is this a deal on a press?

Crazy K38

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I have a chance to buy a Hornady Projector Progressive press about 12 shell holders and a bunch of extras for 250$ and it is for the most part new, I am wanting to use it for rifle and pistol ammo and from the reviews it is a good press any thoughts?
 
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I'm looking to get a Hornady LNL AP and they run about $400. Shell plates are about $30 and dies range from $30 to $60 so YES that's a great deal. I've been buying things piece by piece to avoid the big hit. So far I've got 2 dies with another die and 2 shell plates on order. That's almost $200 right there.
 
Ask the current owner and yourself why an almost new press with lots of goodies is so cheap. Years ago I GAVE a new Lee progressive away. Had I lived with that outfit one more day, I would have become a raving lunatic and mass murderer. I don't know anything about the Hornady press but there is a reason for every thing.
Dan
 
Ahh, you got me John, I was feeding off of Klutch's post and forgot he stated it was a Projector and not an LNL-AP, which gets rave reviews.
 
Before the advent of EZ-Ject I felt the AP was probably the best press on the market. With the new system I'll drop the "probably" and state without reservation that it's far and away the best system. I've never tried a Projector, but they had a great reputation and still have a large following. The shellplates make $250 sound pretty good. If the primer system causes problems, it can be upgraded to AP standards. I'd be tempted at the price.
 
Who knows why the price is so low? None of us are there. It may be the current owner just wants the press to go away. It may be he wants to give someone a good deal.

My own experience reflects someone wanting to help me get into reloading and make room for a pair of Dillon 650's. He sold me 2 Dillon Square Deal B's, an RCBS Rockchucker, several conversions, powder measures, dies, a 1010 balance, and other items too numerous to mention for the princly sum of $200.

Just because the price is low doesn't mean there is a problem.
 
Who knows why the price is so low? None of us are there. It may be the current owner just wants the press to go away. It may be he wants to give someone a good deal.

My own experience reflects someone wanting to help me get into reloading and make room for a pair of Dillon 650's. He sold me 2 Dillon Square Deal B's, an RCBS Rockchucker, several conversions, powder measures, dies, a 1010 balance, and other items too numerous to mention for the princly sum of $200.

Just because the price is low doesn't mean there is a problem.


according to the seller he was going to make it a dedicated press, but he has to many presses now so he is selling this one off so he won't have to see it set there
 
Ask the current owner and yourself why an almost new press with lots of goodies is so cheap. Years ago I GAVE a new Lee progressive away. Had I lived with that outfit one more day, I would have become a raving lunatic and mass murderer. I don't know anything about the Hornady press but there is a reason for every thing.
Dan

Yup, Yup. Been there, done that with Lee. Got a Dillon.

Bob
 
Sometimes "rational thought" has nothing to do with it on reloading stuff?
Why if it did, would I be hanging onto a half dozen die sets, custom shell holders and bullets for calibers I haven't had guns for in some cases 3 decades?
C/K his explanation of the scenario makes more sense than some of mine have! Given your age, a decent reloading set up can save you multiple thousands (perhaps 10's of thousands) of dollars over a shooting lifetime. And really assists in getting through situations like the current dry spell. Getting into reloading is always a good idea.
 
Yup, Yup. Been there, done that with Lee. Got a Dillon.

Bob
What's the deal with Lee? I have only been reloading for a few months now and have a Lee Progressive and don't have any problems with it but I also don't have any other reference.
 
Whatever you've got, somebody doesn't like it. This is a gun forum, where there may be a shortage of reloading components, but never a shortage of opinions. R. Lee and company have put out some amazing things at reasonable prices. I loaded a lot of good ammo on a Classic Turret, and sometimes regret selling it. Guys will buy two (unnamed) presses because changing primer sizes is such a miserable experience, fight an ongoing battle with primer problems and powder measure malfunctions, then tell you how crummy your Lee equipment is. Go figure!
 
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>>>Guys will buy two Dillon presses because changing primer sizes is such a miserable experience, fight an ongoing battle with primer problems and powder measure malfunctions, then tell you how crummy your Lee equipment is. Duh!<<<

I'm one of those guys who has two Dillon 550B's. Changing primer sizes is NOT a miserable experience. I am just an impatient kind of guy and prefer not to take the time to do so. I frequently reload for a number of different calibers and it saves time to have two presses. I have ZERO problems with primers and powder measures (I use both the Dillon powder measures and also Lee Pro Disc powder measures with satisfaction).

The Lee Progressive presses do NOT measure up and will have no place on my bench. However, I am a fan of much of the Lee Precision equipment and am a PARTICULAR fan of the Classic Cast Turret press.

FWIW

Dale53
 
Depends on what Lee equipment we are talking about.

I have used Lee equipment with good results. Their pistol die sets are a standard around here. Easy to get and perform very well indeed. Their Classic Cast Iron Turret press is a wonder too. It is the best of both worlds when it comes to getting into something more than a single stage but less than a true progressive.

That being said, and with all honesty, their progressive equipment has a bad reputation. Not that it doesn't work, just that the older stuff is finicky. Lots of "tweaking" has to happen before you get done with your loading session. Now, this is hearsay but it is pretty well known.

Now I have Dillons. I like them. If I have said this once, I've said it a million times, you have to have some mechanical aptitude to run them successfully, in my opinion.

I have two SDB's set up for different primer sizes. Not because it is a pain to change them, it is just faster this way.

I do only have one XL650 though. At their price, I decided I would deal with the primer change time! ;)

The Hornady L-N-L AP is a good press from all I have heard. Don't know about the one you mention though. If it is convertible to the current version for a small fee, so much the better.

The most important thing is that you get into reloading. Like Spotted said, do it.
 
well, from what I understand this is a 5 station progressive from hornady and it seems like a good deal, so I think I am going to go for it
 
+1

well, from what I understand this is a 5 station progressive from hornady and it seems like a good deal, so I think I am going to go for it



5 station progressives are the way to go, in my opinion. Whether the third station is use with a "lock up die" or just a powder sensor, it gives you just a touch more sense of security. Like with "checks and balances". ;)

You need to get us some pictures though. No fair keeping it to yourself! ;)
 
>>>Guys will buy two Dillon presses because changing primer sizes is such a miserable experience, fight an ongoing battle with primer problems and powder measure malfunctions, then tell you how crummy your Lee equipment is. Duh!<<<

I'm one of those guys who has two Dillon 550B's. Changing primer sizes is NOT a miserable experience. I am just an impatient kind of guy and prefer not to take the time to do so. I frequently reload for a number of different calibers and it saves time to have two presses. I have ZERO problems with primers and powder measures (I use both the Dillon powder measures and also Lee Pro Disc powder measures with satisfaction).

The Lee Progressive presses do NOT measure up and will have no place on my bench. However, I am a fan of much of the Lee Precision equipment and am a PARTICULAR fan of the Classic Cast Turret press.

FWIW

Dale53

Dale can you tell me why you don't like the progressive press cause that's what I use.
 

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