Been considering getting into a progressive press

I have really enjoyed reading this thread and have been refreshing this all day at work . Everyone's input has been helpful. And I am still willing to hear anything else you have to say. When I consider Livelife's in depth knowledge of the Lee 6000, I have to put a lot of stock into what he says. Not to say that others don't have an in depth knowledge of their machine. With all the accolades for the 6000 and the extremly low price point compared with the other presses, I am pretty sure the 6000 is going to be the one. No offense to the Dillon people here, but they are just too expensive for me. I'm sure they're great machines. As for the Hornady/RCBS crowd, they are more expensive too and seem to have their own set of issues. I'd rather spend half the price and deal with issues, some of which I am already familiar with. I will probably also get an inline fabrication quick change flush mount for both the 6000 and turret press as I don't have enough room at this time to have 2 presses setup. Plus, I am trying to decide between the Hornady powder cop or the DAA magnetic powder check. Not sure when all this buying will take place, as I may wait as was suggested for more issues to be worked out. There is one available in the caliber I want at Grafs. Anyway, thanks again!

 

I haven't read what the others have said. But I'm very glad I got the progressive. If you have patience and mechanical aptitude I say Do It. I am sometimes "meticulous" (OCD?) when making things like ammo. My Dillon 750 pistol ammo resembles my Redding T7's but they go from cleaned case to crimped projectile in much less time.

Get the 750, the caliber change kit for your appropriate cartridge, whatever dies (no expander needed) you please, parts from UniqueTek (a PhotoEscape powder funnel/PTU if applicable to your cartridge, the press bearings/smooth operation kit, the failsafe rod bracket, a shoulder seating stem if 38/45 with SWCs, the kit to tap and bolt the tool head to the press, the brass primer pickup tube ends, the case chute cam rod with a wheel on the end), a dramworx glass powder hopper. Polish the inside of the powder measure with flitz on a dremel and you have a really great platform.

I purchased the Dillon strong mount but it is inferior to the very impressive inline fabrication stand/mount.

 

I started loading for 9mm and 223 on a T7 several years ago. It was great, but when bulk loading 9mm plinking ammo I was ready for something faster. Last summer I added a Dillon XL750 w/ case feeder to augment my aforementioned turret press (which i still use for all sizing as well as precision rifle loads).

The XL750 has been great and, while expensive, I consider it well worth the money. The customer service has been good and the press feels very well made.

 

One of the things that moved me to a AP was tennis elbow and arthritis, among other medical issues. Since I'm limited on how may strokes I can do before the pain says to stop. The idea of 1 stroke = 1 round once the stations were full was the winning ticket. I made the switch over 20 yrs ago and asked my self why I took so long to make the move. Go ahead and get one ( AP of your choice) and start learning.

The Powder cop works with rifle or pistol. The Lockout die is limited to straight wall brass. I use a powder cop for all. That way I'm already trained my self to look at it every stroke. Switching back in forth will be a leaning cycle. I will say on the powder cop it's best to have your brass sorted by mfg to limit the normal deviation.

 

All the advice given here is great. I went through all the same questions you are asking for my first progressive. I chose a Dillon 550C. Ease of caliber changes on the 550 second to none with an additional tool head. And although I can prime off the press with a RCBS Auto Prime the 550c has the nicest priming set up that I have ever used. The 550c is manually indexed but it just takes a flip of the thumb to index it. The manual index is not a deal breaker to me. There is talk of precision reloading on a progressive. Progressive presses measure powder by volume. You are not going to the precision out of a volume measure on a progressive vs individual weighing and tickling each individual charge on a scale. Especially with extruded stick powders. For volume measures BLC2, AA2520, Bullseye, HP38 work well. When you start running stick powders like IMR4064, IMR3031, and IMR4198, the volume progressive measures has to shear the sticks. Better to weigh the charges for the extruded/stick powders off of the progressive.

 

I did exactly this as I was limited on space. I had already set up my Turret with Inline gear so it was natural.

Jeff

 

Ford or Chevy, Canon or Nikon, they all work, they all have their quirks. The only way you’ll know is to jump in and see.

Be advised the powder cop (either rcbs or Hornady) only have a stem that moves up and down, so you need to visually verify that as well as visually verify the powder charge in the case before placing a bullet. The rcbs lock out die, the DAA or Dillon powder check either lock the press or sound an alarm.
I highly, strongly, fervently recommend a system you don’t have to visually verify as your attention will be elsewhere on a progressive.

 

Well you clearly have a vested interest in this press. Several threads, best practices etc etc. You certainly did a fine detailed review on it.
Have they contracted with you to write a 100 page owners manual?

I have not seen it so can not compare, I have been a Lee customer for many years and have all their stuff 3 presses and all kinds of dies and accessory. I have also tried to deal with their CS which used to be good, So when the widget pin assembly breaks lets see have fast Lee with send out new ones to all involved without requiring the customer to send it back and pay for shipping??

There is no way their construction can compare to Dillon, RCBS or Hornady, 6 stations is not the best thing since sliced bread.
No other press has required countless threads and post on how to make it work out of the box.
There is a reason the price is $339 compared to others,

Maybe it will become top dog, but it is to early to tell. Just like you shouldn't buy a new Wammo Bammo pistol when it is first released!

 

What companies are noted for their quality construction and no BS warranties?

Dillion
RCBS
Hornady

Notice LEE is not on the list.

 

My main tools are Dillon products, but I don't solely drink the BLUE kool-aid, as I have other brands including LEE.

But @Rule3 brings up some good points to consider....................

 

Points taken. As soon as Im convinced of one position, along comes someone else . Yeah, that’s how it goes. And I’m glad to hear the pros and cons. That’s why I started this. If I am going to stick with the 6000, I definitely think it would be wise to wait a bit.

 

It has always been that way as I mentioned somewhere in this thread,
But the main question remains, how much ammo do you need and how many calibers?

Even for new reloaders so many times all that was recommended was buy a Dillon. Even if the person only needed 100 round a month or something. I could and can buy a Dillion with all the bells and whistles but I simply do not need all that. I shoot a lot of different calibers but not a lot of them so I still like my LCT, I can change calibers in a 2-3 minutes, On the LnL it is kind of a PITA, as I prime on the press. Many with progressives then say the deprime amd reprime off the press So how much time is saved then??

I have 3 Lee presses Started with the Challenger single stage , which is OK but not very substantial. Then the Lee Classic Cast with the breech lock bushings which is very good single stage.

 

Has anyone mentioned that the best progressive presses are blue in color?

I have a Dillon XL 650. I have well over 40,000 rds of 40 S&W through it plus heaps of 9mm (I don't even own a 9mm firearm), 38 S&W, 38 Short Colt, 38 Special, (even a few hated 357 Magnums), 10mm, 45 ACP, 300 BO, and 450 Bushmaster. I will be adding 30 Remington AR and 6mm Creedmoor this year hopefully. I primarily bought the press to help feed my USPSA addiction and have since added a number of other cartridges. When I bought the press I calculated it was going to take about 16,000 rds of 40S&W for me to break even on the cost of the press, that was based on 2007 numbers and the prices of ammo rose fairly dramatically shortly there after due to a copper shortage so it probably paid for itself a bit quicker. So it has more than paid for itself. I have had very few issue with it over 15+ years of using it. I have only broken one or two parts and Dillon made it right. I also have not had any issues running non-dillon dies on it. I have used RCBS, Hornady, and Lee, in addition to Dillon. There is lots of good support for it from Dilllon, third parties and a plethora of user info on the internet. I also have experience with Dillons Square Deal and 1050. No direct experience with other brands of progressive. So take this simply as the opinion of a very happy and long time Dillon user.

 

I am not disagreeing, I use mine as a single stage press at times.
I am just stating what the progressive press was designed to do......................

 

Thanks for posting your "process".
Everyone's process is different and tailored to individual needs, and reading what others do and why can be applied to one's own process.
It's the nay sayers' posting the "yea but" and questioning a process as to why you would-do-it-that-way "logic" is not benefiting anyone.
jmo,
.
Edit:
I love these fan boys who jump into these debates, "my anecdotal experience is better, more relevant than yours."
Nobody is going to say anything that will change another's opinion, so what's the point?
.

 

I've owned and still own most of those brands. Lee has been outstanding to deal with in every case for me. I've had to call them maybe 2 or three times in the past 40 years. Great people. Great products. Great company.

 

I will bet that I have more Lee stuff than you and have contacted them more than you.
Yes nice people, good company but warranty is convoluted, Used to be pretty good.
But not gonna argue the point. The point is that it is a new product, There is a reason the price is much less than other brands, You get what you pay for,

 

The calibers I am currently reloading are 38 special, 357 mag, 44 mag, 45 colt. I can foresee adding 44 special even if I don’t get a new press. If I do get a progressive, there’s a good chance I start loading 45acp and perhaps 9mm if I think it’s worth it.

The amount I shoot has a lot to do with how much ammo I can make. But also the time of year. I imagine if I had a progressive I’d be shooting more than I do now. As it is, I probably shoot my reloaded calibers on average 150-200 rounds a week. In the summer when I don’t work, it will go way up. As the weather gets nicer I will shoot more. But with my turret press, combined with the fact that sometimes I do steps individually, I don’t have the time to make enough ammo that satisfies me. Even now with the cold weather, I could shoot more than 150-200.

 

That’s the most often quoted reason I have seen for switching: to shoot more.

 

A shame you couldn't attend a Shot Show in Vegas ,two fold . One try before You buy ,two get a Show special

Look around and see what Pro shooters load with and remember the vast majority WEREN'T pro's when they purchased their loaders and Not all were sponsored either . Equipment brand popularity is based upon FUNCTION over price EVERY SINGLE TIME .
You purchase once ( hopefully ) and use it for LIFE . IF You're going to realistically produce 250 + rounds per day or want them quickly , in 1or 2 calibers perhaps the XL750 is for You ?.

Watch this Guy ,he's pretty fair and as honest as they come .


Depending upon the reloading one intends ,I'd be inclined to look at the X10 ,as it appears to be a SOLID value for features ,IMO . I still like MY RL 550 best mainly because I can get . 338 LM rounds through mine and anything else under that .

 

I doubt that - currently I own 6 Lee presses and maybe 15 Lee die sets, many Lee accessories and perhaps 10 Lee FCD's in different calibers. I don't own the one mentioned here, and don't think I need 250 + rounds per day. My take on the prices is all the other brands mark their stuff up excessively. Quality is what makes Lee the best - along with innovation.