Progressive Press

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K_Dubbya

K_Dubbya

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Greetings,

I'm looking at progressive presses with auto index to increase productivity.

What are your preferences on five or seven stage presses? What will be compatible with my Lee and Hornady dies? I have quite a few.

I've used RCBS presses before and they seem of higher quality. What are your thoughts and recommendations? I threw some examples in for reference.

RCBS
https://www.rcbs.com/presses/progressive/pro-chucker-5-progressive-reloading-press/16-88910.html
https://www.rcbs.com/presses/progressive/pro-chucker-7-progressive-reloading-press/16-88911.html

DILLION
https://www.dillonprecision.com/rl-550c-reloader_8_1_23594.html

Hornady
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/presses/366-auto#!/
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/presses/lock-n-load-ap#!/

LEE
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-presses/progressive-presses/
 
Get the press whose color matches the decor in your reloading room. It will serve you well.

They all have their advantages and disadvantages. They all load good ammunition and they all have their fans.

Just a note, the Hornady 366 is a shot shell loader. The Dillon 550 is a 4 position manual indexing press.

I have progressive presses from Hornady, Dillon, and RCBS and like each one for what I bought them for.

Enjoy the flood of comments that will certainly follow.
 
If you are looking for auto index you would need to take the 550 off your list as it’s manually indexed.

That said with what’s on your list, it’s the one I would prefer over the others.

In any case you would be looking at a 650, 750 or 1050 Dillon’s for auto index and being able to use Lee and Hornady dies.
 
Look for a good buy on a kit and buy it. Don't be color blind.
I have a Dillion 650 and am waiting to buy a Hornady Progressive to get it set up to go.
 
My Lock-N-Load had been excellent for all of my needs. I load both pistol and rifle although no heavy .30 cals as yet. .223, .243, .308 all do very well. I would think 7mm Mags and some of the overbored cartridges such as 28 Nosler on up might be hard on the press, but then I haven't tried them. I have a single-stage RCBS for those. Anybody out there using a LNL for these?

I load pistols with a bullet feed tube - not the complete auto system, just the bullet feed die and tubes - and that works very well You can flat put out a bunch in a hurry once you get started. .380, 9mm, .357, .45 and .44 all are easy.

Too, I personally like Hornady products as a general rule - dies, brass, scales, etc. Hornady brass is some of the most accurate brass I've come across. I no longer have to neck turn and have relegated my Winchester and Federal brass to the far back of my brass shelf.

I've thought occasionally that I'd like a press that has exchangeable turrets, but that thought passes and I get on my way.
 
Any press you're likely to consider will accept 7/8-14 threaded dies. That's a standard in the reloading press word.

So no worries in that department.
 
@K_Dubbya
not sure where you are located, but if you are interested in Mark 7/Dillon Products- go visit Hunters Insight Firearms up in Ortonville. Wally has all the Dillon Presses in the reloading room to play with and he has a few different Mark 7s in the shop as well.
probably the best stocked reloading area in MI that I am aware of.
 
Dillion does have an advantage for some with the changeable turrets, and of course, they are great presses. When I purchased Hornady, I compared costs and found that I didn't want to go the Dillion route.

Yes, a major question is what calibers you intend to reload. Big, tough, magnum-sized cases are best resized on a single stage press - in my experience. I wish I had purchased a single stage press with a huge camming advantage (maybe Redding) for mine. I'm not saying it can't be done, no. Just be aware of a possible issue if you have major rifle calibers. Talk w/ Dillion or Hornady or whoever to see what they recommend.
 
I went with Dillon because of their reputation. I got a 550c because I intentionally wanted the easier to setup, manually indexed system. I could have got a then 650, but it didn't suit my purpose. I load 44 mag/spcl, 38 spcl, and 9mm on it. Of those three, I kind of wish I had a progressive auto index with the 9mm, but I shoot WAY more 38 and 44 than 9mm so for now, I'm more than pleased. I still use a single stage for match 223, 460 S&W, and 45 Colt. For those rounds, a single is A-OK.

In the future? I'll probably go with a 750 for 9mm, if I find myself shooting it more. For now, I'm pleased.
 
RCBS makes excellent single stage presses but their progressive presses never seem to be big sellers.

Dillon is the top brand for consumer progressive presses. I don’t know anyone who owns a Dillon who does not like it.

I chose the Hornady LNL-AP over the Dillon 650 for a couple of reasons but had the 750 been available it would have been a harder choice.
 
Whatever flavor you chose I find it really nice to have a die station for a RCBS lockout die (for pistol only)
So for me 4 stations are not enough as the bullet feeder takes up one to. (more stations are a good thing!)
I have a Hornady LNL progressive nad am quite happy with it, a little less money than a Dillon 650-750.
Everyone who has a Dillon seems quite happy with it, but neither the LNL or the Dillons are perfect + and -s to each.
Never used a Dillon but on the LNL the case goes in on the left so it is easy to feed the case with your left hand and pull the lever with your right.
(Don't know but have heard on the Dillon if you are feeding cases by hand it is easiest to use the right hand to feed cases so one hand is doing all the work, a Dillon owner can maybe say if this is true or not)


https://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/19/rcbs-lock-out-die-part-i-theory-of-operation/
https://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/21/rcbs-lock-out-die-part-ii-setup-and-maintenance/
 
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Dudedog said:
Whatever flavor you chose I find it really nice to have a die station for a RCBS lockout die (for pistol only)
So for me 4 stations are not enough as the bullet feeder takes up one to. (more stations are a good thing!)
I have a Hornady LNL progressive nad am quite happy with it, a little less money than a Dillon 650-750.
Everyone who has a Dillon seems quite happy with it, but neither the LNL or the Dillons are perfect + and -s to each.
Never used a Dillon but on the LNL the case goes in on the left so it is easy to feed the case with your left hand and pull the lever with your right.
(Don't know but have heard on the Dillon if you are feeding cases by hand it is easiest to use the right hand to feed cases so one hand is doing all the work, a Dillon owner can maybe say if this is true or not)


https://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/19/rcbs-lock-out-die-part-i-theory-of-operation/
https://ultimatereloader.com/2010/09/21/rcbs-lock-out-die-part-ii-setup-and-maintenance/
Click to expand...
Somehow I've missed this die, and I appreciate you're giving the links. I've always relied on a powder cop.

I'd be curious to know if this die is sensitive in relation to fine ball powders like Accurate #2? By chance, any experience with this? I load quite a bit for short-barreled pistols, and I have 4 pounds of it. I've taken to weighing my mid-to-max loaded cartridges just to be sure because a powder cop just isn't sensitive enough.

This is pretty slick!
 
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I have a dillon 650 and I've never used a 5th stage. Heck, my 357 setup only uses 3 stages. Bu tto your point: I really like the dillon. The 650/750 is a full progressive. The 550 I think of as more of a turret press. it's nice, but I don't really consider it a progressive since you have to manually index, feed a case and bullet by hand, it just feels more like the way I operate a turret.
The hornady lock and load would be my close second pick, and it has a better positioned case feed location if you are manually feeding and not using a ludicrously expensive case feeder.
LEE: For a single stage or a turret, I really like lee products, but from my experience, their progressives (loadmaster) are not good (the pro1k was better, but limited in it's own way). I rocked a loadmaster for 5 years, and I'm handy. I did all the tricks you find online, and it just wasn't all that reliable. The loadmaster's achilles heel is the priming system. I love the idea of the primer tray rather than filling feeding tubes, and it works ok when positioned vertically like on the lee turret and single stage presses, but not so much when angled on the loadmster. I finally ponied up the cash for a dillon and never looked back. It is quite simply a better machine.
 
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I have owned my Dillon 650 for 25+ years now. I have never had an issue figuring out how to make use of all 5 stations.

index.php


Station 1 - I have a RCBS Lube / decapping die
Station 2 - Sizing die
Station 3 - Powder Measure
Station 4 - Powder level alarm
Station 5 - Seating / crimp die.

The lube die in station 1 is a RCBS lube / decapping die for .223. It is useless for .223 because it does not put any lube on the neck of the case. But it is PERFECT for 9mm and REALLY makes the whole process humm along quick and SMOOOOOTH!

I will have to do some rearranging if I ever get a bullet feeder BUT I will be able to make it work if I ever do take the leap and purchase one.

index.php


index.php

Looking at my pictures I think this is actually my .45acp head with a .308 RCBS lube die. Exactly the same concept as the 9mm setup described above, just a little bit bigger dies.

I had an RCBS 4x4 progressive about 30 years ago... and gave up reloading because it just wasn't for me. After I bought my Dillon 650 I have never looked back and have never really looked at any other progressive presses. For me, the number of calibers I reload (9) and my way of doing things the Dillon 650 is a perfect fit for me! It might not be as perfect for everyone... but I kind of have a hard time fathoming that!
 
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I've been a Dillon 650 guy since day one. 9mm,380acp,45acp,44 mag.

My ammo is considerably more accurate than factory at a lower cost.
My production is high even without a bullet feeder. I do have, and consider it needed, a case feeder.

I vaguely remember saving money for awhile to purchase my first ever reloading machine.. quite a few 8lb powder kegs and I've forgotten the amount.

Enjoy whichever you choose.

On many occasions I've cranked out 2500-4500 cartridges in 2.5 -5 hour sessions.
 
NMexJim said:
Somehow I've missed this die, and I appreciate you're giving the links. I've always relied on a powder cop.
Click to expand...
I also use the lock out die. Much better than looking at the powder cop. I’ve loaded AA2 with no issues, the foot on the die is pretty big and they give you 2 sizes to use.
I like my LNL, wouldn’t consider a progressive with less stations. Good luck.
 
You can't beat more stations. I started with a 550 which had 4 stations. Sold that press when I realized there is no place for a powder check die. My second press was a 1050 bought from a lGS going out of business. Purchased 1 day after ordering a new 650 and selling the 550.

And this is one thing I tell anyone buying a progressive press. Add a powder check die. It's not about if you get a double charge or squib, it's "when".
 
Hi...
I am running two Hornady LnL progressive presses...one set up for small primers, one for large primer. They have worked great for several years now. Don't use the case or bullet feeders...just not very dependable.

How well do I like the Hornady's...I have two Dillon 550s that I bought at auction that have been sitting on a shelf for over a year. Just don't need them at this point.
Easy to run 400+ rounds per hour on the LNLs in .357Mag, .45ACP, .9mm, .40S&W, 10mm and .223.
My son and I load over 2000 rounds each month of those calibers on the Hornady's.
All of our big bore revolver and other rifle ammuntion is loaded on two RockChucker presses...that also usually adds up to a couple thousand rounds per month. Only reason the big bore revolver cartridges are loaded on the RockChucker is because I am retired and have the time and enjoy loading them that way.
 
I'd be curious to know if this die is sensitive in relation to fine ball powders like Accurate #2?
Click to expand...

With any powder it will lock on a no charge or a double.
(I would guess there are some possible doubles it might not catch if the charge was really small to start but for my uses it would catch any)
When setup for my match load of 4.5gr of WSF in 9mm it will lock at around 4.2 on the low side or 4.8 on the high side. (sometimes on .2 so say .25 or more off)
Since it is working by volume, when it will lock from the desired charge depends on how dense the powder is and the dia of the case.
(larger dia case means less vertical movement for a given charge, denser powder means less vertical movement for a given charge)

AA#2 has a VMD of about .102 (space occupied by the powder for a given weight, higher # is less dense). WSF is about .092 so a given charge of AA#2 would take more space than the same charge of WSF.
So in 9mm If you were after say 4gr of AA#2 it would probably lock around 3.7, 4.3
(AA#2 meters great thru most measures, + or - .1 on my measures)

The nice thing is unlike a powder cop you do not need to watch it.
YMMV
 
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