I decided to get the
RCBS lockout die for use on the Hornady LnL AP press. I haven't put a lot of rounds through it yet (I just received it the other day), but upon initial inspection and installation, I have to say that I'm impressed with how this works.
For those of you that wonder how it differs from other powder indicating designs such as the
Hornady Powder Cop, or the
RCBS Powder Checker dies, the RCBS Lockout die is designed to lock up the press to stop all loading operations if a powder charge is either too low (no-charge) or too high (double charge) within its tolerance of error. As in its name, if an improper level of powder is detected, it will 'jam' (lockout) the press arm as the ram raises and the cartridge shell comes into contact with the bottom of the lockout die. If a proper amount of powder is detected, the cartridge is allowed to enter the lockout die, so no lockout occurs.
It is adjustable for different amounts of powder, and comes with two difference nylon plastic feet (one for smaller cartidges such an 9mm and similar, and one for larger such as 45 ACP, magnum, etc). I'm not sure how important it is to change the foot as there is not a large difference in the sizes between the feet. It's probably that the larger foot will not fit into smaller cartridges such as 9mm and the larger foot will register small amounts of powder in a larger cartridge with more accuracy.
This lockout die is a lot different than the 'powder cop' type of die. As others have clearly stated with an indicator die such as the Hornady powder cop (or RCBS powder checker), you have to remember look at the die to determine if the powder charge is correct. It's almost as easy to just look into the cartridge just before you place a bullet on it before the seating operation. The powder cop is easier to see when using deep cartridges, but you still have to remember to look at it otherwise it is useless.
With the indicating style of die, you need to get into a rythm and not break it: at the top of the ram stroke, check the indicating die, at the bottom of the ram stroke, add a bullet to the cartridge (this is where you could have simply looked into the cartridge case, which keeps your eyes in one place).
When adjusted properly, the RCBS lockout die will always be affective without you having to remember look at it. So there is no need to remember to check the indicating die.
If you have a case feeder, this means all you are doing is placing the bullets on the cartridge at the proper moment.
If you work on 100 round batches (bags/boxes) of bullets, and load 100 primers at a time into the primer tube, there is not much to do but place the bullets on the cartridges. Then load more shells into the case feeder hopper, load your primers, open another box/bag of 100 bullets, and continue the process.
Keep in mind that it is one more thing that needs to be adjusted (as is the powder cop) when you change cartridges or amount of powder charge you use. You may or may not need to also change the foot size if changing cartridge type.
The lock out die is designed to work on straight wall pistol cartridges (I'm not sure if that means it won't work on a 357 sig), so you may also want a powder cop for use with rifle cartridges.
If you are going to be loading only pistol cartridges and are considering using an indicator die, I'd recommend the RCBS lockout die over the powder cop. If you are going to be loading both rifle and pistol cartridges, you may want both.
I have the lockout die mounted in a LnL bushing makes it easy to install and remove when needed.
I'll report back again if there are any issues encountered when using the lockout die after extensive use.