Progressive Press Choices ?

[glenwolde]

My best friend bought a used Dillon 450 several years back, he mentioned it here in the reloading forum. In 24 hours, he got an e-mail from Dillon Letting him know he was under warranty no matter that he bought it used. He upgraded to the self-primer and case mouth activated powder drop and has been making several thousand rounds a year. He manually changes dies every time.

Ivan

The funny thing is when I converted my Dillon 450 to a 550 I recovered almost half the cost by selling my stripped 450 frame on eBay! Some guys prefer the old fixed die head. Go figure.

I just use the Lee auto-disk powder measure on my tool heads for an inexpensive case mouth activated powder drop. Though I no longer rely on the spring-driven return. I rigged the chain included with the Auto-disk to the Dillon so the disk is driven back rather than just depending on the spring. The spring failed me.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

If I load the ammo for the 300 Remington on the Dillon, the gun shoots slightly more accurate.

I wonder if it's because the toolhead can float slightly, which helps center the die. You would tend to think that a progressive press could never load ammo as well as a single-stage but you are not the first person I have heard say otherwise.

 

[Transamconvert]

I have the same press. Is yours the auto 4x4 or the manual? (The auto turns the shell plate with each pull. )
The plates do come up on ebay. Also I dimensioned one and figured the clearance for different cartridges and gave the prints to a local shop who said they could cnc a plate for $100 if I really couldn't find one.

Anyway I am waiting for the Lee 6000 to be available before I decide to upgrade you may want to look into it also. If you do decide to get out of the rcbs press I'd definitely be interested in scavenging some parts. If you decide to stick with it maybe we can trade notes I've gotten a lot of the little bugs worked out over the years.

 

[Miracle Man]

We’d be interested to hear about the “lot of bad” you’ve heard about Dillon.

I’m relatively new to reloading, I only got started around 2018. I started with a Lee Classic Turret and used that for a couple of years. Then after trying out a friends Dillon RL550B, I was sold. I found a used one locally on armslist that came with a ton of accessories. I’ve loaded over 20K rounds on the Dillon since I got it and it has performed flawlessly. Dillon support and warranty are exceptional. I’m very happy with my Dillon and don’t think you can go wrong if you go that route.

I'm going to say 8 - 10 years ago I had been eyeballing a Dillon 550 I believe ? And I got on a gun website, AR forum perhaps ? And there were a few guys on there dogging Dillon. Cheap, hard to setup, hard to maintain, so on. I don't remember all the specific complaints ?

But it's like anything else, some love it, some hate it. But I can say from all I've heard on here I'm going to look hard at a Dillon again.

 

[Miracle Man]

I have the Lee Classic Cast Turret press as my main "single stage press". I do not use it in semi progressive mode, but rather batch operations (resize all and bell all, prime, charge, seat and crimp. The press is well built and seems like it will last a long time, as it's made from steel and cast iron as opposed to aluminum. The turrets are aluminum and are 4 hole.

The joyous thing about the Lee turret press is the ability to set all your dies up once and then change in a second to another cartridge. That is the main reason I bought it, as I got tired of screwing dies in and out of my RCBS Jr press after 30 years of doing it.

High volume handgun cartridges I load on my RL550. Everything else goes through the Lee.

That's where I'm at. I'm not a super high volume reloader by any measure. Few thousand rounds a year. I don't keep track perhaps 5/6 thousand all calibers combined. But

My RCBS 4X4 I have to manually index the shell plate. I have to snap the primer feeder into place. It's just wore out from so many years of use and won't align right with the shellplate on the downstroke. It often won't load the primer unless I hit it several times.

And like you say I'd love to be able to just change from 357 mag to 9 mm by just popping in dies and switching shell plates and rolling.

I'm getting lazy in my old age. I like about everything Lee so I'll give there progressive a look.

 

[Miracle Man]

I have the same press. Is yours the auto 4x4 or the manual? (The auto turns the shell plate with each pull. )
The plates do come up on ebay. Also I dimensioned one and figured the clearance for different cartridges and gave the prints to a local shop who said they could cnc a plate for $100 if I really couldn't find one.

Anyway I am waiting for the Lee 6000 to be available before I decide to upgrade you may want to look into it also. If you do decide to get out of the rcbs press I'd definitely be interested in scavenging some parts. If you decide to stick with it maybe we can trade notes I've gotten a lot of the little bugs worked out over the years.

I'm not in any giant hurry to buy I'll take a look at the Lee. I'd definitely be interested in a 9mm shellplate for the 4X4. Mine is a manual.

 

[78bagger]

Dillon 550 for handgun and RCBS rockchucker for rifle. I can turn out 1-200 an hour on the Dillon, but I try to check the powder charge every 5 or 10 rounds. Depending on the powder I'll find either that every charge is perfect or there can be a .1 to .2 variation due to type of powder. Ball powder is like water while other types meter like corn flakes

 

[Hairtrigger]

I have owned Hornady progressive presses since 1982
I still have two of them. From time to time I have bought blue presses because I read about how good they are but I always sell them and keep my red presses. You can spend more than a red press, you cannot get better warranty or phone support than what Hornady offers
A lot of my friends that have blue presses are the kind of guys that buy all the trinkets and gadgets to add on and all they want to do is yank the handle back-and-forth and see how fast they can reload. My friends that have red presses are what I would consider ammo craftsman and want high quality ammo and speed is not the primary concern

 

[Racer X]

Anyway I am waiting for the Lee 6000 to be available before I decide to upgrade you may want to look into it also. If you do decide to get out of the rcbs press I'd definitely be interested in scavenging some parts. If you decide to stick with it maybe we can trade notes I've gotten a lot of the little bugs worked out over the years.

the new Lee "six pack" ? It looks promising.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The model number on a Dillon, is an estimate of the rounds per hour that you can load. With 10 loaded primer tubes, spare can of powder at the ready, bullet tray full and spares ready. I would load 1000 rounds in 2 hours on my 450. My Father-In-Law has two Dillon 1050 (one for 45 ACP + one for 38 Special), I've done a thousand per hour is very easily.

One of the hardest things to get used to is: EMPTYING THE SPENT PRIMERS so often! Or before you know it they are overflowing all over the floor.

One of the necessary upgrades for "production" loading is, the Roller ARM. (I used the old Dillon "ball" arm on my RCBS Rock Crusher for the 1 1/2" of extra leverage!)

Ivan

 

[Skeet 028]

I've had 'em all at one time or another. still have a CH Mk III or IV. and a L&L. Never got the L&L to work correctly. It's sold and going this week. I also have had the Lee's...if you like to tinker instead of load get a Loadmaster. I have a brand new one that's going on the bay. The Star was a great machine but too expensive and no parts..not easily converted. Even had the RCBS progressives. I've had about every Dillon. They've been pretty good machines. And because of their No BS warranty RCBS and others had to toe the line too. I remember when they didn't. At this time I have a SDB in 38 w/9mm 40S&W dies as well as 44 mag. Have loaded a couple thousand 38s lately but the press is so small it is going. Have 2 550s L&S primer...2 750s L&S primer and a Super 1050 set up in 45 auto. The 1050 is the car's meow but I have about 8000 45s loaded and hardly shoot them any longer. Of them all I like the 750s the best. I also have a Dillon AT500/Basic. I load Large rifle on. Works like a 550 without the bells and whistles. Never lost money on any Dillon and only bought others to upgrade caliber conversions and extras when I bought estates...selling what I didn't need. I was a seller of reloading machines in the past especially progressives. Repaired 'em too. Generally the biggest problem with a progressive machine is the operator. No matter what you get...learn all you can about it. As far as the new Lee...wait for a couple years. Let 'em get the bugs out...hopefully...maybe. Fair designs...poor execution

 

[ArchAngelCD]

@Miracle Man,
I forgot to mention, you said that the entire RCBS press you have is loose. If you really like your press but for it's age you can send the press back to RCBS and they will re-condition the press. Most times they won't even charge you for the service.

I'm only suggesting this because I'm not sure if you like your press or you just want something new. It's just another direction you can explore.

 

[dogdoc]

Dillon 550. Using them for 35 years. Also have Dillon 650s. I have had the Rcbs 4x4 years ago. No comparison. Dillons are simple. If you can’t keep one adjusted you likely don’t need to be progressive handloading as all progressive presses occasionally need some mechanical aptitude. If you kept a 4x4 running, a Dillon will be nirvana for you!

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have loaded on all the presses made at one time or another. Been using Dillon 550Bs for probably 30 years now. For a simple, 'just works' press, this is it. Super easy caliber changes. I have 4 of them, just because. If I wanted more automation, I would go to a Dillon 750 with case feeder. I load 10 to 15 thousand a year easily enough on the 550s.

 

[lppd4]

Dillon is the only way to go customer service is second to none. I have an older 1050 and it is bad aaash. 100 rounds in 6 minutes is common

 

[Skeet 028]

If I wanted more automation, I would go to a Dillon 750 with case feeder. I load 10 to 15 thousand a year easily enough on the 550s.

As PD says more automation the 750 is probably the best. 1/2 the cost of a 1050/1100 and nearly as productive as a 1050. Another thing too...You can load singly on most of the Dillons...even a 750. Although they call the 550 a progressive it is a semi...just because you have to turn the shellplate. Think in advance. I sold a bunch of 650 Mec machines in the past. You had to turn the shellplate on it like the 550... there were a few people who just couldn't accomplish that task. I really had problems with the Mec 650s...no problem with the 550

 

[John_M52]

My father had a pair of Star Reloaders. He and his buddy designed a toggle and pully linkage that automatically turned the turret and ejected the finished round with each handle press. He sold both of them years ago rather than giving me on (insert angry face). I spent many a rainy Saturday loading shells into the feeder tubes and listening to the crank/plunk every time he pulled the handle. I’m wondering if this was the first “progressive” press? They applied for a patent on the attachment but they never made any money off it.

 

[Transamconvert]

I'm not in any giant hurry to buy I'll take a look at the Lee. I'd definitely be interested in a 9mm shellplate for the 4X4. Mine is a manual.

The only difference in the plates is the auto is tapped for the driving screws. You can use one or the other fyi. I don't have an extra 9mm plate but can make you a print to give to a local machine shop if you want.

I don't know how different the priming systems are but I'll assume they're pretty similar. You can undo the two screws holding the primer arm plate to the press and adjust it's position to align it better with the shell plate hole. Also, mine must be kept very clean. A bit of powder in the wrong place won't let the arm go home and I'll get misalignment. I sweep it with a little brush periodically and a couple drops of oil on the plate helps too.
Another hack is to notch the primer tube where it goes into place. There's too much room here and I was getting jams and double feeds until I did this. I also hold the tube in place with a rubber band so it doesn't want to walk up. Fixed my primer feeding 100%.

 

[tmd17]

... I'd love to be able to just change from 357 mag to 9 mm by just popping in dies and switching shell plates and rolling....

I have owned and used Lee, RCBS, Lyman, and Dillon equipment. I sold my Dillon 650, to much trouble for me. I still have and use my Dillon 550 a lot, as well as my old Rock Chucker.

But what really shines for me in 38 special and 9mm are my two Dillon Square Deal B's. They are compact and give me a production rate that I am happy and comfortable with. Since I DON'T change up dies on them, I can set them on the bench and in minutes be turning out rounds. I really like the simplicity of the press. It is auto indexing and a relatively cheap set up. The major down side to the Square deal is the propriety dies.

Bottom line for me, for a specific pistol round I have no qualms recommending a Dillon Square Deal B!

 

[Miracle Man]

I have owned Hornady progressive presses since 1982
I still have two of them. From time to time I have bought blue presses because I read about how good they are but I always sell them and keep my red presses. You can spend more than a red press, you cannot get better warranty or phone support than what Hornady offers
A lot of my friends that have blue presses are the kind of guys that buy all the trinkets and gadgets to add on and all they want to do is yank the handle back-and-forth and see how fast they can reload. My friends that have red presses are what I would consider ammo craftsman and want high quality ammo and speed is not the primary concern

That's more what I am. Speed is not a major concern. Quality is #1