stretch0069
Member
Good day to all. New join here, but I've perused these pages for quite a few years.
I have a question about a couple progressive presses I’m looking at. I used to reload on a Lee Loadmaster. When it worked, it worked great. But I loaded a LOT of ammo on it and plastic wears out. Its been over 10 years since I was reloading and….well…I just don’t want to mess with things anymore. My time has become valuable so when I DO reload, I don’t want to waste it fiddling around. I loved the quick changeover of calibers on the Lee.
On the progressive, I will be reloading the following:
454 Casull
44 Mag
41 Mag
I also reload 50AE, 22-250, 30-30, 308, and 30-06, but I don’t do those on a progressive mainly due to having to lube the cases.
I also run separate crimp dies.
I went to a local shop here and was able to see the XL650 and the LnL AP. Both looked good and seemed smooth. I haven’t been able to check out the PRO2000.
I like quick change overs and a minimum of fuss. I have read all the blue/red/red/green bashing and butt-kissing I can stand. I am only interested in the three mentioned below (to avoid the inevitable “why not a 550?” ). My question is….for those who own each….have I left out any parts I’ll need? I want to avoid the “oh…you should have gotten the extra blahblah” after I've made my purchase. I’m going to purchase and that will be the end of it as far as extras go.
Dillon XL650:
Press (44Mag) (shellplate, toolhead, powder measure)
Case feed
Strong Mount
Bullet tray
Alum. Roller Handle
Machine cover
41 Mag Conversion (shellplate, stand, toolhead, powder measure)
454 Conversion (shellplate, stand, toolhead, powder measure)
650 Priming Quick-Change, Small
Extra primer tubes (2 sm and 2 lrg)
Spare parts kit
This specs out to about $1500
Hornady Lock-n-Load AP:
Press
Case feed
44 Mag shellplate
41 Mag shellplate
454 shellplate
20 LnL bushings
Extra primer pickup tubes (3 sm and 3 lrg)
Dust cover
This looks to be about $1000
RCBS Pro2000:
Press
44 Mag shellplate
41 Mag shellplate
454 shellplate
3 toolheads
APS strips (8 sm and 8 lrg)
APS Primer strip loader
All of this can be had for $775
Now…to keep things in perspective…..I’ve heard tell that Lee made some mods to the Loadmaster in the last few years to address some issues. Namely the primer feed and the shellplates. Can anyone confirm or deny this and if confirmed, did the “improvements” help? I really have no problem throwing down $200 for upgrades to the Loadmaster if it solves some previous issues. Besides…I already have most of the bits.
As an aside…..I know the LM isn’t a true 5 station, but I know the Powder Though Expanding die and it worked great for me….as does the Pro Disk measure. Not sure of the other three or if they even have a PTE die.
Another beef with the loadmaster right now is the plastic flipper used to advance the shellplate. This single part is what has me looking at the other three. But I’m sure a mod could be made here as well.
Sorry for the long post, but it’s what I’m looking at. Hopefully, the extensive knowledge base here will help me out with required items for the above presses.
So…..as it stands:
Dillon $1500
Hornady $1000
RCBS $770
Lee……..well…….??????
CHEERS!
I have a question about a couple progressive presses I’m looking at. I used to reload on a Lee Loadmaster. When it worked, it worked great. But I loaded a LOT of ammo on it and plastic wears out. Its been over 10 years since I was reloading and….well…I just don’t want to mess with things anymore. My time has become valuable so when I DO reload, I don’t want to waste it fiddling around. I loved the quick changeover of calibers on the Lee.
On the progressive, I will be reloading the following:
454 Casull
44 Mag
41 Mag
I also reload 50AE, 22-250, 30-30, 308, and 30-06, but I don’t do those on a progressive mainly due to having to lube the cases.
I also run separate crimp dies.
I went to a local shop here and was able to see the XL650 and the LnL AP. Both looked good and seemed smooth. I haven’t been able to check out the PRO2000.
I like quick change overs and a minimum of fuss. I have read all the blue/red/red/green bashing and butt-kissing I can stand. I am only interested in the three mentioned below (to avoid the inevitable “why not a 550?” ). My question is….for those who own each….have I left out any parts I’ll need? I want to avoid the “oh…you should have gotten the extra blahblah” after I've made my purchase. I’m going to purchase and that will be the end of it as far as extras go.
Dillon XL650:
Press (44Mag) (shellplate, toolhead, powder measure)
Case feed
Strong Mount
Bullet tray
Alum. Roller Handle
Machine cover
41 Mag Conversion (shellplate, stand, toolhead, powder measure)
454 Conversion (shellplate, stand, toolhead, powder measure)
650 Priming Quick-Change, Small
Extra primer tubes (2 sm and 2 lrg)
Spare parts kit
This specs out to about $1500
Hornady Lock-n-Load AP:
Press
Case feed
44 Mag shellplate
41 Mag shellplate
454 shellplate
20 LnL bushings
Extra primer pickup tubes (3 sm and 3 lrg)
Dust cover
This looks to be about $1000
RCBS Pro2000:
Press
44 Mag shellplate
41 Mag shellplate
454 shellplate
3 toolheads
APS strips (8 sm and 8 lrg)
APS Primer strip loader
All of this can be had for $775
Now…to keep things in perspective…..I’ve heard tell that Lee made some mods to the Loadmaster in the last few years to address some issues. Namely the primer feed and the shellplates. Can anyone confirm or deny this and if confirmed, did the “improvements” help? I really have no problem throwing down $200 for upgrades to the Loadmaster if it solves some previous issues. Besides…I already have most of the bits.
As an aside…..I know the LM isn’t a true 5 station, but I know the Powder Though Expanding die and it worked great for me….as does the Pro Disk measure. Not sure of the other three or if they even have a PTE die.
Another beef with the loadmaster right now is the plastic flipper used to advance the shellplate. This single part is what has me looking at the other three. But I’m sure a mod could be made here as well.
Sorry for the long post, but it’s what I’m looking at. Hopefully, the extensive knowledge base here will help me out with required items for the above presses.
So…..as it stands:
Dillon $1500
Hornady $1000
RCBS $770
Lee……..well…….??????
CHEERS!