I need advice on upgrading to a progressive press

[Louis Cote]

I have been using a single stage, and turret press for about 10 years now, both LEE. I just sold both and am ready to upgrade to a progressive. I don't want to stay with lee because I don't like their dies.

Can I get some well articulated suggestions as to which progressive press I should buy and why? I am looking in the $400-$600 market including dies and shell plates. I don't want a press that is limited to only handgun or rifle. I reload 30-06, .223, .45acp, .40S&W, 9mm, .357mag, and .380acp.

Also, I am curious as to if ya'll think there is a cheaper place to buy a press than midwayusa, but is still not going to sell me a lemon.

I am getting back into competition shooting next year, (idpa and uspsa hopefully), and will need to start cranking out some serious amounts of lead soon.

 

[Cherokee]

Lots of people like Dillon, I have a 650 with case feeder but that is over your budget. I am very happy with mine and really like having a 5th station for a powder check die. No experience with others so those with experience will chime in.

 

[REL1203]

I dont think you are going to find a Progressive press for that price that will include dies and shell plate.

Personally, i just upgraded from a Lee Classic turret, to a Hornady Lock'n'Load AP. $400 for the press, and then $30 per shell plate, and about $2 per bushing per die. I have only set up 357mag and 45ACP so far, but I love it. Once i get some more time, I will set it up for 40s&w, 9mm, 223, 22-250, and 308. I also plan on ordering the case feeder once i start feeling really comfortable with the press. I love the 5th station, and allowing me to use a Lock Out Die (which honestly already saved me once in 1,000 rounds)....

 

[cfullgraf]

You should have kept the single stage press. They are handy things to have around for some tasks.

I find the progressive is too much trouble for lots of less than 300 rounds of ammunition. For most of my rifles, I load 50 or 100 rounds at a sitting so they get loaded on the single stage.

Having said that, both the Dillon 650 and Hornady L-N-L are great presses. Both have auto indexing and five die stations. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

The Dillon 550 can "simulate" single stage loading but the manual indexing does not do anything for me for progressive loading.

Check out some other reloading forums for additional points of view.

 

[Galil5.56]

Your home state makes some pretty blue presses, and I sure am a big fan of them. I myself prefer the 550B, precisely because it is manually indexed, and suits my reloading style. I have cranked out a hell of a lot of 30/06, .303 Brit, .308, and other similar rifle rounds, along with typical revolver/auto rounds on my550B with complete satisfaction. The unit is well engineered, has a great solid quality feel, and for me perfect primer feed.

Not sure what volume you need to achieve, but I can assure you that the 550B, and Dillon dies are plenty able to make ammo as good as can be gotten for all but perhaps a top class benchrester. I can also assure you Dillon does take good care of their customers, and their no B.S. warranty is the real deal. Lot of good choices out there, and best of luck with your search.

 

[Snowbandit]

I was in your position a few years ago. Called Dillion and explained my situation to them. They set me up with a great press and I couldn't be happier with them. Hornady is great to deal with also but I would suggest calling Dillion first.

Like someone else mentioned, you're going to want a single stage around for small batches. I'll never get rid of my old Pacific press.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Within your budget, the Lee Loadmaster (I would stay away from the Pro-1000; I own two and decided to upgrade to the Lee Classic Turret and am much happier with it and just as productive.) is a candidate.

The Loadmaster can take any standard dies, not just Lee's. But I have never had any reason to be unsatisfied with my Lee dies. Just out of curiosity, I wonder how they failed you?

So, Lee Loadmaster or Hornady Lock'n'Load within your budget. For your shooting needs, however, I think you should think about your financing and see if you could swing a Dillon 650.

I second what cfullgraf said. You will probably miss having a single-stage. You might want to keep your eyes open for a used RockChucker or something similar.

Good Luck.

Lost Sheep

 

[k4swb]

I find the progressive is too much trouble for lots of less than 300 rounds of ammunition.

I can actually load 50 rounds of .45ACP then switch to .44 magnum and load 50 rounds considerably faster on my LNL AP than I can on my single stage press. It may take me all of 5 minutes to switch between handgun calibers.
If I need to change primer sizes it will take a couple of minutes longer.

I don't load that much rifle ammo so I haven't tried it for that but I can't see where it would be any more difficult.

 

[Walkalong]

Lots of happy LNL, 550, 650, and Pro 2000 press owners. All excellent presses. Plenty of happy Loadmaster owners as well, but it has a rep for needing tweaking to run smoothly.

I prefer the ergonomics of the LNL. I can keep my right hand on the press handle as I put each brass in the shell plate and seat each bullet on a case I can see the powder in. I put cases in the left pan and bullets in the right pan. Works for me.

The 650 would work for me if it had a case feeder so I could keep my right hand on the handle. I have no interest in trying to reach around the right side to insert a case in the shell plate.

If I did not care about seeing each charge in every case I seat a bullet over, the Pro 2000 would work for me.

Welcome to THR
.

 

[thump_rrr]

I can actually load 50 rounds of .45ACP then switch to .44 magnum and load 50 rounds considerably faster on my LNL AP than I can on my single stage press. It may take me all of 5 minutes to switch between handgun calibers.
If I need to change primer sizes it will take a couple of minutes longer.

I don't load that much rifle ammo so I haven't tried it for that but I can't see where it would be any more difficult.

I have the LnL AP Progressive with the case feeder and my most common swap is from .223 to .45 ACP since that's the only 2 calibers I load for.

Swapping everything including the powder rotors, PTX expander, Case feeder tube, primer setup, shuttle slider, etc takes 20 minutes or more till everything is dialed in.

I can see where not having a case feeder may be an advantage.

 

[dbarnhart]

Dillon Precision is located in the Scottsdale Airpark. They have all their presses set up in the store and they'll be happy to demonstrate them and figure out which press is right for you.

After you do that, look at the Hornady Lock and Load AP and the RCBS Pro2000. You'll be in a good position to judge the functions and features that are important to you.

I'm in a similar position as you. I've been an RCBS Rock Chucker guy forever. Will probably upgrade to a progressive by year-end. Right now I'm having fun deciding between the Dillon 650 and the RCBS Pro2000.

 

[REL1203]

Hey Walkalong, what is that you have mounted on the front of your Lock'n'Load? Something mounted on the vertical cross bar on the front?

 

[Furncliff]

I went from the pistol only Dillon model to a Hornaday L-N-L AP. I like the ergonomics, the system of changing dies and most of all their powder measure. Check to see if the Hornaday bullet rebate is in effect. I got 500 bullets for buying the press and 100 more with each die set.

 

[Walkalong]

Hey Walkalong, what is that you have mounted on the front of your Lock'n'Load?

It's a home made powder measure operator.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=510241

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=464088

 

[OldStumps]

I put the Hornady LNL at number 2 behind a Lee 1000 that I ordered this morning. My decision was based on bang for buck. That said, so many features on the LNL I really liked, better than the Dillon. The bushings instead of plate, auto indexing instead of manual (at least for the 550). And no one seems to have mentioned the 500 free bullets with LNL purchase through 12/31/11. I figured if the Lee 1000 really sucked I would go get the LNL (Mid South Shooters Supply has best price I've found including shipping) and the free bullets would pretty much make me even (I get a set of dies with the Lee to help the balance).

 

[Uniquedot]

I don't want to stay with lee because I don't like their dies

What is your preferred die brand? they can be used in almost any press as was mentioned. On my bench i have and use rcbs, lyman, and lee dies and of the three i prefer the lee dies and the lee sizer dies by far have the best internal finish as well as the smoothest expanders in the rifle dies. I also think the design of their pistol dies are the best out there.

 

[BYJO4]

If I read your post correctly, you want a progressive press, 7 sets of dies, and 7 shell plates for $400 to $600 (I assume you already have scale, caliper, bullet puller, manuals etc.). The only way this will happen is if you find dirt cheap used componets which I don't think exist. I personally like the LNL and think it is the most cost effective of the progressive presses. That said, it will still cost $380 for press, $210 for shell plates, and at least $310 for 7 sets of dies. If you want to make the change over from caliber to caliber fast and easy, you need to add about another $300. I also suggest using RCBS Lock Out or some other type of powder check die which cost $29 to $44 each.

 

[Hondo 60]

Unfortunately, I don't think you're gonna find a progressive with shellplates & dies for $400 that isn't a Lee.

I have a Dillon RL550B & absolutely love it, when compared to a Lee Pro 100 or Turret press.
(Sold the Pro 1000 & Turret presses - still have the Anniv Breech Lock single stage)

On the Dillon each caliber is gonna run you about $75 for caliber conversion, toolhead & powder die. Then you're still gonna need dies.

 

[Gigs]

If you get a 650 without a case feeder, it still has a long case feed tube that holds a good 20 handgun rounds or about 10 rifle rounds.

I went that route since I wanted to save a little money now and still have all the other benefits of the 650 later on. I just installed my needle bearing from mcmaster-carr and it doesn't splash when it indexes anymore as well.