OP I can't speak to the Dillon as I have the LNL, so here goes one user's perspective on the LNL AP.
I load mostly pistol on it, in order of volume - 9mm, 38 spcl, 45 ACP, 380, 40 S&W, and 38 Super. For rifle - 223 Rem, 300 Blackout, and 308. That covers most of the calibers that you mentioned. I do load 30-30, 30-06 and some others, but not nearly at a volume requiring the LNL. Similarly I have dies/shellplate for 45 Colt, but haven't used them yet. I am pretty satisfied with the press, and just recently upgraded my old ProJector with a new LNL AP under a very competitive offer from Hornady. I will shortly set up that second LNL as either a large primer setup or just for whatever is the most used caliber (9mm).
So I guess I do like the red decor, but shhh, I also have the green RCBS RC on the bench.
For the pistol rounds the LNL, and any progressive, will pay for itself quickly and you will turn out a good volume of rounds without a LOT of work. I sort calibers, tumble my brass and have it ready to go. Unlike some, I load pistol rounds from start to finish, that is, cleaned brass, prep the primer tube, and start loading. Station 1 is size/decap, 2 is prime and bell/flare, 3 powder drop, 4 is empty - visual check of powder, and 5 is seat/crimp. I only mention this because there are many users here that presize their brass and then they finish the process later on the LNL. You'll find whatever works best for you. At a moderate pace I can load around 300 rounds an hour. That's including filling the primer tube for each 100, checking every xx round powder on the scale, and boxing the finished ammo. The number in between weight checks depends on how smoothly the powder drops. On some I'm confident at the 40-50 point on others around 10-15.
For rifle, you have to consider that part of the process will be off press and that you will most likely have to do 2 stages/batches. What a lot of us here do is -- the sizing/decapping, whether on the LNL or on a single stage. Then measure, trim, swage primer pockets, etc. Then bring the prepped brass back to the progressive press and continue with priming, powder, and seating. I know some Dillon users that set up 2 toolheads for this - 1 with the sizing and trimmer and the other with the powder and seater. On the LNL I set up the sizer in station 1 and remove the brass when it gets to station 2. For the 2nd batch I leave the sizing die out, and place the case at station 1 and have it go around to the powder, check and seater. Some users prime off press, though I normally prime on the LNL.
As to dies -- a user above mentioned -
in some of the smaller calibers such as .380, only Hornady dies are long enough to work in the L-n-L. I called Hornady about this and their customer service confirmed that some dies are okay (length) while others are not.
I'll politely disagree with part of this. It is true that some Lee dies are short and may not fit right on the Hornady. Some have turned the lock ring upside down and others have replaced it altogether. Here are the dies I'm using on my LNL - 9MM was using RCBS, then Lee, and now Hornady. The RCBS were a little narrow on the opening of the sizer and they required a finger tip to guide the brass in - it got old quick. The Lees worked well on most brass, but I found that I couldn't in fact get down far enough to work some brass. I had the Hornady's as well and tried those. They are working very well after being sent back to Hornady to take care of a galling issue.
380, 38 Spcl, 40 S&W, 223 Rem, 308 Win, and 45 ACP are RCBS - no issues with any of those.
38 Super are Lee and they work fine. The 300 Blackout are Hornady. I also have a set of Hornady 38Spcl, but I haven't tried them yet.
So, long post, but hopefully provides some insight for you.
I'll add that whichever press you go with - there will be lots of folks here ready and willing to help out with any kinks you may run in to.
Let us know what you decide.
