I am not trying to start a fight........Dillon vs Hornady

Status
Not open for further replies.
plus a lot to midsouth. they're great. cheaper than dirt, not so much. They used to have a great catalog and store, lots of surplus, then it all went "tactical"
 
You don't have to buy the Hornady bushings for all your dies if money is an issue. Just screw them on and off your preadjusted dies.
 
I run A Dillon 650 and wouldn't trade it for anything, I load 9, 40 44 Mag, 30 carbine, 223 and 30-06 all on the Dillon.
You can run a 650 without the case feeder, at the moment I don't have a case feeder. The Dillon comes with everything set up ready for the case feeder, the Hornady does not and IMO the case feeder mechanism is an after thought on the LNL. When loading I just fill the tube with cases by hand, if I remember right I can fit 20 pcs of 40 and 14 of 44 mag.

The price of a Hornady with a case feeder last time I looked was more money then a 650 with case feeder.

Swapping calibers on a 650 is not hard and doesn't contain a bench full of parts.
When going from say 9mm to 40, you remove the tool head, unbolt the shell plate and swap over two plastic bushings and one metal bushing, and three shell locator pins. When going to rifle you need to adjust an arm that releases the new case. Its like a 2 minute process.

Swapping over primer sizes once again not hard, a couple of minutes.

I always hear the argument you gotta buy tool heads for the Dillon, I get my tool heads locally for about 22 bucks, a package of 5 Hornady bushing at Calebas runs right at that price, so what is the big deal?
You don't need separate powder measures on the Dillon, people just buy separate measures because they don't want to readjust them for each caliber. I have two measures for the 6 calibers I reload for.

The price when doing caliber changes on the Dillon is more, the caliber conversions cost around 75 bucks. The conversion kit gives you the shell holder, the plastic and metal bushings and the three locator pins.
 
Buy from Midsouth Shooters Supply all day long before you buy from Cheaper than Dirt.

You have no idea how hard it was to keep that post clean about Cheaper than ####.

This thread has delivered big time! It stayed in the friendly helpful spirit that I have come to enjoy about this site over others.
Click to expand...

I'm really glad it did, but still I want you to know that picking between blue and orange, you can't go wrong with either one.

I do believe that the Hornady is more friendly (and cheaper) for loading multiple calibers. If you were going to load a but load of one or two calibers the Dillon xl650 would be a hell of a production machine. (sorry Jim)

I use the LNL-AP w/case feeder for pistol cases and take the nose off the case shuttle for all others and set the cases by hand. For me it just isn't worth the time and effort to change my case feeder over to a different caliber for short runs.

I would suggest you buy the base machine and learn how to use well before buying a case feeder. And for the longer straight walled cases Hornady dies work better than my beloved RCBS dies on this particular press.

Hornady dies are made for this press and with longer straight walled cases
(357mag and longer) they work better then the other brands. With 45,40 and 9mm and smaller, in my opinion it really doesn't matter what brand of dies you buy, they will all work well.

I load a but load of 9mm and my Hornady case feeder works really well for them. I don't know where I'd be without it. I don't use it for any of the other calibers I load on this machine so I won't speak to that. Setting the cases by hand for the other calibers I load, has never been a problem for me and if anything, if anything for me, setting my cases in by hand helps keep my cycle rate in check.

If you buy a Hornady you will need more than one small pistol primer pickup tube. I have 4 and really need about 3 more. That would give me 800 cases to load without having to stop to refill primer pick up tubes. If you have to stop every 100 cases to refill primer pick up tubes I feel like I don't get much done for the money I spent on this press and the rate it's suppose to load at. Dillon priming tubes are the same.
Good luck and I know you'll be happy with either blue, orange, because they are both excellent presses.
 
sevt_chevelle said:
I run A Dillon 650 and wouldn't trade it for anything, I load 9, 40 44 Mag, 30 carbine, 223 and 30-06 all on the Dillon.
You can run a 650 without the case feeder, at the moment I don't have a case feeder. The Dillon comes with everything set up ready for the case feeder, the Hornady does not and IMO the case feeder mechanism is an after thought on the LNL. When loading I just fill the tube with cases by hand, if I remember right I can fit 20 pcs of 40 and 14 of 44 mag.

The price of a Hornady with a case feeder last time I looked was more money then a 650 with case feeder.

Swapping calibers on a 650 is not hard and doesn't contain a bench full of parts.
When going from say 9mm to 40, you remove the tool head, unbolt the shell plate and swap over two plastic bushings and one metal bushing, and three shell locator pins. When going to rifle you need to adjust an arm that releases the new case. Its like a 2 minute process.

Swapping over primer sizes once again not hard, a couple of minutes.

I always hear the argument you gotta buy tool heads for the Dillon, I get my tool heads locally for about 22 bucks, a package of 5 Hornady bushing at Calebas runs right at that price, so what is the big deal?
You don't need separate powder measures on the Dillon, people just buy separate measures because they don't want to readjust them for each caliber. I have two measures for the 6 calibers I reload for.

The price when doing caliber changes on the Dillon is more, the caliber conversions cost around 75 bucks. The conversion kit gives you the shell holder, the plastic and metal bushings and the three locator pins.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that info!
 
The price of a Hornady with a case feeder last time I looked was more money then a 650 with case feeder
Click to expand...

I paid $414.00 for my base LNL-AP with free shipping (that's a big one) from Cabelas because they had free shipping for any order over $100.00 at that time. I paid $273.00 for my case feeder from Cabelas because they had it on sale and also, again, free shipping.

That's $687.00 with no tax.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/23803/catid/1/XL_650
Click to expand...

price for Dillon 650 with case feeder and pictured options, from their own website. $1150.00.

Where is anyone finding a Dillon 650 w/case feeder for $687.00. I'd like to know because I'd love to have one. Is this a Manufactures suggested retail price or can we buy Dillon 650XLs cheaper then on Dillon web site. I'd like to know.

I looked on Brian Enos's web site but he had no 650xls for sale for comparison.

I'm not down playing Dillon's by any means, I just replying to Sevt_ Chevell's post.
 
Last edited:
tightgroup tiger said:
If you have to stop every 100 cases to refill primer pick up tubes I feel like I don't get much done for the money I spent on this press and the rate it's suppose to load at.
Click to expand...

I am not poking holes at anything, just presenting something to consider.

Whether you fill primer tubes at the beginning or stop every 100 cases, the time to fill primer tubes should be included in your rate calculations. Filling primer tubes is a task required to load ammunition.

Filling the tubes at the beginning probably has some improved efficiencies over stopping every 100 or 200 rounds and would make a small improvement in the over all production rate.

If you consider all the set up time, refilling supplies time, clean up time, packaging ammunition for storage time, and so forth, you would be really surprised how low your rate is.

Of course, bullet and case feeders will also have an effect on rates

In my case, I operate my press at 500 or so rounds per hour when I am pulling the handle. When I figure in all the other time the rate drops to 200-250 rounds per hour.

But the higher number always sounds better.:)
 
John,
I'll just add that remember what Cheaper than nothing -- did to us during the beginning of the panic. -- there, is that High Road enough?
Ok, now back to where to buy from -- Midsouth is very good, you may want to check Grafs as they have a flat shipping of $8 or so. And it's in stock - It's at $424 + 8 shipping. Not bad.
You can buy extra bushings a little at a time - I wait for Midway to have a % off deal and get the 10-pack. I will buy some extra primer pickup tubes for it soon.

On the output rate - what I mentioned in my earlier post of ~300 rnds per hour is from filling the primer tube, loading 100, pausing, filling another primer tube, loading 100, then repeat. With all dies and powder measure set - I can load primer tube, load 100 rounds in around 17 minutes. I'll pause, take a breather, drink some water, coffee, etc, load another 100. - So, that's where the 300 rnds count comes from. I don't feel rushed or slow. It's a comfortable pace and before I know it the pile of brass and bullets is a bunch of boxes of ammo.

Have fun, and check in with us once you get it.
Eddy
 
Last edited:
Whether you fill primer tubes at the beginning or stop every 100 cases, the time to fill primer tubes should be included in your rate calculations. Filling primer tubes is a task required to load ammunition.
Click to expand...

Absolutely Chuck, all of that is true. I fill my primer tubes and leave them waiting sometimes a week ahead of time and when I'm ready to load it just makes it so much more pleasurable for me to just reach for another full primer tube and dump another tub of cases in the case feeder and keep on trucking. I find myself loading at a more reasonable speed and staying relaxed, not feeling like I have to make up time from having to stop and fill a primer tube.

That's all

It's just a Tightgroup Tiger thing. Don't mind me.
 
Whether you fill primer tubes at the beginning or stop every 100 cases, the time to fill primer tubes should be included in your rate calculations. Filling primer tubes is a task required to load ammunition.
Click to expand...

My primer filler can fill the tube in the amount of time my reloader can load about 20 rounds and they can both be running at the same time.
 
Order Placed

Thanks again to all for your input and advice! I placed my order with Midsouth Shooters Supply this morning :D:D The Hornady Lock N Load AP Press will be on it's way to my bench shortly. :cool:

Needless to say......this old boy is STOKED!!!! ;)

Thanks again!
John
 
Winchester 70,

Google,

Hornady LNL-AP Set Up Hints and Tricks by Bill Morgan

a 5 part series that's WELL WORTH YOUR TIME TO WATCH.

It will save you some HEADACHES, you'll be glad you took the time.

He also resides at TheFirearmsForum he's known as 76Highboy

Videos are there under a RELOADING "STICKY"
 
You don't have to buy the Hornady bushings for all your dies if money is an issue. Just screw them on and off your preadjusted dies.
Click to expand...

I think that assumes that all dies have lock rings, which can be an extra cost too. Just buy a 10 pack of bushings off eBay and go from there, taking full advantage of Hornady's quick change features.
 
I bought a Hornady projector 20+ years ago, my brother loads on dillon for as long. get whichever you want.
Which apparently is the hornady, dang I hate when people don't read through a thread before posting.
You will get years of service out of LNLAP.
 
Last edited:
Where is anyone finding a Dillon 650 w/case feeder for $687.00. I'd like to know because I'd love to have one.
Click to expand...

650 $566
Case feeder $218

$784 (Brian Enos/free shipping)


Last I checked, unless one has a FFL to get a better deal that is the price for us regular folks.

But that won't get you loading. If you want most of the goodies, conversions so you can do 9mm,45 acp, and say....223. Deluxe changeover(one extra tool head/measure), strong mount, bullet tray, case feeder plates.

You are over $1200
You'll want extra primer tubes, and maybe a FA Vibra Prime(Or a wife, the VP is way cheaper)

A well set-up LnL isn't far off.
$400+ for the basic press
$300 for the case feeder.
I don't know the price for sets of bushings and extra powder measures/conversions/case feeder plates. But I'm sure If you like roller handles, an aftermarket strong mount, you are pushing 4 digits there too.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Pros or Cons on Hornady or Dillon presses
Replies
8
Views
980
RedAlert
R
S
  • Locked
progressive press questions for Dillon/Hornady
Replies
13
Views
2K
amlevin
A
H
  • Locked
Dillon vs Lee vs RCBS vs Hornady
2
Replies
42
Views
8K
Car Knocker
C
B
  • Locked
Dillon Case Loader on Hornady LNL ??
Replies
4
Views
2K
jmorris
jmorris
C
  • Locked
Hornady Customer Service?
Replies
18
Views
1K
BigJakeJ1s
B
Back
Top