Which press to get

Hello. I would go with the Lee Load Master or the Classic Turret. I have had my Load Master for about 3 years now and it works great. I was in the same position; wanted a Dillon; how to afford it. When you look at the base price for the 550; yah that I could do. Then I started looking at the rest of the parts you need and that's were it got too be much money. I started looking around and found Lee Precision. When you look at what comes with their press(everything). Yah; there no Lexus but they work great. I have had no problems with mine. I reload 223,45acp and 338 win mag. The die change over takes 5 to 10 minutes. I love to reload and take my time; never in a big hurry. Lee's disc powder measure works great to, easy to set up.
I have had no problems with customer service either. You said you have a single stage press; well now you can use that for you sizing and d-capping. For the upfront money I spent on the Lee it allowed me to get a whole lot of extra stuff that I found out I needed as time went on. Wow and there is a lot. I have RCBS, Redding, Hornady and Lyman on my bench. Well I have said enough. Take your time reloading and have fun.

P.S I use my single stage press for all my d-capping and re-sizing. Less wear on my load master.
 
I own a Dillon 550, but realistically never have the need to load 500 rds an hour, or more than 200 for that matter. A Lee Turret would have been just fine, except the Dillon was my first and now only press, and the Lee Turret was probably not around. Never pulled the handle of any other press.
In the early days my bullet puller got a real workout, and still keep it by my side. :D
 
There are fine presses made by about four manufacturers - in single stage, turret, and progressive. I am a huge fan of my XL650 but fully recognize that there are other presses that do a fine job of making ammunition. As a big Blue proponent, the only thing said above that gets my knickers in a twist are those folks who say that you need to start out on a single stage. That there's too much of a chance for Armageddon if you use a Dillon as a rookie. To those folks, I call BS. Hundreds, nay, thousands of us started on a Dillon and have no issues at all. The same way folks successfully started on Lee, RCBS, Hornady and others.

If you do not agree with the cost of doing business with Dillon, do make another choice. There are other fine choices out there.

But there is absolutely no need to disparage an excellent machine in order to make yourself feel justified in your decision.

And there is no need to say "Brand (X) (Y) or (Z)" is the only answer, either.

/[rant].
 
Peace
grouphug.gif
 
blujax01 said:
There are fine presses made by about four manufacturers - in single stage, turret, and progressive. I am a huge fan of my XL650 but fully recognize that there are other presses that do a fine job of making ammunition. As a big Blue proponent, the only thing said above that gets my knickers in a twist are those folks who say that you need to start out on a single stage. That there's too much of a chance for Armageddon if you use a Dillon as a rookie. To those folks, I call BS. Hundreds, nay, thousands of us started on a Dillon and have no issues at all. The same way folks successfully started on Lee, RCBS, Hornady and others.

If you do not agree with the cost of doing business with Dillon, do make another choice. There are other fine choices out there.

But there is absolutely no need to disparage an excellent machine in order to make yourself feel justified in your decision.

And there is no need to say "Brand (X) (Y) or (Z)" is the only answer, either.

/[rant].
Click to expand...


I actually thought this was a very peaceful BUY a Dillon Thread:D

Actually I am planing on a new press and I think it is going to be the Hornady LnL Ammo Plant, and I just need to teach my Wife how to pull the lever while I supervise.;)

Well maybe the Press for sure.:)

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Reloading :: Metallic Reloading :: Presses and Kits :: Reloading Press Kits :: Lock-N-Load® Ammo Plant 110 VT
 
Pesonally for handgun rounds I prefer the Dillon Square Deal. A true progressive(NO Manual Indexing). Comes setup in your caliber of choice...ready to load. You get a loaded round with each pull of the handle. I can load a 50 round box of pistol ammo in about 9 minutes.
Only down side is you have to use Dillon dies. I've been running 2 SDB's with 6 die sets for about 20 years with no problems.
I'm sure other brands are good as well this is just my experience.
 
I just bought a square deal to supplement my 550. Going to set it up to load .38 special to feed my favorite S&W's. It will have a simple, easy and boring life.
 
Keep your Lee single stage for Rifle, buy the Dillion Square Deal for pistol. That setup has served me well for over twenty (30?) plus years. The Square Deal is a quality, uncomplicated machine. I load six calipers on the SD. It easily loads as fast as I would want. I can put out significant volume in a short time AND maintain an eye on precision, alignments, primer depth, etc. No regrets or even desire to 'upgrade' to a 550 or 650. The only other press I am remotely considering as an addition to the bench is a Redding Turret. Don't need it, but would be a nice addition. It enjoys a stellar reputation in the within the precision rifle crowd. Good luck
 
quneur said:
Hornady, Dillon, RCBS & Lee are represented but what about Lyman and Redding?
Click to expand...

Uh, um... six is about four, right? :D

Seriously, you're right and there are no doubt others. But you get my drift? It's not about brand, they all have their attributes both good and bad. (although I have yet to find one in my ;)...stop it!!!:eek:):cool:
 
My first reloading press was a Lee turret, I used it for several years, it worked fine did what I needed it to do. I learned about reloading on that press. I decided I wanted up grade to a better press. I researched all the different presses out there and looked at what I would need to buy if I bought a different brand; I ended up going with the classic turret press from lee. I turn out about a 100 rounds per hour. I reload almost daily as I shoot 3-4times per week. I am retired, in good health and it gets me out of the house. I load 9mm., 40 cal., 38spl. 357mag. 44spl. and 44mag., 45Acp., 45 colt, M1 carbine (lots and lots) and 223,5.56. Lee makes a very good press it works well it's built to last. Cheap doesn't mean poor quality it just mean less money spent getting the job done. For me It's getting the job done. And if your don't like Red paint it blue.
 
There is a lot of good equipment out there. There are guys who can make good ammo with all of them.

I started back in the 1980s with a RCBS single stage set up. Nothing was wrong with it , but it and I did not do as well as we should have together. I later gave it to a buddy of mine and he still uses it today.

Then I used factory ammo for about 20 years. After I got shooting more big bore calibers like 416's, and 45-70's and 44 mags I got serious about getting back to loading.

My first work was to design and build some very stout benches. Guys see mine and say " You could put a truck engine on that bench." I say no " I can put my truck on that bench." ;)

Then I got Redding presses and Redding dies. Including the pricey Competition Seaters after I had splurged and got one of them. My results from the loading and reloading were a lot better. My rifles shot some excellent groups. My handguns loads were good too. Not all of it was the equipment. I had learned more along the way. But the equipment sure helped me.

I then wanted a progressive for some calibers. I knew about the Dillons and looked at them. I read some posts. It is about like here. Some only Dillon , some never a Dillon. ;)

I knew it would be more money but I went for a 650. One reason for that was that I was already very well equipped with two Redding single stages and a small RCBS single stage as well. So some of these decisions depend on where you start from and what you may have already.

The 650 is a good machine. All of these processes take some time for you to work out how you want to produce the ammunition. I tend to do more steps most of the time. But I know I can do less when ever I want to.

Most people are never dissatisfied with their Dillon purchase.

If I knew everything that I know today, and had all the accessory equipment then that I have now, I probably easily could produce the same results with a Dillon 550 and a single stage. I recently recommended that same set up to a friend of mine. The 550 can do it all - but there are times and applications for the single stage.

It can and should take some time to purchase all the equipment , to work out the processes in the way you want , and for you to get the experience in loading and working with your own equipment. You dont have to break your budget. Just get the basics and then add in as you can.

This loading is a little bit science and art. So having confidence in the equipment, and getting some good results will go a long way toward keeping you persuing it. Some of this better equipment you will never buy but once. So 20 years from now it will sure look like a good deal.

That is my 0.02 . I hope it helps your selections.
 
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I found out one more thing today. My father wants me to reload him about 3000 rounds of 223. Plus 500 357 mag pistol rounds. Then in the process I some how need to get my loads done as well. Now, my wife, being the wonderful woman she is, says just stick with the single stage. It's already paid for and will help to keep you busy. With these numbers, should this project weigh in on my decision?
 
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