Dillon RL550B vs Hornaday LNL AP

[WiseOldYote]

I currently have a Dillon RL 550B set up for .223. Great machine. I am looking at the Hornaday LNL.

Cost of a caliber conversion on a dillon is more expensive. Setting up the caliber dies and quick change bushings on the hornaday is no big deal for me. So once dies are set up they are done, just a matter of changing the shell plate correct?

For those of you who use both i would like to know your experience and testimonials.

Thanks

 

[GJSchulze]

There can be more to it than that. You may have to change to small/large primers. If you have a case or bullet feeder you may have to make changes there. And the powder measure has separate pistol and rifle rotors. I only have the Hornady, but I would guess that these changes would also have to be made on the Dillon. The benefit is die bushings that allow you to set up a die once as long as it stays in the bushing. Changing the shell plate is simple enough.

 

[RealGun]

Each die needs its own LnL bushing at about $5 each. I don't believe the caliber change expense is really all that different, certainly not enough to be a deal breaker.

 

[TNSean]

I researched both presses and ended up getting the 550b. If I was only going to reload a couple calibers but in huge quantity or needed more automation, I would of gotten a 650, but I needed more flexibility.

I read lots accounts of people dropping the LnL and buying a dillon, but not too many who sold dillon to get a LnL. The LnL has more manufacturing/quality and design issues, but Hornady has made some small improvements here and there.

If you need more automation compared to the 550b, go with a 650, other wise I would load on the 550b and call it a day.

 

[GJSchulze]

Each die needs its own LnL bushing at about $5 each

Midway has a pack of 10 bushings for $42.

FWIW, I love my Hornady LnL. It's well built and their customer service is good.

 

[RealGun]

Midway has a pack of 10 bushings for $42.

plus almost $16 shipping. I thought $5 each was a pretty good approximation when combined with other items in a shipment. I buy my 10 packs on eBay for $52 plus free shipping (or included).

 

[Walkalong]

Yea, bushings get expensive if you buy them for all your dies. They should be cheaper IMHO. No way they need to cost that much. But it is what it is, and no sense fussing about it. It does factor into the decision making for someone looking at various presses though.

 

[BYJO4]

As you said, once the dies are set up all you have to do is change the shellplate and insert the correct dies. I've been very happy with the 2
LNL APs that I have.

 

[Pete45lc]

I really like the lock n load bushing concept and I think the spring case retainer is easier to work with than Dillon's buttons. I like the powder drop on the hornady also. I have not loaded on a 550 but have used a square deal b for years. I finally gave up on on the sdb due to priming issues with large pistol primers. No issues at all with my hornady.

 

[WiseOldYote]

I have had issues with the primers interface with the shell plate during rotation on the Dillon. I don't know whether its primers a tad too tall or what but I have come to the conclusion its the primers not the machine. Very frustrating when ya get on a roll.

 

[GJSchulze]

plus almost $16 shipping

That's why I never buy just one item from them. After the first item you can usually add a couple more small items before the shipping charge changes. I just bought 5000 primers and was a couple dollars short of the free shipping, so I added on two plastic boxes for $5 that saved me the $16 shipping minus the $5.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Each die needs its own LnL bushing at about $5 each. I don't believe the caliber change expense is really all that different, certainly not enough to be a deal breaker.

If you are on a budget, you don't have to buy bushings for each die. You can simply screw your bushings on and off your preadjusted dies. It might add all of 2 minutes to caliber change times.

 

[GJSchulze]

If you are on a budget, you don't have to buy bushings for each die. You can simply screw your bushings on and off your preadjusted dies.

This defeats the purpose of the LnL bushings. If you can do this, then you don't need them or the LnL. I suppose this will work well enough for any die that has a locking ring such that you can duplicate how far you screw it down.

 

[Sport45]

I may be missing something here, but if cost is the issue wouldn't it be cheaper to get the caliber conversion for the 550b you already own than to buy a LNL?

 

[cfullgraf]

This defeats the purpose of the LnL bushings. If you can do this, then you don't need them or the LnL. I suppose this will work well enough for any die that has a locking ring such that you can duplicate how far you screw it down.

Except for Lee's o-ring lock ring, all other popular brands of dies come with a lock ring that positively clamps to the die, either by a set screw or a split ring collar. So, your setting is not lost when removing the die from the L-N-L bushing.

While I use the L-N-L bushing feature on my Hornady press since it is there, I would not have minded screwing the dies in and out. I did that for 29 years on a single stage before buying the progressive. The time savings is negligible in the grand scheme of things.

So, if swapping bushings between dies is needed to save a little money in the short term to get started, it is a reasonable alternative. But, in my opinion, swapping bushings will not last long.

 

[RealGun]

I may be missing something here, but if cost is the issue wouldn't it be cheaper to get the caliber conversion for the 550b you already own than to buy a LNL?

Nothing missed, when you call out the obvious, since the premise is weak that Dillon conversion parts are more expensive, when realistically compared to those of the LnL AP.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

This defeats the purpose of the LnL bushings. If you can do this, then you don't need them or the LnL. I suppose this will work well enough for any die that has a locking ring such that you can duplicate how far you screw it down.

I screw mine on and off....I did not buy my LnL based on the quick change bushings.

 

[anothernewb]

I have had issues with the primers interface with the shell plate during rotation on the Dillon. I don't know whether its primers a tad too tall or what but I have come to the conclusion its the primers not the machine. Very frustrating when ya get on a roll.

I went through that with small primers and 9mm. every once in awhile the shell plate wouldn't quite snap into place perfectly, and the primer feed would catch. ended up with a large number of sideways primers. Dillon sent me a replacement shell plate - which cured most of the issues, Ended up taking the old shell plate to a machinist. Had him widen out the chamfer for the ball bearing locator and soften the edges of the primer feed holes. Cost me a whopping $5 I also slightly adjusted the shellplate locator to better center the plate and she feeds like butter now!

 

[Nickb45]

I don't think you can go wrong with a Dillon. I have tool heads and powder throwers set up for everything I load. I figured spend the money one time and not have to deal with adjustments.

 

[rule303]

The LNL AP would be a better comparison to a Dillon XL650, rather than a 550B. When you look at it that way, the Hornady is quite a bit cheaper. I have had a 550b, which is a good machine, but I sold it after buying my LNL AP. I wouldn't go back to a press without auto indexing for high volume loading.

 

[howlnmad]

Both machines are wonderful and both have great CS. The LnL bushings aren't what swayed me since my dies come with lock rings and get torn down and cleaned regularly. What really swayed me is the idea that if I bought a new caliber firearm, I don't have to sit and wait for my mail carrier to show up with a package. I just run down to my LGS for a shell plate.

 

[John3921]

I use the PTX expander on my LNL. Using that eliminates the expander die. I also use a dedicated quick change powder die for each caliber. It's set up with it's own quick change bushing and is adjusted to keep the powder measure set correctly. Also I have the pistol standard insert for each caliber. Having these makes caliber changing easy - but adds another $26 for the powder die and $11 for the insert.

 

[GJSchulze]

I use the PTX expander on my LNL. Using that eliminates the expander die. I also use a dedicated quick change powder die for each caliber

Are you talking about this PTX expander? It's what I have and doesn't require changing for another caliber.
http://www.powderfunnels.com/

What is a dedicated quick change powder die?

 

[Blue68f100]

PTX is different than the power funnel. The PTX will give you consistent neck tension since it sizes (expands) the area where the bullet goes and expands the mouth to accept the bullet. The PF only expands the mouth to accept the bullet.

 

[jgh4445]

I had a L-N-L and just couldn't be satisfied until I got a Dillon. I got a 550B. After about 2000 rounds I was really missing my auto indexing L-N-L. Sold the 550B and went back to the Hornady. Happy now.