I am looking at purchasing either a Dillon 550 or Hornady Lock-N-Load Auto Progressive Press to load for pistol and rifle calibers.
I currently have a Dillon Square Deal B that I have been very happy with for 9mm, .40 s&w and .45 acp.
Wished I had bought the Dillon 550 to start with but never figured I would be reloading for rifle.
For rifle I have been getting by with a basic single stage Lee press for 30-06 and 300 savage but despise the amount of time it takes to reload any quantity.
With the current price trend of .223/5.56 ammo and the amount I have been going through I figure its time to get a progressive press for my rifles.
I am leaning towards the Hornady press. From what info I can find they seem to be reliable/repeatable for much less than the Dillon 550.
The Hornady press with shell plates and dies for for 9mm, .40 s&w, .45 acp and 223/5.56 for the same price as the Dillon set up for only .223/5.56.
What pistol and rifle dies would you recommend for the Hornady?
I see that Lee makes carbide dies for pistol and Dillon has .223/5.56 carbide dies.
Should I seek out carbide or would normal steel dies be just fine?
Also how would the progressive press work for sizing rifle brass?
I need to trim my 30-06 and 300 savage brass after sizing – so how does a progressive press handle that?
Is it still a separate size/trim operation then on progressive press to load?
I read the Hornady documentation but did not find information about that.
Hope that someone can help.
Thanks
I currently have a Dillon Square Deal B that I have been very happy with for 9mm, .40 s&w and .45 acp.
Wished I had bought the Dillon 550 to start with but never figured I would be reloading for rifle.
For rifle I have been getting by with a basic single stage Lee press for 30-06 and 300 savage but despise the amount of time it takes to reload any quantity.
With the current price trend of .223/5.56 ammo and the amount I have been going through I figure its time to get a progressive press for my rifles.
I am leaning towards the Hornady press. From what info I can find they seem to be reliable/repeatable for much less than the Dillon 550.
The Hornady press with shell plates and dies for for 9mm, .40 s&w, .45 acp and 223/5.56 for the same price as the Dillon set up for only .223/5.56.
What pistol and rifle dies would you recommend for the Hornady?
I see that Lee makes carbide dies for pistol and Dillon has .223/5.56 carbide dies.
Should I seek out carbide or would normal steel dies be just fine?
Also how would the progressive press work for sizing rifle brass?
I need to trim my 30-06 and 300 savage brass after sizing – so how does a progressive press handle that?
Is it still a separate size/trim operation then on progressive press to load?
I read the Hornady documentation but did not find information about that.
Hope that someone can help.
Thanks