New press from Dillon - Another Option

[WNTFW]

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25792/catid/1/BL_550_Basic_Loader

$259.95

Looks like a good option for certain situations.

The BL 550 is a stripped down RL 550 B.
It is fully upgradeable to the RL 550 B, however no price is listed for the upgrade.

 

[SuperNaut]

Heeeeeyyyyyy *rubs chin*

 

[jmorris]

Maybe the 450 was not a bad idea after all.

 

[EddieNFL]

How is it different from the 500?

 

[LiveLife]

Without the powder throw and automatic priming ... I guess I could use Lee dies/Pro Auto Disk and hand primed cases ...


What do you guys think?

1. Buy this Dillon press and add the priming attachment.

2. Spend the extra money on the Hornady AP LNL?

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

This looks just like the AT500 press they used to offer, with the addition of the star wheel and case ejection option.

If you wanted a 550, but intended to put a LNL or Uniflow PM and case activated linkage on it, this might be a better way to go.

I'd prefer an auto-indexed press with room for a powder check/lock-out die, like the LNL AP, over the 550.

Andy

 

[Skip_a_roo]

No thanks!

Without the powder throw and automatic priming ... I guess I could use Lee dies/Pro Auto Disk and hand primed cases ...


What do you guys think?

1. Buy this Dillon press and add the priming attachment.

2. Spend the extra money on the Hornady AP LNL?

This looks like an answer to a question that ain't being asked! Oh, sure, we all want cheaper Dillons, I got that part. (That's why I buy used when I can, 100% guarantee!)

The Auto Disk is an option. I put a Lyman #55 on top of my Lee Turret from time to time.

I want a primming system ON THE PRESS!

If it were me, LnL. That is the next press to get put on my bench.

 

[burchamdon]

Just go with the hornady LnL AP. i love mine

 

[depoloni]

Sweet!

Looks like a much more expensive Lee Classic Turret Press. "Toolheads" (4-hole turrets) are twice (4x?) as expensive. Ditto with cost and complication of shellholders. Don't know if you can set it to manual-indexing like the Lee like I prefer for rifle work, but presume it's more complicated.

Listen... I own and work the hell out of a 550B for multiple pistol calibers and 223 load-cranking. And it works well. And I don't regret not buying a Hornady LnL, a Lee-auto of whatever sort, or so on... sure they would've worked but my dillon kicks butt.

But I gotta call this one out as what it is - seems like an extremely upscale but unnecessarily-more-complicated-and-expensive version of "cheaper" brands that would do the same thing, and in my huffy opinion perhaps more simply shellholder/die changeout-wise. I get the Dillon name thing. I get the possibility of upgrade to a "full" 550... but to buy that first and then upgrade, seems highly unlikely that it's cheaper than just buying the "full" 550 to start with. So if you think you'll want to upgrade why not just start there...

I mean aren't we reloaders? Spend more to save more?
I love my "full" Dillon but there are just better options for what this one is...from my pulpit.

 

[rfwobbly]

I think it might sell. I think there are a lot of people out there who might want to tip-toe into a 550. They want a high-end machine, but don't want to, or can't, plunk out the money for it in this economy. This lets them buy the priming and powder system as they can afford. If I couldn't afford a Caddy, I'd consider one with no hub caps!

They definitely had to do something to be more competitive with the LNL AP. The Hornady with 5 positions and free bullets at about the same price was probably eating their lunch.

This will be interesting to watch.

 

[jmorris]

Don't know if you can set it to manual-indexing like the Lee like I prefer for rifle work, but presume it's more complicated.

Listen... I own and work the hell out of a 550B...

If you own a 550B you know how it works, no auto index, even if you wish it could. They are not going to give you more for less.

 

[LiveLife]

If it were me, LnL. That is the next press to get put on my bench.

Skip, yeah - same here. I was just pondering.

Still, it's good to have options and I give a nod to Dillon for trying.

 

[depoloni]

jm) True and fair enough, albeit a mis-speak/type on my part. Can't set to auto index like the Lee turret I use for rifle work.

Guess my ultimate point was that, personally (the only one I can speak for) I wouldn't buy the thing because for what it is there are other comparable presses that should be simpler/cheaper. If someone was really short the extra ~150 to buy the "full B" I could see it being a decent buy, with plans on filling-er-out later. But for the money/what it is, if you're not planning on filling-er-out I think I would be, at least, wasting my money on the name.

 

[Landric]

I think there is some utility to this press when used in combination with another. For instance, brass prep and priming on one press, then using this one to load the cartridges, or perhaps vice versa but with priming on the loading press. I expect they will sell some of these, especially to the "Dillon or nothing" newbie handloading crowd.