? for Hornady Lock N load AP users

IHMSA Shooter · December 10, 2007, 10:29 PM

I have read that using a crimp dies other than Hornady can cause a problem.

What brand crimp dies are you using? I would like to use either a Lee Factory Crimp die or a Redding Profile crimp die. Heck I would even put a Dillon crimp die in there if it meant I didn't have to machine a die to make it work right.

Point me in the right direction. If I purchase the Hornady press The first couple calibers I would be loading would be 357 Magnum and 40 S&W. I would like a dedicated crimp die in station 5.

20nickels · December 10, 2007, 10:59 PM

I hope that's not the case, I'm about to pull the trigger on some Lee's for the LNL. I thought they all worked if it's the standard thread pitch, some are just shorter so you have to screw them in further. I would like to hear from sombody that's done it though.

Waldog · December 11, 2007, 03:23 PM

Other manufacturers dies can be used with the LNL. HOWEVER, other dies are a little longer than the Hornady dies and the case ejection spring hits the die and prevents a proper taper crimp. You can work around this three different ways:
1. If you have access to a metal lathe you can shorten the die until it clears the ejection spring.
2. Use a Dremel grinder to grind a small notch in the side of the die to clear the spring.
3. Take off the ejection spring and use you finger to eject the finished cartridge.

The easiest is to buy and use a Hornady taper crimp die which you are going to have to do anyway as most 3 die pistol sets give you a bullet seat/roll crimp die, a expander die and, a sizing die. If you are going to load straight cases like the 45 ACP or 40 S&W. you will have to buy a seperate taper crimp die.

BTW, I LOVE MY HORNADY LNL. AND, I chose it over the Dillon after using both.

Hunter0924 · December 15, 2007, 01:44 AM

I use the Hornady dies and I have no problem seating and crimping at the same stage.
I too love my Hornady presses.

PsychoKnight · December 15, 2007, 06:14 PM

I have both the Hornady taper crimp and the Redding version which came with my new Redding die set. The tolerances seem better w/ the Redding, at least the taper shape is less angled.

I clamped the Redding taper crimper upside down in a bench vice and used a belt sander to grind the die to similar dimensions as the Hornady. About 2min of grinding, took about 3/8" of material off the mouth of the die body, then beveled the inside of the mouth slightly.

Through trial and error, you want to grind off only as much as needed such that the die can be seated as deep as you need for your crimp setting, without the die hitting the ejection wire.

You can't do this with the Lee FCD as there is a carbide, full-length post-sizing ring at the mouth of the die, which works independently of the adjustable taper crimp sleeve. I've got one of those also. Dang, I've got three taper crimp dies for the same caliber, for use on the same press. Hope this saves you some frustation. I'm loading 45acp/gap.

I say get the Redding die and grind it down like I did. Otherwise, get the Hornady and use it unmodified. Don't even think about the Lee.

December 10, 2007, 10:29 PM	#1
IHMSA Shooter Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 34	? for Hornady Lock N load AP users I have read that using a crimp dies other than Hornady can cause a problem. What brand crimp dies are you using? I would like to use either a Lee Factory Crimp die or a Redding Profile crimp die. Heck I would even put a Dillon crimp die in there if it meant I didn't have to machine a die to make it work right. Point me in the right direction. If I purchase the Hornady press The first couple calibers I would be loading would be 357 Magnum and 40 S&W. I would like a dedicated crimp die in station 5.

December 11, 2007, 03:23 PM	#3
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Other manufacturers dies can be used with the LNL. HOWEVER, other dies are a little longer than the Hornady dies and the case ejection spring hits the die and prevents a proper taper crimp. You can work around this three different ways: 1. If you have access to a metal lathe you can shorten the die until it clears the ejection spring. 2. Use a Dremel grinder to grind a small notch in the side of the die to clear the spring. 3. Take off the ejection spring and use you finger to eject the finished cartridge. The easiest is to buy and use a Hornady taper crimp die which you are going to have to do anyway as most 3 die pistol sets give you a bullet seat/roll crimp die, a expander die and, a sizing die. If you are going to load straight cases like the 45 ACP or 40 S&W. you will have to buy a seperate taper crimp die. BTW, I LOVE MY HORNADY LNL. AND, I chose it over the Dillon after using both. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

December 15, 2007, 01:44 AM	#4
Hunter0924 Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 472	I use the Hornady dies and I have no problem seating and crimping at the same stage. I too love my Hornady presses. __________________ My firearms review site. http://rangehot.com/

December 10, 2007, 10:59 PM	#2
20nickels Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2007 Posts: 274	I hope that's not the case, I'm about to pull the trigger on some Lee's for the LNL. I thought they all worked if it's the standard thread pitch, some are just shorter so you have to screw them in further. I would like to hear from sombody that's done it though.

December 15, 2007, 06:14 PM	#5
PsychoKnight Member Join Date: October 6, 2006 Posts: 29	I have both the Hornady taper crimp and the Redding version which came with my new Redding die set. The tolerances seem better w/ the Redding, at least the taper shape is less angled. I clamped the Redding taper crimper upside down in a bench vice and used a belt sander to grind the die to similar dimensions as the Hornady. About 2min of grinding, took about 3/8" of material off the mouth of the die body, then beveled the inside of the mouth slightly. Through trial and error, you want to grind off only as much as needed such that the die can be seated as deep as you need for your crimp setting, without the die hitting the ejection wire. You can't do this with the Lee FCD as there is a carbide, full-length post-sizing ring at the mouth of the die, which works independently of the adjustable taper crimp sleeve. I've got one of those also. Dang, I've got three taper crimp dies for the same caliber, for use on the same press. Hope this saves you some frustation. I'm loading 45acp/gap. I say get the Redding die and grind it down like I did. Otherwise, get the Hornady and use it unmodified. Don't even think about the Lee.