Time for an upgrade

[DanK3Pos]

If i have one i want to pull out and look at, I can. It moves when I move it. I have opportunity to pull the case at the 1st station, look at the primer. I have time to glance in the case and check the powder charge. Nothing moves til I move it. I don't know, I'd be lost if it moved on it's own.
Your thumb pushes the index bar, it aint a thing.

I have a 550. I don't think manual indexing slows me down that much. It is just part of the rhythm of things. I can easily crank out 300 rounds in an hour. I would like a case feeder, but I don't see adding one to the 550.

 

[GW Staar]

Question, for those liking the 5th stage, what do you do with it? I don't have any 5 die sets, some are 3. Are you using a powder go/no-go or something?

You can get by with 4, it's just limiting. If I was in a 550 boat, I'd use a PTX, and build a Video Powder Cop ...... one that doesn't use a station..... I'll post an example of that in another post.

limiting?

Pistol for example:

1. size & deprime
2. expand
3. charge
4. seat & crimp (such works sometimes, if you hold your mouth right)
:
5. separate crimp (more controllable.)

Pistol using a PTX (expand while you charge)
Like Mr. Bullet Feeders PTX below (with the M step)


1. size & deprime
2.expand & charge
3. seat
4 crimp
:
or with another 5th station....

3. powder cop
4. seat
5. crimp

or another choice with 5....

3. bullet feeder
4. seat
5. crimp.

Out of your budget for sure is RCBS's 7 stations.... (and it's not especially beginner or unhandy friendly either....iow's not out of the box perfect)

but so pre-warned, I love what it can do...way worth it to me....

Pistol....
1. Case feed,size and deprime
2. M style expander (or combine that with charging using a PTX as above)
3. Charge
4. Powder cop
5. Bullet feeder
6. Seat
7. Crimp.

Rifle: (on previously sized (without expander button), deprimed, tumbled, trimmed)
1. Case feed
2. Expand with M style expander (essential for a trouble free bullet feeder.)
3. Charge
4. Powder cop (I prefer the video variety)
5. Bullet Feeder (the cheap but effective way is RCBS's new rifle tube bullet feeder....awesome feeder die when case is expanded with the M-style expander)
6. Seat
7. Crimp

 

[Cannibul]

So there's something I didn't think about. I prefer to crimp separate from seating. If I went with a Dillion will I have to use their dies?

Maybe the Hornady would be a better choice for my situation

You can use your dies on a Dillon 550/750.

I tried to like the Hornady AP. All I did was waste my money. Get a Dillon.

 

[nofendertom]

I have a Dillon 550---I like the manual advance---I don't hurry when I reload---the bullet feeder (left hand) and case feeder (right hand) never go out of adjustment---
my Dillon powder measure has never failed (35yrs---thous and thous of rds) + I check every case---4 stages are good enough for me--- 1 resize and deprime-2 expand
and charge-3 seat bullet (seat and crimp if you set up dies properly)-4 crimp ( if using a four die set). Changing primer size parts takes less time to do than explain.
The slowest part is refilling the primer tube but if you have 3 or 4 well....

 

[9mmepiphany]

Can I ask what you like on the Hornady better for short runs?

Because the Hornady system is based on quick change bushings to locate dies, it is easy to use dies in any configuration you need. With the Dillon, you'd need a separate head for a different configuration and you'd need additional dies if you didn't want to remove already adjusted dies from the head you're using.

Most Dillon users have powder measures installed on different heads for different calibers to avoid having to remove the die from the head...did I mention how tight it is between dies? With a Hornady, you can use separate powder drop dies, already adjusted for calibers, and just pull and switch the powder measure. They even have changeable inserts to regulate the powder charge desired...you'd preset these, pull the old one, install the pre-adjusted one, and confirm the charge on a scale. The Hornady quick change bushings also allow you to easily dump left over powder back into their container.

The Hornady allows you to easily adjust alignment of the dies and shellplate when you change calibers

 

[Typetwelve]

Because the Hornady system is based on quick change bushings to locate dies, it is easy to use dies in any configuration you need. With the Dillon, you'd need a separate head for a different configuration and you'd need additional dies if you didn't want to remove already adjusted dies from the head you're using.

Most Dillon users have powder measures installed on different heads for different calibers to avoid having to remove the die from the head...did I mention how tight it is between dies? With a Hornady, you can use separate powder drop dies, already adjusted for calibers, and just pull and switch the powder measure. They even have changeable inserts to regulate the powder charge desired...you'd preset these, pull the old one, install the pre-adjusted one, and confirm the charge on a scale. The Hornady quick change bushings also allow you to easily dump left over powder back into their container.

The Hornady allows you to easily adjust alignment of the dies and shellplate when you change calibers

Eh...that's not exactly the case with my 550.

Yes, the easiest way to swap calibers on a dillon is to just pull the entire die assembly and pop in a new one, which is silly easy to do.

If someone really wanted to use one powder drop for many loads, two screws and it too pops off, it's not hard to do. It's not hard to empty out the hopper and pop it right back on, no adjustment needed.

Again though, the "dillon way" is to just swap out entire tool heads..which really is super easy. Even more "Tha Dillon way" would to have two machines, one for small primers, one for large...it would be even faster that way. But...with that comes serious $$. If I had it my way? I'd have a 550 for set loads and loaded 750 for making mass runs of ammo like 9mm. Maybe one day...

 

[9mmepiphany]

Eh...that's not exactly the case with my 550.

I was addressing the question as it related to the two machines on my bench...the Hornady LNL AP and the Dillon 750

If I had it my way? I'd have a 550 for set loads and loaded 750 for making mass runs of ammo like 9mm. Maybe one day...

I'm using the 750 for 1k round runs of 9mm, with mixed brass

The Hornady is used to load my competition .38Spl and .45ACP for my revolvers, with sorted and trimmed cases...different priming requirements, often trying different bullets, expansion, seating, and crimping.

The Lee Classic Cast is used for load development...measured charges and variations of OAL. Also used to pull bullets with a collet puller

The Lee APP is used to process cases prior to loading...it is new and still getting worked into the process

 

[BBarn]

Just my opinions. I have a Hornady LNL AP. I have used a Dillon 550.

If going progressive, get a press with at least 5 stations.

If you want automatic case feed (now or in the near future) get a Dillon 750 (though it will exceed the budget with a case feeder).

Components to quickly change calibers will be a bit more on a 750 (about $25-$40 per caliber). The power measure on the LNL has a removable metering rod that adds to the simplicity and speed of caliber changes on the Hornady.

I often find disappointment in cheap tools, but seem to quickly forget the extra dollars spent on quality equipment.

 

[Just Relax]

I suggest you don’t get rid of your Lee Single stage if it has the safety prime. Use/load the primer tube style priming system for a while and see if you like that. I opted to deprime/size/prime full time on the Lee because of the ease of refilling the Lee safety prime vs the tubes on my other presses.

Do you have a picture of that setup? I just bought a Lee single stage specifically to deprime. But I like your idea of sizing and priming too. Like you said the primer loading/feeding thing on the progressive presses, namely Dillon, which I have is a little cumbersome. I don't mean to highjack the thread, but maybe the OP would be interested in knowing more about this specific set up too.

 

[Frulk]

I’ll post a pic in a few but it’s basically the same press as the OP shows with a Hornady Depriming/sizing die and the Lee Safety prime system.

 

[Horskinator]

I have a Rockchucker and a LNL AP (not ammo plant) and one thing that I have done is the conversion bushing on the chucker.

I used arbor shims I got from Fastenal (PN: 7041958) to make it so my dies were set the same on both presses as you have to shim up the bushing on the chucker to match the LNL height.

So what I have done is set up my individual dies on the chucker so that I don't have to worry about the press indexing as I make adjustments to each of the dies.

I even do this for my powder measures to set charge and articulation of the case activation.

Then I move them over to the LNL and they are ready to go.

I can easily do one operation at a time when I have small amounts of time or run the progressive until my heart is content and never worry about how my dies are set between the presses.

The only thing I end up having to do if I have not reloaded in a bit is check powder charge and COL and I am good to crank em out.

This works really well for me and a big reason I chose the Hornady when I decided to move on to progressive.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I do most of my revolver reloading and load development on a RockChucker because I enjoy the process.
I use two Hornady LnL progressive presses for my high volume reloading. The Hornady units run very well. I have two Dillon 550s that I bought at auction but the Hornady LnLs work so well, I still haven't set them up.
I use a RockChucker Supreme for rifle reloading.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have a Rockchucker and a LNL AP (not ammo plant) and one thing that I have done is the conversion bushing on the chucker.

That is how I have my Lee Classic Cast set up, so that I can move dies back and forth as needed

 

[Just Relax]

Does anyone use a Lee press (or other press) and add the universal case feeder to load empty casings into the press for depriming? At some point, I am going to deprime before wet tumbling the cases. I was thinking about adding one casing at a time to deprime, doesn't sound like fun. I'm new to this so this may seem obvious to the experience loaders...

 

[9mmepiphany]

Does anyone use a Lee press (or other press) and add the universal case feeder to load empty casings into the press for depriming? At some point, I am going to deprime before wet tumbling the cases

Before the introduction of the Lee APP, I used my Classic Cast equipped with the Inline Fabrication case ejection system. The APP is designed to accommodate their Universal Case Feeder to perform the function, and more, that you are asking about

 

[kell]

I'm old and OCD (anal ?) I like to clean, de-cap/size, expand, (or measure/trim), prime, charge, seat, and crimp all separately. Oh I forgot about cleaning out the primer hole. Anyway, it just feels better. I've got the time and I like to look at the result after each stage.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm part of a minority group that when using a progressive press, I prime off the press.

I use my Hornady L-N-L for most of my sizing of handgun cases. The bushing system allows me to mount the dies in an any position that I want but usually in station one and two. I resize and expand the mouth shortly after shooting them. They process quickly. I then clean the cases and put them away for a future loading session. I prefer to clean the cases after sizing but before reloading.

When I want to load them, I prime the cases with a hand or bench primer tool then load them on a progressive.

For loading on my Dillon BL550 and RCBS Pro2000, I screw the powder measure, bullet seating and crimp dies into the tool head like a single stage. The dies are set with locking lock rings that maintain their settings.

For loading on my L-N-L, the dies are set in bushings and installed in the appropriate stations. The powder measure goes in station 2, the powder check die in station 3, seater die in station 4 and the crimp die in station 5.

Since the cases already have their mouth expanded, the powder measure does not expand the case mouth and the drop tubes are machined without a flare on them.

Separating resizing from loading makes the reloading experience more pleasurable for me as I feel the priming systems on these presses are less than 100% reliable. I still load more ammunition faster than I can shoot it.

The only progressive press that I load empty round to completed round is my Dillon SL900 shotshell loader. The priming system on this press offers an opportunity to see the primer as it goes into position for seating. It becomes part of my scan while operating the press.

 

[sparkyv]

There are good posts here on this topic. I shoot around 400 handgun rounds per month excluding rimfire and have been toying with the idea of a progressive press. It sound like I'm not reloading enough rounds to justify one just yet, not to mention that I shoot a variety of loads/calibers. I load on a Lee turret and can load 150 rounds an hour when I get in a groove at a slow and steady pace; I've run at a 200 round per hour pace, but that takes extreme focus and is less enjoyable, so I don’t usually push myself. I know it will be faster on a progressive, but I don't have a set load for any of the six calibers I load, so I still need a versatile and flexible setup. I like varying powders, charge weight and projectiles, I'm a continual tinkerer. Caliber changes are quick and simple on the turret, and primer size swaps are even more simple. When I retire, I plan to shoot much more, so I'll just keep learning from you guys until I'm really ready to go and crank out many, many more rounds on a progressive.

 

[Cannibul]

You can purchase additional powder bars for the Dillon powder measure and swap them out, just as you can swap out metering inserts on the Hornady powder measure.

What I did was to purchase an EasyDial. https://www.titanreloading.com/easy...t=The EasyDial, is a dial,, 550, 650 and 1050.

It's VERY repeatable. Within 0.1 gr with pistol powders and charge weights.

I record the setting for each load. When I want to load that load again I just set the dial to that reading and verify the drop.

 

[gifbohane]

I have a Dillon 550---4 stages are good enough for me--- 1 resize and deprime-2 expand
and charge-3 seat bullet (seat and crimp if you set up dies properly)-4 crimp ( if using a four die set). l....

Presume that you also PRIME in step one?

 

[Dudedog]

I'm part of a minority group that when using a progressive press, I prime off the press.

I use my Hornady L-N-L for most of my sizing of handgun cases. The bushing system allows me to mount the dies in an any position that I want but usually in station one and two. I resize and expand the mouth shortly after shooting them. They process quickly. I then clean the cases and put them away for a future loading session. I prefer to clean the cases after sizing but before reloading.

When I want to load them, I prime the cases with a hand or bench primer tool then load them on a progressive.

Same for me. (except it may not be shortly after shooting them)
It takes more time but I run a pass to resize/deprime and expand the mouth.
Wet tumble.
I then hand prime. (usually while watching TV, wear safety glasses!) Hand priming lets me inspect the cases (toss the 9mm with the stupid ledge, easier to see after they are clean inside)
I like not having to mess with priming when I go to load.

Then when I go to load 9mm I have
1. Powder drop
2. RCBS lockout die
3. Bullet feeder
4 Seat
5 Crimp

With the LNL and a bullet feeder, my left hand feeds cases, my right hand pulls the handle,
this works out well for me only one job for each hand.

 

[mdi]

For producing 300 rounds on a progressive, you still have to pull the handle at least 300 times...

 

[9mmepiphany]

For producing 300 rounds on a progressive, you still have to pull the handle at least 300 times...

That's true. but...

It would take 900, 1200, or 1500 pulls with a single stage or turret press...depending on how many operations you combine.

 

[splattergun]

I figure the turret only saves time in die changes.

This is an inaccurate assumption.
Not to dissuade you from your choice to go progressive, you should at least have at least one fact about turrets at hand...

Any turret press not only saves time in die changes but, more important, it saves all that time handling each piece of brass multiple times. Each time you have to pick up, manipulate, place, remove and stage a piece of brass as it moves through the steps, that is several seconds of time that adds up with every piece and that is why turrets are faster than SS presses. Don't believe me? Add up the seconds you use up every time you handle and mis-handle a piece of brass the next time you use your SS, then multiply that by your brass count. Those seconds add up to minutes very quickly, and if you're processing a large batch, that turns into hours. On a turret, you pick the brass up only once, run it through all the steps, then remove it. Lots of handling time eliminated.

 

[cfullgraf]

On a turret, you pick the brass up only once, run it through all the steps, then remove it. Lots of handling time eliminated.

I assume you are talking about a Lee turret press which indexes the turret automatically.

With a Lyman or Redding turret, you have to manually index the turret. Maybe indexing the turret takes less time than swapping out a case for some steps but probably not for others.