Hornady Lock and Load Quick Change Bushings / Removing Die Slop

[treillw]

I have a rock chucker press and a dillon progressive. Is it worth getting the Hornady Lock and Load Quick Change Bushings?

They sound nice that they keep everything set where it is supposed to be, but does it really help anything besides saving you 30 seconds of using a pliers to loosen and tighten your dies?

I'm always paranoid about removing my dies and then reinserting them - I always feel like it's not going to be the same. Is there any difference between the standard die locking rings and the hornady bushings? Have you found removing and reinserting dies to be consistent?

Thanks!

 

[D-4297]

All of my Dies have been fitted with a "O"- ring under the locking ring , so I turn them down to "Hand-tight" stop , and then give them another attempt at a twist by hand . My seating die only ever has to be clicked .001 - .002 to return to the setting . And they stay tight till I take them off , with my hands . Exception is my F/L Bushing Die which is snugged with a wrench . Same process for both my RCBS single stage presses .

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

I adjust my die/lock-rings and lock the set screws. I have dies that have been spot on for 20-30 years. If I find a need to change a setting, I use a Skips Shim to change the setting ,001 -.010 with a single shim. Takes only a few seconds to screw in or out a die. The bushing adds an additional interface to induce error.

Frank

 

[treillw]

All of my Dies have been fitted with a "O"- ring under the locking ring , so I turn them down to "Hand-tight" stop , and then give them another attempt at a twist by hand . My seating die only ever has to be clicked .001 - .002 to return to the setting . And they stay tight till I take them off , with my hands . Exception is my F/L Bushing Die which is snugged with a wrench . Same process for both my RCBS single stage presses .

I'm no expert, but wouldn't a variable compressive piece of rubber between the metal surfaces only cause inconsistency?

You can squash it more or less depending on how hopped up you are that day.

Metal bottoming out seems pretty consistent...

What am I missing?

 

[ronemus]

I use the Hornady bushings and they are amazingly consistent, and changing dies takes a second (if that). If I goof and need to pull a bullet and reseat it, it's no big deal. You say "only" 30 seconds to change a die, but after using the Lock-N-Load system you'll never go back. The bushings lock up much like a bolt action, and there is no slop; after reinserting a die there is no change (much less than 0.001", for seating or sizing).

 

[divingin]

Not sure speed is an issue. It takes, what, 5 -10 seconds to screw a die down to the lockring, vs the 2-3 seconds to do the bayonet thing with the LNL bushings. Not a lot of time, but a lot easier.

Generally, press operations are on the compression stroke, so any play in the mounting is all pushed upwards. I suspect that having the die in the bushing with the lock ring tightened down and locked will be just as accurate as a die directly screwed into the press with the lock ring against the press head (as all play is taken out when force is applied.)

I could also see how, with an O-ring under a die directly in the press, you could screw a die in a different amount depending on how much you "squish" the O-ring when mounting the die.

Personally, I use the LNL bushings. I've never noticed undue variations in settings (though I generally use these for pistol stuff, rather than precision rifle.)

 

[D-4297]

I'm no expert, but wouldn't a variable compressive piece of rubber between the metal surfaces only cause inconsistency?

You can squash it more or less depending on how hopped up you are that day.

Metal bottoming out seems pretty consistent...

What am I missing?

What you're missing is the part where I said I turn the Die to firm stop , and then add another "Twist" by hand . The "O"-ring only acts as a compressed "Brake" to hold the Die in place . The "O"-ring gets completely compressed to a firm positive stop on the locking ring . Not as a floating bushing between the Die and the press . Just eliminates the need for using a wrench . And it does exactly what it's supposed to do .

 

[dgeesaman]

I have been using these with my Rockchucker for a couple of years now. It’s been perfectly repeatable even though there is a bit of float, o-ring or not. The one thing that did get me was my press adapter wore out one day such that the shoulders that support the die started breaking down, allowing the die to move upward a tiny bit. I got weird shoulder bump results until I replaced the adapter. If anyone from Hornady is listening, this system would be outstanding if the press adapter was upgraded to alloy steel instead of cast iron. But I’m still using this setup.

 

[rijndael]

The press adapters have gone downhill in recent years. Mine is 10+ years old and going strong. I know of a number of recent ones that chipped.

 

[Bill Norris]

I use the Lee "Breech Lock" adapters in my Rock Chucker press with great results and repeatability. Very easy to swap out dies quickly. The Lee adapter also has an O ring underneath the flange that compresses against the top of the press once installed and tightened down. See pic below.

 

[dgeesaman]

The press adapters have gone downhill in recent years. Mine is 10+ years old and going strong. I know of a number of recent ones that chipped.

Is yours iron or steel? Mine was about 2 years old and made of fully machined cast iron.

 

[Murray Brook]

@Bill Norris
I would imagine that with an o-ring under the adaptor there would be no need for one under each die. Is this correct.