Dillon vs Lee vs others

[smithra_66]

As someone who exclusively shoots 357 magnum and has found it harder and harder to find and afford. I've been thinking of making my own, as in another thread I asked what ammo people trusted, many said their own. Made sense to me and I wanted to give it a try myself to save money, ensure availability, and just seems cool to make your own stuff. I was curious what a good first press would be for a novice and if their is anything I should know before starting to make my own 357 magnum rounds. Thanks in advance!

Lee is good to start out and get into the hobby cheaply. I use some Lee equipment, however there have been too much of it that I have thrown out the window because it was more of a headache.

Dillon is top of the line and will be a joy to use. I'd go straight to Dillon. A simple Square Deal B is what I use for most of my handgun ammunition and it is superb. You can't go wrong.

I can load up about 300 rounds of 357 Mag in an hour with a SDB, especially if I keep several primer drop tubes loaded.

 

[Borderboss]

I've always used Lee progressive loaders. I've literally loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds of .38 Spl with one and never had any issues with it. I've loaded tens of thousands of .38 Super with another one and it's never caused me an issue. So I can recommend Lee hands down.

 

[Rlg#17]

Don't fool around. Buy once, and never cry once! Dillon is the absolute best in product and customer service.

Sdb is fine if you only load one round. 550 you can expand on.

Regards, Rick Gibbs

 

[STORMINORMAN]

No doubt Dillon is absolutely top notch, and for those who actually reload thousands of rounds per month it is most likely the way to go: great after the sale support, etc., but...

It's kinda' like the plethora of 3/4 Ton 4WD diesel pickups you see pulling an 18' camper or sailboat to the lake twice a year: do you really need one or would a 1/2 Ton do the job just as well?

Cheers!

P.S. Of course, this from a guy who remembers $5,999 half-ton fullsize domestic (a.k.a. Big Three) pickups vs. the $50K+ ones of today!

 

[Sevens]

My Lee experience:

--I load across more than two dozen calibers
--loading with Lee dies and a Lee press since 1989
--only began tracking production from my bench in 2010
--production, not counting 2022 so far is 152,295

I will put up my ammo against anyone and it's ludicrous to make blanket statements against Lee equipment. Doing so typically shows either a lack of experience or a genuine lack of skill.

 

[9mmPatriot]

I love my Lee Loadmaster. Got it a year and a half ago, had never reloaded before. Yes you need to dial it in, but its easy to do.

 

[Mike in Reedley]

I like Lee dies, good value for the money. I avoid other Lee products, as they are the cheapest made in the industry. In ascending quality with dies my experience has been Lyman (the poorest quality), RCBS (had two that we're out of round), Lee, Redding and Forester Benchrest As the deadnut best.


I've had Lee and Hornaday presses, that always required tweaking. I now have an RCBS RC, Lyman Turret (for pistols), Forester Co-Axial press (for rifles) and a Dillon Square Deal in .45 ACP. The problem I've had with the Dillon is that I like to clean the primer pockets before I load the cases. The other issue I've had with Dillon is the occasional high primer. I now resize, clean the pocket and prime the cases in separate operation. I then feed those cases into the Dillon at the second stage.

Unless you need a high volume of reloads, in a short amount of time, you are better served with a quality single stage press. As mentioned before, get a printed reloading manual and read it until you understand each step fully. I've always like Lyman's manual.

 

[9mmPatriot]

THE Progressive Press Shootout (12 presses compared) - YouTube

 

[Frailer]

The first question I'd ask is: how many rounds do you plan to load at a time?

I only reload one caliber: 38 Special, and I typically don't reload more than a box or two at a sitting. I use the humble Lee Hand Press. It is *far* from efficient, but I think it's a great way to learn. Darned cheap, too.

 

[Marylander]

LEE Classic Turret Press

I started with a Lee single press but went to a Lee Classic Turret press soon after and never looked back. With it I have 4 sets of dies as I load for .38/.357,.40S&W, 9mm, and .380. I purchased extra turrets so switching dies takes a minute.

I am more than happy with it.

I agree, and since I am well past such things, I have a one up for sale, with 3 sets of dies. (9mm, 38, and 45)
Sorry for the balant advert. Apologies

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Do you speak from experience?Please post your actual Lee experiences.

I couldn't agree LESS!

My Classic Turret Press just keeps on ticking.Been using it since 2014 when I returned stateside.I has produced many thousand of rounds trouble free.

I loaded a box of 50 32 H&R Magnum last night using a Lee Carbide 4 die set,a Lee Hand Press and a Lee Pro Bench Powder Measure.The scale was an RCBS 10-10

I agree, I have been using a Lee Classic 4 hole Turret Press for handgun ammo since 2006 and its still working very well.

I use an RCBS Rockchucker for my rifle ammo but for the .223 which I load on the Lee Turret Press.

 

[joe44va]

Love my Dillon 550, but you have to understand how it works to keep it running well. Cleanliness is really important.
I also love my RCBS Rock Chucker from about 40 years ago. My Grandkids will still be using that press, indestructible. My recommendation would be to start with one of these.

 

[SMSgt]

How many rounds do you intend to reload at any time and how much $ are you willing to invest in something you may not like? Is your time more valuable than your money?

If you plan on reloading a couple boxes a month, you'll never recoup your initial investment. Plus components are just as hard--or harder--to find than manufactured ammo.

 

[rockquarry]

If you really get into handloading only to save money, you miss out on the most important aspects of the hobby - making ammo tailored to your needs and making ammo that is more accurate than commercial ammo.

I guess many get into handloading thinking they will save money and I suppose that's true to a point. As I look back to 1964, I think saving money had something to do with it for me, but I quickly got over that when I discovered what a fascinating hobby I had come into.

 

[StakeOut]

Q So what have we learned from this thread so far?

A There no one solution that fits everyone's needs,experience level,budget,production rate and the hands on experience with the same or similar products.

If you are satisfied with your Dillon or you are happy with your Lee then stick with it.Satisfied customers are repeat buyers and good advertisement for the brand.

 

[GypsmJim]

I started reloading in 1971. Literally 10s of thousand of rounds loaded, with 1 squib (my problem).

100% have been with Lee equipent. Had one issue, and they replaced the die for free. Customer service is next to perfect.

If you are a snob and like a BMW, then pay for it. If you want quality at a good price, buy a Chevy. (or maybe Lee should be called a Buick).

If you want FAST, buy a Dillon and hope you can amortize the cost. If you are a regular guy and want good ammo, buy a Lee.

I am convinced the Lee haters just have a hidden agenda.

 

[dla]

As others have said, it depends on how much you shoot.
The best press for the $ is the Lee Classic Turret (4 hole). You can knock out 100 rounds in an hour.
The best press (IMHO) for volume pistol cartridge is the Dillon SDB. I can knock out 300 an hour.

I have used a Lyman turret, RCBS Rock Chucker, Lee Classic Turret and Dillon SDB. Only the Dillon and Lee remain. I never shot more than 1k of 45acp a month. Now I shoot about 1k a year. I use the SDB for 40SW, 45acp,9mm,44mag. I use the LCT for rifle rounds and special sizing operations.

 

[Dave Haynes]

I like to be able to look into the case after charging. When using Bullseye or Red Dot you cannot tolerate a double charge of either. It will take the top strap off a S&W. RCBS rockchucker, 10-10 scale big Ohaus/RCBS powder dump. Electronic powder dumps have been known to get all messed up. RCBS will replace anything that wears out or breaks for free. For shotguns you will want a MEC Grabber progressive. You can load a box in about 5 minutes. Using cast bulk bullets and Bullseye. You can get 1700 38 Sp shots per pound. 357 loads can use 38 sp cases. If you get started, remember to be ready to buy in bulk when opportunities arise. Primers and powder are always difficult when there is a situation like today where the Ammunition makers are mysteriously having a rush on product. Control the ammunition you control the gun.

 

[6string]

I've been reloading for 40 years.
Some Lee products are great, perform well and hold up to the test of time. The Lee Loader is an excellent example. Many other products, though, rely heavily on cheap aluminum or zamac parts that quickly wear out or break. You have to do your research.
The aforementioned Lee Loader is a great way to get into reloading. They are very affordable. It is slow and deliberate, and makes you learn the fundamentals. Even if you later buy a press, you'll probably keep the Lee Loader for it's practicality and portability. Pair it with the Lee powder scoop set to expand your loading options.
Dillon equipment is the gold standard in terms of quality and service. Their equipment is an investment. Should you choose to sell it one day, you'll recoup most, if not all, of your initial investment. And, their customer service is friendly and knowledgeable. They stand bhind their products.
You can't say that for Lee.
Also, Lee customer service is terrible. They can be very snarky to their customers. If something breaks the best you can hope for is a partial discount on a replacement, if you pay to ship the broken item back to Lee. Resale value on most Lee items is practically nill.

And, there's one more subjective issue. Lee outsources a lot of production to China. To me, that's a big problem.
Dillon, with a few exceptions, produces everything themselves. They don't make electronic components. And, their carbide die parts are outsourced. At least they are domestic production, as this quote atests:

"Customers with existing carbide die backorders, we have not forgotten about you! Die orders are filled based on the date they were placed, oldest orders first. Because we refuse to shift carbide production to China, we have been slower to get caught up on demand. However, the dates shown for newly placed orders do reflect that our carbide suppliers are steadily increasing output, without compromising the quality everyone expects from Dillon Precision. We appreciate your patience and your loyalty to Dillon Precision. "

 

[Nightowl]

I started loading on a brand new Herters press because it was cheap. It was built like a tank and I should have kept it, but I had the desire for an RCBS Jr. I bought a used one and used it for a good many years, until I wanted more production. Then I bought a Dillon 450. Used it awhile and sold it to a friend and got the 550B. It has been fantastic.
A friend uses a Lee press and he got another friend a Lee progressive of some sort and I watched it being set up and used. I wouldn't own one!! Thank you very much!! BUT, my friend, new to reloading, has used it a couple years and makes some very good ammo. He is a meticulous person, though, and takes good care in what he is doing.

Bottom line: We all like to think we have the answer with what we have and use! In reality, if you do your part, I think all of them will produce a fine product.