Hunter Lee Elliott
26th March 2009, 08:26
http://www.hornady.com/graphics/index_pag_r1_c1.jpg
Hornady EZ-Ject
From good to better
I have always lived by the wisdom, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, some things are not that cut and dried; there is always room for improvement. When Steve at Hornady told me the Lock-N-Load AP progressive press had been improved for 2009 I thought to myself, "He must been kidding me"
Turns out he was serious.
The one complaint that surfaced about the current L-N-L AP was the placement of the ejector wire interfering with a crimp die threaded into station five when the ram was at full throw (especially if the last die was not a Hornady die). When I first set up my Hornady seater die to seat and crimp, there was a little interference on the old style press. I adjusted the ejector wire closer to the center of the shell plate using the set screw and bent the loop closed just a shade to give me the clearance I needed to keep on keeping on and never gave it a second thought (somewhat pleased with my ingenuity). Unfortunately, it seems this remedy did not work for everyone. Hornady recognized this problem and set out to correct it.
The new set up-dubbed the E-Z-Ject system-is pretty slick. The ejector wire was done away with all together and a tab was machined into the sub plate to take its place. With the tab under the shell place there will be no interference with the dies.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h2.jpg
Original design
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h1.jpg
EZ Ject design
I also see the new press uses a socket head cap screw to secure the shell plate to the sub plate instead of a hex head fastener.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h3.jpg
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h4.jpg
The handle was also changed from a slick, shiny finish to a dull, tactile finish.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h8.jpg
The new L-N-L AP also comes with the pistol rotor for the powder dispenser. This makes metering small powder charges more consistent.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h7.jpg
The shell plates are also different. The new style shell plates will work with the old L-N-L AP press but the old style shell plates will not work with the new EZ-Ject system.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h5.jpg
Most these changes are subtle. One by itself may not make a great deal of difference (with the exception of the E-Z-Ject system) but cumulatively they do make a difference.
I set up the new press exactly the same as the older L-N-L press. I snapped the .45 Automatic dies from my old press and locked them into place on the new press. I began reloading .45 auto straight away and all was as it should be. I did not need to adjust the dies when going from one press to the other. Next I transferred my Hornady case feeder to the new press and loaded up another box of rounds. As with the dies, I did not need to readjust the case feeder to get correct operation. I finished off most of the 200gr LSWCs for .45 auto that I had sized and lubed using the case feeder and operation was flawless.
Rest assured there will always be a place on my loading bench for my old L-N-L AP but I have made new space to accommodate the updated L-N-L.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h6.jpg
What can I say? I had to eat a little crow this time around, as I really did not believe these few changes could make that much difference. It is no secret that I am a big fan of all things Hornady but this is not an unfounded emotion. Hornady really does a fine job on their products. There are other quality manufactures on the market today, to be sure, but Hornady has put a list of features on their equipment that sets them apart from (and in my opinion above) the pack.
Making an educated purchase is the best route to be satisfied with your equipment. Don't take my word alone (or anyone else's for that matter) but do some research and see for yourself.
I would like to thank Steve Johnson at Hornady for all his help.
You may discuss about this press, ask questions or in general discuss about this review, in this thread in our Forums Site:
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=65436
Sources
Reloading Press
Hornady
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/RIAMatch/hornady_logo.jpg
Hornady Mfg. Co
P.O. Box 1848,
Grand Island, NE 68802-1848
USA
Phone: 1-800-338-3220
Fax: (1) 308-382-5761
Email: webmaster@hornady.com
Web site: http://www.hornady.com
Hornady EZ-Ject
From good to better
I have always lived by the wisdom, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well, some things are not that cut and dried; there is always room for improvement. When Steve at Hornady told me the Lock-N-Load AP progressive press had been improved for 2009 I thought to myself, "He must been kidding me"
Turns out he was serious.
The one complaint that surfaced about the current L-N-L AP was the placement of the ejector wire interfering with a crimp die threaded into station five when the ram was at full throw (especially if the last die was not a Hornady die). When I first set up my Hornady seater die to seat and crimp, there was a little interference on the old style press. I adjusted the ejector wire closer to the center of the shell plate using the set screw and bent the loop closed just a shade to give me the clearance I needed to keep on keeping on and never gave it a second thought (somewhat pleased with my ingenuity). Unfortunately, it seems this remedy did not work for everyone. Hornady recognized this problem and set out to correct it.
The new set up-dubbed the E-Z-Ject system-is pretty slick. The ejector wire was done away with all together and a tab was machined into the sub plate to take its place. With the tab under the shell place there will be no interference with the dies.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h2.jpg
Original design
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h1.jpg
EZ Ject design
I also see the new press uses a socket head cap screw to secure the shell plate to the sub plate instead of a hex head fastener.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h3.jpg
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h4.jpg
The handle was also changed from a slick, shiny finish to a dull, tactile finish.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h8.jpg
The new L-N-L AP also comes with the pistol rotor for the powder dispenser. This makes metering small powder charges more consistent.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h7.jpg
The shell plates are also different. The new style shell plates will work with the old L-N-L AP press but the old style shell plates will not work with the new EZ-Ject system.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h5.jpg
Most these changes are subtle. One by itself may not make a great deal of difference (with the exception of the E-Z-Ject system) but cumulatively they do make a difference.
I set up the new press exactly the same as the older L-N-L press. I snapped the .45 Automatic dies from my old press and locked them into place on the new press. I began reloading .45 auto straight away and all was as it should be. I did not need to adjust the dies when going from one press to the other. Next I transferred my Hornady case feeder to the new press and loaded up another box of rounds. As with the dies, I did not need to readjust the case feeder to get correct operation. I finished off most of the 200gr LSWCs for .45 auto that I had sized and lubed using the case feeder and operation was flawless.
Rest assured there will always be a place on my loading bench for my old L-N-L AP but I have made new space to accommodate the updated L-N-L.
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/HornadyEZject/h6.jpg
What can I say? I had to eat a little crow this time around, as I really did not believe these few changes could make that much difference. It is no secret that I am a big fan of all things Hornady but this is not an unfounded emotion. Hornady really does a fine job on their products. There are other quality manufactures on the market today, to be sure, but Hornady has put a list of features on their equipment that sets them apart from (and in my opinion above) the pack.
Making an educated purchase is the best route to be satisfied with your equipment. Don't take my word alone (or anyone else's for that matter) but do some research and see for yourself.
I would like to thank Steve Johnson at Hornady for all his help.
You may discuss about this press, ask questions or in general discuss about this review, in this thread in our Forums Site:
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=65436
Sources
Reloading Press
Hornady
https://ezine.m1911.org/images/pictures/RIAMatch/hornady_logo.jpg
Hornady Mfg. Co
P.O. Box 1848,
Grand Island, NE 68802-1848
USA
Phone: 1-800-338-3220
Fax: (1) 308-382-5761
Email: webmaster@hornady.com
Web site: http://www.hornady.com