Hornady Classic Lock-N-Load Press

The Hornady Classic Lock-N-Load Press is a relatively new addition to the Hornady reloading products line up. The Lock-N-Load feature is really what is new as the press isn't so different than the previous presses except for the Lock-N-Load feature pictured below:

The LOCK-N-LOAD BUSHING SYSTEM is designed and intended to allow you to load and unload dies with a simple twist of the
Lock-N-Load die bushing. Hornady says "the positive locking action holds dies perfectly aligned and rock-solid." I can't disagree with that but on a single stage press such as this one, I for one don't get in a hurry and don't see the L-N-L feature as important as say on their progressive tool which is bought by folks who wish to save time on reloading their ammo. It is certainly no handicap but the bushings are somewhat expensive if you need a lot of them. I have perhaps 30 or more die sets and of those I regularly use at least 10-12 which would require 20-30 bushings minimum to have them on the dies all the time as is intended. This would be a considerable expense to someone who like myself uses a lot of dies. However what I have done is to put the bushings only on the dies I use most often and keep one bushing out that I use in the press when using the rest of my dies. This approach lets me have the benefit of the L-N-L feature's speed with those dies I use most frequently and still use the press with my other dies in a conventional manner with the other L-N-L bushing in place. This is sort of a best of both worlds approach I guess you might say.

The Classic L-N-L press is a massive press with loads of strength and compound leverage unlike my old JR press. It makes sizing and case forming operations much easier than the older press I had without compound leverage. It also has a wider opening which makes it easier to insert the bullets into longer cases and there is also more room between the case you are working on and the front of the "O" of the press. I like that as it was often a bit cramped for my fat hands with the old JR press. I made do obviously but I like the extra freedom of movement for my hands. After using this press just a short time I decided I liked it far better than my old press and thus retired it and eventually sold it. I now do all of my reloading on this press and am perfectly happy with it and the out come.

The ammo I'm loading on it is proving to be very accurate proving to me at least that the ram is properly and correctly aligned and is loading quality ammo with minimal run out. Combined with the Hornady Seater dies with the straight line bullet seating and the collar to keep the bullet aligned during seating the ammo I am now loading seems more accurate than what I was loading before I switched to this combo.

Now just how this press will hold up over the long haul I guess I'll have to tell you in about another 20 or 30 years I suppose but I see no reason to assume it will do anything other than continue to perform flawlessly for many years of reloading. It is as I said a massively strong press with plenty of strength to do the job needed and to last many years, besides it comes with Hornady's No Risk Life Time Warranty to back up the quality of it.

If you are in the market for a new single stage reloading press I can highly recommend the Hornady Classic L-N-L to you. I've been using it exclusively now for a few months and am very pleased. It has earned the Graybeard Seal Of Approval.

Check out the Hornady Classic Lock-N-Load press and other fine Hornady products at there website by clicking on the Hornady Name above.

Hornady Manufacturing Company
Box 1848
Grand Island, NE 68802

800-338-3220

STEVE HORNADY
President
Hornady Manufacturing