Achieve Unprecedented Reloading Efficiency with the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder
Are you a dedicated reloader constantly striving for greater efficiency, higher output, and reduced fatigue during your ammunition production? Do you find that manual case feeding on your progressive press is the most significant bottleneck in achieving your reloading goals? If you've ever asked, "How can I make my Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press even faster and more automated?" or "What's the best way to eliminate the tedious task of hand-feeding cases?", then the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder is precisely the solution you've been searching for. This sophisticated yet intuitive device transforms the most time-consuming aspect of progressive reloading into a seamless, automated process, allowing you to maximize your productivity and enjoy a more consistent, less fatiguing reloading experience.
Designed specifically for seamless integration with your existing Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press, this automatic case feeder represents a quantum leap in reloading automation. It’s engineered to dramatically improve your output, enabling you to produce hundreds of rounds per hour with exceptional reliability. Gone are the days of individually picking up and orienting cases. This innovative system handles that critical step with precision, ensuring every case is perfectly positioned for the next stage of your reloading operation.
The Ultimate Automation for Your Progressive Reloading Workflow
The core purpose of the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder is to eliminate the manual handling of cases, which is notoriously the slowest and most repetitive part of using a progressive press. Imagine setting up your press, loading up the spacious case bowl, and watching as your machine efficiently processes cases, one after another, allowing you to focus on other critical aspects of the reloading cycle, like maintaining powder levels, seating bullets, and primer inspection. This isn't just about speed; it's about consistency, comfort, and optimizing your time at the reloading bench.
This device tackles the common challenge of case orientation head-on. It automatically aligns cases primer side down, a crucial step for proper insertion into the shell plate and subsequent priming. This ingenious design prevents misfeeds and ensures a smooth, uninterrupted flow of cases, directly contributing to higher throughput and reduced downtime.
Key Features and Their Impact on Your Reloading
The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder is packed with features designed for performance, durability, and user convenience. Each element contributes to a superior reloading experience:
- Industry-Leading High Torque Motor: At the heart of this feeder is the highest torque motor available in its class. This powerful motor ensures consistent and reliable operation, even when processing heavier cases or large volumes. Unlike lesser motors that might struggle or jam, Hornady’s robust design maintains its performance, preventing frustrating interruptions and ensuring a continuous flow of cases into your press. This translates directly to more rounds per hour and less maintenance overhead.
- Extra-Large Case Bowl Capacity: The oversized case bowl significantly extends the time between refills, allowing for much longer uninterrupted reloading sessions. Compared to other case feeders, which might require refilling every few minutes, this unit can feed up to four times as many cases. This massive capacity is ideal for high-volume reloaders, minimizing the need to constantly monitor and replenish cases, freeing you to maintain focus on the actual ammunition assembly.
- Automatic Case Orientation: The feeder plate and electric motor work in tandem to perfectly orient each case primer side down. This automatic alignment is critical for seamless feeding into the shell plate and proper primer seating, eliminating the manual effort and potential for errors associated with hand-fed cases.
- Precision Case Delivery System: Once oriented, a sophisticated mechanism deposits one case at a time from the hopper tube onto an automatic ram. This ram then precisely pushes the case into the shell plate, completing the automation of this foundational step. The smooth, consistent action prevents damage to cases and ensures reliable indexing.
- Quick and Simple Changeovers: For reloaders who work with multiple calibers, the thought of complex changeovers can be daunting. The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder is designed for rapid and straightforward caliber changes. This flexibility encourages you to expand your reloading repertoire without sacrificing efficiency. The case feeder also easily disengages when not needed, offering versatility.
- Fail-Safe Slide Mechanism: Reliability is paramount in reloading. The integrated fail-safe slide mechanism is a testament to Hornady's commitment to user safety and operational consistency. This feature helps prevent double feeds or misfeeds, ensuring only one perfectly oriented case is presented at a time, protecting your press and maintaining the integrity of your reloading process.
- Six Included V-Blocks: The kit includes six versatile V-Blocks, which are crucial for properly handling a wide range of case sizes. These V-Blocks help guide and stabilize different cartridge dimensions within the feeder, optimizing its performance across various calibers without requiring additional purchases for basic use.
- Feeder Plates (Sold Separately): To ensure you only pay for what you need, the specific feeder plates are sold separately in four sizes. This allows you to tailor your setup precisely to the calibers you reload most frequently, offering a cost-effective and customizable solution. These plates are designed for quick interchangeability, further enhancing the system's adaptability.
How the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder Works
Understanding the operational flow of this case feeder highlights its efficiency and intelligent design:
- Load the Bowl: Begin by filling the extra-large case bowl with your desired brass cases. The more cases you load, the longer your uninterrupted reloading run will be.
- Case Activation: As the motor engages, the cases in the bowl are agitated and gently guided towards the feeder plate.
- Orientation: The specialized feeder plate, along with the action of the motor, works to pick up and orient each case so that it drops primer side down into the feed tube. This eliminates the need for manual inspection and flipping.
- Tube Delivery: Once oriented, cases slide down a hopper tube, stacking neatly.
- Single Case Presentation: A precise gate or slide mechanism releases one case at a time from the bottom of the tube.
- Ram Engagement: An automatic ram then engages this single case, pushing it smoothly and consistently into the shell plate of your Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press.
- Continuous Cycle: This process repeats seamlessly, ensuring a constant supply of cases to your press, enabling truly automated progressive reloading.
Elevating Your Reloading Experience: Benefits Beyond Speed
While raw speed is a primary benefit, the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder offers a multitude of advantages that enhance the overall reloading experience:
- Unmatched Efficiency: Drastically reduces the time spent on case feeding, allowing you to focus on the more intricate and rewarding aspects of ammunition assembly. This is how you achieve "hundreds of rounds per hour" with a progressive press.
- Superior Consistency: Automated feeding eliminates human error and fatigue that can lead to inconsistent case placement or delays. This results in a more uniform reloading rhythm, which contributes to higher quality ammunition.
- Reduced Physical Strain: Say goodbye to repetitive hand motions and eye strain from constantly picking up and orienting cases. The automation significantly lessens the physical demands of high-volume reloading, making your sessions more enjoyable and sustainable.
- Optimal Focus: With case feeding handled automatically, your attention can be dedicated to critical checks like powder charges, primer seating, and bullet alignment, improving overall safety and quality control.
- Maximized Investment: You've invested in a progressive press for its speed and capability. An automatic case feeder unlocks the full potential of that investment, ensuring your press is operating at its peak efficiency.
- Versatility Across Calibers: With easily interchangeable feeder plates and included V-Blocks, the system adapts quickly to a wide array of pistol and rifle calibers, making it a valuable tool for diverse reloading needs.
Compatibility and Setup
The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder is designed for direct compatibility with all Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive reloading presses. Installation is straightforward and typically involves mounting the feeder unit to your bench next to the press and connecting it to the press linkage system. The clear instructions provided ensure that even those new to automated accessories can get up and running quickly. While the unit automates case feeding, remember that essential feeder plates for specific calibers are sold separately. This modular approach allows you to customize your setup based on the ammunition you produce most often.
For best results, it's always recommended to ensure your progressive press is properly maintained and lubricated according to Hornady's guidelines. A well-tuned press combined with the automatic case feeder will yield the most efficient and reliable performance.
An Essential Upgrade for Serious Reloaders
For anyone serious about high-volume reloading, whether for competitive shooting, hunting, or simply stocking up, the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder is not just an accessory; it's a transformative upgrade. It addresses the fundamental challenge of manual feeding, unlocking the true potential of your Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press. Its robust construction, thoughtful design, and commitment to reliability make it a worthwhile investment for any reloader looking to significantly increase their output, improve the consistency of their ammunition, and make their time at the reloading bench more productive and enjoyable. This level of automation is truly a game-changer, allowing you to produce more precise, high-quality ammunition with unprecedented ease. All Hornady reloading equipment and accessories, including this exceptional case feeder and its supplementary plates, are available for purchase at DEGuns.com.
Feature | Description | Benefit for Reloaders |
---|---|---|
Model Name | Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Automatic Case Feeder | Specifically designed for seamless integration and optimal performance with Hornady Lock-N-Load AP presses. |
SKU | 095300 | Unique identifier for product tracking and inventory. |
UPC | 090255953008 | Universal Product Code for easy identification and purchasing. |
Automation | Automatically aligns cases primer side down, feeds one case at a time onto an automatic ram, then into the shell plate. | Eliminates the most time-consuming and repetitive step in progressive reloading, significantly boosting output and reducing manual effort. |
Motor Type | Highest Torque Motor in the Industry | Ensures reliable and consistent operation, preventing jams and maintaining a steady flow of cases, even with diverse cartridge weights. |
Case Bowl Size | Extra Large Capacity | Feeds up to four times as many cases as other feeders, extending run times and minimizing frequent refills. |
Included Accessories | Six V-Blocks | Facilitates the handling of a wide range of case sizes directly out of the box, offering immediate versatility. |
Feeder Plates | Four sizes, sold separately | Allows customization for specific caliber needs, ensuring you only purchase what's necessary for your reloading. Quick and simple to change. |
Safety Feature | Fail-Safe Slide Mechanism | Prevents double feeds and ensures only one case is presented at a time, enhancing operational safety and consistency. |
Compatibility | Adapts to existing Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Presses | A cost-effective upgrade that integrates seamlessly with your current progressive press setup. |
Efficiency Boost | Enables reloading of hundreds of rounds per hour | Transforms your reloading process into a high-volume production, ideal for competitive shooters, avid hunters, or bulk ammunition producers. |
Availability | Available at DEGuns | Ensures easy access to purchase the unit and all necessary accessories from a trusted retailer. |