge. Works well,,very smooth and indexes perfect.
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    5 stars
    Lewis Perry of Temple, TX
    Date posted: 1/23/2004
    I have a low serial number press (#548) that I have had for several years now. For the first couple of weeks, I had some difficulty maintaining timing adjustment of the indexing. This was eliminated with a little Locktite on the timing adjustment screws. Subsequent to that Hornady revised the design of the toggle assembly that includes a different type of screw with a locking compound pre-applied. Even though I wasn't having any more problems, they insisted on sending me the new one at no charge. The press has performed flawlessly through many thousands of rounds. This week I added the new automatic cartridge feeder accessory. I haven't really given it a good workout so far, but from all indications its performance will probably mach that of the press. The only timing adjustment that it needed that was not covered in the book was a slight rebending of the cam wire that operates the case feeder slide. This fix was however obvious, just took one minor adjustment, and up it came. I then cycled about 200 cases through it without any misfeeds. All in all this is a top notch product with excellent customer support.
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    5 stars
    Matt Bashore of Flower Mound, TX
    Date posted: 5/28/2003
    I have used the Lock-N-Load Progressive for two years. It works great. I did have one small part that was not made right and Hornady shipped out a replacement right away. I did not need to return the bad part. I would recommend this press for anyone that wants to reload.
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    5 stars
    Mike W of Socorro, NM
    Date posted: 5/12/2004
    One major problem - I ran out of stuff to load... I've have been using mine for about a month. I have had no problems with the press. I did mangle the shell retaining spring through my own stupidity, a call to Hornady fixed the problem, had 3 new springs 3 days later, free of charge. I have loaded multiple calibers on the press, each was easy to set up (about 1/2 hour for the initial set up for each caliber, 10 minutes for a caliber change after initial set up). The most finiky caliber to setup was 45 ACP, the difficult part was setting up the powder dump. All-in-all a good press, will re-review once I've used it some more.
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    5 stars
    R. Cort Tompkins of Virginia Beach, VA
    Date posted: 2/16/2004
    I just got this press to go along with my Dillon 550 (which it's probably going to replace) and I'm very happy. This press has gotten some bad publicity in the past, but a lot of it no longer applies: The priming system has been redesigned. It no longer has an on/off switch and the punch is now held in place by a nut, not a knurled knob (among other changes). The updated priming system on my new LnL AP is 100% functional, even more reliable than my Dillon 550's. A good feature often overlooked is that spent primers get pushed out directly into a tube which you can direct into a trash can. This keeps my LnL MUCH cleaner than my 550 (which is always getting gummed up and jammed up from spent primer debris). Lee dies do work in this press, although not always in the fifth station (usually not a problem). If you want to use a powder cup in fourth station, a Lee crimp die will probably fit in the fifth station. If you want to use a Lee factory crimp in the fifth station, it will probably NOT fit (especially with shorter cases). I'd recommend Hornady's taper crimp die instead. The powder measure is very accurate (especially with the micrometer metering insert). I recommend that you lube it with graphite and swab the inside out with a dryer sheet to remove static. Also you'll hear that you need to buy a $75 subplate if you want to add the casefeeder. This isn't true for presses manufactured after Feb. 2003 -- they already have the newer subplate installed.
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    5 stars
    Ray Clear of Detroit, MI
    Date posted: 10/17/2006
    I bought this machine upon recommendation of 3 of my reloader friends. Very good performance for pistol 40SW, 9mm and 44 Mag. Press is easy to set-up or change-over. The powder system is quite accurate with the pistol micrometer. Priming system is reliable. I've loaded over 5,000 rounds in the last year. Still works like new. Highly recommendable.
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    5 stars
    Leroy Frank of Little Rock, AR
    Date posted: 10/11/2006
    Great machine! Very well made and the quality is there. Used for 40SW, 45ACP and 44mag, I haven't had a single problem after 10,000 rounds. The powder drop system is quite accurate and consistent. Shell plates very easy to change. I plan to get the automatic case loader soon. Good work Hornady!!
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    5 stars
    Jun Madrid of Rochester, NY
    Date posted: 11/1/2006
    Highly impressive. Loads pistol and rifle cases with ease. High quality parts and shell plates. Noteworthy is the primer disposal system. Unlike other progressives, this unit routes the decapped primers directly to a brass tube (under the shell plate) and out to the trash can. Other progressives like Dillon 550, accumulate primers in containers and primer residue scatters around and tends to dirty the press. Hornady indexing is also smooth and in 2 increments preventing spilled powder in small cases like 32ACP. I use this unit for 223 Rem, 40SW, 38 super and 454 Casull. Loaded close to 4,000 rounds. NO PROBLEM. Would gladly endorse to any reloader!
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    5 stars
    Duke Harrington of Galveston, TX
    Date posted: 10/24/2006
    I normally load about 500 rounds 45ACP on Sat for practice the following day at the range. My old standby was a Lyman Turret press. After trying Hornady AP in a friend's bench, I decided to buy this loader. Very, very satisfied indeed. I can load about 300-400 rounds an hour after about a week's tinkering with the machine. The equipment is high quality and the priming system and powder charge system is reliable and consistent. I'm getting the 38 super and 357 mag shell plates next week. Lovable machine and super recommended.
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    5 stars
    Joe Rainwater of Nineveh, IN
    Date posted: 4/2/2006
    I have loaded about 2000 rounds now and I love the machine. The problem is with the instructions, maybe a setup and demonstration video would make this the perfect reloading machine. The only times I've had trouble with the priming system is when I let it run out of primers, and/or let it get fouled with powder I've spilled. The priming area must stay clean, if it's clean it will work great. The Lock N Load bushing system is fantastic and the L-N-L powder throw is reason enough to buy this reloader. They are cheap enough that I have one for each load, just push the button on the powder drum, install the one I want and I'm throwing exactly what I was the last time I loaded that round. Set up for new calibers takes a minute or less with no tools.
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    5 stars
    Doug King of Atlanta, GA
    Date posted: 1/27/2006
    Good, solid, affordable press. It took me 7 hours to completely set up from opening the boxes to tightening down the dies and double checking the powder. I also got the auto case feeder, I'd stick more to the press alone unless you can get a very good deal on the feeder. The feeder is finicky on the number of pieces of brass you can put in and doesn't speed thing up greatly, but sure looks menacing on the bench. I broke the ejector arm during the fine tuning process. Hornady shipped me a new one as soon as I called. Everything about this press says it's built to last. Lee dies work fine but must be screwed down VERY far into the LNL bushings. The powder measure is built like a vault door. No plastics here. Solid and dependable. Seating primers requires pushing the handle forward at the end of the stroke. Takes getting used to, but it does seat primers perfectly with 15 minutes practice. If you chose to get a auto case feeder, open the case feeder box first and look at the parts. There is a improved (greatly improved) plate which replaces a part underneath the press. This will keep you from assembling, disassembling, and reassembling the base press when you open the auto-feeder. If you have an outlet on the ceiling it would be best for the case feeder. This thing is tall and the cord doesn't go very far. Loading the primers into the tube is tricky, you have to get them on the table anvil side down and then pick them up with a tube. Very different from the hand held priming tools I'm used to. Also you really have to count primers put in and cases run through because there is no way to visually check each primer before it goes to the powder station. Compared to everything else, I really love this press.
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    5 stars
    Justin Forster of Pittsburg, PA
    Date posted: 10/10/2006
    I have very good experience with this press. Moving out from a Lee loadmaster, this thing is 3-4 notches better than Lee. The indexing is in half increments which helps in not spilling powder during fast operation. The priming system is very reliable. I believe the previous problems on the primer system have been corrected. I also use Lee dies on this press and it works fine. I can load about 400 rounds/hr of 45 ACP or 357 magnum on this press at moderate pace. I just dropped my 4,000th round on this equipment with no major issues. Shell plates are easy to change over. The overall quality and finish is superb. Hornady has winner with this machine and as icing, it's a lot cheaper than the progressive blue or green reloaders!!
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    5 stars
    Harold Sulzman of Colby, KS
    Date posted: 5/16/2006
    Product works great. After doing research of progressive loaders and choosing the Hornady, I have not been disappointed by its performance. After loading 1500 rounds in 3 different calibers I can say I have had only minor problems which were easily corrected and most the result of my own doing. The machine is built very strong and overall is easy to use and change from one caliber to another.
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    5 stars
    Richard Hancock of Tillamook, OR
    Date posted: 2/25/2008
    I have used this press for a few years for pistol and rifle loads. It worked flawlessly and I have been very satisfied with it. But the main reason I am writing this review is to inform about Hornady's unbeatable customer service. Like an idiot I attempted to repair a problem (my fault) and ended up doing major damage to the press. I'm talking broken yoke, drive shaft, pins and gears. I sent it to Hornady, they fixed it, replaced all parts, tuned it, shipped it back at NO charge!! Why you wouldn't buy from a company like that is beyond me.
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    5 stars
    JEFF L of EUGENE, OR
    Date posted: 11/21/2009
    I wanted a high quality progressive press to reload pistol cartridges and based on reviews here and elsewhere, decided on the Hornady L-n-L AP. So far I've loaded around 2000 rounds of 9mm, 10mm and 45 acp and am impressed with the quality and functions of this press. I did have a small indexing problem and a quick call to Hornady solved that. Great customer service. I was also missing the small primer seater and an e-mail to Midway had one in the mail same day. Setup was straight forward and the video's on YouTube from Hornady are helpful in understanding the press and setting it up. The powder measure dispenses very accurate charges, and comes with both large and small drums. The priming system works great and is very simple to change from large to small primers. The Lock-n-Load bushings are the best. Once you have your dies set, they stay that way. Changing to load another caliber is a breeze. The Hornady engineers did their homework when designing this press. There is not a better progressive press available and the free bullet offer is icing on the cake.
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    5 stars
    Michael Payne of Colorado Springs, CO
    Date posted: 11/19/2009
    First 1200rds complete and yet another happy customer. I own a Lee Load Master and an RCBS Pro 2000. I've operated a Dillon 650 and 1050. This press is the best value on the market. It works every bit as well as a 650 with less plastic parts, smoother indexing, better powder measure, less expensive caliber conversion, and a safer primer feed system. In 1200rds I had only two primers which didn't feed when the tube was very low on primers. I felt a difference in primer seating and was able to correct the problem immediately and without losing a round. The half indexing turns this press into a sort of 8 station press with case feed, priming and ejecting located at the half indexed locations, greatly simplifying the traditional 5 stations. No powder splash with small cases. Once you get the rhythm, you can easily burn 600rds w/o case feed and 800 with case feed. As expected, the powder measure has been extremely consistent with 231, Tightgroup, Power Pistol and Solo 1000. This press just plain works. Get one while the bullet offer is still on.
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    5 stars
    Steven Smith of COMANCHE, OK
    Date posted: 12/8/2009
    I read many of the reviews at Midway prior to purchasing this press. I am pleased to report 0 problems. The included CD helped with the setup a lot. Hornady apparently reads these as every problem I found in the reviews had been corrected. They even included a rod that some reported using to assist the primer feed mechanism. I own an RCBS & a Dillon they are good, but the Hornady especially for the price can't be beat.
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    5 stars
    MARK O of SAN DIEGO, CA
    Date posted: 12/5/2009
    This is my first progressive press and I'm very impressed with the smooth operation and ease of setup. Changing dies and shell plates is a piece of cake, and with the LNL bushings, setup only has to happen once! The powder drop has maintained the desired set point within +/- 0.1 gr over a 100 round loading session using the pistol micrometer insert. The spent primer tube works flawlessly once you find the correct sized catch bin. I use an old plastic coffee can and haven't lost one since. The 1000 free bullets saves you up to about $300, really making this a fantastic deal for a quality piece of equipment! The 5th die station is nice as it'll allow you to run a powder cop or similar powder checking die for safety.
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    5 stars
    John Brooks of Ortonville, MI
    Date posted: 8/14/2009
    Wow what a press! I had the red press and got what I paid for. I have loaded .45 ACP and .40 S&W without a glitch so far. The latest EZ eject system works flawlessly. The primer system is top notch. The bushing system for the dies is so cool. Hornady now includes: a white rod to insert in the primer holder tube. Take the time to mark it with a red marker when it is out of primers. The video now included carefully explains the whole setup. Watch at least twice. I setup my press and was making bullets in less than an hour. Check your powder throws on a scale to get the right grains. If you setup each die station and then the powder you will be very happy. Use their dies! They are reasonably priced and are longer than the Lee dies. They also do not work the brass so much and the press works smoother. Mine was shaking so hard with the other dies that the powder thrower was working the bushing loose and not throwing powder after three or four bullets. Hornady did send a shim to fix this problem. You can use the Lee factory crimp die in position 5 as it does a better job on the crimp portion if you are loading handgun rounds. My friend has a blue machine and was all pumped up until I showed him this press and them told him the price. He said he wishes he knew about this one before he dropped all of his money on the other beast. The brass retainer pins are not the answer. The 550 also does not automatically index like the Hornady. Also the L-N-L AP will do rifle and handgun shells. Believe me I have been loading for 5 years and this press and the quality blow me away!!!
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    5 stars
    Joel Kuyper of Chester, MT
    Date posted: 7/11/2009
    I bought my press back in the 1980's when it was called a Hornady Pro 7. I sent it back to the factory in the 90's to have it upgraded to the Pro Jector and sent it back again in 2005 where Hornady reset the timing and replaced some worn parts and converted the powder drop to the new Case Activated. After 20 plus years of owning this one, you couldn't make me use another brand of progressive press. Hornady never charged me a cent for any repairs or parts I've ever needed for this press. I've thought about buying a new one, then told myself, what for? This one is still doing an excellent job after loading better than 25,000 rounds of everything from 22-250 through 45-70 in rifle and 9mm through 45 ACP in pistol. Show me another brand this versatile, robust and long lasting ! I've had Blue...they're not even close!
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    5 stars
    Glenda Pagen of Jersey, NJ
    Date posted: 10/26/2009
    If you're considering moving up to a 5 station progressive from a turret press or Dillon 550, I would recommend this press. It has the following great features : 1)Lock & load bushing system is more convenient if you want to move your dies around stations. Set the dies once and forget. It is also more steady than Dillon’s removable tool head which has a lot of slop - 1/8" up and down - try it. Hornady LNL has almost undetectable play - good for accuracy. 2) Hornady has a better powder measure where you can use a micrometer and record the setting so you can go back to the exact setting each time( or you can lock it down and dedicate it to your favorite cartridge / powder load). Dillon powder measure is a dinosaur. It has no repeatable setting, no micrometer and you have to find the setting by trial & error every time you use it. the adjust knob also has no lock. 3)Hornady is cleaner to operate with spent primers outlet to a tube under the shell plate direct to a trash can. Dillon has primers collecting in a bin attached to the ram and residue scatters all over the press.4) Hornady auto indexes in 2 steps which helps not spilling powder. Dillon does nothing like this 5)Hornady is cheaper than Dillon 650 but matches the latter in all features including great after sales service. These being said, I now understand why a lot of reloaders have shifted to Hornady LNL. So have I. Great work Hornady...getting the case feeder next per pay day....!!
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    5 stars
    Michael Chris of Jacksonville, FL
    Date posted: 8/22/2009
    Great press especially for the money. Customer service is also top notch.
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    5 stars
    MATT CORBIN of HOP BOTTOM, PA
    Date posted: 1/10/2010
    The first thing you notice about this press is how well constructed it is. The frame of the press is made of heavy duty steel with about a half inch thick mounting flange. Mine came with a 45 minute instructional video that was very helpful. This is a great press at a good price(the 1,000 free bullets were a nice surprise) The only thing that I noticed is that the one I purchased requires half inch bolts to mount not 5/16th's like the video and instructions say. Overall a great product.
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    5 stars
    Joe Sprinkle of Near Augusta, GA
    Date posted: 1/6/2010
    An excellent press, now DOES come with a video, making setup a breeze. Reloading 32, 380, 38/357, 9mm, 45 and 223. Will add two more calibers later, Santa is now officially broke. :-) This is the best press I have ever used and is built like a brick outhouse. The stroke is strong, even on rifle cartridges. Indexing is smooth and the workmanship on the press is first class. This one is a keeper. I got all Hornady nitride dies and the Hornady tumbler to clean the brass. Count me in as a happy camper with this progressive press.
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    5 stars
    KEVIN ACUFF of LAS VEGAS, NV
    Date posted: 1/16/2010
    I just purchased the LNL AP after much deliberation. It was between this and the Dillon 650. This press is simply AWESOME!!! I have even had a diehard Dillon fan say that there will be one of these on his bench very soon. This was very easy to get up and running, and aside from some issues I was having at first with my 38 Super rounds (ended up being a worn out die insert) This press has run flawless!!! I can't wait until the case feeder is in stock, and YouTube has a few vids with a Mr. Bullet feeder on it. With that combo, I could easily match the production of a 1050 with much less investment!! Way to go Hornady!!!
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    5 stars
    DAVID THOMPSON of POTEAU, OK
    Date posted: 1/15/2010
    this press is very smooth and precision made . I would highly recommend to anyone . All I can say is that you cannot go wrong with the Hornady , the LNL bushing system is a wonderful system . The primer system works very smooth and easy to change over from large to small in a minute . Changing calibers is less expensive with this press too . It will take someone who has never had a progressive a little bit to figure out , but TRUST me , you will not be disappointed in this press . 400 to 500 rounds per hour easy enough .
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    5 stars
    Long Shot of Woodland Park, Co
    Date posted: 12/28/2009
    After loading rifle and pistol cartridges one at a time through their multiple processes on a single stage press for years, I decided to try a progressive. I went with the Hornady LNL after reading reviews and talking with other "loaders". A couple hours after receiving, reading the instructions, and bolting unit to bench, attaching the powder and primer assemblies, I was ready to start. My first "run" would be 45 ACP. The shell plate was easy to install and the spring retainer allowed me to remove and re-insert cartridge after any station to inspect processes i.e. dialing in dies in the LNL bushings, or checking powder charge. Setting my current RCBS dies was easy. Setting powder charge took quite a few tries, as always, but I finally got it, and challenged it over and over to measure consistency- I like it. Getting used to priming by "pushing" lever will take some getting used to on my part, as I've always hand primed, but set-up was easy. Next thing I know, this unit was ready to rumble. I started slow, measuring just about everything...A tweak here, a couple missed primers there (my fault), next thing I know, an hour had passed, and I had almost 150. Missing a primer does allow powder to spill into shell plate and self feeding primer mechanism, causing more primer misloads. If it happens again, I'll just stop and remove existing cartridges and shell plate to clean powder spill, especially in slide that delivers the primer to c'line of cartridge. In a minute or two, I'm back up and running. I can easily now produce 400/hr while taking the time to inspect and be confidant of a fine round. Change over to different cartridge is simple and fast, with maybe a half hour for worst case- changing primer size AND going from pistol to rifle powder charge. The thought of simply twisting and removing and/or re-installing and not having to re-adjust die was a positive on choosing the LNL, and I'm not disappointed. I've now loaded hundreds each of .223, 40 and 45's without issue. Appears to be built to last. This is a great press at a reasonable cost and made in America. I'm sorry I waited so long.
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    5 stars
    Mike Payne of Colorado Springs, CO
    Date posted: 12/28/2009
    I tried a Loadmaster, but it didn't work well for me. I tried a Pro2000 Auto, but it didn't work for me. I tried my buddies XL650 and it worked pretty good, but could have been better. I took a chance on the LNL AP, even though all the local club guys said not to. I really, really like this press! Indexing is very smooth. It was easy to set up. The primer feed works great! The powder measure is outstanding and the quick change button on the measure is very handy. Caliber change over is as fast as you could hope for. The design is solid and logical. This press just plain works! I love it. Thank you Hornady for a well thought out product. Definitely the best deal out there. Order one before the bullet deal expires.
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    5 stars
    Mark Myers of Columbus, OH
    Date posted: 1/5/2010
    I have a range of dies from different brands to try out on this press. It is my first experience at reloading beyond shotgun stuff on an old LEE press. I simply tried one stage in the press and took my time to learn everything. The press holds up well; make sure you get the other drum for the powder measure. Fit and finish was great; just get some appropriate lube to keep everything nice and smooth and clean. My only issue is the primer feed tube; it will start to spot rust just as soon as you touch it. Likewise for some of the black knurled knobs for powder measure adjustment. If I did it again, I'd use a metal etch on the outside of the primer feed tube (the stationary large bore tube that the actual primer "magazines" drop into) to avoid rust. You will want some of the dry lube spray for the various sliding surfaces, too.
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    5 stars
    Rick Herget of Bend, Or
    Date posted: 12/30/2009
    Boy was I surprised. I had been shopping the "Big Blue" and you needed to order a bunch of parts to make the press really functional. So, when I decided to order the LNL AP. I ordered the pistol metering block, it was on B/O but that was OK. Because it came with the press. Secondly it came with the DVD showing how to set it up, a $19.95 extra with big Blue. I am just excited to getting it rolling. Need to take the time to clean everything and set it up according to the instructions. I don't think this can be beat.
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    5 stars
    James Pfeiffer of Kyle, TX
    Date posted: 7/20/2008
    I am brand new to reloading. After reading several books, videos, and web research I knew I needed a progressive for the volume of .223 I use. The reviews here steered me to the Hornady and I do not regret it. Helps if you have a mechanical nature because the instructions are vague at best. Keep the primer feed system clean and deburred. Use dry lube on it as well as the powder measure and you will be loading thousands of rounds like me. Hornady makes good gear, thanks Midway.
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    5 stars
    Ben Bock of Eugene, OR
    Date posted: 7/10/2008
    This is my first personally-owned press, although I have used a Dillon 550. The LnL AP is superior to the 550. The instructions are poorly organized, a bit out of sequence, and only make sense when you have finished. It took me about 5-6 hours from opening the box to making my first rounds. Good powder measure, auto index is great, the priming station separate from powder station, caliber changes are pretty quick, spent primers get routed thru a tube into a milk jug. Case retainer spring can get mangled if you don't check it after switching shell plates. It has smooth operation. I had to adjust the pawls a bit, but I just followed the instructions that were clearly written for this part and it was easy. I'm very happy with this press.
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    5 stars
    Gary M of Northern, CA
    Date posted: 11/18/2008
    This is my 5th press and my first full progressive for metallic reloading. I won't rave about how good it is, because other reviews have done so. I'm only wanting to rave about how good Hornady is. I had pieces missing from the box when I got it, so I called Hornady. They immediately sent me replacements. I had a shell retainer spring break and they immediately sent me three new ones. All of this with no questions and no charges. I know that Dillon has a similar reputation...I'm not sure of the others. But I wish the rest of the companies out there had this kind of customer service! I'm now a loyal Hornady customer for life. The AP is incredible and the best bang-for-the-buck over the Dillon (since you need to compare to the 650, not the 550 which is not auto-indexing).
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    5 stars
    Timothy Kaminski of Martinez, CA
    Date posted: 8/21/2008
    Hornady Lock-and-Load, Auto Progressive Press Feedback: 1. This is a PROFESSIONALLY designed piece of mechanical engineering GENIUS. No doubt Hornady's sage staff (reloaders themselves no doubt) influenced the engineering department to produce a virtually flawless and reliable press that customers can assemble and use quickly. It is a piece of equipment that customers can count on with ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE! 2. Hornady uses high quality metals predominantly. Very limited use of "plastic" parts (like some other manufacturers). I found only six plastic pieces / parts to be exact. All six plastic parts have workarounds and are not integral to producing full-up rounds in a pinch (like when we go into competitive matches). Fail-over and redundancy - for the customers sake - seems to have been noodled-through by the engineers and staff of Hornady. 3. The more I continue to work with Hornady's press, the more enamored I am with it. It's really well-designed and soooo simple to use. The Hornady staff and engineers even took any guess-work out of displaying how many primers were left in the tray so customers didn't have to be clairvoyant and charge an unprimed casing! Again, the Hornady "engineers" and staff put a lot of "400 pound brains" - NO, its really more like "800 pound brains" into this press (machine) and made it E-Z for the Customer to assemble and use it. It's a dream machine! Thank You Hornady and Staff and Engineers! 4. The instructions (I am anal retentive - a tough critic - on "instructions") had some minor omissions and confusing "words." Those issues and confusions were quickly resolved with a quick call or two to Hornady tech support. Recommendations on Instructions: a) Post the "Case-Activated" Powder Thrower Instructions on the web site as a PDF file. (Current instructions only include "Bench Powder Measure" instructions. An oversight, perhaps? What "bit" me (in the butt) was what I needed to have on hand in advance of the product delivery "brake cleaner" and "dry" lube to clean the powder mechanism. That was clearly spelled out in the Case-Activated powder thrower instructions (that should be posted on Hornady's website) so the Customer can prep adequately in advance before delivery and attempting to assemble the product in advance. Fair assessment? b) The differences between the "Case Retainer Spring" and the "Eject Wire" were neither clearly illustrated nor adequately described in Hornady’s instructions. Instructions really need a photo of the "Case Retainer Spring" to show/depict the differences because the illustration certainly didn't clearly show what the "Case Retainer Spring" looked-like. This is especially important because the product shipped with the "Case Retainer Spring" in a small plastic bag along with Small Primer parts. How would the customer know where to look for this spring that was not clearly illustrated or otherwise adequately described? Fair assessment? c) "I" had only one problem with my Hornady press. It wouldn't consistently prime a casing because the shell-plate wouldn't always center on the next station. One call to tech support where they advised I should rotate the pawl 1/4 turn and that issue was resolved 100%. That should be in the "Tips for Trouble-Shooting" section of the Hornady User Guide for new users. Fair assessment? 5. IMPORTANT! The Hornady staff DOES what it says it will do! YIPPEE! 'merican Customer Service prevails! They sent me 2 new Ejector Wires based upon our conversation regarding this minor issue and I received the two ejector wires in less than two (2) days! Hornady understands customer satisfaction and the importance of the customer experience where other manufacturers don't per my experience. This is clearly a "Dream Machine" and resolves/satisfies "my" pistol reloading needs: a) fast/quick production "on-demand" and, b) reliable and safe ammo. Thank you Hornady and Staff!
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    5 stars
    Andrew Miller of Manchester, tn
    Date posted: 6/4/2008
    Love it! Works great. With the free bullet deal, this costs a fraction of what a Dillon costs.
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    5 stars
    Bill Patton of Jersey, NJ
    Date posted: 4/21/2008
    10 times better than Dillon 550. It's got auto-index and 5 stations so you can use the RCBS powder cop die to check your powder drop. Cleaner to operate than Dillon - no primer residue scatters. Indexes very reliably. Loads pistol and rifle with equal ease. I should have bought one earlier and not languished on my 550. Super-Duper happy with this product!!!
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    5 stars
    Michael Cook of Grapevine, TX
    Date posted: 3/18/2008
    Excellent press, it is strong, reliable and good looking! It does have some minor problems here and there. There is a bit a "prep" time to get this press ready but it's easy! Very sturdy and smooth! Directions are the worst but it doesn't take long to figure out how things work. I am very excited to continue my reloading hobby with this press. I will soon buy the auto case feeder even though it seems a little over priced. I used to have a loadmaster and had nothing but problems (you can read my review on Midway) and the LNL works 100 times better. I wouldn't buy any other progressive press. This press is amazing, Don't even consider the lee loadmaster and unless you can get a good deal on a Dillon buy the LNL AP. I think they're just as good as and maybe even better than Dillon. The accessories for the LNL are expensive but worth every penny! I love Hornady and now look forward to reloading on a progressive! Plus the free 1000 bullets is Awesome! Everything is so easy with this press. I love it!
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    5 stars
    Ron Mann of San Antonio, TX
    Date posted: 5/19/2008
    I bought this press as a first time Reloader. About two hours after opening the box I was loading .40 S&W. I shoot USPSA so I need dependable ammo, I have not had a single mis-fire or jam using this loader. My friends all have Dillons, I prefer the Hornady because it is simple, easy and less expensive than the Dillon. So my advice is to get one even if you have never reloaded, being a progressive it is almost impossible to get a double powder charge. Just make sure that you adjust the primer feed, learn the feel of it. I broke the primer feed on mine after about 500 rounds, they replaced it free. I load .223 rifle for 3 gun matches they work fine! The Lee sizer die is too short for this press, so I would recommend the Hornady dies for Pistol with the Crimp die. Lee Dies for Rifle are fine since you will be depriming, sizing, trimming and reaming primer pockets in a separate operation. In 3 months I have loaded over 5000 pistol and 2000 .223s, that is a lot of money saved.
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    5 stars
    Nathan Padget of Delaware, OH
    Date posted: 5/18/2008
    I have had this press for about 10 years now. It has been great and Hornady has been great supporting it. Over the course of 10 years, it has treated me well loading high and low volume stuff. This is really a great way to go, even if you only want to load 2 or 3 cartridges high volume. Bullet seating runout and case runout can be very low like .001 - .002, so you don't have to worry about the press performing. There are parts which will inevitably break, like the priming system, but Hornady will get you running again without question in a 2 minute phone call.
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    5 stars
    Steve W of Omaha, NE
    Date posted: 1/9/2009
    Can't be beaten. It's a little tricky to set up, but careful attention to detail when 'tuning' the press will alleviate lots of headaches. Sure, the case retention spring breaks once in a while, but Hornady ships them out 3 at a time for free so what's the problem?! The lock-n-load system works perfect, allowing caliber changes both inexpensively and effortlessly. Again with the lock-n-load bushings, setting the dies up correctly the first time and tightening the locking collar will alleviate any future headaches. Case priming needed some work on mine, but I've found a simple wooden dowel graduated in 0-50-100 not only measures the remaining primers left in the tube but offers enough weight to assist loading the last few into the slide; especially necessary when using small pistol/rifle primers that don't weigh much. If you've got extra money to spend, get an extra powder measure (1 pistol, 1 rifle, etc depending on the need) It saves some time, not a lot but some, and the pistol-measurement cylinder is much much easier to adjust in .05 grain increments for sure measurement down to the tiniest powder charges. Case extraction, once set up correctly is effortless. The only problem I had, was loading small base diameter (30 carbine, 223 Rem, etc) ammo, which took a simple call to Hornady to fix, where I received a simple extra eject wire for the smaller cases. My most recent call notified me that the newest presses doesn't have the eject wire, and instead have an ejector cast into the base of the press. Not sure if I’ll have mine updated, as it works pretty well. I've loaded around 1000 heavy-magnum shells, 2000 pistol loads, and 2000 service rifle loads with near bench rest accuracy out of this relatively simple machine. The biggest thing that sets this press apart from the 'blue' that I can see is a lack of blatant pot-metal pieces and plastic where it shouldn't be. This press has some pot metal, but it's on low or zero-stress parts that don't move, same thing with the plastic content. PS, Clean it with the one-shot lube in the BLACK can, it leaves surfaces slick and doesn't attract grime. Follow up: 6/8/2009: This press has served me well. So well, I'm considering a second to leave configured for pistol cartridges (now that EZ-Ject is a feature). I live in NE, so warranty parts are either 1 or 2 days away, even packed in an envelope sent through the post office. Warranty is first rate, with nearly no questions asked. I've loaded around 6000 rounds with mine, the only real consumable is the case retention spring. If one looks at the 'broken' retention spring, he realizes it's not broken 90% of the time, but rather needs to be twisted back together. Pair this with a Dillon press-mounted trimmer and you'll be able to prep and load so fast you won't believe it.
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    5 stars
    Jason R of Denver, CO
    Date posted: 2/19/2009
    This is the first progressive press that I've owned. I've been using a single stage for about 25 years. I found the instructions very easy to follow and had the press set up and running in about 70 minutes. A problem that I had initially was that the auto-indexing feature was slightly out of sync causing me to crush about 12 10mm cases (randomly). I called Hornady's customer service and they gave some quick pointers and I was off and running. Within 10 hours of receiving my press, I was cranking out about 400 rounds an hour. Very well made, easy to adjust and FAST! Highly recommended.
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    5 stars
    Greg Scott of El Segundo, CA
    Date posted: 6/29/2009
    This is a great press. Quality and features are first rate. There were some earlier reviews that mentioned difficulty using Lee dies, particularly 9mm dies with this press. The Lee dies work fine. On one of the dies you will need to flip the Lee die jam nut over since not many threads are exposed after you turn the die in the required amount, but it works just fine like that. I also use the Lee Auto Disk Pro through the expanding die on this press, works great.
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    5 stars
    Bryan Hoover of Abilene, TX
    Date posted: 1/18/2009
    I have the EZ-ject version of this press, and have loaded 9mm, 38 spc, 357mag, and 45 acp with it. I gave it 5 stars, but this press does have its problems, well some of its accessories have problems. The mouth expander for 9mm does NOT work, and the one for 45 does not work well. The ejection system works well, though. For the price it would be hard to beat, that is, if you could get one, everything Hornady is backordered everywhere.
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    4 stars
    Scott Toland of Los angeles, CA
    Date posted: 5/5/2008
    PRO: Solid quality kit. Very good company support. Call, get answer, get parts (usually free) done. Die swapping via "Lock n Load" bushings, very cool. Powder measure all metal, very consistent. Slick case retention spring around shell plate allows easy removal or insertion of case at any station. Lg. and Sm. primer systems included. 5 stations to play with. Roomy. CON: Add cost of shell plate per caliber. Add cost of Pistol powder measure rotor if loading pistol (standard cyl. great for rifle volumes). Loaded cartridge eject wire can jam, or launch cartridge across room. And does not play well with dies from other companies in last station (5) the typical placement for crimp dies. Solutions; remove wire and pull each cartridge by hand (good time to inspect each cartridge) OR leave station 5 empty OR only mount Hornady crimp dies in Station 5. I use the first option and have no problem. Also, take some time and file/sand off some burs and sharp edges on the primer feeder and spent primer drop parts. I slightly beveled the spent primer hole in the sub-plate. Helped a lot. Also, the die holder plate is thicker than on other presses. Expect to thread non-Hornady dies all the way down to use. Last quip, the powder through expanders can be difficult to get working right. I made a .4" brass tube spacer for inside the drop tube to make the system work for 9mm. Since the press has 5 stations you may want to forgo mouth expanding (belling) while charging and just expand separately. (N/A for rifle) A good pistol set-up would be, 1.Size 2.Expand 3.Charge 4.Seat 5.Crimp. I use a case lube die in station 1 for Rifle. Example; 1.Lube/de-prime 2.Size (no de-prime pin) 3.Charge 4.Seat 5.Crimp All said. I love my press and am very happy with it and Hornady. Have not tried the expensive case feeder yet. Hello Santa?
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    4 stars
    John Swerda of Brunswick, md
    Date posted: 12/18/2004
    I've had this press for a week and spent some time reloading 9MM ammo. I was impressed that my first attempt resulted in sixty five loaded rounds in fifteen minutes. I loaded another two hundred and fifty rounds which only took an hour. I did experience two problems. First; I noticed after inspecting the loaded rounds that six did not have a primer. This was not a result of forgetting to monitor the primer tube. Second problem; the final loaded round is supposed to eject from the shell plate into a small bin. About every fifty rounds, the shell plate would pinch the round sometimes shooting it across the room! It will require some minor tweaking. Do I feel like it is worth the money? Absolutely! I prefer to spend my time at the shooting range, not the loading bench.
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    4 stars
    Andrew Smith of Batesville, AR
    Date posted: 12/25/2003
    This is a great press if you put a little work in before you try to use it. The powder drop tube and the powder die have a surface finish rougher than some files. This causes the measure to hang at the top of the stoke. Both parts have to be polished to a shiny finish and lubricated with moly powder, then they work perfectly. The case ejection spring is worthless as is, at least on .223 cases. I had to polish the side of the spring that contacts the case, and polish the surfaces on the shell plate that have any contact with the case. After that, the ejection worked perfectly. The new priming system worked well except when spilled powder got in front of the slide. When this happens, the punch doesn't line up with the hole in the slide. I blow out the area in front of the primer slide every time I use a tube of primers. Once all the polishing was done, the press worked much smoother and more reliably than my blue one. The loading of the first 100 rounds was kind of slow as I worked out all the bugs, but I haven't had a problem of any kind in 900 rounds since. The owners manual was a bit hard to understand, as the pictures were dark and blurry, and it wasn't updated to cover the new sub plate, priming system, and powder drop. The lock system for the dies works great and is very convenient. Once you get everything worked out, you'll spend more time filling primer tubes and lubing cases than operating the press.
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    4 stars
    Max Kelerikh of Philadelphia, PA
    Date posted: 11/4/2007
    I had a choice between Dillon 650 or Hornady AP. I picked Hornady ap (newer model press). First impression is that the press is ROCK solid, and quality made. Overall press works satisfactory but I did experience minor issues. Ejector spring will not eject 9mm rounds and needed some adjustment; primer feeder sometimes would hang up (1 out of 7 times) and required me filing off the corners for smoother operation; Two out of five die bushings were little loose in the press and would get loose, after adding gaskets in between the bushing the rubber band they are tight. After fixing all of these problems I loaded 400 rounds and press worked perfect. It seems to me that press should come with at least one caliber plate of your choice; as well as include pistol chamber instead of a rifle chamber.
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    4 stars
    Hanko Paul of East Wenatchee, wa
    Date posted: 5/27/2009
    This press is full of good ideas, however the powder measure does not measure all powder. Good thing the RCBS uniflow will go right on in place on Hornady’s powder meter. Hodgdon Clays is powder that seemed to give me trouble it is a larger size powder but no problem with the RCBS. The primer system it a little touchy as well, have to pay attention or 1 out of 20 primers won’t make it in. Everything else seemed great. Oh yea the pawls, if out of adjustment try tightening snug and loosing 2 turns mine was slightly out and that worked perfect. I would like to see a Dillon at work before recommending this press.
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    4 stars
    Matt de Vries of keasbey, NJ
    Date posted: 5/19/2006
    Major note, either I got screwed, or the press only comes with a rifle powder insert. (the micrometer inserts are GREAT) You also need to order a shell plate to get going. So add them to your order to avoid frustration if you are loading for pistol. I suspect some of the more negative reviews are for the sub #7000 serial number presses as the priming system is top notch, and the retrofit kit includes new priming arms/punches/whatever you call them. Only warning is to remove the sucker and clean it about every 3000-5000 rounds. Used mine for about 9500 rounds of .45 ACP, it has worked very well. I even used lee dies. They can be adjusted to work, but you do have to tweak the ejector arm to do it and you are pretty much at the limit. I just got stuff for reloading 9mm, and I have to say that it doesn't seem to work so hot with the S&B brass I have a pile of. The tolerances on the #8 shell plate are TIGHT. Too tight in my opinion, and I have been unable to get the ejector arm to work with 9mm yet. Based on me tinkering with random brass, it seems the #8 shell plate is geared towards .38 super rather than 9mm. Got to contact hornady about that as it severely slows things down. Overall I think the press is top notch, but I take away a star for the ejector arm and quality of manuals.
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    4 stars
    Gary Majors of Arnold, MO
    Date posted: 2/4/2007
    I have had mine for about a year now and I am quite impressed with it. The only problems are, if you spill any powder, it can get into the primer slide channel and keep it from going all the way in. Brushing the channel out will get it working again but it can be annoying. The other problem is if you do not keep an eye on the primer slide it can bind while moving upward, combine this with a bit too vigorous stroke and the primer slide will break at the roller shaft every time. Once you learn to watch for these things it works great. The only thing I would change is getting rid of the powder measure and replacing it with a micrometer type plunger type. Doing that made set up a lot easier for me.
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    4 stars
    Michael Highbaugh of Indianapolis, In
    Date posted: 5/18/2006
    A very good reloader. I reload 30cal. carbine,223,243,and 30-06.It took me about four hours to set it up. I had only two problems, sometimes the 30cal. carine case would not line up with sizing die. No problems with the 223,243,30-06. The other problem was with the small primer tube. Sometimes the primers would get stuck in the tube when reloading. I took care of this problem by purchasing a 1/8x36" steel rod from my local hardware store for back $6.00. I put the rod in the primer tube on top of the primers, the weight of the rod pushes the primers down, I also mark the rod at the top so I will know when I’m getting low on primers. I purchase extra Lock-N-Load Bushings, one for each die, and three extra Power Measure Inserts, I label each insert with the amount and type of powder use for a curtain caliber, and a Hornady Powder Cop Die to check the amount of powder in each case. And the price is right.
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    4 stars
    Travis M of Austinburg, OH
    Date posted: 3/23/2006
    First of all, this press is extremely well built. It has a large ram, grease zerks, and has NO plastic. Very well made and easy to use. The primer tube is simple, easy to use, and really quite ingenious. Instead of using a flip tray or strips, they include a couple of different size tubes for different sized primers, which have plastic ends. You can invert the tubes and pick the primers right out the primer tray, just like a pencil. Very simple, no handling or flipping. I only have a couple small complaints: the primer tube has no indication of how many are left inside so you need to count, also as the weight of the primers that left decreases, there is more of a chance for misfeeding and primerless rounds. I solved this by buying a plastic crochet needle, marking it off in gradients and sticking it in the tube, much like Dillon already includes with their presses. This tells me how many are there, plus keeps weight on the primers so they feed easier. Also, there was a couple burrs on the primer feed ramp which should not have been there when I bought the press new that caused some jamming. Lastly, the ejection spring does not eject small rounds well. They seem to get stuck and try to launch themselves across the room. Also, do not use Lee 9mm dies if you plan on using all stations. They are too short and you will need to remove the ejection spring in order to completely cycle without getting confused and try to deprime loaded rounds. One last thing. For the cost of this press, a free set of dies, rebate, or even a free shell holder of your choice should be included. The case feeder should be better made and much cheaper, and they should make a bullet feeder for this press. I could have bought a Lee for have the price WITH case feeder tubes, dies, and shellholder for half the price even if it is plastic. I was very impressed with the quality and workmanship of this press, and if Hornady could give more value to their customers without sacrificing quality it could easily be a 5 star press.
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    4 stars
    C Ram of cedarburg, WI
    Date posted: 11/28/2009
    Overall this is a very nice press. The body is solidly built. The half indexing on the up and down stroke makes progression from one station to the next very fluid like, there is no jerking. The new eject system is also a nice feature. This press also has 5 stations...more than enough, especially to add a powder checker. The L n L bushings also make it a snap to change calibers...get enough for all your dies. Once you have each set of dies adjusted and locked in, changing caliber is as simple as 1, 2, 3.. and you can start cranking out cartridges. The only the reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of a couple things... The first thing that needed attention was the primer feeding system. During my first 100 rounds I had 12 primer jams while using the large primer shuttle. What was happening was the shuttle would get caught in the rear position. While trying to get it unjammed it would sometimes slam forward...sometimes the primer was in the shuttle and other times it wasn't. This was a real disappointment, and not to mention dangerous when getting a primer jammed. After studying the components I realized that the shuttle was the problem. The shuttle is slightly thicker than the primer. And the hole for the primer needed deburring. What happens is the primer drops below the surface of the shuttle thus allowing the next primer to get jammed between the shuttle hole and the primer tube. A minor flaw with a simple cure. I deburred the hole and carefully beveled the opening...this aides by allowing the primer that is on top to glide off while the shuttle travels forward. It has been 1000+ rounds now and not a single primer jam!! The second issue I had, was after about 800 rounds the shell plate retainer spring broke. It got caught right where it comes out of the groove in the base plate and back around the shell plate(under station #1). I suspect it got fatigued from being forced under the shell plate near station #5 and then back up again near station #1. The spring rides in a groove that is cut into into the base plate...it is quite sharp and rough. So with a dremel I carefully smoothed both of the ramps where the spring goes down and back up. I don't know if this will cure the problem, but it does seem to glide through there much nicer. Adding a bit of lubricant to the spring also may have helped I plan to order the case feeder next week, hopefully it won't need any tweaking.
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    4 stars
    Kent Christen of Valdosta, GA
    Date posted: 11/3/2005
    I have owned this press for approximately 2 years. I have only (so far) loaded handgun cartridges on it. The only complaints I have are that the shellplates are pricey, the powder measure instructions are incomplete (I had a REALLY difficult time trying to reconfigure from .45 ACP to 9mm Luger with the powder measure the first time, and ended up doing a great deal of trial and error, because the instructions are so thin.), the powder measure keeps too much powder residue to easily swap powders (I have tried to use a dryer sheet, which has only marginally alleviated the problem), and the ejector for a loaded round sometimes binds up, if I'm not paying enough attention to it. Overall, I love the press, especially the primer mechanism. I have had good results so far with it and will probably purchase another, if/when this one wears out.
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    3 stars
    Ralph Z of Cincinnati, OH
    Date posted: 8/27/2004
    I have loaded about 5000 rounds on it. It works well most of the time, but has a few problems. Priming can be finicky (as many others have noted). Yes, Lee dies are too short. And so are the Redding Profile and Taper Crimp dies. Changing between cartridges is quick - except for the powder measure, which takes some trial and error. And sometimes empty shells don't line up with the sizing die at stage one, causing a jam. Hornady would do well to add a bevel on this die to better guide the case.
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    3 stars
    David Hughes of Junction City, KS
    Date posted: 11/17/2009
    Ok, I bought this after really reading and doing quite a bit of research. It was either this or the Dillon 650. Mainly wanted to use it to reload pistol calibers. I use a single stage for bottle neck calibers. It was pretty simple to set up if you just take your time. The instructions are not great but you use what you have. The set up is much easy if you just watch the set on videos that are on YouTube. Be sure to clean all the parts with a cleaner/dry lube like One Shot. This is important or the powder measure absolutely will not throw consistent charges. I have dinked around with mine and it still does not throw dead accurate charges, some are off by a full grain. You need to check your loads often which really slows you down. The micro adjustment you can buy extra does help but it’s not a cure all. The lock-n-load bushings work great, except on the powder station as the bushing will not stay tight. I put a little strip of electrical tape on that bushing at that station and it is locked up rock solid now. I am sure it has to do with the powder measure sitting up high on the top of the press. The primer feed slide must be kept very clean or the primer slide will hang up and you get un-primed cases and that's hard to do as powder will get by the case mouth. Plus you prime on the down stroke which is awkward and hard to get a rhythm going. The auto indexing is slightly quirky for me and on straight walled cases you end up crushing cases sometimes because it does not line up right with the mouth opening of the die, mainly happens on the bullet seating die or the powder drop station and you get a squib load. A powder cop die is a must for this press. I have cleaned and lubed the shell plates and adjusted it as directed, it still happens periodically. Don't get me wrong I have lots of Hornady products and I really like them, I'm just not having a very productive time with this press after a month of messing with it off and on. I also did buy the LNL single stage press and love it. I know I could box it up and send it to them to look at as maybe I just got one that is challenging but for the money I just wish it ran smoother. My old LEE 4 hole turret press is faster and easier for me on pistol calibers
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    Hornady Lock n Load ap ez ject system

    Title
    Hornady lock n load ap ez ject system

    Description
    Program Description

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