Jeff423
US Veteran
Dillon 650. Auto indexing, 5 station so you can use a powder check die and still seat and crimp separately.
Jeff
Jeff
The best progressive loader for pistol ammo?
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oldRoger
US Veteran
I have and like my LNL.
I find it hard to believe that there are any jurisdictions that specifically prohibit the use of handloads in self defense. Deadly force is deadly force, you're either justified or you're not. Anybody have a statute that they can cite?
Sadly, no longer made, but can be found used, I think the Star Machine and Tool Progressive loader is the best on the Planet.
I have been using one since @1967 or 1968. I have never broken a single part....
I loaded a couple hundred rounds on it just today...
I have been using one since @1967 or 1968. I have never broken a single part....
I loaded a couple hundred rounds on it just today...
mstuhr
Member
Lee 1000
Howdy,
I would much rather have a Lee 1000 than a Square deal and have loaded on both.
I have three 1000's set up, one is older than I can remember but I think I got it in the 80's.
Properly set up, on a very sturdy bench, they load quality ammo and will smoke a SDB in rounds per hour.
The occasional rebuild has been on my dime and I cant say they have always been trouble free. I do seem to get along with them pretty well.
I recommended one to a buddy years ago. He bought one and set it up on a kitchen dining table in his shop and hated it. They need to be securely mounted to a stout bench to operate correctly.
The last one I picked up was one that the owner hated. I converted it to 9mm from 40 and it runs like it should.
I would love to have the nicer 650/1050 Dillons but they are not in my budget nor are they necessary for me . The Lee 1000 presses serve me well.
Good luck
Mike
Good luck
Mike
Howdy,
I would much rather have a Lee 1000 than a Square deal and have loaded on both.
I have three 1000's set up, one is older than I can remember but I think I got it in the 80's.
Properly set up, on a very sturdy bench, they load quality ammo and will smoke a SDB in rounds per hour.
The occasional rebuild has been on my dime and I cant say they have always been trouble free. I do seem to get along with them pretty well.
I recommended one to a buddy years ago. He bought one and set it up on a kitchen dining table in his shop and hated it. They need to be securely mounted to a stout bench to operate correctly.
The last one I picked up was one that the owner hated. I converted it to 9mm from 40 and it runs like it should.
I would love to have the nicer 650/1050 Dillons but they are not in my budget nor are they necessary for me . The Lee 1000 presses serve me well.
Good luck
Mike
Good luck
Mike
Boxhead
Member
The Hornady LnL is the one to get. Relatively inexpensive (<$400 shipped on-line), five stations, auto-indexing in half strokes so very smooth operation, built hell stout, easy to set up and use, relatively inexpensive caliber conversions and a "no-BS warranty". I am thoroughly pleased with mine and they threw in a thousand bullets to boot. Midway's site has a lot of reviews on it. A pretty good read. My two bits.
VAdoublegunner
Member
Another Hornady L-N-L AP fan here, so much so that I have 2 of them, which aren't far off from the cost of one comparable Dillon with all the caliber changeover tool heads. I'm totally sold on their reliability and ease of operation. Dillons are good machines, but I feel the Hornady can do anything they can, just as well, and at better value.
Boxhead has my take on this summed up... I went through the Dillon vs. Hornady debate a while back, and after a lot of research, I went with the Dillon LnL. I'm now loading 5 calibers on it, and have been very happy; great quality, good value.
Pantexan
Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2009
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Yes, the only reason for not using your own reloaded ammo for self-defense is a legal reason. Whatever ammo you reload will be made to look like the deadliest ammo ever manufactured. Any attempt to show you only prepared target loads would be presented as the defendant manufacturing his own evidence.
knotbrush
Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2010
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How much money do you want to spend? With deep pockets get a Dillon 650 with a case feeder and bullet feeder. While waiting for free money from Obammy, I use a Lee Loadmaster and crank out way more perfect ammo than I can shoot. BUT...that press is not for the ham-handed and needs constant attention. Lots of mod ideas are available and it has a very loyal following. One can hit the same or better production as a Dillon and it's a third of the investment. (I'd still rather have a Dillon though)
Gaëtan
Member
Hello, this makes 10 years that I use a RCBS PRO 2000 press for reloading cartridges handguns: 9x19, 38/357, 45 acp, 38 super auto, 44 mag.
I met only two breaks, the shoulder bolt (7,788,009), each time taken into account by the service warranty RCBS, the last bolt broken shoulder one month ago has been replaced by two free parts, received today I would like to acknowledge the seriousness and quality of after sales service (warranty) for RCBS to use the PRO 2000 = only happiness
Bonjour, cela fait 10 ans que j'utilise une presse RCBS PRO 2000, pour le rechargement de cartouches d'armes de poings: 9x19, 38/357, 45 acp, 38 super auto, 44 mag.
je n'ai rencontré que 2 casses, le shoulder bolt (7788009), à chaque fois pris en compte par le service garantie de RCBS, le dernier shoulder bolt cassé il y a 1 mois a été remplacé gratuitement par 2 pièces, reçu aujourd'hui, j'en profite pour saluer le sérieux et la qualité du service après vente (garantie) de RCBS, pour l'utilisation la PRO 2000 = que du bonheur, A+ Gaëtan.
cmj8591
Member
I've been using a Dillon 450 for about 25 years. I've loaded about a million rounds on it. I've thought about upgrading but the machine doesn't wear out. The couple of times that I've broken something I call Dillon and they send me a new part. Never once did I have to pay for anything.
One consideration that never comes up in the hand load self defense debate is reliability. Good factory ammo has a greater reliability factor than reloads. I wouldn't want to depend on the load I made where I happened to touch the primer with a greasy finger. If my life depends on it, I'm using good factory loads every time. Bottom line, liability aside, there is no good reason to use a reload for self defense.
As for liability: if it's a bad shoot it won't matter if the bullet was blessed by the Pope and dipped in holy water, you're done. If the shoot is good, then at least you'll be alive to be sued.
Good luck with the reloading.
One consideration that never comes up in the hand load self defense debate is reliability. Good factory ammo has a greater reliability factor than reloads. I wouldn't want to depend on the load I made where I happened to touch the primer with a greasy finger. If my life depends on it, I'm using good factory loads every time. Bottom line, liability aside, there is no good reason to use a reload for self defense.
As for liability: if it's a bad shoot it won't matter if the bullet was blessed by the Pope and dipped in holy water, you're done. If the shoot is good, then at least you'll be alive to be sued.
Good luck with the reloading.
You will be well-served by either a Dillon 650 or a Hornady L-N-L AP, both are very good machines, and both firms have terrific customer service and "no questions asked" warranties. In my view, there are two major differences between the two - cost, with the Dillon being quite a bit more expensive, and speed/ease/expense of caliber changes. The Hornady uses their Lock-N-Load bushings, so, once you have the dies properly indexed in their bushings (which remain on the dies), changing calibers is a matter of twisting out one set of dies (quarter turn, not screwing them out), inserting the new set with quarter turn each, and, if necessary, changing the primer feed system from small to large primers, or vice-versa, also a very straightforward and easy change on the Hornady. The Dillon primer changeover is, IMHO, more difficult, and to change calibers involves mounting dies in dedicated toolheads, which are changed as an assembly.
I have known Mike Dillon for quite a few years (from our mutual love of flying and, particularly, warbirds), and he builds a great product; however, I have been using a Hornady Pro-Jector (the predecessor of the L-n-L AP) for many years, and I am considering turning it into a caliber-dedicated press, and buying a new L-n-L AP for use on a number of other calibers, due to the speed and ease of changeover it offers. All things considered, I believe the Hornady slightly edges out the Dillon 650, and has a major advantage when price is brought into the picture.
Whichever you choose, I know you'll be happy. Both are good presses, and will churn out a lot of quality ammo in a short period of time.
Another thought - I noticed you said you were new to reloading, or going to get started soon. Many will argue that you shouldn't start with a progressive press, as it is too easy to make mistakes on it (especially when you have little reloading experience). There is some merit to that position. It may be better for you to start out on a single stage press in order to reduce the potential for making mistakes. If you don't wish to do so, at least use the progressive as though it were a fancy single stage press for a while, loading only one round of ammunition at a time through all the cycles. BTW, you might want to start with a single stage, anyway, because you will probably find there will be many occasions that you want to do something that is better handled on the single stage press. I recently bought a new single stage, as it offers flexibility in many operations that a progressive really doesn't lend itself to. Just food for thought.
I have known Mike Dillon for quite a few years (from our mutual love of flying and, particularly, warbirds), and he builds a great product; however, I have been using a Hornady Pro-Jector (the predecessor of the L-n-L AP) for many years, and I am considering turning it into a caliber-dedicated press, and buying a new L-n-L AP for use on a number of other calibers, due to the speed and ease of changeover it offers. All things considered, I believe the Hornady slightly edges out the Dillon 650, and has a major advantage when price is brought into the picture.
Whichever you choose, I know you'll be happy. Both are good presses, and will churn out a lot of quality ammo in a short period of time.
Another thought - I noticed you said you were new to reloading, or going to get started soon. Many will argue that you shouldn't start with a progressive press, as it is too easy to make mistakes on it (especially when you have little reloading experience). There is some merit to that position. It may be better for you to start out on a single stage press in order to reduce the potential for making mistakes. If you don't wish to do so, at least use the progressive as though it were a fancy single stage press for a while, loading only one round of ammunition at a time through all the cycles. BTW, you might want to start with a single stage, anyway, because you will probably find there will be many occasions that you want to do something that is better handled on the single stage press. I recently bought a new single stage, as it offers flexibility in many operations that a progressive really doesn't lend itself to. Just food for thought.
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RufusG
Member
I just recently went progressive, and after doing the research went with the Hornady L-N-L, primarily based on the cost, the cost of caliber changes, and the free bullets!
It has basically worked as advertised and I'm happy with it.
Two recommedations if you go that way:
1. Do the complete cleanup of the new press per the included DVD. Trust me, this will save trouble down the road.
2. Consider a Dillon sizing die. The big radiused entry adds a whole level of smoothness to the operation. The old RCBS die I started with was very unforgiving on cartridge entry.
Good luck whichever way you go. The Dillon is certainly a fine machine as well.
It has basically worked as advertised and I'm happy with it.
Two recommedations if you go that way:
1. Do the complete cleanup of the new press per the included DVD. Trust me, this will save trouble down the road.
2. Consider a Dillon sizing die. The big radiused entry adds a whole level of smoothness to the operation. The old RCBS die I started with was very unforgiving on cartridge entry.
Good luck whichever way you go. The Dillon is certainly a fine machine as well.
I started with the RCBS Rock Chucker 25 years ago and bought then 2 Dillon 550 and then a Dillon 650.
This D650 has loaded in the last 15 years over 150.000 rounds!!
There was one recall and that took like 5 weeks including shipping.
Other then this I had no problems. I lost some of the pins and Dillon did not even charge me the shipping.
They are a great company which other companies should study for excellent customer service!
The only thing what breaks form time to time are the primer push out pins.
However that is to bad brass or if there is something in the cartridge.
With the D650 I load about 500 9mm, .357 SIG or .45 an hour without a sweat.
Once I did 2.000 .45 in 90 minutes with a friend together!
This D650 has loaded in the last 15 years over 150.000 rounds!!
There was one recall and that took like 5 weeks including shipping.
Other then this I had no problems. I lost some of the pins and Dillon did not even charge me the shipping.
They are a great company which other companies should study for excellent customer service!
The only thing what breaks form time to time are the primer push out pins.
However that is to bad brass or if there is something in the cartridge.
With the D650 I load about 500 9mm, .357 SIG or .45 an hour without a sweat.
Once I did 2.000 .45 in 90 minutes with a friend together!
Andy Griffith
Member
I'm a big fan of the red presses made in Nebraska too. My Hornady has served me well and their customer service is second to none. One other good thing, is that they have more shellplates for the AP press than is listed on the website (at least the regular shellplates that aren't modified for the case feeder) for odd or strange caliber.
I just got in a plate for 7.5 Swiss revolver cartridges.
I just got in a plate for 7.5 Swiss revolver cartridges.
Faulkner
Member
I'd never reloaded before I bought mine Dillon and I have loaded thousands of rounds on my Dillon 550B and I readily recommend it. I load 9mm, .40 S&W, and .30 carbine.
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