Hornady lnl progressive vs single stage press

[verticalRN]

Hello all,
I am a newbie to reloading and want to get started reloading my own shells. I currently will be reloading .308 for a POF AR10 with 20 in barrel and .45 for a XD 5in tactical. I imagine that this list will grow some as time goes on(daughters are starting to enjoy shooting). I am debating between the Hornady LNL progressive press and a single stage (Hornady or RCBS). Any wisdom/thoughts out there? My main use for reloading is target/plinking rounds to maintain skills, with a few hunting rounds thrown in(I live in Colorado and hunt). Thanks for the help!

 

[ZombieMonkey]

What sort of budget do you have and how much ammo do you realistically see yourself reloading? Reason why I ask is I've owned the single stage, Hornady LNL, and the Dillon XL650 and each one shines in certain areas. Currently I only own a redding Big Boss 2 and a Dillon 650. The Hornady LNL was sold locally.

-Single stage or Turret press such as a the Redding T7: If you see yourself loading maybe only 100 rounds at a time, a single stage may be for you.
-Hornady LNL: 500 rounds a batch and you do not ever see yourself wanting an automatic case feeder. Yes, you can get one, but it is not really one of the strengths of the LNL. It often leads to more frustration than it is worth due to the design.
-Dillon 650: 500+ rounds in a batch very comfortably and reliably. The case feeding for this press works very well and is where it really shines over the LNL, which is why I bring this up to you since you are considering the LNL.

 

[verticalRN]

What sort of budget do you have and how much ammo do you realistically see yourself reloading? Reason why I ask is I've owned the single stage, Hornady LNL, and the Dillon XL650 and each one shines in certain areas. Currently I only own a redding Big Boss 2 and a Dillon 650. The Hornady LNL was sold locally.

-Single stage or Turret press such as a the Redding T7: If you see yourself loading maybe only 100 rounds at a time, a single stage may be for you.
-Hornady LNL: 500 rounds a batch and you do not ever see yourself wanting an automatic case feeder. Yes, you can get one, but it is not really one of the strengths of the LNL. It often leads to more frustration than it is worth due to the design.
-Dillon 650: 500+ rounds in a batch very comfortably and reliably. The case feeding for this press works very well and is where it really shines over the LNL, which is why I bring this up to you since you are considering the LNL.

I have a decent budget but also would like to spend as little as possible. I am out for a Dillon. I imagine I will load about 200-300 .308 per month and the same with .45. I am interested in precision shooting with the .308 and it seems that progressive is great for .45 but maybe not so much with .308? I my original plan was reloading lapua brass with rcbs x,dies and developing loads from there. My question is this. As with most things it seems that as you get better with loading you end up loading more rounds and shooting more. As I start out can I get consistent rounds and refine my skill reloading on a progressive(and spend the money now) or should I just get a single stage and realize I will get great .308 and slower process for .45. I hope this makes sense.

 

[Thump_rrr]

You always need a single stage press.
Load development on a progressive is painful.

I own both Hornady presses single stage and progressive.
What I don't like about the Hornady Single Stage is that you cycle the press with your right hand and manipulate the ammo with your left.

I also have a Lee Classic Cast which is cycled with the left hand and the ammo manipulated with the right which I prefer.

I will probably sell both my single stage presses and buy a Forster Co-Ax which some say is the best single stage on the market.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

In your case I would recommend the Hornady LNL as I'd hate to be doing all of that pistol ammo without a progressive. Many people do it, but no thanks. You can still make match quality ammo out of the LNL and use it as a single stage more or less. It can build very consistent ammo, especially if you keep a case in each position as it will eliminate some of the variations you get from the shell plate flexing.

 

[71firebird400]

What sort of budget do you have and how much ammo do you realistically see yourself reloading? Reason why I ask is I've owned the single stage, Hornady LNL, and the Dillon XL650 and each one shines in certain areas. Currently I only own a redding Big Boss 2 and a Dillon 650. The Hornady LNL was sold locally.

-Single stage or Turret press such as a the Redding T7: If you see yourself loading maybe only 100 rounds at a time, a single stage may be for you.
-Hornady LNL: 500 rounds a batch and you do not ever see yourself wanting an automatic case feeder. Yes, you can get one, but it is not really one of the strengths of the LNL. It often leads to more frustration than it is worth due to the design.
-Dillon 650: 500+ rounds in a batch very comfortably and reliably. The case feeding for this press works very well and is where it really shines over the LNL, which is why I bring this up to you since you are considering the LNL.

I have a case feeder on my LNL AP (for several years now) and it hasn't been problematic at all. Must have been an issue with your setup?

 

[nobbie333actual]

if you are only planning on reloading a couple types of pistol and rifle rounds take a look at Dillon Square deal for pistol and o frame press with the case kicker

 

[ZombieMonkey]

I have a case feeder on my LNL AP (for several years now) and it hasn't been problematic at all. Must have been an issue with your setup?

May have been my particular setup. I toyed with settings quite a bit over the course of the 5 years I loaded with it before I sold it. For me the Dillon has been up and running flawlessly in all calibers with the case feeding system not missing a beat. Like I say, I like the LNL for lower volume progressive use and think it really shines in that realm over say a Dillon 550 or other progressive / turret type designs. It just wasn't particularly suited well for the higher volumes I have been making these days. For the OP I think the LNL is a good fit for his specified needs.

 

[Twoboxer]

I think ZombieMonkey's bottom line is about right even though my case feeder works fine for my calibers, ie, 223 plinking ammo, 45, and 9mm. If you have just a couple of calibers and are going to add a case feeder, the price advantage of the Hornady is no longer as significant. Don't add the case feeder and have several calibers, and the Hornady looks much the better financial deal. The 550 as a 4-hole press really doesn't belong in the conversation for many users.

OP: You're in a tough spot, right on the border line. 200-300 pistol a month is a lot of strokes on a single stage, but you'll want to assemble 500-1000 cases and make 500-1000 rounds per batch on a progressive.

Considering caliber changeover and when your rifle cases need prep work in between sizing. much of the advantage of a progressive disappears especially in smallish batches. More disappears if you want to store the finished ammo in individual cases rather than in bulk . . . you have to handle them again to do what you'd automatically do after finishing the round on a single stage, ie, put it in its box.

As far as ammo accuracy/consistency is concerned, most people (me included) believe ammo produced on a single stage is "better". While that difference may not show up at pistol ranges, it is more likely to have an effect at rifle distances.

I'd probably start with a single stage (I have a LnL Classic) and make the rifle ammo - that's where the big dollars and accuracy needs (if you care) are. If you continue with reloading you will ALWAYS have uses for that single stage press. If you get tired of making pistol on it, get a progressive later (I have an LnL AP) if it makes sense economically (and time-wise) for you. The one thing I wouldn't do is get a Lee Turret (I have one of those too) which seems a good compromise, but like most compromises achieves neither the rifle (consistency/accuracy) nor the pistol (speed) goals.

JMO, YMMV.

 

[71firebird400]

May have been my particular setup. I toyed with settings quite a bit over the course of the 5 years I loaded with it before I sold it. For me the Dillon has been up and running flawlessly in all calibers with the case feeding system not missing a beat. Like I say, I like the LNL for lower volume progressive use and think it really shines in that realm over say a Dillon 550 or other progressive / turret type designs. It just wasn't particularly suited well for the higher volumes I have been making these days. For the OP I think the LNL is a good fit for his specified needs.

There can definitely be some quirks. When I went to go setup my casefeeder for 44 I followed the little table in the manual for what "foot" to use; after struggling with it I realized there was a typo in the table. I've used friends 650's and found them to be excellent, but without owning one I can't say which I'd like better. Maybe I'll need to get the Dillon and set them up side by side!