Press Poll **Decision Made Updated with pic**

[novalty]

Added picture of updated bench in post #30

Birthday's coming up, and I am considering adding a second press to my reloading bench. Right now I am actively loading 45acp, 9mm, and 38 Special, and will be loading .223 & 25-35 WCF. In the future I will probably add 357 Mag. & 30-30 WCF. Right now I have all my brass cleaned, sized/de-primed, chamferred/deburred, and primer pockets cleaned. I do not have high volume needs for ammo, and shoot maybe 2,000 rounds during the shooting season in Maine--have a lot of Winter down time to work on restocking. My initial thought was to purchase a Redding T7 Turret and a quality powder measure (Redding BR-30) to have set up just for rifle rounds (which will not be high volume perhaps 500 per year), and still use my RC II for pistol. Other option would be a Hornady LnL AP, or Dillon RL550B w/o caliber conversion. If I were to get the LnL AP or the RL550B, then I would switch it up and run the pistol on the progressive and run the rifle on the RCII. These are what I am finding for prices.

1. Redding T7 w/quality powder measure approximately: $440

2. Hornady LnL AP: $420 (Does have 500 free boolits promotion)

3. Dillion RL550B: $417 shipped plus 2 caliber conversions kits would be about $509.

Any thought, ideas, suggestions, in this ball-park would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[john16443]

Interesting proposition you offer. Since you indicated that the LNL/Dillon would most likely be used for your rifle rounds, and you plan on reloading more than one rifle caliber, my suggestion is for the LNL.

This is based on the ease of caliber conversion on the LNL compared to the Dillon w/o caliber conversion. If I understand the Dillon requirements for caliber conversion w/o a kit correctly, you'll have to remove, replace, and reset all your dies into the toolhead. On the LNL, all you need to do is remove one set of dies and install the other, a 1 minute proposition since all the dies will be preset in the LN: bushings.

The LNL also auto indexes, the 550 doesn't. The majority of instances of double charging or not charging cases I read on various forums seem to happen on non-indexing Dillons. Not saying they don't/can't happen on others, but if the press indexes with every handle pull, you have a better chance of recovery for errors. The Redding appears to also be manual indexing.

7 stations on the Redding, 5 on the LN, 4 on the Dillon. Since I don't reload for rifle, can't say how many you really need. This may be based on your existing dies and whether or not you use some sort of powder cop die. For me, 4 is too few.

Not sure what you're considering for a "quality powder measure", but I've found the measure on my LNL to work very well and consistently. I believe the Dillon is as good if not better.

You didn't indicate what press you have now. I'll close with this for additional food for thought. For the lower annual ammo volumes you indicate, along with the desire to load both pistol and rifle, don't automatically dismiss the Lee Classic Turret from consideration.

 

[H Richard]

I voted for the Dillon, having used one for 25+ years it is great for all volume produced ammo. But, for all my rifle ammo (I am not a High Power competitor) I use a single stage press. When I am working with the kind of pressures in a 22-250, 30-06, .243, etc. I want precision one at a time hand inspected reloads. I have never had a problem with my Dillon, and the powder measure is one of the most accurate I have ever used. Caliber change over takes about 10 minutes if you have to change the primer feed. You leave the dies set up in the tool head and never have to change them again ever. The Tool head with dies takes 5 seconds to change if you are slow.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Because of the low volume of loading you afre going to do I would buy the Redding Turret press and powder measure.

BUT, I would use the turret press for your handgun loading and the Rockchucker for your rifle ammo or load everything on the turret press...

 

[blujax01]

Since the XL650 wasn't a choice (and I understand why), I voted for the LnL.

Surprise!

 

[novalty]

Because of the low volume of loading you are going to do I would buy the Redding Turret press and powder measure.

BUT, I would use the turret press for your handgun loading and the Rockchucker for your rifle ammo or load everything on the turret press...

ArchAngelCD, that is kind of the way I am leaning right now. The volume I shoot really doesn't necessitate a progressive, plus I am not the most mechanically inclined. Right now I already have a pile of brass that I have prepped for loading (cleaned, sized/deprimed, chamferred & deburred & primer pockets cleaned): 1,600 pieces of 9mm, 1,300 pieces of 45acp, 600 pieces of 38 Special, 300 pieces of .223 Rem. This will cover me at least through next year. That is a good point on using the Turret for pistol, I have my RCBS Uniflow now, that I can added a case activated powder drop, and charge the cases right off the press, so I can run 2 calibers on one turret head.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I went LNL AP over the 550 but if the 650 hadn't been such a jump then I might have gone for it. I think you get more for your money with the LNL AP than the 550. The T7 is a whole different way of loading that the other options. Personally I would rather just batch load on a single stage than use the T7. But a lot of press design comes down to personal preference.

 

[sar4937]

I used the T7 more like a single stage press with switchable dies. I use Dillons for high volume loading, and I favor the 650, but you will buy alot of Dillon accessories and will need at least the powder/expander dies from dillon. While you can swap out dies, most will buy multiple heads usually with a powder measure so it sets up quickly. I voted T7, single stage loading will encourage you to be more accurate with the set-up. You can buy additional T7 heads.

 

[novalty]

Well if I load the T7 head with just the expander and the seating crimp die, I can fit the 3 handgun cartridges I load on one head. Then thinking of adding the Hornady Lock n' Load conversion bushings to my Rock Chucker II. Still would prime on my RCBS Automatic Bench Primer. I think/hope the Redding T7 will speed up my batch loads.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Why in the world would you pay $440 for a press that isn't at least a semi-progressive? The RL550B is the way to go and you can use it like a single stage very simply, just run one case around at a time. Nothing happens in the stages that there is no case!

The AP would be my next choice but not without a case feeder which is going to be more than $417.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why in the world would you pay $440 for a press that isn't at least a semi-progressive? The RL550B is the way to go and you can use it like a single stage very simply, just run one case around at a time. Nothing happens in the stages that there is no case!

The AP would be my next choice but not without a case feeder which is going to be more than $417.

I'm a little confused on the price. The Redding T7 on Midway USA is priced @$274.99 and we all know Midway doesn't have the lowest prices available.

If the question wasn't so specific I would have recommended the Cast Iron Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press @~$100... Spare turrets for each caliber are only $10 each. The RCBS Turret press is $190 but I don't know anything about that press so I can't comment on it. RCBS turrets are $40 which is higher than the Lee turrets but not as much as the Redding turrets which are $67 each.

 

[novalty]

I'm a little confused on the price. The Redding T7 on Midway USA is priced @$274.99 and we all know Midway doesn't have the lowest prices available.

I would also be adding a higher quality powder measure as well with the Redding T7 which with a Redding BR-30 powder measure would bring the price to around what I mentioned. If I went with Redding 3BR it would be more in line with the other prices.

Skip, I keep going back and forth in my mind over which press to add to my bench. I see your point on the RL550B, but my biggest concern is that I am not very mechanically savvy, and worried that I will get frustrated with any quirks it might have while loading 100-200 rounds which is about what I'd do in a run. Plus with the prices the Dillon caliber conversion kits for the handgun calibers I am loading is going to run $45.95 ea plus shipping for a increased cost of the press by $92+. So I'd be looking at more $509+, so that I could load all my handguns.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Agreed!

I'm a little confused on the price. The Redding T7 on Midway USA is priced @$274.99 and we all know Midway doesn't have the lowest prices available.

If the question wasn't so specific I would have recommended the Cast Iron Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press @~$100... Spare turrets for each caliber are only $10 each. The RCBS Turret press is $190 but I don't know anything about that press so I can't comment on it. RCBS turrets are $40 which is higher than the Lee turrets but not as much as the Redding turrets which are $67 each.

Exactly!

 

[Skip Sackett]

There are items in a caliber kit that are interchangeable. Some shell plates will work for other calibers. For example, .30 caliber rifle and 45ACP, same shell plate, same pins, different powder insert. Doing that will reduce your cost drastically.

You will NOT go wrong with a Dillon and the RL550B will be easy to operate. Lots of videos to help and lots of folks have them.......Support group.

You only need one die plate, just screw your dies in as you do now. A little more pain but, if money is the issue, you can get by on the cheap.

They also offer a lower end press, you might want to check that out too. You can load one case at a time to cut down on the confusion. After you get comfortable, you can do 2 at a time, every other slot. Working up to the full 4.

 

[blujax01]

There are items in a caliber kit that are interchangeable. Some shell plates will work for other calibers. For example, .30 caliber rifle and 45ACP, same shell plate, same pins, different powder insert. Doing that will reduce your cost drastically.
....

And there's an App for that!

Plug in the caliber conversions you have, then the caliber you need. The conversion calculator will spit out the piece parts you have/need.
Dillon Press Caliber Conversion Finder

 

[mkk41]

For 20yrs I loaded on a single stage. If I had a large lot to do , I liked to do my prep/sizing/priming one nite , loading another.

Till a friend demonstrated his Dillon 550B.

I ordered mine the next day.

Couldn't be happier. If ya shoot volumes of the same load but in several calibers , the interchangable Dillon is the way to go. Yeah , it can get pricy to set up a complete toolhead with it's own powder measure , but being able to change over so quickly is worth it. Since I've used the same bullet/powder combo in .38 Special and .45 ACP for years , I haven't had to readjust anything since I set them up probably. .223/5.56 stuff has been bought but not set-up or used yet.

I could never figure out the reasoning behind the turret press for reloading. Seems like several accidents waiting to happen. How much time does it save or really take to change a die?

Maybe if ya do a lot of experimenting or load development , a turret press would save some time. But for high volume , accuracy and durability , gimme a solid O press.

 

[Skip Sackett]

And there's an App for that!

Plug in the caliber conversions you have, then the caliber you need. The conversion calculator will spit out the piece parts you have/need.
Dillon Press Caliber Conversion Finder

After lunch.........................DOWNLOADING!

 

[Broker50]

Comparing a Hornady LNL to a Dillon 550 is apples & oranges. The Dillon 650 is closer to the LNL, & much more expensive. just sayin'.

 

[Hammerless-12]

Another vote for the Dillon. One thing to remember is it comes with a "lifetime, no BS warranty". You certainly don't have to be a rocket designer to set them up and use them. If you can read the manual, or are capable of watching a manual, your qualified to own and run one or even reset the darn thing. A good friend has the Hornady LNL and he loves it. He got suckered into the 500 free bullets also. Just after the warranty run out guess what, it broke. I'm not sure how much he has spent on the LNL, but you will not escape the "extras" cost. He even has the auto bullet feeder hooked up to his LNL now. Trust me when I say this, if you have any problems or concerns with a Dillon press, help is one phone call away. Those folks that answer the phones at Dillon KNOW the reloading business and their job is to take care of you, which they have done for me several times. Good luck in you quest and happy shooting.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Full disclosure - I worked for Dillon for seven years as a "fun job" before finally retiring in 2008. I've never worked for a nicer and more compatible bunch of guys and gals. All are schooled in customer service, and when you get a lifetime guarantee, that's exactly what it means. If you drop, mangle, mis-use, or just wear out a part, a phone call gets you a new one - no muss, no fuss and no bother.

Dillon makes more elaborate and more expensive presses than the 550, but in my mind, none is more versatile or easier to use and the support you get on the phone or on line is fantastic and free. The 550 is a legendary workhorse, and you won't go wrong with it.

John