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Progressive Presses: Red, Green, Orange, Red again, Blue, any color I missed

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Where is a Hornady LnL more than a 550b?

A 550b without dies is $405. A Lock-N-Load without dies is $369. The dies for the Hornady cost less and are easier to change. The Hornady is a five station auto indexing press.....I would say it compares more with the 650.

Don't get me wrong, I think Dillon is a great company and makes great presses It just seems that right now you get a little more for your money with a Lock-N-Load.......and that's before you even factor in the 1000 free bullets.
 
I think the reason why Dillion doesn't officially warranty the 1050 is that it is mainly used by professional reloaders legally reselling their ammo. For example, I would not be surprised to find out that HSM uses 1050s unless they are using powered reloading equipment.
Click to expand...

I stopped by HSM once when I was going to college in Missoula. They have a seriously industrialized set of reloading equipment, straight walled brass goes between two rollers to resize quickly. It's very much of an assembly line kind of thing. I saw 55 gallon drums filled with 45acp and a couple of drums with .50BMG bullets, not ammo just the bullets. Nice folks over there.
 
Fred40: Sorry I suppose I should clarify and say, out of all the places with presses in stock a 550 is cheaper. I think I found 3 places that had LnL in stock, and all wanted about $425+. Dies aren't a consideration, and the 1000 free bullets are all weights that I don't load for. Believe me if I could find a LNL for $369 I'd probably snag it, but at the moment the 550 is what's in stock for cheaper.

-Jenrick
 
I can do 400-500 pistol rounds an hour with my 550b if I don't count the time spent filling primer tubes and fine tuning the powder measure.

I wouldn't even think of trying to load .223 that fast. Squib loads happen, especially when you go fast. (Think of extruded grain rifle powder bridging in that small funnel that feeds a .223) It's much easier to deal with a cast bullet stuck in a .45 handgun barrel than a jacketed bullet stuck in a .224 rifle barrel.

I haven't got the confidence to load for any of my rifles on the 550b. I still single stage those so that I can really inspect between each stage.
 
Xl650

Jenric

I have a Dillon 650 and love it. I have fashioned a "case feeder" from Lee parts for less than $20. PM me if interested. I am pretty sure you will not be able to add a powder check to the 550. Powder check $66.

The cost difference between the 550 and 650 (current prices) is $219 (285 with power check). 650 plus three caliber changes is $752 the 550 plus three caliber changes is $533. There will be little difference later when you want Quick Change Kits. 650 $96 each vs 550 $92.

Then you will need everything else a reloader needs. But the costs will be the same. I suggest RCBS 505 scale, Lee carbide Dies 38, 9 and 45. I have Dillon 223 dies, so I don't have a less expensive alternative that I have used. Titegroup or Win231 powder. They will meter well and are suitable all 3 pistol calibers. No experience with 223 powders. Brass, primers and projectiles will also be needed. So add these costs too. Don't forget Loading Manuals. They may be available at the local library, and loading data is available on the net.

There is currently a shortage of almost everything firearms related (not news to us is it?) so be prepared to wait.

Steve
 
{ Irrelevant snark removed. }

When I first saw the Hornady LNL Auto Progressive 9-10 years ago, my blue product loyalty was badly shaken. I soon after bought the LNL Auto and have never regretted it. The 550 is still a good machine, and I have it dedicated to one cartridge. The LNL is by far a much superior machine. THE LNL IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE 550, especially when considering the cost of quick changeover units, and the additional bonus of the Hornady 1000 bullet rebate. The more innovative powder system, the more versatile changeover system, and the fact that loaded cartridges have a better runout (more concentricity) than a 550 or a 650, all make the LNL the winner.

My hunting buddy had a 650 and was always needling me about blue is better. We often would load together, sometimes at my press, sometimes at his. After loading on the my LNL for about 2 years and after we did runout (concentricity) testing on the 3 progressive machines and 3 single stage presses, the LNL was superior. My buddy sold his 650 and got the newer LNL.
 
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Fred40: Sorry I suppose I should clarify and say, out of all the places with presses in stock a 550 is cheaper. I think I found 3 places that had LnL in stock, and all wanted about $425+. Dies aren't a consideration, and the 1000 free bullets are all weights that I don't load for. Believe me if I could find a LNL for $369 I'd probably snag it, but at the moment the 550 is what's in stock for cheaper.

-Jenrick
Click to expand...

Hmm, I just tool delivery of my Lock-N-Load last week from MidSouth Shooters....$368.85.

Also....so far I have only loaded on a Dillon 550b (my friends). Nice machine, but after doing my research I decided to purchase a Hornady for myself.

Downside.....I have everything I need to start reloading except for the shell plate I need. I can not find it anywhere and by all accounts it could be several weeks or more before I get one.
 
One of my concerns was the press having only 4 stations. After a bit of pondering I realised it shouldn't be a problem. Since I currently don't bother to crimp pistol rounds, I can install a powder check die in between the powder drop and bullet seating.
Click to expand...

How do you handle the bell of the case opening?

Granted, I don't really "crimp" my pistol loads either since they don't have a canalure.....but I do use the crimp die to straighten up the case mouth.
 
I use a very minimal flare to the point that any belling is almost nonexistent. Means if I'm loading lead in .38 I'll occasionally shave the edge off of a wadcutter, but it saves me time right now on a single stage.

-Jenrick
 
You don't need a powder check die on a 550. Just look into the case at station #2 after powder is dropped before indexing it to the next position. Many place a desk lamp or something to shine light down inside the case so it's easy to see the powder. You really want to seat the bullet at station #3 otherwise you'll be reaching around behind the press each time to set a bullet on/in the case.
 
Get the Dillon 650

I tried many others. Got the Dillon 650 and have never looked back (got rid of the others). No comparison in my opinion. Would love a Dillon 1050, but can't see the price difference for my level of reloading and the cost of changing out for various calibers.
 
I've been thinking about getting to a progressive setup as well. I was looking at the Lee Loadmaster. I'm somewhat of a RCBS fan, but the available accessories and costs make the Loadmaster hard to ignore. Since nobody is promoting it, what's wrong with it?
 
Just out of curiosity.... How many members here have sold their Dillon to upgrade to RCBS or LEE? :rolleyes:
 
Surly you jest.
Don't you mean downsize?
Most people don't get rid of their single stage press,, still plenty of uses for it.
Borg
 
Lee Loadmaster is a tinkerers dream,
for other people it's a nightmare.
Some have found their way into the bayou.
Borg
 
Hey Jenrick,
Did you ever get a press on order??
As noted above: some accessories are always back ordered. Order everything you can think of, what you miss will be on backorder till then anyways. I like the dillon primer alarm.

I selected LNL 2 years ago after driving 1K 9mm in a Dillon 550. NO function/speed compairison. Case feeder is money well spent, one less thing to touch, using mine on every case from 9mm to 300Wby. Will add an RCBS bullet feeder in 25 days (backordered:mad:)
 
650 for sure, you'll be kicking yourself if you get a 550 and invest in calibres two years down the road

auto-index is everything

650 with case feeder....put a bullet on the case crank the handle...thats all you have to do.

I'd go insane if I had to manually index the plate and feed the brass...but each to their own.

for me saving time was important.

I'd save the funds until you had enough to get the 650 if I was you.
 
I had a LNL AP. Sold it and bought a 550B. No regrets. Speed isn't much of a factor with me as I am much more interested in consistency and accuracy. The time it takes to change out calibers and primer sizes isn't a factor with me either. I don't get in a hurry for anything when I load. I still work up rifle loads on a single stage. I like the idea that I can use the 550B as a single stage press easier than I could the LNL. To each his own. Get what suits you the best. Both red and blue offer fine products and fine customer service. JMHO.
 
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