[Catpop]

I have a Dillion SD 357 and love it, but now into 45 acp. What are your thoughts on new press?

[SKLFCO]

Blue is best.

[Boxhead]

Been more than happy with my LnL. Good info here.

http://ultimatereloader.com/

[mayassa]

I just went and ordered the XL 650 in 45 and 40! I was on the fence until I read all the great no BS they fix your Blue no questions asked for free. down the road you wont remember the price you paid but when you need some tech help or a part replaced you'll be happy you had the blue cool-aid. I came from a POS Lee Pro 1000, that thing drove me away from reloading for the last few years.

[silicosys4]

I've been happy with my LnL, it has had some teething problems but that's more from me learning how to reload on a progressive than anything to do with the press itself. I load .45acp on the LnL and have been happy with the results. The priming mechanism can be a bit troublesome until you learn the quirks, but I have loaded the last 5k rounds without a single issue with the priming system, and Hornady's customer service has been top notch. I've broken several parts due to inexperience, and they sent me new ones free of charge.

[mayassa]

I'm glad to hear both companies will take care of you, so I guess its up to personal choice.

[Oldgoat03]

If you really like your SDB in 357 why not just get a quick change set up (dies and tool head) for it? That is what I have for my SDB in .38, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45. With the tool heads set-up change over is pretty quick for me. You could just order a 2nd SDB in 45ACP if you really wanted. It would be cheaper than either the 650 or LNL AP.

Just my two cents.

OldGoat03

[cfullgraf]

The way i operate a progressive, I like my L-N-L. Depending on the task at hand, I set dies in different spots. Easy to do with the Hornady with the L-N-L bushings. Could be done on the Dillon 650 by screwing dies in and out.

Consider another SDB. I have two, one dedicated for 45 ACP and one dedicated for 9x19. I have a storage stand on a shelf for the SDB not in use. I change cartrigdes by changing the entire press.

But, I only load on the SDBs, the resizing chores are done on the Hornady and priming is done by hand. My preferred mode of operation.

[ColtPythonElite]

I have loaded thousands on my LnL with no complaints. I have broken a couple of small parts. Hornady sent me free replacements in about 3 days.

[Red Six Bravo]

I have been running a Dillon xl650 for my 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W, .223 and .308. If you already own a Dillon, then I am sure that you have an understanding of their product line and reputation. Upgrading to the XL650 will provide you years of flexibility and ability to crank out numerous rounds.

Good luck.....

[gilly6993]

I have a LNL and have been more than happy with customer service when I had problems....I just bought new 50 BMG dies for my ammomaster and need a new spindle for it....no questions asked sent me a new one....

[jmorris]

I have two 650's and had two LNL's.

[Catpop]

Old goat 03
I like the SD conversion idea but was't sure how hard it is to change back and forth including small to large primer assys. If going to buy new press, I thought money better spent with mult die capability in case I get another wild hair! Thanks to all for input.
Catpop

[gspn]

I've been happy with my LnL, it has had some teething problems but that's more from me learning how to reload on a progressive than anything to do with the press itself. I load .45acp on the LnL and have been happy with the results. The priming mechanism can be a bit troublesome until you learn the quirks, but I have loaded the last 5k rounds without a single issue with the priming system, and Hornady's customer service has been top notch. I've broken several parts due to inexperience, and they sent me new ones free of charge.
I've experienced just about the same thing. I really like the LNL press. I did my research and chose it over the Dillon (although I can't recall the technical reasons off hand...I want to say one factor was the ease of caliber changes)...so far I've been very happy.

Here is a very good conversation about the topic from The Firing Line:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=460533

[ilmonster]

I also thought "why not just get additional dies and toolhead in .45 ACP"? I have a SDB, and load 9mm, .38 and .44. I can change tool heads from 9mm to .38 Spcl for instance in 5 min., and change toolhead and primer delivery from small to large (say, 9mm to .44 Spcl) in 10 min. easy. First time or three, I watched the video Dillon has on changing toolheads and primer systems, but now can do it by heart. I can't imagine why I'd buy a 650 if you already have a SDB unless I wanted to reload rifle calibers.

[SC_Dave]

I really like my my LnL, no regrets.
David

[jwrowland77]

I can't attest to the LnL progressive, but can to the customer service Hornady provides. I have the SS LnL.

Well here not long ago, I got some quick change bushings from Cabelas, 4 to be exact. Well, two of them would not lock in. I emailed Hornady, and they sent me replacements within a week of the email. Great customer service!

[Meta]

Rarely if ever will you hear someone say that they have both a Dillon 650 and a Hornady LNL and tell you they like the Hornady better. Sure, if all you've driven is the Honda Accord, well, you'll be perfectly happy. If you drive an S500 Benz, well, it's just, better. Same with the Dillon 650, it's just better.

[dalv]

Long time reloader but new to progressive - started with the LNL and having good success. No experience with the Dillon but feel you can't go wrong with either. I did break the small primer slide and called CS - nelw one in the mail 3 days later.

[MagicD]

Had great customer service on my LNL....very quick caliber change!

[Waldog]

Love my LNL! Also, have a Dillon SDB, it's nice as well. Prefer the LNL.

[thump_rrr]

Rarely if ever will you hear someone say that they have both a Dillon 650 and a Hornady LNL and tell you they like the Hornady better. Sure, if all you've driven is the Honda Accord, well, you'll be perfectly happy. If you drive an S500 Benz, well, it's just, better. Same with the Dillon 650, it's just better.
Sure that's why the Dillon 650 will spit out a primer if there is no case in the priming station but the Hornady won't.
Let's not get into a comparison on the quality of the 2 powder measures.

The only thing that I would choose the Dillon over the Hornady for is speed of changing calibers. This is because the powder measures are cheap enough you can buy one for each tool head.
By the time you buy a Hornady powder drop and the conversion for the press you are in for about $150.00.
Yes the time can be spent changing over from the pistol to the rifle drum and vice versa but it slows you down.

I have nothing against Dillon, I own their RT -1200 rapid trimmer, their primer filler tubes are superior to the Hornady and their Super Swager is great but too many people are blinded by the blue Kool-aid.

[ole farmerbuck]

Rarely if ever will you hear someone say that they have both a Dillon 650 and a Hornady LNL and tell you they like the Hornady better. Sure, if all you've driven is the Honda Accord, well, you'll be perfectly happy. If you drive an S500 Benz, well, it's just, better. Same with the Dillon 650, it's just better.
And how is it better? I have 3 LNL ap's and couldnt be happier.

[cfullgraf]

By the time you buy a Hornady powder drop and the conversion for the press you are in for about $150.00.




I am not sure how you figure that. I figure about $55 not including dies for a cartridge change on a Hornady L-N-L. (About $10 for bushings, $10 for the PDX powder funeral, $10 for the powder measure metering insert, $25 for a Quick Change powder die.)

With the interchangeable metering inserts in the powder measure, there is no need to have multiple pricey powder measures. The case activated powder measure linkage stays with the powder measure so only one is needed.

At $75, the Dillon powder measure is comparable in cost to the Hornady L-N-L measure.

One of the reasons I bought my L-N-L over the Dillon 650 was the lower cost of cartridge changes.

In reality, there really is not a difference in quality and capability between the Dillon 650 and the Hornady L-N-L. Each have there own distinct operating features that make them different from the other. So, it is these differences and features that the owner/operator likes or dislikes.

For instance, on my Hornady, I feed bullets and cases with my left hand while on my SDBs, I feed cases with my right hand and bullets with my left. Operation does not flow as well to me on the SDB as the Hornady.

Get the one whose color best matches the decor in your reloading room. It will serve you well.

[Adam the Gnome]

If anyone doesn't like their dillon or lnl, I will gladly trade you a rock chucker for it! I will even throw in the hand primer.

[Meta]

I know there are lots of people who are very happy with their LNL's performance. No doubt it will get the job done. However, just like some of the mid-priced tools that you can buy from Home Depot that will serve a homeowner or light duty tradesman well, it isn't in my opinion built as well as a higher quality tool like the Dillon. I've reloaded on lots of machines, including a LNL, and the Dillon 650 is better than the LNL. The Dillon 650 is also better and more robustly built than the 550, especially in the priming system, and the 1050 is better than the 650! You do get more of what makes something BETTER when you pay more for something in the same market. Again, your mileage may vary. Just saying that's my experience.

[Boxhead]

Midway is also a good place to read reviews of the LnL, many being from Dillon owners as well.

[Captaingyro]

I had to make the same decision a few years ago, and went Red. I'm perfectly satisfied with my decision. Here was my logic:

When you factor in the free bullet deal (which has arguable gotten a lot more valuable in light of recent events), the 650 costs almost twice as much as the LNL. Now, even if we concede that the Dillon is a better press, which may or may not be the case, it certainly isn't twice as good as the LNL. Dillon's customer service has a good rep, but a press as good as the 650 is reputed to be shouldn't need that much service. In the rare instances when I've dealt with them, Hornady customer service reps have never told me "No"; I don't know how much better service could get.

If you're considering the 650, why not get two LNL's for the same money? Keep one set up for large primers, and one for small. Shoot your free bullets, enjoy your auto-indexing operation, and when you take your reloads to the range, see if anyone can tell if they were loaded on a Dillon or a Hornady.