The Hornady Lock-N-Load® Iron Press Loader with Manual Prime (Model: 085520) is a heavy-duty, single-stage mechanical reloading press built for precision handloading. Constructed around a cast-iron triangular frame weighing approximately 26 lbs (~11.8 kg), this press delivers rigid structural stability with zero frame flex to maintain consistent cartridge concentricity. It features a 1-1/8" (28.6 mm) solid steel ram with spring assist, an ambidextrous operating lever, and an integrated accessory mounting deck on the top of the frame for staging case-prep tooling. Utilizing Hornady Lock-N-Load® quick-change die bushings, the press accepts standard 7/8"-14 threaded dies, allowing rapid die swaps without losing individual depth adjustments.

Key Features

• Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Frame: Weighs approximately 26 lbs (~11.8 kg) in an open-front triangular configuration designed to prevent frame deflection during high-pressure sizing cycles.
• 1-1/8" Solid Steel Ram: Fitted with spring-assist return linkage to deliver smooth, repeatable mechanical leverage across full stroke travel.
• Lock-N-Load® Bushing System: Enables tool-free, repeatable swaps of standard 7/8"-14 threaded dies without re-adjusting lock rings between steps.
• Patented Shell Holder Platform: Ambidextrous open-front architecture allows brass to be removed for case chamfering or primer pocket inspection before completing the cycle.
• Manual Priming Assembly: Features a single-primer swing-arm manual feeder directly attached to the press frame.
• Standardized 3-Hole Mount: Integrates directly onto standard Australian workbenches via a 3-bolt pattern matching common pre-drilled bench templates.

Specifications

• Press Category: Single-stage reloading press
• Frame Material: Cast iron
• Frame Weight: ~26 lbs (~11.8 kg)
• Ram Diameter: 1-1/8" (1.125" / ~28.6 mm) solid steel
• Die Thread Compatibility: Standard 7/8"-14 threads via Lock-N-Load® bushings
• Priming Feed: Manual swing-arm system
• Mounting Pattern: Standard 3-hole footprint
• Power Requirement: 100% mechanical (no electrical supply required)

Who is the Hornady Lock N Load Iron Press Loader With Manual Prime for?

• Precision long-range rifle handloaders — rigid mechanical stability provided by a 26 lbs cast-iron frame and a 1-1/8" solid steel ram eliminates frame deflection to ensure tight concentricity across standard 7/8"-14 threaded sizing and seating dies.
• Low-volume reloaders — a manual swing-arm single-stage reloading press design enables strict, repeatable batch control over every individual case at output rates of 50 to 100 rounds per hour.

Less suitable for: High-volume reloaders requiring production outputs exceeding 50 to 100 rounds per hour (who are better served by a progressive reloading press), or extreme large-format cartridges requiring 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" oversized dies such as .50 BMG (which require a heavy-duty oversized single-stage press).