Hornady Lock-n-Load bushings? Anyone using these?

Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Well-known member
Looks like a good idea in theory. But I have my doubts about whether the dies will return to the exact place that they were previously. And if you are loading various bullet weights in the same set of dies it's no real advantage.

Anyone using these bushings & how do you like them?

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i can verify that no adjustment is needed when changing dies. i set mine up once and dont look back. i do verify seating depth adjustment on my seating die every time with an empty case or three but thats because i often load different bullets within any given caliber and i never know - or i guess i should say i dont document - what i was loading last time as i usually run in relatively large batches when i set the press up for a caliber change.

real handy with the LNL AP progressive thats for sure.
 
I've been using them for last 15+ years. I will say that they aren't perfect. If you do any type of sizing requiring heavy leverage or cam-over, you will have the splines crack where the female bushing contacts the male bushing when locked in. This was known issue years back and maybe I had a soft set. With that said, this will create variance in your dies when sizing/seating. I'm heavily invested in them now but if I had to do over, I don't think I'd use them.
 
Great idea but I don’t think they’re precise. That’s why I always stayed away from them. Just an opinion, though never used them and probably never will.
 
huntb said:
I've been using them for last 15+ years. I will say that they aren't perfect. If you do any type of sizing requiring heavy leverage or cam-over, you will have the splines crack where the female bushing contacts the male bushing when locked in. This was known issue years back and maybe I had a soft set. With that said, this will create variance in your dies when sizing/seating. I'm heavily invested in them now but if I had to do over, I don't think I'd use them.
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so you're saying that under normal usage you cracked the lugs in the press and didnt think to hit them up for a warranty on an obviously defective product?

my LNL AP press has thousands and thousands of rounds through it and the lugs show zero signs of wear on them. likewise for the single stage next to it that i bought used - although i dont have a round count for that, and on my bench its been fairly low.

or are you referring to the QD bushing adapter for non-hornady presses that you had an issue with?
 
The lugs were cracked in the bushing adapter that screws into the press. I have the bushing system installed in a Lee Classic Cast press. I didn't realize it was cracked until I started noticing variations in sizing/seating measurements and started looking inside the bushing. Then, I noticed it was chipped at the bottom of the spline. This is the area that interfaces with the bushing that's screwed on the die. This press has seen normal use and has probably loaded 5-7K rounds of ammo.

I did notify Hornady and they warrantied the item. I do considered it a wear item that needs to be checked from time to time.
 
huntb said:
The lugs were cracked in the bushing adapter that screws into the press. I have the bushing system installed in a Lee Classic Cast press. I didn't realize it was cracked until I started noticing variations in sizing/seating measurements and started looking inside the bushing. Then, I noticed it was chipped at the bottom of the spline. This is the area that interfaces with the bushing that's screwed on the die. This press has seen normal use and has probably loaded 5-7K rounds of ammo.

I did notify Hornady and they warrantied the item. I do considered it a wear item that needs to be checked from time to time.
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bad heat treatments happen - to EVERY manufacturer. nothing even the mfg can do about it, especially for a $10 mass produced part that they farm out to a 3rd party company for heat treatment. i cant confirm/deny hornady does or doesnt heat treat in house - but very few mfg's do these days.

yes it warrants watching, but for the convienance its worth watching for.
 


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