seeking opinions on progressive reloading machines

[AveragEd]

I would like to buy an RCBS Pro2000 Auto Indexing press but my contact at RCBS tells me that it could nine months before I see it so I'm considering a Dillon 650. I've never used anything but RCBS or Redding equipment so a Dillon would be a departure from what I'm used to. I'd like to hear from users of both machines about them if possible.

I know their warranties and service are the same; it's the operating quirks that I'm primarily interested in. Speed of loading is not a concern either; I need some relief from the number of rotational movements of my arthritic shoulder joint that my single-stage RockChucker IV requires.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Ed

 

[Beemer-mark]

Currently I have two Dillon Square B presses for two different calibers. I have had other presses and have used other progressives in the past. IMHO, all the major players make nice products with nothing to really differentiate in operation. People swear by Dillon and so do I. I'd also swear by Hornady and RCBS.

 

[Moonman]

The OLD Chevy, Ford, Mopar deal.

They all make nice and reliable equipment.

You make your choice and learn to live with it as they all have their quirks.

Sometimes it's like the GREAT FOOTBALL RIVALRIES with all the individual ENTHUSIASM.

TOO MUCH THOUGH, and the Big Gorilla is going to send you to the SHOWERS.

 

[Bkreutz]

This is like the question; "Who has the best looking kids?" Nope, not going there. I have already voiced my preference in a number of similar threads.

 

[stavman11]

Ok

where is that bag of popcorn and My beer

ya thats a tuff question OP

Ford Chevy... etc etc etc

Red, Green, Blue

NFL NCAA

Yer Call

 

[varmint243]

I have an RCBS auto 4x4 and an RCBS AmmoMaster.
They work, I am happy with them, and they have their quirks.
The priming system is the weak link for me.
I just prime my cases first now. It only takes a few minutes to hand prime in advance and I get a better feel anyway.

IMO there is more than one option on progressive presses.
Some would have you believe that there is no choice.

I have friends with Hornady progressives and they work too.
I have even heard of the bright red presses making ammo.
I have nothing against Smurf blue, I have even been to the factory store and played with the different presses.

On a side note I saw a video of a Green Machine in action.
I hope to find one for sale someday (cheap), I think I need one for the collection

 

[Moonman]

varmint243,

I do most of my case priming ahead of time.

I prime either with an RCBS Auto bench mounted unit or a Hand Primer.

I box and store the Primed Brass until reloading time.

I just feel it's also a little SAFER than a tube full primers and a hurried Progressive Loader type person.

 

[mikld]

Just my opinion fellers, so don't shoot me. Dillon manufacturers progressive press as a main product line. Dillon has dedicated all it's efforts into designing and manufacturing progressive presses. The other manufacturers "seem" to have started manufacturing progressive presses as an afterthought, to get a "piece of the pie", their market share. One looks like their progressive is a modified single stage. When one thinks "progressive press", one thinks "Dillon".

So, if I were in the market for a progressive press, I'd go Dillon.

 

[Skeet 028]

Uh..um...if you like to work on the darn presses trying to get 'em to work right..all the time..then get a Green Machine. Otherwise run, don't walk, the other way. They are just another iteration of the old CH mark III IV V presses. Have one in 38 and it do work. Had a GM in 45 and it never worked right..never. I do own an few Dillons(5 Super 1050s and a regular 1050..2 650s and a couple 550s). I also have a Hornady "ammo factory" which it ain't. Still a good machine but the Dillons all work..they all have quirks...even my old RCBS A2 and A3 machines even though they are single stage only. What someone said..seems as though the other companies are playing catch up for their piece of the pie. Remember the abortion that RCBS made to convert a Rockchucker into a progressive? It worked after a fashion. And the Lee Loadmaster?? Shoulda been named the Lee Failmaster. Just takes too much work to get 'em to work correctly for too short a period of time. Oh and I had a Dillon that didn't work correctly. Bought it used. Sent it in to Dillon and it came back good as new. And works just like it should. All that long winded stuff being said.. Pays yer money and takes yer chances. But go blue

 

[boatbum101]

Only progressives I've used are Dillon . I still shoot Bullseye & have a 1050 set up for 45acp & a SDB set up for 38 special ( also spare head , powder measure & dies for 357 mag ) . Other handgun calibers I load on a Redding T-7 & rifle ammo on an old RCBS Rockchucker . All make quality ammo . I do like the ability to crank out a seasons worth of 45's & 38's ( target loads ) in 4 - 5 days leisurely . There's a learning curve with all progressives & Dillon's customer service is second to none . A buddy I shoot with has a Hornady progressive he's happy with . It all depends on what you want & how much you've got to spend .

 

[M16]

I have all Dillon progressives. I'd like to try a Hornady LNL but probably never will. It it ain't broke don't fix it. Buy Dillon and you know it will work.

 

[Rule3]

No love for Hornady?

It has to be Blue or nothing at all

 

[*chris*]

I have all Dillon progressives. I'd like to try a Hornady LNL but probably never will. It it ain't broke don't fix it. Buy Dillon and you know it will work.

If you want to come up to Massachusetts, which I don't recommend, you can use the Hornady LNL AP and Dillon 650 side by side. I have had the LNL AP for a while and just bought the Dillon 650 last week. I think the Dillon 650 all around is a better machine than the LNL AP, but the calibers changes are very expensive. The breakdown is like this:

Hornady
$35 shellplate
$40 dies

Dillion
$75 caliber conversion kit
$25-$100 for toolhead or toolhead+ powder drop
$40 dies

Since you asked about the quirks of the Dillon 650, the two things that bother
me is the poor spent primer collection and the fact that the primer feeder feeds a primer weather the cartridge needs it or not. When changing calibers or tweaking, I end up with 20-30 primers that need to be reloaded. I really like the fact that it comes with most of the casefeeder (except the bowl) in the stock configuration. A lot of people complain that powder is spilled due to the shellplate snapping into place and suggest aftermarket bearings and cutting springs to smooth it out. I find if you put the powder drop in station 3 and insert the bullet before the shell plate indexes, no primer is spilled.

Chris

 

[LoadEmUp]

No love for Hornady?

It has to be Blue or nothing at all

Love may be a little extreme, but I really appreciate my 2 Hornady LNL AP presses and have been happy with Hornady customer support.

Only progressives I've used are Dillon . I still shoot Bullseye & have a 1050 set up for 45acp & a SDB set up for 38 special ( also spare head , powder measure & dies for 357 mag ) . Other handgun calibers I load on a Redding T-7 & rifle ammo on an old RCBS Rockchucker . All make quality ammo . I do like the ability to crank out a seasons worth of 45's & 38's ( target loads ) in 4 - 5 days leisurely . There's a learning curve with all progressives & Dillon's customer service is second to none . A buddy I shoot with has a Hornady progressive he's happy with . It all depends on what you want & how much you've got to spend .

Two good points - "There's a learning curve with all progressives....."
and "It all depends on what you want & how much you've got to spend."

 

[Maximumbob54]

My only input is that APS strips are the devil.

 

[blujax01]

I learned my lesson.

I have a team of elves working night and day priming cartridges that are then passed over to rainbow unicorns who ever-so-gently count individual crystals of powder into each case. From there, toga wearing fairies hover over and drop bullets into the cases.
Finally, teams of gnomes work in unison placing identical crimps to the enchanted round.

Nuh-uh, you ain't getting me into this discussion.
No way...

 

[AveragEd]

My only input is that APS strips are the devil.

That is my only objection to the RCBS machine. But others tell me that the strips are no trouble to load with primers. I think you might as well load the tubes and be done with it but not having done that since I used my RCBS bench-mounted priming tool, I may be out of touch with that.

Ed

 

[old&slow]

I got a Dillon 550 in the late 80's. Still have it, don't know how many tens of thousands of rounds I've loaded on it.. One of these days I would like to buy another 550 so I could have one set up for large primers and one for small primers..

Haven't used the 650 or the Red or the Green. I can tell you I'm happy with the 550..

I also have a RCBS single stage I load some rifles on. I had it before the Dillon and it's a good press and I still use it..

Back to the old Chevy -vs- Ford thing,, Personally I like black Cadillac's and blue progessive presses.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Best advice I can give-

Do not buy any until you've loaded some ammo on each of the ones you are considering- period.

Each has advantages/disadvantages and quirks, and you won't figure them out until you've tried them a good bit.

The only odd one is the Square Deal B, as its dies are proprietary and regular dies you already own can't be used with it.

 

[rwsmith]

Do a search

There is a LOT of info that has been discussed already. Try doing a search and you should come up with tons. I can't help, I'm a single stage guy.