Need Opinions on Progressive Presses

[VonFatman]

Beaver,
All I am familiar with is the Dillon 650...it comes standard with a low primer warning alarm. The Powder Check and Powder Reservoir Warning Alarms are options...however, I highly recommend the Powder Check!! It's the best way to double check a safe load.

Bob

 

[Andy Griffith]

Which of the popular progressive presses have a powder check function and how do they work?

Just buy one of the Hornady "powder cop" dies or one of the RCBS powder checker dies.

Very simple, really...
In the die, there is a rod held in place with an O-ring which is usually white for high visibility. You adjust the O-ring on the rod so that when the case is full, the rod pushes up enough so that you see the O-ring over the top of the die- that way you know that roughly the same amount of powder is being thrown every time. If it doesn't come up far enough, you know that cartridge must be checked and the powder dispenser.

 

[Beans]

Back in the day, I started with a single stage press then obtained a Star, which used proprietary dies for handguns only, I loaded .38 Special and 45 ACP. .

The star was replaced with a Phelps progressive loader that was set up so you could use RCBS dies and also reload rifle cartridges.

http://alopatsn1955.blog.bionews.com.cn/2009/10/14/phelps-star-universal-reloading-machine-press/

The Phelps was replaced a Dillon 450, which was upgraded to a 550 then to a 550B, which I still have,

I also have two XL650 Dillons. Once i got into the progressive machines I never looked back for volume reloading.

However still bolted to my reloading bench is the RCBS Singe stage press that started al of this.

I use it for load development 50 Rds or less and for my target rounds for my rifles.

 

[wheelgun28]

I have been curios about the Star reloaders. Seems the later ones had the regular dies, case feeders and primer feed. They were supposed to be fast and accurate. I was told that places like police armories had them to load the 38 wadcutters for range use. I see them sell all the time and nice ones bring around $650, not cheap.

It would have seemed going from a Star to a Dillon 450 was a step down. The 450 had manual powder drop and primer insert?

I do have a Star lubesizer and think its great...

 

[Bassman]

Dillion

I have been loading on a 550 for about 12 years.I have a case feeder which really helps speed things up. I also have tool heads with powder measures for 9mm .38spcl,.223,10mm,.44 mag,.40 S&W, and .45acp.
Changing calibers is fast and easy.I mostly load in calibers that take small pistol primers. When I change to large I load every thing I have that is empty. You can not beat the way Dillion backs there equipment.

 

[clockman999]

LEE 4 HOLE TURRET WORKS FINE

I just "upgraded" from using two single stage RCBS presses to a lee 4 hole turret with an extra turret. I load .38 and .44 special. The LEE turret press does everything that I could ask for at a very modest cost. The "auto index" feature of this press makes it almost a progressive.
Have been reloading since 1961. Wish I would have discovered the LEE turret press a long time ago.

 

[BROKEN HAND]

Go for it

I started out reloading with a used single stage RCBS press. I wanted to learn how to shoot a handgun and I knew I could not afford to do that using factory ammo. I am very patient about most time consuming hobbies I have, but I hated how long it took to load one box of shells. I upgraded to a Dillion 550 because I already had several sets of RCBS dies and I also thought I might load for a rifle at some point. ( I had considered the Square Deal B). After a short learning curve I was totally happy with the new progressive press. I load 45 Colt, 45 ACP and 357. I use Unique, Win 231 and Alliant 2400. I have toolheads for all calibers, but use the same powder measure. I have never had a problem with the powder metering accurately. As someone else said, changing between primer sizes is the worst part of caliber swaps. I found out that the primer feed must be adjusted between large and small primers. I believe that I turn the adjustment screw back and forth 1 and 1/2 turns between the 2 sizes. I would never go back to loading pistol rounds on a single stage press. I don't load that many rounds at one time. I focus on exactly what I am doing while reloading, watch everything, and load 2 boxes at a time. Then I reload my primers and go again if I need more. I also seat and crimp in 2 different steps.

 

[daytona69]

I have Dillion 550B and reload everything from 32acp-S&W500 and .223-300 RUM and dont have any problems and I have owned mine since 1987.
I also have 2 RCBS rock chuckers for target stuff.
I had the LEE1000 and it is a good press but always had trouble with the primer feed. If you buy a dilloin you will be happy from the start and never regret it.

 

[John R]

If you can swing the cost, you can't go wrong with the Dillon.

 

[m657]

I started reloading on a Dillon 450 many years ago. Never had a single stage press. Still don't. Upgraded to 550, used it for 20 years. Sold it for more than I paid for it.

Went to 650. When you learn how to "OPERATE" your press properly you will turn out substantial volumes of reloads easily....with no glitches and a bunch of primer tubes ready, 600-800/hour is comfortable.

This gives plenty of time to clean, change primer sizes, etc.

You learn how to do batches....same size primers but change tool heads, takes a few minutes, including shell plate. If you have the spare dedicated powder measures, they are already preset if you use the same powder.

If you need a single stage press feature, you can always use that portion of your 650 for whichever function you want.

I've loaded 45-70, black powder, and a number of rifle rounds as a really efficient single stage, simply because I didn't have all the components for that particular type of progressive set-up.

Caliber change over typically can be spendy:

I prefer Dillon dies--typically ~$70 range; tool head ~23; conversion set up ~73; and if I'm using the Lee Factory Crimp Die as a chaser in Station #5 there's never an issue with such as the famed Glock bulge on range brass.

The auditory set up for powder charge is certainly a most worthy component to add.

Without the case feeder you are wasting your time.

And yes, I'm voting for the 650 as it does all pistol & rifle calibers, using standard dies.

Loading with a 650 compared to a single stage press is like shooting an M5 compared to a muzzle loader....no disrespect intended, just totally devices...

 

[blastfact]

I will wade in on this. I'm not a progressive fan at all at the consumer level. If you want a good progressive,,, build your own and inject computer controls like the majors.

In the old days I had Dillions and others so called best. I always went back to single stage. I'm semi insane when it comes to primer sets, powder drops and bullet seating.

My next step will be a Lee Classic Turret in upgrade. And thats it! I look at all the new WAY over priced progressive stuff and ask my self,,, where is the netbook and multifunction sensors in this day and age of high speed mass production. It's no where to be seen unless you engineer your own setup and write the code.

I fired some of a buddys 9mm Dillion loads last Sunday. While I produced a squib round. We could both tell his over priced progressive was all over the place.

Other than the squib single stage press load I produced,,, they were better over all than his. We killed a lot of emptey shot shells at 10 yards with my loads and none with his even when we played with AOL with a hand press.

 

[ciPeterF]

I've had a 550 for 3 years, and just added a 650. 550 is easy to operate, and toolheads \ caliber conversions are resonable....but the lack of a powder check is there. 650 is a dream to crank out volumes of ammo with.. I find it about 3 times faster than 550 and luv it!

 

[huthike]

I did it backwards: I started with a Dillon 650 as my very first reloading tool, and taught myself to use it. I'm not particularly mechanically inclined (ask my neighbor), but I worked through the issues. I didn't ask for help, much, but Dillon helped when I needed.

It is pricy, especially to get started, and especially because I like all the bells and whistles. I load .45 ACP, .38 Special, .44 Special, and 10mm in large quantities (1000+) and have caliber change setups ready for each caliber. Changeover takes less than an hour, depending on how recently I've done one and whether I have to change primer sizes. I load mainly in the winter (cooler in the garage), so with my memory, there's a little bit of relearning every year. Also, each year I learn new things. This year I've learned that my machine likes me better when I run it wet (more lube).

The automatic primer filler is cool, and keeps me running faster, but does reverse primers every now and again, especially on sp. I don't really go for speed, but recently while cranking out .38 Specials, I was doing probably 250-300 in an hour, corerecting stoppages and all.

The economy of this, of course, has gotten better and better the longer I've owned the press, and especially because of the price of ammo now - I just feel all snug inside when I see the prices at the stores...

When I accumulated more guns and different calibers that I wanted smaller quantities of, I got a single stage - and load batches of 50 to 100 at a time.

I'm sorry, what was the question? I shouldn't respond when I can't sleep.

Hope this helps. YMMV.

 

[flagman1776]

Dillon 550 with conversion kits as needed. A buddy had a Lee turret. He broke it 3 or 4 times... showed up at my door to load on my Dillon... before he bought a 550 also. NO regets.

 

[shovelwrench]

Dillon 550 with conversion kits as needed. A buddy had a Lee turret. He broke it 3 or 4 times... showed up at my door to load on my Dillon... before he bought a 550 also. NO regets.

I don't quite know how you "break" a Lee turret. I take that poke more as a fanboy knockdown then a factual statement. And if true does'nt speak very highly of your freinds abilities.

I personally have loaded thousands of rounds on Lee turret, and know quite a few people personally and here on the forum who get very good service from theirs with no problems of any kind.

 

[DougE]

I don't quite know how you "break" a Lee turret. I take that poke more as a fanboy knockdown then a factual statement. And if true does'nt speak very highly of your freinds abilities.

I personally have loaded thousands of rounds on Lee turret, and know quite a few people personally and here on the forum who get very good service from theirs with no problems of any kind.

Seems to me like you'd have to really be trying in order to break one of these Lee classic cast turret presses. I've loaded a lot of rounds on mine and it's still good as new.

 

[Andy Griffith]

My niece cracked the sub plate on my Hornady progressive while cracking black walnuts.

She did half of a small bucket before I caught her.

 

[WILDCATT]

press

I have loaded since 1937 and never had a primer go off.I have only once broke a press and it was a failed casting.I have about 15 presses.I went to lee turrets and have about 25 turrets with dies.I do have a mix of dies.
but I have been collecting for long time.I think dillons are good presses but to expensive,the garentee is in the cost.and I get just as good service from lee.

 

[VonFatman]

Mr. wildcatt,
Wow...since 1937 heh? That is very impressive. I suspect you are correct about the Dillon prices. However, I will say that sometimes a higher price can be judged worthwhile when the results are very positive.

I began with my 650...my second press was a single-stage. I'm learning tons with my single stage...fortunatly, I have a number of friends who are generous with their help and training.

Bob

 

[SourwoodTom]

For the price of a 550, I have 4 Lee 1000's side-by-side on my bench. One for each of my usual calibers.

No, the Lee isn't as good as the Dillon, but once you figure the pro1000 out, it is fast and really easy to use. Its only real weakness is the priming mechanism. Keep it clean and keep an eye on the primers in the tray and it works fine. 300 rounds/hour easily attainable.