I have both the LNL and a 550, and load on a friends 650. I prefer the LNL for the following reasons.
Quick caliber changeover is much faster and a fraction of the cost of a Dillon.
The old technology slide powder measure of the Dillon is it's weak point. Like others, after over 48 years of loading, I have accumulated 3 other powder measures besides the Dillon, on which I base my comments. As time and #'s loaded increased, the dillon slide began to leak ball powders, and accuracy with some flake powders, even with anti-bridging funnel was never good.
The LNL powder measure on the bushing is removed with the flick of the wrist, powder can be dumped and repeatabley accurate load volumes can be dialed in taking less than 15-30 seconds. Since I load for over 15 handguns and 2 semi-auto rifles on my progressives, thi$ i$ a con$idereable $avings in time and money.
In working up loads, where you need to remove all but one die to work like a single stage, it takes about 5 seconds to remove and reinstall on the LNL. It can’t be done quickly or easily on the Dillons.
Used primer disposal on the LNL is thru the plate into a tube, out the bottom into the trash. This prevents spent primers from rolling around and spent primer compound from gumming up the mechanisms like it can do on the Dillons
The LNL is much beefier and it also produces cartridges with a great deal less run out. The friend who has a 650 challenged this and we did a long process of measuring run out on 4 different chamberings using the same dies sets his Rockchucker and 650, and my 550, and LNL. The LNL produced measurably better cartridges. Because of this accuracy, I rarely load ammo on my single stage press’s.
My friend with the 650 is a dyed in the wool Dillon man. A while back he sheepishly told me his wife had given him permission to get the LNL, because of the economics of the free bullets.
I asked him, "Are you a man or a mouse, k'mon squeek up!" Hope the wife never reads this.
