Hornaday Lock and Load Progressive

[Bill]

In the last couple years it seems that my time to reload has gotten less and less all the time. That makes my shooting time less and less. I came across a deal where I can do a Pro-Form on a Hornaday Lock and Load Progressive press at less than cost due to where I work and what I do. So sometime this week I am going to order up the press and enough shell plates and accessories so I can load all my pistol ammo and a couple of my rifle rounds that I do in the hundreds at a time rather than 50 at a time. I think that .38/.357, .40/10MM, .45ACP, .223 and .308 should just about take care of my mass production needs. I have been shooting my handguns at a range in Spearfish and that seems to take a pile of ammo each time and prairie dogs when I get to go is taking more and more each time also. All I need to do it get it in and go to work except that my reloading room isn't finished yet along with the family room that is almost finished but my bench is out in the garage and I can always mount it up there and make things work. Unless it gets hotter than hell this summer that is. We will see how this all works out and how I like the progressive press.

[jmarriott]

I loaded up some stuff a couple of years back on a friends dilion. Since It was the middle of the primers shortage (Hording) I got some federal primers. I normally use cci or winchester primers. It seems that those primers were much softer than cci and winchester and one went off in the primer feed tube. His cat was laying next to the bench and did not come out of hiding for days.

I guess that Dillion had a reprint of the manual stating not to use federal primers. He was in the first half before they reprinter the manual. Dillion did replace the tube and other stuff for free. More than was really wrong.

Reading and making small changes in loads like better feeding powders might be required. Watchout for federal primers.

[Bill]

I didn't get all the primer tubes, case feeder and bullet feeder. One guy I know bought the complete outfit. He has a bit of trouble with the bullet feed as it feeds on in upside down every now and then. The case feeder does great though. This one can have the same problem as the Dillon does with Federal primers but you don't have to use it that way. Doing it all manually still speeds up the time considerably.

[Bill]

Been doing pretty good with the Lock and Load. Works great once you get it figured out. So far it has done 2,000 10MM, 2,500 .38 specials, 1500 .45 ACP's and were getting ready to do .223 Rem. My buddy that I reload with has been doing most of the work on getting it up and running mostly because it is in his basement. ;D Nice part about it is the fact that if I am not there he keeps on pulling the handle.
For the money these reloaders are awesome. Feeding it is the problem, its keeping me broke feeding them. Between the two of us we have about 6,000 rounds of .223 Rem once fired and ready to go and if it works like the pistol loads we have done that should not take long to do at all. Probably take longer to buy the components than it will to reload the cases. Using my favorite load of H335 and a 50 grain bullet should work like a dream through the reloader. Not sure how the Varget powder for the .308 is going to work though the powder dump as yet as it is a stick powder. Might have to find another power but the load I have been using is shooting .25 MOA with the 175 grain SMK bullet and I hate to mess that up. For dies we will be using Lee Collette dies I think and neck sizing only. As long as we keep our brass separated it should work great as all the brass has been fire formed in our own guns. Long about next spring the PD's better learn to keep their heads down. There is going to be a whole lot of shooting going on. ;D

[Jack]

I wondered about the sizing of bottleneck cases. The Lee Collet die probably will take care of that.
For your 308 load, try some AA 2520- it's a ball powder with a burning rate about like 4895. I use it in 308, 8x57, and a few others, and like it a lot.

[Bill]

How is the temp sensitivity of the AA powder Jack. The reason I look at this so close is I shoot the .308 in temps ranging from .0 degree's to 100 degrees. Varget does this just fine but a lot of other powders do not do this well. You end up with preasure spikes when it gets too hot or end up with a huge drop in performance when it gets too cold. I need something that handles both ends of the spectrum.

[Jack]

Bill, they don't advertise 2520 as one of the temperature proof powders.
I can't say I've ever done any testing on the subject, but I've never had any problems. Loads worked up at 90+ degrees kill deer at below freezing temps just fine. So, I've never looked into the temperature sensitivity very much.
I admit to being somewhat skeptical on the subject - not sure how much is really an advance in powder technology, and how much is an advance in advertising campaigns.
I think Western Powder, who owns Accurate Arms powders now, could give you some info.