Another Dillon 650 or Lock-N-Load AP

[HappyHunter]

I have been reloading for about 10 years and load/shoot about 5-8 thousand metalic rounds annually.

Started with the RCBS rock chucker, I still use it for hunting ammo and case prep.

My next press was a Dillon 550. This is a very good machine but still a little slow. This press is in semi-retirement.

My last press was a Dillon 650 with case feeder. Wow what a step up. I like the speed of this reloader, it will load 700 38 special in 50 minutes with no trouble. However I am not very pleased with the priming system.

I plan to get a second progressive with case feeder and have this wild bug to try the Hornady lock-n-load with casefeeder.

One machine will do small pistol and 223. The other would do large pistol.

What do you guys say, am I nuts?

Any thoughts about these machines will be helpful.

Fred

 

[buckeyeshooter1]

I would stay with the Dillion.

 

[Joed49]

Tough call. It'd be nice to have 2 XL650's, plus you can interchange parts if one breaks a part.

But you have a RL550B and I'm wondering why you haven't pressed that into service? I started out with the RL550B but sold it and bought the XL650.

I'd have no reservations about the LnL but I don't have one and may never get one.

Like you I have 2 progressives, an XL650 to do small pistol rounds and a RL1050 to do large primer rounds. I picked up the 1050 used from a gunshop a few years ago. It's not the Super 1050, the difference being the Super can do longer rifle cartridges. Having large/small primers split out simplifies caliber change overs.

Never seen anything like the 1050 in my life. This press can do anything! It knocks out primer crimps and can load an honest 1200 rounds an hour if you have the primer tubes all filled. The 1050 may be faster then the super as the base doesn't have to move as far.

If I could change anything with my setup it would be to have 2 1050's. On the surface it looks expensive but it comes with everything. The 1050 comes with about $400 worth of add-ons that are optional on the 650.

Also wouldn't hesitate to buy another used press. I've had the 1050 for 5 years now and have not had to replace 1 part. Every once in awhile I look on the auction sites but all I ever find is dealers selling new presses.

 

[Joed49]

Funny that you have the same complaint about the 650 as I do. I asked Dillon why it was developed like that with the rotary primer feed.

The first time I ever used it I'd see something fly across my line of sight every so often. Then you realize it's a missed primer.

The 1050 and 550 don't do that. Still I'm used to it now. I just built up something to keep the primers on the ramp instead of chasing them on the floor.

 

[Joed49]

Funny that you have the same complaint about the 650 as I do. I asked Dillon why it was developed like that with the rotary primer feed.

The first time I ever used it I'd see something fly across my line of sight every so often. Then you realize it's a missed primer.

The 1050 and 550 don't do that. Still I'm used to it now. I just built up something to keep the primers on the ramp instead of chasing them on the floor.

 

[Skip Sackett]

That's a tough question!

I'm not sure what I would do, to be honest.

I have used an XL650 with case feeder for a couple of years and like it real well. I have used if for load development too. I just take the primer advancement cam off of it and cycle the primer trip lever by hand. Doing it that way no primers hit the floor. It only advances when I need a new primer.

I thought about the L-N-L, long and hard before I bought the XL650.

I've heard mostly good about the press. Some of the early problems have been corrected. It seems to have a bunch more movement in it than the Dillon. The shell moves on the way up and on the way down. Just kind of weird.

Either one is a good choice though.

 

[HappyHunter]

Joed49, I still occasionally use the 550. At one time it was set up to load 17 different calibers. I have not purchased that many conversions for the 650...so I still use the 550 for the less common calibers as I need. My plan was to sell the 550 and I will eventually do so.

I wish that the primer system on the 650 could be stopped and started easily to allow for adjusting powder charges, and clearing trouble. Removing the indexing cam is easy but takes tools and takes too long to bother. Someone suggested that I make a hook to capture the advancing lever of the priming system. This may be possible.

I would jump on a used system, LnL or 650.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

Fred

 

[VonFatman]

The "fix" for wayward live & spent primers:

The link at the bottom goes to Brian Enos forum where I got the spent primer fix...the live primer fix was a pretty simple solution I stumbled upon.
Xl650: No More Primers On My Floor! - Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

 

[Chuck Jones]

My 550b started life as a 450 and was up-graded twice. I still enjoy loading on it. If I do anything it would be to get another 550 to have large and small primers set up all the time. That would make caliber changes a snap.

/c

 

[Joed49]

The "fix" for wayward live & spent primers:

The link at the bottom goes to Brian Enos forum where I got the spent primer fix...the live primer fix was a pretty simple solution I stumbled upon.

Nice fix for the live primers! I don't care about spent primers but detest looking on the floor for a live primer.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I have two of the Hornady LNL APs. I like the Dillon 650 (don't own but have used them) but I think you will like the simplicity of the Hornady's priming system. It has been very reliable. The downside is emptying it if you don't use all the primers you have loaded in the tube. Not an easy way to do that that I know. Otherwise, it is all but fool proof. It is also a snap to change dies with the LNL bushing system, it takes all of 30 seconds tops. Setting the length for the case actuated powder feed is also about a 30 second effort if changing case lengths.

Since you already have a Dillon and like it, and it certainly isn't a bad system, you may be happy with a second one. That is certainly one of the reasons I picked a second LNL when considering the opposite decision to yours several years ago. I saw no good reason to switch, especially with cost considerations and functionality. I've been very happy with my LNLs. I keep one set up for small and one for large primers like you are considering.

 

[Joed49]

Since you already have a Dillon and like it, and it certainly isn't a bad system, you may be happy with a second one. That is certainly one of the reasons I picked a second LNL when considering the opposite decision to yours several years ago. I saw no good reason to switch, especially with cost considerations and functionality. I've been very happy with my LNLs. I keep one set up for small and one for large primers like you are considering.

That's a good argument for staying with a 650. Having 2 if you break a part, and you will, things won't grind to a halt till the part arrives.

As i said, my regret was that I didn't have 2 1050's, but even so a lot of the parts between the 650 and 1050 are interchangeable.

 

[HAGEN]

My 2 Cents:
I have only been Reloading for 5 yrs and first tried the LNL.( No Longer in Shop)
I have been using a 650 with case a Feeder for 2 years and think the Dillon is the Mfg. I will add a second 650 within the next few months
I want to set up Large & Small Primer Machines since this is the slowest chage to me, and I shoot both according to the Discipline I am Shooting.

 

[fredj338]

From one Fred to another, yeah, you are nuts. I load on a pair of 550B, one for small, one for large. It turns out a comfy 450rds/hr, 500 if I go fast. If I only shot 8000 rounds a year, 700rds/m, that takes me 1.5hrs max to load ammo a month. What does a 650 save you for the money, a whopping 30min a month? Not worth it to me. I keep thinking I should sell a 550B & get a 650 just to load 45acp, but I see little gain for the money. If I shot 700rds a week, maybe I would change my mind. If you just want to spend some more money, go for it. I'ld rather buy a new gun or more components.

 

[dddddmorgan]

I too have a Dillon 550 and am completely satisfied with the machine. I have longed for the funds, and someday will have it, to get another one to keep one set up in small primers and one set up in large primers.

I cannot imagine that the Hornady is any better. That is not to put down Hornady in any way. It's Dillon for me.

Now one question if I may hijack this thread... "rotary"? I don't understand this at all. I can't get any pictures good enough but everything looks like the same primer feed as my 550 with a tube and such. Could anyone offer a detailed explanation to this?

I have never had a problem feeding primers through my 550. The only issues I come up against are when I get the primers upside down or run out.

Thanks

 

[pinkymingeo]

I've got +40K through my LnL without a single primer mishap. There's really no need for two presses set up for different primer sizes. To change you loosen a spring, change slides, screw out one seater and screw in the other, then pull out one feed tube and plug in the replacement. Takes two minutes if you're drinking coffee at the same time. No adjustments required. I don't have a case feeder so can't comment, but the press is very fast without one.

 

[Joed49]

Now one question if I may hijack this thread... "rotary"? I don't understand this at all. I can't get any pictures good enough but everything looks like the same primer feed as my 550 with a tube and such. Could anyone offer a detailed explanation to this?

Thanks

The primer system on the 650 is nothing like the 550 or 1050. Probably the best way to describe it is that it is much like a cylinder on a revolver. It has holes that the primers sit in and it rotates to the primer station. The only fault with it is if there is no case in the priming station that primer moves on instead of sitting till a case comes along. After the unused primer advances it is dumped down a ramp that you can see in one of the pictures of the 650.

It wouldn't be bad but unless you modify the ramp the primer goes down the ramp much like a ski jump and launches through the air. The first time I loaded on my 650 I was cranking away but kept getting distracted by something flying through my line of sight.

 

[dddddmorgan]

Ahh I understand now. Very strange that they would change formats on machines. The 550 primer system is in my opinion faultless once adjusted correctly.

Very strange, I wonder what the reasoning is?

 

[Joed49]

Nothing wrong with the Hornady press either in my opinion. My only complaint with it is that it keeps evolving. When I looked at buying one in 2002 the powder charge was done in 2 steps, first it expanded the mouth then the next station charged the case with powder. They've since combined these 2 steps into 1.

Then came the shell plate that was changed. I listened to the owners of the old presses discuss how expensive it would be for them to change over. Also saw owners waiting over 2 months for the new shell plates that were ordered.

I thought about the Dillons I owned, they are a proven design that hasn't changed.

But, the Hornady is a good press. The people I know that own them wouldn't switch.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[HappyHunter]

THANKS EVERYBODY,

I found a fair deal on a Dillon 650 with case feeder and extras.

Purchased it from a forum member to boot.

Gotta like this forum.

Fred