Any one like Lock N Load Bushings?

[CWLONGSHOT]

I had this idea to add it to my summit press. Which is a dedicated press for mandrel and in-line bullet Seating.

Time will tell but right now I like it it's pretty slick and it's gonna be much easier to change back-and-forth

CW

 

[Rick H]

They always seemed to be an answer looking for a problem to me. One more set of threads with tolerance allowances. Murphy's law says those tolerances will stack against me. I have never been interested in them.

 

[rj-35-40]

I had this idea to add it to my summit press. Which is a dedicated press for mandrel and in-line bullet Seating.

Time will tell but right now I like it it's pretty slick and it's gonna be much easier to change back-and-forth

CW

I use nothing but Lock and Load bushings and have been for 30 or so years.
Everything from precision bench rest to pistol,

 

[Jeff H]

I'm with @Rick H on this one, but I still do something sort of like it.

While I'm a single-stage guy at heart, I love the LEE Turret Press concept - snapping in a whole set of pre-adjusted dies. Given the option of snapping in individual dies on a single-stage or a whole set on a turret press, I'll stick with the whole set. I do not and have never used any form of LEE's automation gizmos, so I consider my use of their turret press as a single-stage with a really convenient way of changing out dies - sort of like Lock-N-Load.

My LEE Hand Press came machined to use their version ("Breech-Lock") of Lock-N-Load and was not impressed with the concept, especially for the cost it adds to a die set. Once I used it a little, I appreciated the fact that adjusting a die on a hand-held press is a fair bit less convenient than on a bench-mounted press, so, yeah, I guess I like the concept in that sense, but for a bench-mounted press, I'm not giving up my swappable turrets loaded with pre-adjusted die sets.

 

[dannyd]

I have a few, over 200.

 

[Glaciers]

Now that’s an addiction ^^^

 

[Jeff H]

I have a few, over 200.

View attachment 36766

Now, if I DID do something like this, THAT is how I would have to do it. I would not want to use turrets sometimes, screw in dies other times or lock individual dies in sometimes. I'd want to go across the board - at least for most-used dies.

 

[dannyd]

Now that’s an addiction ^^^

Estate sale, some other old guy had hundreds of dies, who ever did the sale removed the bushings. It cost me 70 dollars for 181 of them, to good a bargain to pass up. For me it's a good system.

 

[Glaciers]

Yeah I’m with Jeff. Obviously Your Mileage May Vary, but I really like the LEE Classic Turret press. I just bought 4 more turrets last week. I went through the exercise of listing all of my calibers in two columns, column one with turret and column two either needing a turret or stand alone.
Along with the 4 turrets I bought a Redding slide bar auto primer feeder to fit one of my two Big Boss presses. I think I’m pretty well set for the calibers for the LCTP Turrets, there are certain calibers that just scream single stage operations.

 

[Glaciers]

Estate sale, some other old guy had hundreds of dies, who ever did the sale removed the bushings. It cost me 70 dollars for 181 of them, to good a bargain to pass up. For me it's a good system.

That’s a deal for sure. And at about $0.40 each it would probably change my direction if I didn’t already have standard presses.

 

[Gary]

I converted both of my RCBS RC's to take the inserts. Obviously I don't use them on the T-7.

 

[Jeff H]

That’s a deal for sure. And at about $0.40 each it would probably change my direction if I didn’t already have standard presses.

THAT could possibly change my mind if I weren't already so dedicated to the turret press (used like a single-stage) with such an easy change-over.

I don't know what Hornady charges per piece, but when I set up my LEE Hand Press with its own die sets for 38/357 and 30/30, the Breech-Lock die sets were about $10 - $11 more with the bushings. When I went to buy more bushings separately for dies not included in the sets, they came out to about $5 for each bushing.

I won't got to that expense on my one single-stage for what little I use it, because I'd have to replace the press. Screwing in a bullet sizing die or a universal decapper once in a great while isn't going to sink me for time.

 

[dannyd]

I have Lee single stage press both Lee Breech lock and Lee using the Hornady bushings. The Hornady bushings work better for me, I also have two LNL's plus a single stage Hornady press. Also, have owned Lee and RCBS Turret press's.

30 years ago



2023, I like to change equipment to learn about new products

 

[JonB]

Any one like Lock N Load Bushings?​

My LEE Hand Press came machined to use their version ("Breech-Lock") of Lock-N-Load and was not impressed with the concept, especially for the cost it adds to a die set. Once I used it a little, I appreciated the fact that adjusting a die on a hand-held press is a fair bit less convenient than on a bench-mounted press, so, yeah, I guess I like the concept in that sense, but for a bench-mounted press, I'm not giving up my swappable turrets loaded with pre-adjusted die sets.

CW,
I don't like the bushing idea.
.
Like Jeff H, I bought a hand press with Lee's Breech-Lock system. Also in the last 6 years, I acquired a spare Lee Classic Cast sgl stage press, I unknowningly bought the one with the Breech-lock system...it also has a smaller one peice ram that shoots the primers out the side like the challenger. Just recently looking at Lee's website, it appears they have discontinued that abortion of a press. Now, since I use it as a dedicated upside down press for sizing bullets, I guess it doesn't matter. I just wish it was a regular classic cast sgl stage. live and learn.

I found this image of the press I'm talking about, in case you don't believe me. I do have a older regular classic cast sgl stage and love that one.

You are being redirected...

I just use the Breech-Lock Presses I have, without ever changing the bushing.
I did buy a small pile of bushings, just in case I ever fell in love with them, they are still in the packages.

 

[Michael]

Oh ya, I really like them, they are very handy and useful on most any die, not just sizing and seating dies. When the first came my thoughts matched Rick's, until I happened upon a conversion set stupid cheap, figured what is there to loose, the rest is history. Only downside once on the die, the dies do not always fit back in the die boxes.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have some of the LEE jobbers on my APP. I have worn one out. As you tighten it it goes too far and loosens. Like most things LEE, I was not overly impressed.

I picked up a economy 4 holer press on many folks recommendations. Including a few of you here. I do like it and I use it for all hand gun calibers I think I have 15 heads set up.

I dont think Ill be using the LNL for regular dies but will be finding a way to get it on my uniflo powder measurers!
So far I like it on the Summit for mandrel and inline seating and universal decaping.

CW

 

[BudHyett]

Years ago I bought the Bonanza Co-Ax® Reloading Press on the recommendation of a fellow shooter that it was helping eliminate flyers for him. The snap-in and snap-out of the dies was a welcome bonus. My RCBS JR press was then setup strictly for .45-70.

When Hornady announced the Lock-N-Load setup, I could not see any usable advantage over the Co-Ax® Press.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I use both a Dillon progress press (550) and an “O” frame single stage press. So, my world is a mixture of two systems. The dies for the Dillon are semi-permanently installed in removable toolheads, and rarely get adjusted. Sort of like Jeff’s Lee turret press.

I use a single stage press for rifle cartridges and odd-ball handgun cartridges that I don’t want to set up the Dillon for.

The interrupted thread of the Lee bushing system is a well proven design. I don’t think the system is horrible, in fact, interrupted threads are used in lots of applications. I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal to thread a die in and out of a press. That 4 seconds it would save isn’t worth the money to me.

And like Jeff, I would have to be all in if I converted to that system. The bushings are a one-time expense, but I would need to completely commit to that system across the board.

Like Rick, I worry a little about potential tolerance stacking with all those thread interfaces and flat locking surfaces. It probably would never be an issue, but it would be frustrating and expensive if a problem appeared.

In our hobby, we each pick paths to go down and purchase equipment centered around those paths. For example, if you powder coat, you acquire the gear for that. Or if you use Lee turret presses, you tend to buy lots of turrets depending on the style you need (three-hole or four-hole turrets).

If you go down the path of Lock n Load bushings, you buy a bunch of those.

Maybe if I was just starting out, I might look a little closer at that system.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

100%. Interupted thread is a proven design. But like all best laid plans... INFERIOR MATERIALS AND TOLERANCES FUDGE UP EVEN BEST IDEAS... Thank you LEE.

I have a wore out LEE bushing. I have only used it for a couple years. Im not ditching them. But wont buy more. Ill try LnL now.

 

[Jeff H]

100%. Interupted thread is a proven design. But like all best laid plans... INFERIOR MATERIALS AND TOLERANCES FUDGE UP EVEN BEST IDEAS... Thank you LEE.

I have a wore out LEE bushing. I have only used it for a couple years. Im not ditching them. But wont buy more. Ill try LnL now.

Yes, I have my misgivings. Aluminum on aluminum, leading edge of threads bumping each other every time you insert and wiggle to find the right spot,... I see wear in the future. Still, trying to keep an open mind - at least until it fails.

Need a "wrench" to get them in and out, requires a new/different nut, etc. I'm trying it on a limited basis on the Hand-Press, because it came that way. If I decide I don't like it, I will insert the STEEL bushing that came with the press and drill/tap to insert a cap-screw on the press to keep that bushing from moving. On mine, they introduced the cost-cutting measure of omitting the spring-loaded detent button which keeps the steel busing in place. A handful of old-fashioned die lock-rings with Allen screws will solve the rest of that problem. Just have to find someone who bough in on a new way and offloads their old, out-of-date "junk" cheap.

I also see (and may even have) two different types of LEE bushings. They fancy gee-gaw is getting out of hand, trying to keep up with what the cool kids are wearing this school-year at LEE. Such things erode the economy of using LEE stuff. While this is not the main reason I buy what LEE stuff I buy, it sure doesn't hurt.

I suffer the onset of fatigue very early as everyone tries to be the first to come out with the next latest-greatest cartridge, flash-light, cell-phone. Speaking of phones, if I'm going to spend $1k on ANYTHING, I expect it to last me the rest of my life. Phones don't do that. As I put together my portable reloading kit, the bushings kicked the overall cost up significantly and if LEE abandons the idea next year and goes to something else,... Well, here we go again.