Maximumbob54
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- Oct 2, 2010
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There seems to be some confusion on "auto indexing" and "progressive" in a press. Yes, the Lee Classic Turret is "auto indexing" but not "progressive" while the Dillon RL550 is not "auto indexing" but it is indeed "progressive". You have to step into the Dillon RL650 to get "auto indexing" as well as "progressive". The Hornady LNL AP is also both "auto indexing" as well as "progressive" and I give Hornady the nod for indexing half on the down swing and then half on the upswing. It makes for a very smooth motion and unless I'm trying to jerk the arm up and down too fast I've never spilled any powder as the shell plate rotates. I also give the nod to Hornady with their much more solid shell plate than the Dillon RL550's setup that just has too much wiggle in it for my liking. Yes, the Dillon works but there is just too much movement for me to feel comfortable with it. I also prefer the Hornady shell plate spring retaining system. As long as you watch what you are doing you won't break it. I did manage to break one and it was my fault for not watching what I was doing. It's a very cheap and easy fix despite the embarrassment of lack of attention on my part. I didn't like the Dillon powder measure with the slide bar. Once again it works but it just gave a very jerking back and forth feeling that once again just felt like too much movement of everything was going on during the whole operation. The Hornady powder measure is a rotating drum that has a push button quick release to remove and swap out inserts and you can buy a micrometer insert to record settings for each powder. The Dillon system had an adjustable bar that worked but always felt like it was galling with the powder. I only complain about that over and over because so much of what you are doing depends on how everything feels. Did the primer feel right as it seated? Did the case slide into the sizing die right or is it not lined up right and about to crumple? Did that case mouth get the right amount of opening? Did that bullet seat right or did it feel forced? You have to pay attention to these things and I found that difficult to sort through all the different wobbles each time you pull the arm up and down and don't you dare forget to spin the cross to the next station. Also, I didn't care that you only get four stations on the Dillon RL550 and once again have to upgrade to the RL 650 for a five station press. As a side note, the Lee Load Master may be a five station press but one station is always devoted to a universal deprime for the press to work so it's still sort of a four station press. I do like their very simple case feeding system though and keep meaning to see if I can work it into another press. Dillon does offer the BL 550 which is just the RL 550 minus all the parts. You can start with the BL550 and use it sort of like a turret press and eventually buy all the bells and whistles until you turn it into the RL550. That being said, the Hornady LNL AP comes with everything you need to run the press in full progressive mode minus dies and a scale. If you don't want to spend the money and don't mind that the Lee Classic Turret is slower then they are finally offering the Classic turret in a kit form that gives you everything you need to get started minus the dies. Side not on the both of the Lee turrets, I don't think any other companies die lock rings fit the Lee Turret heads besides the Lee rubber o-ring lock rings. They work but you want to set them tight, not just finger tight. I find that Hornady's split lock rings are my favorite over the RCBS lock rings that use a small brass set screw to hold to the die body. If you do buy RCBS dies then put a piece of lead shot under the set screw and the brass will last longer and hold better. Another side note about Lee dies, they are shorter than other brands. They work just fine in the Lee presses but they are almost too short to work in the Hornady LNL AP. The work but don't have much height adjustment. Hornady hit a home run (IMHO) with the LNL bushings but fell on their face not making them swappable between the LNL AP and their single stage press. It would have required changing the design of one to match the other. Oh well. I could keep rambling but this is already a bit overly long to read.
