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Posted: 2/2/2010 4:24:53 PM EDT
| Found quite a few positive comments about using Lock n Load bushings in a Rock Chucker and think I am going to roll with it. However after reading comments on the Midway sight someone mentioned that not all dies are long enough to work with LNL bushings. So I ask has anyone run into this issue? If so were they RCBS, Forster or Lee? |
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I had the Lock N Load die bushing in my Rock Chucker for about a year but I don't now.
I was reloading some .223 one night and kept getting stuck cases. Took me a while to finally figured out what was causing it. What had happened was that the bottom of one of the "lugs" on the die bushing that holds the Lock N Load insert and die in the press had broken off allowing the the die rock up causing the case to stick in the die. I took it out and just went back to using the die lock rights. I had no problems with Lee dies with the insert though (9mm, 7,62x25, .357, .303 Brit, 7.62x64R, and .223 dies). If I had it to do over again I'd skip the Lock N Load inserts. They really don't save that much time and buying bushing can get expensive if you load a lot of different calibers. |
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I looked at these when they first came out.
For me the small amount of time saved screwing in a die was not worth the price of all the bushings. Then it came to me the true use for the LNL bushings. Its for people with Lee dies that don't have a proper lock rings on their dies. Not an issue for me, all of my Lee dies have a lock ring. I did find a use for my one set of LNL bushings. I use 2 powder measures in the same mount with the LNL bushings. Makes dumping out the powder when finished very fast. |
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I LOVE my LnL bushings. saved me hundreds on a turret press. I use Redding, RCBS both pistol and rifle, dillon, Lee factory crimp dies and all of them work fine.
for me the extra cost (about 8 bucks per caliber) is well worth the cost because it's so fast to switch. I have lock rings on all my dies but when I would screw them down they kind of lock to the press and I'd have to loosen the lock ring and back it out then guess where my lock ring was set. It was causing slight variations. also, as lazy as I am, even unscrewing and screwing new dies in was sort of a PITA. I normally do batches of 50 to 100 in my single stage press but occasionally I will find a case I don't like and get a new one and then have to reseat my decrimper etc and fix that single case up. the LNL makes that a very fast and easy. |
I have one of my Rock Chuckers set up with the LNL bushings. They work GREAT. Just yesterday another guy was using my presses and used the Lee Universal Decapping Die in it. I have not run into any die that wouldn't work––so far. I am VERY fond of the LNL set-up. I like the Rock Chucker press much better than anything Hornady makes, but the LNL bushings are a stroke of genius, so the adapter bushing combines two excellent products. The fact they are from competing companies makes it "extra special" as such things rarely happen. 
I have heard of older Lee dies being shorter than other brands. Dunno if that could be a problem or not, but it's something to file away in the back of your mind. 
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I love both my LnL presses, and the only other press I have is a Lee Breech Lock with quick change bushings as well. I have my two Cam-Lock bullet pullers setup in the Lee quick change bushings and it makes it easy to go from pulling .223 to .277, I just change the whole puller out and put the one with the correct collete in it all ready setup and start pulling or slightly pulling one that I seated to deep setting my seating die up(this is what I use them for more than actually pulling bullets all the way out, I rarely have to do that).
I have used Lee, Hornady, & Redding dies in my LnL bushings with no problems at all. |
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I looked at these when they first came out. For me the small amount of time saved screwing in a die was not worth the price of all the bushings. Then it came to me the true use for the LNL bushings. Its for people with Lee dies that don't have a proper lock rings on their dies. Not an issue for me, all of my Lee dies have a lock ring. I did find a use for my one set of LNL bushings. I use 2 powder measures in the same mount with the LNL bushings. Makes dumping out the powder when finished very fast. Any of us that have a LNL AP can change all five stations in as much time as it takes you to change one die. Since you have seen this in action with your measures I would think you could see the whole benefit. To each their own I guess. |
| To the subject at hand. i believe that this is really only an issue with the really short cartridges on the LNL AP. Could be on others also, dunno. I do know that Lee dies in .45 ACP and in .40 S&W work for me in my AP. They do get short on threads for the locking ring but not to the point of being an issue. |
| I have installed the LNL bushings in my rock chucker and really like how fast I can change dies. I have loaded for the 38 special up to a 7mm-08 and a universal decapping die all made by RCBS with out an issue. Also have a Honrady bullet puller and it also works fine. |
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I looked at these when they first came out. For me the small amount of time saved screwing in a die was not worth the price of all the bushings. Your choice, but I don't see the logic in this. You can outfit a 3-die set with L-N-L bushing for $4.66/die. Only $3.90/die if you buy the bushings in 10 paks. How many times do you need to re-adjust every die before that one-time outlay of $11.19 (at Grafs) for the conversion bushing and then $3.90-$4.66 for each die starts to look like a worthwhile investment? Quoted:
To the subject at hand. i believe that this is really only an issue with the really short cartridges on the LNL AP. Could be on others also, dunno. I do know that Lee dies in .45 ACP and in .40 S&W work for me in my AP. They do get short on threads for the locking ring but not to the point of being an issue. I have Lee die sets for 9mm, .223, .243 & .30-06, and in each set the resizing/decapping die is right on the edge of being too short. I've managed to make them work so far, but if I ever need to seat one even a little bit deeper I'll likely end up replacing it with a Hornady die. |
| My rather old 9mm die is just barely long enough in the LNL. My .30 carbine die is not long enough, nor is my 7.62X39 die. Solution for me: buy a new .30 carbine sizing die (probably carbide this time) and a new 7.62 sizer too. You need to measure the threaded length of the die, subtract the thickness of the lock ring you use, and then measure the depth you have between the top of the press and the top of the shellholder. On my 1980-vintage RockChucker, with the bushing adapter, there is just enough .30 carbine die and a little more than that with the 7.62 die, but neither is long enough for the LNL AP to be able to use them. |
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I looked at these when they first came out. For me the small amount of time saved screwing in a die was not worth the price of all the bushings. Then it came to me the true use for the LNL bushings. Its for people with Lee dies that don't have a proper lock rings on their dies. Not an issue for me, all of my Lee dies have a lock ring. I did find a use for my one set of LNL bushings. I use 2 powder measures in the same mount with the LNL bushings. Makes dumping out the powder when finished very fast. Any of us that have a LNL AP can change all five stations in as much time as it takes you to change one die. Since you have seen this in action with your measures I would think you could see the whole benefit. To each their own I guess. Yep, just seemed a waste to me. (on a single stage press) For a fast die change, I change the tool head on my 550. |
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I looked at these when they first came out. For me the small amount of time saved screwing in a die was not worth the price of all the bushings. Then it came to me the true use for the LNL bushings. Its for people with Lee dies that don't have a proper lock rings on their dies. Not an issue for me, all of my Lee dies have a lock ring. I did find a use for my one set of LNL bushings. I use 2 powder measures in the same mount with the LNL bushings. Makes dumping out the powder when finished very fast. Any of us that have a LNL AP can change all five stations in as much time as it takes you to change one die. Since you have seen this in action with your measures I would think you could see the whole benefit. To each their own I guess. Yep, just seemed a waste to me. (on a single stage press) For a fast die change, I change the tool head on my 550. Yep and at a bit more expense than a $35 shellplate, if it is even needed, and if you want add 3 or 4 $3.50 or $4.00 bushings for the dies. Conversion kits for the Dillon run from around $45 to over $100. Even if you had to change everything on the LNL it can be done in short order. With some experience about 10 minutes, 15 if you change rotors in the measure. Add in the fact, and expense, that most Dillon users add a measure to every tool head. Something not needed with the LNL. One measure and some metering stems or one large and one small micrometer stem is all that is needed for Hornady. Oh and the parts needed for different calibers come with the Hornady case feeder not individual conversion kits Just sayin'. |
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I looked at these when they first came out. For me the small amount of time saved screwing in a die was not worth the price of all the bushings. Then it came to me the true use for the LNL bushings. Its for people with Lee dies that don't have a proper lock rings on their dies. Not an issue for me, all of my Lee dies have a lock ring. I did find a use for my one set of LNL bushings. I use 2 powder measures in the same mount with the LNL bushings. Makes dumping out the powder when finished very fast. Any of us that have a LNL AP can change all five stations in as much time as it takes you to change one die. Since you have seen this in action with your measures I would think you could see the whole benefit. To each their own I guess. Yep, just seemed a waste to me. (on a single stage press) For a fast die change, I change the tool head on my 550. Yep and at a bit more expense than a $35 shellplate, if it is even needed, and if you want add 3 or 4 $3.50 or $4.00 bushings for the dies. Conversion kits for the Dillon run from around $45 to over $100. Even if you had to change everything on the LNL it can be done in short order. With some experience about 10 minutes, 15 if you change rotors in the measure. Add in the fact, and expense, that most Dillon users add a measure to every tool head. Something not needed with the LNL. One measure and some metering stems or one large and one small micrometer stem is all that is needed for Hornady. Oh and the parts needed for different calibers come with the Hornady case feeder not individual conversion kits Just sayin'. If you like em use em. |
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