Hornady LNP AP VS Dillon Square Deal B

[Monkeybear]

So I am returning to reloading. I last used a Lee Turret press and I want to go progressive this time around. I have narrowed it down to these two. What are the pros/cons of each and which would you rather use.

I plan to load mostly revolver rounds.


Thanks!

 

[bigbird1]

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf



Spend some time and read this , don't know the guy but he spent some time with both blue and red. I went with the hornady after reading this , and the 1000 free bullets (good through Dec 31 2008 ) sealed the deal for me. and to be fair you need to put the Lock n load up to the dillon 650 that cost way more.

Natchez is $329 + shipping for lock n load, cabelas has shell plates on sale for 23.99. both are the cheapest price on the web for now.

 

[RustyFN]

I would buy the Hornady. The Hornady compares more to the Dillon 650. It will load pistol and rifle, the SDB will only load pistol. The Hornady will use any brand dies and the SDB will only use special Dillon dies. I'm sure there are a lot more differences but those alone are enough for me to go with the LNL AP.
Rusty

 

[GaryL]

Given that choice I'd go with the LNL.
I have a 550B, which I think compares a little more favorably to the LNL. The guys who have the LNL seem to really like them. Every machine has it's quirks, so it makes sense to try before you buy, if you can. I got to use a friends Dillon before I got mine, and liked it enough to get my own.

 

[CZ223]

I am a Dillon fan but....

If you are gonna buy dillon get the 550. The biggest reason is that it will take any standard size 7/8'' dies and the square deal can only use the smaller Dillon dies made for that one machine. The Second reason is that you can notreload rifle cartridges with the square deal. With all that said, if you can still get the 1000 free bullets with the Hornady LNL AP I would not hesitate to buy it. With the cost ofbullets these days that is one heck of a deal. I think MID SOUTH is selling them fro $340, about the same as the Dillon 550B with the thousand bullets.

 

[Shoney]

I have the Dillon 550 and the Hornady LNL Auto, and the Hornady is the winner hands down.

But the question is on LNL vs SDB:
The SDB and the LNL are similarly priced for a bare bone machine, but add in the quick changeover to load additional cartridges, it is $DB, a lot more costs. As mentioned above SDB requires Dillon dies.
The LNL has quicker, simpler, and more versatile caliber conversion system. LNL has better powder measure, more accurate and more easily repeatable, spills powder less often. LNL has one additional station. LNL is available in more pistol chamberings and all rifle chamberings (SDB does not load rifle).

 

[robctwo]

I just went over 70,000 on my LnL. I had the decision between LnL and Dillon 650 to compare similar features.

 

[Hunter0924]

The Hornady L-N-L gets my vote.

 

[SASS#23149]

Another downside to the SDB is it's small size.Everything on it is small,especially the hand room for inserting bullets and cases.I have one,and a 550b next to it.My next press would be the 550b,not the SDB.

A thousand free bullets you say?? I"m thinking the LNL is the way to go in this case.

 

[Monkeybear]

With a thousand free bullets its like the press cost a $150 less. I guess I am getting the LNL AP.

Thanks guys!

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Im a dillon fan through and through but if i could have only one press and those were the choises id go with the hornady. That been said it depends on what you want it for. If your just going want to crank out one caliber of handgun ammo the square deal is one of the fastest presses on the market. Downside is conversions are costly and take a little more time to install. Personaly id see no advantage to a lnl over a 550. With its short stroke and fast shell plate feed i can load handgun ammo just as fast on a square deal as i can on a 650 with a case feeder. but if rifle loading is on the agenda your going to need something else. now if your comparing a full blown lnl with a case feeder your going to be into alot more money then a square deal. Ive ran lnls and 650s and prefer the 650 to the lnl. But there both good presses and alot of preference comes from the fact that im used to running dillons and the lnl feels ackward to me. If a guy can only have one nice press in my opinion a 550 is the one to buy. Nothing is more versitile then a 550.

 

[YodaVader]

I have owned a Square Deal for close to 20 years now and it has served me well for the most part cranking out an untold number of rounds.

But it does have the shortcomings mentioned above - very small frame opening , not much working room. Not using conventional dies is another. But back then they were $135 ready to load in one caliber! I don't have any spilled powder problems like mentioned above - in fact it seems to meter very well regardless of powder used.

I probably would have bought the 550 if I knew more about reloading when I started. The Dillon warranty is great , they will take care of anything with no hassle.

Don't know a thing about the Hornady. A thousand bullets is always nice. What kind of bullets are they offering? This includes rifle calibers too?

 

[rundm]

I just went with the xl 650 myself. I thought about the lnl but if I was only going to buy the thing because of the free bullets then I thought I would just go with the dillon. Both, I'm sure are excellent and I am about to starting cranking em out on my dillon. RG

 

[bhawkeye]

If you're reloading mostly pistol cal's - eventually you're going to wish you had a case feeder ( & maybe a KISS bullet feeder). In the meantime, having an extra station for a powder check would be a GOOD thing. You should be looking at either the Dillon 650 or Hornady LnL AP. I chose the LnL. Whatever you choose - good shooting ( & reloading).

 

[1911NM]

Good choice, and good luck with the LNL. Just finished running a couple hundred rounds of .45acp on my new Hornady, and am happier than the proverbial pig in slop. Much easier to set up than I had expected out of my first go at a progressive machine, and the powder drop is as accurate as my balance beam is after the powder settling.