Reviews & Ratings for Hornady Lock-N-Load Iron Press With Manual Prime — 4 reviews — Page 1

New to reloading and we decided to buy the Hornady Lock N Load after taking a class. The instructor had this and another major brand. We chose the Hornady because we liked this press best for ease of use by us. (not that there was anything wrong with the other brand). Got the best price at Optic Planet!

This is a very poorly designed press:

https://youtu.be/NIqn59tPpDk

1. There is too much play in the ‘Shell Assist Collar’ part no. 399606. The Shell Assist Collar is heavier in the front so the shell casing tilts forward. The shell will not align with the die and jams the case into the front side of the die. I called Hornady Tech support. He told me:
a. This is a known problem and have brought it up with the engineers.
b. There is no solution.
c. He uses this press personally and uses his finger to push the case back into place and I should do the same.
d. I pressed him a bit and got corporate bla bla bla response.
2. The de-priming operation drops spent primer material into the auto priming mechanism; when it is dirty enough it stops working. This can only be avoided if you don’t use this ‘feature’.
3. If you get tired of cleaning the auto prime assembly and take it off the press, primers fall into the ram and it jams.
4. The case prep tools at the top of the press drop brass shavings and carbon material into the auto priming mechanism; when it is dirty enough it stops working. This can only be avoided if you don’t use this ‘feature’.
I am sending the Shell Assist Collar back to Hornady under warranty; based on my conversation with tech support I doubt they will re-mill a better fitting part and solve the problem.