Hornady Lock N Load AP Review

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The Hornady Lock N Load auto progressive press is a great addition to any ammo maker’s collection. It comes with essential accessories that could be purchased separately for other reloading presses.

This Hornady also has multi-functional features for almost anything in the reloading process of making bullets and can produce over 500 rounds per hour! With this at your disposal, thousands upon thousands of ammunition are possible in just one day.

We will be looking at the Hornady Lock N Load Auto–Progressive Reloading Press’s best features and helping you choose which one to buy if you still have questions.

Hornady Lock N Load Ap Review

Features of Hornady Lock N Load Auto-Progressive Reloading Press

Sale
Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Press Loader – Ammunition Reloading Press with Quick Change Lock-N-Load Bushing System, EZ-JECT System and Powder Measure – Enjoy Fast and Reliable Reloading – Item 095100
  • Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive Reloading Press – Reload up to 500 rounds per hour with this professional grade, auto indexing, 5 station progressive press that features the patented Lock-N-Load bushing system. This must-have Hornady reloading equipment is intuitive and well equipped for all your reloading needs
  • Fast Reloading – Lock-N-Load technology allows you to stop loading, change dies and start loading another caliber in a matter of seconds thanks to the 5 station bushing system. Switch from 223 to 45 in less than 5 minutes
  • Quick and Reliable Ammunition Press – The Lock-N-Load powder measure uses quick change metering inserts that allow you to switch from one powder to another with a push of a button. The EZ-JECT system ensures a reliable ejection of cartridges, every time without adjustments
  • Smooth and Precise – With a single pull of the handle, you’ll feel the smooth responsiveness, the rugged construction, and most of all, the power on this single stage reloading press! And since the AP features automatic indexing, priming and ejection, every pull of the handle give you a precisely loaded round
  • What's Included – Hornady AP Press Item 095100. Includes 5 Lock-N-Load Die Bushings, 1 large cartridge bin, primer pickup tubes, metering inserts and rotors, Lock-N-Load Powder Measure, and case activated powder drop. All you need are dies and shell plates to start loading with your AP

Last update on 2024-01-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Hornady LNL AP is one of the best reloading presses that allows you to do everything in one pull, so it comes with a lot of features and abilities.

You only need topull once to move the whole shell plateand have 5 cartridges pushed upward to their respective position.

Comes with 5 dies slot that allows you to do 5 different things within a single pull. You can choose to use all 5 or leave some of them free.

Easy and fast bushing system on the Hornady Lock N Load toolremoves the need to turn and adjust every single time you need to install your bushing.

Universal case retainerremoves the need to change your shell plate with a suitable one every time. This is also the reason that the EZ Ject System is amazing as the case retainer makes it easy to lock it in place or push it out once the bullets are ready.

List out the things you can do with a single pull: entry of an empty cartridge, priming, bullet seating and ejection of a finished cartridge.

What comes with the Hornady Lock N Load AP press?

Case Activated Powder Drop: Hornady Load Auto Progressive reloading press guarantees that no spills will be made. This is because the powder won’t dispense unless it has a cartridge to receive it, which provides safety for users.
Hornady Locked N Load ap`s Priming System is one of the simplest to use. Progressive loaders can easily switch from large and small primers with just three steps: changing primer seater punches, a primer shuttle, and lastly a primer feed tube (primer tube) for either size. One of the best priming system on the market.
Universal Case Retainer Spring: When considering auto progressive reloading LNL presses, one factor to consider is versatility. When you want the most value out of your equipment and can use different calibers with it like Hornady’s Case Retainer Spring that allows cases from .22 caliber up to 338 Lapua Magnum. Universal case retainer spring is a nice issue.
Quick Change Lock-N-Load Bushing Systems: By using a simple twist on the dies, reloaders can quickly put in another set of die. This is what Lock-N-Load Systems feature does for them as it helps to easily remove or replace their sets of die without any hassle and extra effort.
Automatic Indexing: The Hornady Lock N Load auto progressive reloading press includes indexing feature which offers a unique and smooth operation than other progressive presses on the market. Each of the stations will move half a stage during upstroke, and then again on down stroke so you can load more with less stopping time.
Large Capacity Hopper: The auto progressive reloading press can produce a lot of cartridges in an hour. You won’t need to stop and empty the hopper as often, which makes it more efficient than other machines.

We have chosen the most useful option about Hornady Lock N Load auto progressive reloading press from many informational videos:

Hornady Lock N Load Auto-Progressive Reloading Press: PROS and CONS

Things We Liked about Lock n load auto progressive press:

Robust construction ensures durability.
Effective and sturdy equipment
Fast and efficient work.
Speed – 500 rounds/hour and more!

However, such a great piece of equipment doesn’t come without a single flaw on it. As this is a very big investment to make, here are some things you need to pay attention before purchasing progressive reloading presses.

Drawbacks To Note about Load Auto Progressive reloading tool:

A beginner will be confused when they get this thing and trying to find their way into figuring out how to use this the best way. This auto progressive reloading press is only good if you find yourself in need of reloading thousands of rounds at once.
The whole unit is not everything you need. You will have more things to purchase in addition, depending on what size you are reloading. Make sure to read up and know the size you are using.
It is an expensive investment to make as for first press, that in itself is a drawback. And to add that up, you need to buy additional dies, with other things as well. Although this is still cheaper than other auto-progressive reloading presses.

Customer reviews

At the time of writing, there are 315 customers that have left honest reviews about the Hornady Lock N Load Auto Progressive Reloading Press. It received a total rating of 4.7 stars from 5 perfect customers.

We can expect some people to make niggling comments like ” The item I bought did not include a shell plate”, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the product isn’t worth having.

The majority of people who purchased the Hornady AP were satisfied with their purchase. The Hornady AP is highly recommended for all reloaders!

Why Should You Buy Hornady Lock N Load new press?

It is also precise in terms of the ejection/entry system. The older model of reloading press is smooth, saving your time from having to adjust anything at all during the process.

You can be doing thousands of bullets 3 to 4 times faster than you would have usually. The bushings make it easy to replace the dies with the same settings. They lock those dies securely in place, saving so much time and hassle from having to twist and turn every time you change caliber.

Is Hornady reloading kit good?

Hornady rarely disappoints its users with their products. From our Hornady Lock N Load review, we can see they have done excellent with their auto-progressive reloading press.

A single pull of the lever gets the whole item moves smoothly and each of them is precise and accurate. You can easily get a learning curve and finish thousands of rounds with this thing on, just remember to install them correctly while following the guideline like a bible. learning curve.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does the Hornady Lock N Load auto progressive reloading press work with Lee’s dies?

Yes, it does. All you have to do is take the die off the bushing and replace with any of Lee’s dies and you’re all set.

Does it come with everything shown in the picture?

It comes with a case activated powder drop, cartridge catcher and extra lock-n-load bushings. You will have to purchase your own dies and shell plates according to the caliber you are reloading. The reloading press works with Magnum rifle and pistol ammo.

How does the metering insert work?

The metering insert works as a reference for you to figure out the scale of the powder you are using. While some people might think about making notes on where the right position to lock it to get the right amount of powder dropped, the official Hornady support team has confirmed that this is not necessary.

Where are Hornady Lock N Load ap presses made?

Hornady Manufacturing Company, a Nebraska-based company that manufactures ammunition and handloading components for hunters, soldiers, law enforcement officers and competitive shooters.

How does the case feeder of Hornady LNL press work?

he primer feeder or case feeder is case activated which means the bullet will only be fed upon contact with a cartridge. The collets are made of solid steel and durable enough to last for years after being reloaded several times over.

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Author - Hans Wimberly
Hans-Wimberly - the owner of Gearsadviser
When I`m not spending time with my beautiful wife and great 3 children, you will find me reloading ammo!
Doing sport shooting, or talking with my friends about (oh, yeah!) guns.

Read more about me here.

At Gearsadviser, I`m committed to ensuring that you have the best possible reloading experience. I conduct thorough research, testing, and evaluation of reloading gear, offering impartial and informative reviews to assist you in making informed purchasing decisions. My reviews are based on hands-on testing, research, and analysis of customer feedback. I regularly update my reviews to reflect changes in product availability and new information, so you can be confident that you're receiving the most current recommendations.

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7 thoughts on “Hornady Lock N Load AP Review”

  1. Wow, this is totally the truth, I have been looking for a comprehensive review and this saved my day, A client asked me to do a list of features, pros, and cons and wasnt getting anything online, This will really help me now. Great

  2. Good review. However, I disagree with the premise that it isnt good for new reloaders. I started out with a lee pro 1000. Not the easiest press in the world since you are always having to tinker with it. If you are handy or mechanically inclined, dont be concerned about starting out on a progressive.

  3. It came down to which one was easier to change calibers on. I know Dillon is a better press in some ways but the Hornady load n load is more like the Dillon 550b as far as ease of use. I watched some videos on caliber change on the 650 and to me seem a bit more time consuming. Check it out and give me your opinion… tell me what you think.

  4. I’m looking at picking up the Dillon 650… hopefully it works for what I want. I was eyeing up Hornady, as well. Gave your vid a like. :]

  5. Cecil B. DeMille would be proud 33 minutes is monumental to do a vid on a press

  6. What about powder measure? Is it convenient? I had a bad experience with another single stage press….

  7. You have so nice articles about different press, primer slide, shell holders and other their components! I love my single stage press, use my self-made reloading bench. And it is great when you can reload your bullets by yourself!

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