Suggestions on a progressive reloader

[slayer73]

I have gotten into pistol shooting again after quite a few years off and I have always reloaded all my ammo. I have a rock chucker right now and I am looking at getting a progressive. Can you please suggest a good progressive that I can get into without much setup problems? I have read a bit on Lee and it doesn't have very great reviews in some places. Dillon is very expensive but I am sure it is worth it in the end. Thanks for your help!

Ryan

 

[Rule3]

Let the Smurfs gather together united and praise Dillon!

Even though I like LEE stuff you don't want their progressive,

The Dillon is the one , now which one is up to you.

RCBS makes a really nice one also, but just as expensive.

The Hornady LNL AP is a little less and many use them might be in you budget.

 

[Don Fischer]

I have a Dillon Sq Deal B. Only progressive press other than shotgun's I've ever had or used. pretty good learning curve for me. I've ran a couple rounds through with no powder, To many with no primer and managed to get a bullet caught in the seater die a couple times, no idea how that happened! You add an mty with your right hand and a bullet with your left. When you pull the re-sized case out of that die, you have to go forward to seat a primer, hard to feel them some time's. I think it's a damn nice press but for a guy used to single stage press's a lot of year's it's been a learning experience. last couple time's I used it, no problem at all. Did bunch of 38's on my Rock Chucker yesterday and was at home. I don't really need high volume so doesn't make a difference to me either way. i like feeling the primer's seat with my Lee tool, I like being able to look in every case to be sure there's not a double charge or no charge any where. I'm gonna keep doing 9mm on the Dillon as I'm sure the thing wrong with it is me! I got this press years ago from a friend that died, been sitting unused for several years. If I was going out to get a progressive press today, I'd take a good look at the Lee. It get's a lot more good comment's than bad. I have some dies, sizer's and my primer installer. Oh I've got a couple Lee casting mold's also. Never had a problem with any of them. Got my wson started reloading with a kit. Best $99 I ever spent. I think RCBS makes one and also Hornady, both pretty expensive.

 

[Rule3]

Go to this site, Click on any brand and you can watch videos assembly, operation etc of all of them

Ultimate Reloader | Reloading Explained

 

[M1A]

A smurfy Dillon. 550 B at least.

 

[Smith357]

I have a Lee progressive, it worked well for the first few thousand rounds. then it started getting finicky and parts started getting worn, it is retired now because every 200 rounds you need to tinker with its settings and fiddle with the primer feed mechanism. It is a very fast press when it works and with the auto shell loader it can double the production rate of the Dillon, but I spend more time getting it to work than actually producing ammo.

10 years ago I drank the blue koolaid and got a Dillon 550, awesome press, and I can highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed. It just works.

The Hornady press gets rave reviews from its users, though I have not used the LNL I have used the Apex progressive Shotshell loader and would give it very good marks. I would feel confident in a Hornady product.

 

[Don Fischer]

The Sq Deal B come's set up in your cartridge of choice. The 550 I think use's reg die's and you can change them out if you want.

 

[Wee Hooker]

If you are on a budget and can live with a Semi-Progressive that spits out 150-200 rounds an hour, then the lee Classic Turret will do nicely. If you need something that runs faster, get ready to pay .

 

[Peak53]

I hate to rain on the Lee Classic Turret parade because I have one and love it. It suits my needs perfectly and there just aren't any hiccups. However, in my experience 200 rounds per hour may be a little over enthusiastic. At 4 pulls of the lever per cartridge, that is 800 pulls an hour - about one every 3/4 second if I did the math right. I like to watch the powder fall from the measure through the die into the case and I just can't see that fast. I'm sure if my math is wrong, an engineer will correct me. Don't get me wrong, it's a great press.

 

[M16]

I have eight dillon progressive presses. I can't honestly say they are the best because I've never used anything else. The square deal b would do a great job for you. So would the 550 and 650.

 

[fkd713]

I'd recommend Dillon. Had a 550 and now have a 650. 550 a bit easier to quickly change caliber and will do nicely if you don't need high volume reload quantities. 650 brass feeder is nice but more things to watch when loading and if you goof while reloading, more to untangle. I can attest to the Dillon policy as they will replace anything even if my own stupidity. Replaced one part of 550 and I bought it second hand. Good folks.

 

[daniel lawecki]

You could go Red Hornady LNL Progressive and get 500 bullets. My LNL has many thousands of ammo loaded on this press. Never had any repairs at all one of the best investments I've made in reloading.

 

[824tsv]

As much as I love my RCBS Rock Chucker, I also have a Dillon SDB which is a pleasure to use. You can't go wrong with one of the Blue machines.....

 

[THEWELSHM]

I would suggest this read.. You wouldn't go wrong with either..

thewelshm

 

[chief38]

IMHO the Dillon 650 is the best you can get! The Dillon Square Deal-B will work (I had one for 30 years and it worked just fine) but it is slower and takes more effort than the 650 does. The 650 also uses standard Dies (any brand) while the SD-B has Dillon Dies unique to that machine. The 550 is also a fine machine but has manual indexing where as the SD-B and 650 are automatic. I am not a fan of the manual indexing as I am worried about operator error double charging. With the 650 or the SD-B that is almost a non issue.

Dillon's NO BS guarantee is simply the BEST in the industry! Once you buy one of their presses, you will never spend a penny on a broken part, repair, or defect - no questions asked even if you are not the original owner!

I have a Dillon 650 and can load around 900 - 1,000 rounds of handgun cartridges per hour assuming I preload the Primer Tubes. The auto-case feeder is a must and will really let you crank - em out! I also have an RCBS Rock Chucker and now only use it for a few straight wall large vintage rifle cartridges that I do not to reload in large quantities. Other than that my Rock Chucker collects dust.

 

[johngalt]

Of course this thread will degenerate into blue vs red vs other red vs green debate...

So I'll throw my vote behind the Hornady LNL AP. I've had one for about 7 years now, no regrets.

Never had a Dillion, so I can't comment on their no BS warranty. I have used Hornady's warranty, they have replaced parts I accidentally broke (my fault), no questions asked and no charge, fedexed the new parts to me on their dime.

My experience with the RCBS warranty on my Chargemaster 1500 was just as good. The power adapter died, they sent me a new one, no charge.

 

[WR Moore]

Go Dillon and don't look back. My 300 is over 30 years old and still cranks out the rounds. When you pay for quality, you only cry once. If you think you might load for more than one caliber, get the 550B.

I even buy Dillon rifle dies that I use in single stage presses, best bargin in the industry, even with having to buy regular lock rings.

 

[old tanker]

I have eight dillon progressive presses. I can't honestly say they are the best because I've never used anything else. The square deal b would do a great job for you. So would the 550 and 650.

"Shooters reload because they can't afford not to; reloaders shoot because they need the brass."

I don't know who said that, but that picture reminded me of the quote.

 

[lrrifleman]

I am glad that you asked this question, there is no sense in recreating the wheel.

My first progressive was a Dillon Square Deal B that I believe was for 38 Specials. After I bought the conversion kit for 45s, I decided that I needed a more versatile progressive for handgun ammo. Lees were never an option, because I was (and still do) loading precision rifle cartridges requiring full length resizing, and Lee had a poor reputation for the press housing bending under torque ... that was 40 years ago.

I graduated to a Dillon 550B in the early 1990s, and I have never regretted the move. I can easily load 250 rounds an hour, and I am only limited by my cast bullet production rate.

If you are planning on reloading one or two pistol calibers in quantity, I would suggest that you look at the Dillon Square Deal B. If you plan to reload more than two pistol calibers, or plan to reload rifle cartridges in addition to pistol cartridges, consider purchasing a Dillon 550B.

They are expensive now, but after a few years, you will never regret your purchase.

 

[flyrobb]

What about the RCBS Pro 2000?

How's about the RCBS Pro 2000? I never see any comments on this press. It appears to be comparable to the 550, 650 and LNL but I just never see any users chiming in on it? What gives?