progressive press?

[dmar]

Good points, John. The 'no case present' primer handling of the LnL was one of the advantages that resonated with me at the time I purchased my press.

Also, with the Hornady powder measure, I just use the LnL powder inserts when changing calibers, just pop one out, and click another in. I never have to adjust powder throws with these inserts; very easy to change. I would imagine other powder measures have this feature, but I'm not sure...

 

[VAdoublegunner]

The point about early Hornady L-N-Ls having a primer mechanism issue is valid. They had a plastic piece that was prone to cracking/breaking. That was fixed nearly a decade ago.

Dillon's are good machines, many people seem satisfied with them, and they have learned to work with their quirks. Those who do not acknowledge there are a number of quirks about them only need to search a few threads to find that they do exist, and yes, the Hornady's may have on occasional problem too. Although it may not have always been the case and was long one of the main selling points for Dillon, both companies now offer the same level of support and service as well. That is no longer a valid issue for comparison. But in terms of user friendliness and adapatability, you'll have to go with a Dillon 650 to get the features of an L-N-L. And you will still have the same issues with primer changeover, additional costs for toolheads, etc to keep it competitive for changeover speed, if not cost, as in the lesser models.

You really can't go wrong with a Dillon 650. And you really can't go wrong with a Hornady L-N-L. You just have to decide which one fits your pocketbook and has the user features, maintenance aspects, operation/set up ease and adapatability for your needs that you find important to you. I went with an L-N-L. In fact I now have 2 of them. I am more than pleased.

Isn't it a great time to be a handloader with all these great choices!

 

[blujax01]

Isn't it a great time to be a handloader with all these great choices!

Yes it is!

BTW sometimes I play a little rough and hope I didn't offend anyone. As others have correctly stated, the LnL is one fine machine and the OP wouldn't go wrong if that was his choice.

 

[rodell]

Any progressive takes a little dose of mechanical aptitude to set up and run. Personally, I like to tinker so that's part of the recreation.

I think the Hornady bushing system is pretty neat. I have a blue press, so I don't get to take advantage of that particular feature.

I load handgun rounds on a progressive, rifle rounds (low volume hunting/target) on a Redding turret. It isn't that the progressive can't do the rifle rounds, but I have had the Redding and 60 sets of dies for years!

As far as caliber changes on the blue press, I can do it in <2 minutes. People who talk about 20 minute changes must drink a lot of coffee. It sounds a lot worse than it is, and, I was initially worried about it.

There are tips and tricks to any progressive, and, they do require maintenance. You need to keep them clean and lubricated, regardless of brand.

I wouldn't think twice about buying either brand if it appealed to me for any particular reason. I bought blue because I'd always wanted to and I don't regret it. If Redding had made one, I would have bought that!

 

[bamacisa]

I am 72 years old and retired. I usually shoot about 50 rounds of 38 Spc every week. I could easily afford a Dillon, but I really don't want or need one. I enjoy using my Rock Chucker press and can load as good a round as anybody can on a progressive press. I realize peogressives are faster, but I don't need to reload a thousand round per week.....so for me a single stage press is fine. I have dies for most popular caibers. I have not fired a 30-06 in about a year or so. In short, my RCBS Rock Chucker press does any thing that I want or need.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I couldn't agree with you more, bamacisa.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a good single stage press. I would hazard to guess that most of us who have progressives started on one and still have it. And use it.

If you really enjoy the act of handloading, and like to craft the best of precision loads, a good quality (and get a really good quality one, it will last forever) single stage is a pleasure to use.

I handload some of my own defensive ammo (it is solely my choice and a conscious personal decision to use it for that purpose) and it is always made up on my Rockchucker, with hand seated primers in new brass with clean flash holes and pockets, brass trimmed square to uniform length, every load precisely checked for charge and OAL. I *know* it will work. I do the same with precision hunting loads. It is not about volume sometimes. It is precision, or the pleasurable act of creating your own ammo, that makes a good single stage almost a first 'must have' for every serious handloader.

 

[HAGEN]

Dillon 660

 

[chief38]

I bought a Dillon Square deal ( will only load pistol calibers ) about 28 years ago and it has served me very well- but at the time I bought it I had no interest in reloading rifle calibers. About 12 years ago that changed, so I went out and bought a RCBS Rock Chucker. The combo works OK for me, but if I had known then what I know now I would get the Dillon 650 which will do it all and has the auto index feature that the 550 does not.

By the way, Dillon's customer service is simply the best!

chief38

 

[Wee Hooker]

The Dillon 550 is arguably the "go to" press for those who shoot ALLOT. It's costly(!) up front but will serve a lifetime.
That said, if your not willing/ready for that kind of an investment or just shoot less, The Lee Classic Turret is a very nice "in between." Still cranks out 150 rounds/hr but being a semi progressive, gives you more control/visibility into the process. Cost is less than $200 complete .

FWIW, I recently sold off my Dillon Square deal ( which I never liked) and got the Lee Classic Turret. No regrets here.

 

[bigt5150]

Dillon 550 you can't go wrong.

 

[epj]

Those who consider the 550 a pseudo- or semi -progressive, let me submit this question. The Lee turret is auto indexing. It takes 4-5 pulls of the handle to produce a loaded round. The 550 produces a loaded round with each pull of the handle. Which is a progressive?

 

[Engineer1911]

My Rock Chucker is a 1975 model running strong without every breaking any part, but it sure is slow.

1981 Dillon 450 is all original with upgrades to current standards for auto powder measure, auto eject, and auto primer feed. Yes it has quirks but it was fun solving them. And when I couldn't, I got immediate expert advice from Dillon.

Bought a used Dillon 550 for $200 and made it the large primer machine. I have never used a Hornaday press but was not impressed by the two I have seen on display.

Lee presses tell you as much about reloading as liver and onions tells you how good prime rib tastes. Lee is cheap and supported by Richard Lee's monster ego. Lee molds don't last, except for the Carbide Taper crimp die, Lee dies are a sad joke. Five years ago, Midway had the Lee reloading book and Lee economy press for $20 -- I know I paid too much.

RCBS and Dillon have top notch customer and technical support services.

 

[Gunner11]

Guess I'm the only one here that uses the Green Machine. My first press in 1968 was a RCBS Jr then went to a Rock Chucker in 1975. Finally bought a 2000 Auto Index last summer. Turns out great ammo and is quick to change calibers.

 

[Hawker Man]

It is a 650 for me. Yes it's primer feed system is not case sensitive, it will feed primers with no case in position. This does happen occasionally, but if you are watching it is not a problem. I don't use the low primer warning as I load 100 cases at a time, in the interest safety and quality. 100 cases and 100 primers go in the machine at a time and when that is done, another 100 go in.
I fine gent I met at the range allowed me to load on his SDB, 550 and 650 presses and I went for the 650. I have never loaded on a LNL and I'm sure you would be well served with either.
I have Dillon dies for 38, 357, 9mm and 45, for the 44 mag I have RCBS dies and I don't like them. I like the three die Dillon easy to take apart with out loosing adjust and I like the separate seat and crimp dies. I do not like the RCBS 2 die set with the seat and crimp in one die.
I do like Green Eggs and Ham