The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Shell Plate #1 (MPN: 392601) is a dedicated reloading component engineered to hold and index rifle brass on Hornady progressive reloading presses. Precision-machined from heat-treated solid steel, this mechanical shell plate securely retains cartridge cases with a standard .473" (12.0 mm) rim diameter across 5-station rotary indexing cycles. It is fully compatible with the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive press (both current EZ-Ject systems and legacy wire ejector models) as well as the Hornady Pro-Jector press, facilitating smooth case progression during high-volume reloading.

Key Features

• Precision Heat-Treated Steel: Constructed from solid steel weighing approximately 150 g (~5.3 oz) to maintain dimensional stability and resist wear over extensive cycling.
• Subtle Mouth Radius: Machined with precision-beveled edges at each opening to ensure snag-free case entry, smooth feeding, and consistent station alignment.
• Integrated Retainer Spring Groove: Features a dedicated perimeter channel designed to securely house the Lock-N-Load case retainer spring, keeping brass upright during rotation.
• Mechanical Operation: Fully manual press component requiring no electrical connections or regulatory certifications.
• Wide .473" Calibre Compatibility: Accommodates .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm Creedmoor, .22-250 Remington, .270 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .25-06 Remington, .280 Remington, .35 Whelen, .458 SOCOM, and 8x57mm Mauser cases.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 392601
• Material: Heat-treated solid steel
• Weight: Approximately 150 g (~5.3 oz)
• Case Head / Rim Compatibility: .473" (12.0 mm) diameter
• Station Capacity: 5-station rotary indexing
• Press Compatibility: Hornady Lock-N-Load AP (EZ-Ject and wire ejector) and Hornady Pro-Jector

Who is the Hornady Shell Plate #1 for?

• High-Volume .308 Winchester Target Handloaders — Requires the precision-machined .473" (12.0 mm) rim diameter interface to rapidly cycle match-grade .308 brass across 5-station rotary indexing setups without mechanical binding.
• Pest Controllers and Hunters — Utilises the durable 150 g solid steel progressive reloading press shell plate to batch-load large volumes of .243 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield cartridges with uniform case retention.
• Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Press Owners — Employs the integrated retainer spring groove and 5-station rotary indexing design specifically built to integrate directly with multi-station Hornady progressive presses.

Less suitable for: Handloaders processing non-.473" rim profiles—such as .223 Rem/5.56 NATO (requiring a #16 plate), standard belted magnums (requiring a #5 plate), 9x19mm (requiring an #8 plate), or .45 ACP (requiring a #45 plate)—as well as single-stage press operators, who require standard universal snap-in shell holders instead of multi-station progressive plates.