32_d3gr33s
Member
I am on a limited budget, it just depends how much I want to go over my budget. I'd rather spend a little more and get something worth while now, than save a few bucks and spend a lot more a year from now
What is your suggestion?
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
The problem with the RCBS and Redding "turret" presses is the fact neither is auto indexing. In reality they are single stage presses with all the dies already set up. While they are both very good and solid presses the speed could be better, like you said...
As for upgrading from one turret press to another, yes, the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press is an upgrade because it does auto index. I can safely load 180 to 200 rounds in an hour, sometimes even more if I'm in a very good rhythm.
I load for the 9mm, 38/357 and 45 Auto so I'm sure it's a good press for those cartridges and I also load .223 ammo on the same press. The best part is the Lee Classic Turret Press will cost you under $110. Additional turrets will cost you only $10 each. Add the Lee Safety Primer for just a hair over $22 and your costs will not break the bank at all IMO.
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/292460/lee-4-hole-classic-4-hole-turret-press-turret
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...-primer-feeder-for-2006-later-reloading-press
(Amazon also has the turrets and Safety Prime but the price is higher)
REMEMBER! I am suggestion the Classic Turret Press, not the Deluxe Turret Press. The Classic is cast iron and has a heavier ram and linkage. It also handles the spent primers much better.
Case and point, if you only have 2 hours to load a week you can load twice the ammo you are now loading which is what you were asking for and all for under $200.
As for upgrading from one turret press to another, yes, the Lee Classic 4 Hole Turret Press is an upgrade because it does auto index. I can safely load 180 to 200 rounds in an hour, sometimes even more if I'm in a very good rhythm.
I load for the 9mm, 38/357 and 45 Auto so I'm sure it's a good press for those cartridges and I also load .223 ammo on the same press. The best part is the Lee Classic Turret Press will cost you under $110. Additional turrets will cost you only $10 each. Add the Lee Safety Primer for just a hair over $22 and your costs will not break the bank at all IMO.
http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/292460/lee-4-hole-classic-4-hole-turret-press-turret
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...-primer-feeder-for-2006-later-reloading-press
(Amazon also has the turrets and Safety Prime but the price is higher)
REMEMBER! I am suggestion the Classic Turret Press, not the Deluxe Turret Press. The Classic is cast iron and has a heavier ram and linkage. It also handles the spent primers much better.
Case and point, if you only have 2 hours to load a week you can load twice the ammo you are now loading which is what you were asking for and all for under $200.
jr_roosa
Member
550b does it in 4 stages:
1: Size, deprime, reprime
2: Flare and powder drop
3: Seat
4: Crimp
You can make it do anything you want at each stage, though. For rifle with prepped brass, mine goes:
1. Prime (no die)
2. Powder drop (no flare)
3. Visual powder check and place bullet (no die)
4. Seat (no crimp)
I wouldn't bother with a case feeder or bullet feeder, especially not right off the bat. If you can load for an hour before your back hurts, you'll be able to load a few hundred rounds without the feeders, no problem.
650 adds a stage for a powder check, I think. It also automatically advances with each pull, which is good and bad.
The Dillon website lets you play around with options and compare machines.
-J.
zerobarrier
Contributing Member
I started with the lee turret auto index and loved it but within a year I sold it and upgraded to a hornady LNL and I love it. I reload 9mm, 40 s&w, 45 acp, 44 mag, 50 ae, and 223. With the LNL I can load 100 pistol rounds in a little less then 20 minutes. It has 5 stations, First station sizing and depriming, Second station reprime the powder drop and case flare with the hornady powder thru expander attachment, third station I use the RCBS lock out die to detect double charges or cases with no powder in them(highly recommend this) fourth station seater, and fifth station crimp. I use the Dillon primer pick up tubes - much better then the hornady ones. I spot check the powder and oal and once I get it set correctly it stays dead on. Caliber change is quick. from 9mm to 45acp 5-10min. All the dies are in a bushing that just twists off then put the new ones in. changing from small to large primers is a piece of cake. I use the same powder for 9mm, 40 s&W, and 45acp -titegroup so that makes it easier.
dickttx
Member
32_d3gr33s I was in a similar situation a year or so ago.
A change from an RCBS turret to a Lee Classic Turret will definitely speed up your process.
I had the LCT and liked it very much. However, in order to load 100 rounds I had to pull the lever 400 times. This caused a lot of irritation to my 75 year old shoulder.
After a lot of looking I bought the Hornady LnL AP. Now it takes 104 pulls to load 100 rounds. I did not get it for more speed or output but only for less pain. In fact, I do not run it very fast at all but I can easily replace what I have shot in less than an hour, start to finish. I have to be careful to not create a bunch of loaded ammo I do not need.
I have no need for a brass feeder or bullet feeder at my volume.
Change in calibers is very easy. The dies are extremely easy to change in their LnL bushings. The hardest part, for me, with my fumble fingers, is starting the primer punch from the bottom when I have to change from small to large primers, or vise versa.
A bonus for me is that I simply moved all my Lee four die sets and Pro Auto Disk over to the LnL. I added an RCBS Lock-out die that I adjust when I change calibers. I only load 45 ACP and 38 Super on it now but will start 9mm before too long. As 9mm uses the same shell plate as 38 Super I will only have to set up my Lee 9mm dies in the LnL bushings to add the 9mm.
After a little wearing in of the primer slide I have had NO problems, and I am pretty much a mechanical midget. I have never had to contact Hornady but I understand their customer service is very good if you do have problems.
A change from an RCBS turret to a Lee Classic Turret will definitely speed up your process.
I had the LCT and liked it very much. However, in order to load 100 rounds I had to pull the lever 400 times. This caused a lot of irritation to my 75 year old shoulder.
After a lot of looking I bought the Hornady LnL AP. Now it takes 104 pulls to load 100 rounds. I did not get it for more speed or output but only for less pain. In fact, I do not run it very fast at all but I can easily replace what I have shot in less than an hour, start to finish. I have to be careful to not create a bunch of loaded ammo I do not need.
I have no need for a brass feeder or bullet feeder at my volume.Change in calibers is very easy. The dies are extremely easy to change in their LnL bushings. The hardest part, for me, with my fumble fingers, is starting the primer punch from the bottom when I have to change from small to large primers, or vise versa.
A bonus for me is that I simply moved all my Lee four die sets and Pro Auto Disk over to the LnL. I added an RCBS Lock-out die that I adjust when I change calibers. I only load 45 ACP and 38 Super on it now but will start 9mm before too long. As 9mm uses the same shell plate as 38 Super I will only have to set up my Lee 9mm dies in the LnL bushings to add the 9mm.
After a little wearing in of the primer slide I have had NO problems, and I am pretty much a mechanical midget. I have never had to contact Hornady but I understand their customer service is very good if you do have problems.
I have two friends who shoot a lot and they use Dillon 550's. I had never loaded two months ago but found a nice Dillon 650 with all the stuff needed. I especially appreciate the case feeder. The 550 was recommended over the 650 but couldn't pass up the used 650. I spent a month getting familiar with the operation and now I'm comfortable using it. My wife and I both enjoy shooting so I figure it will pay for itself in the first 18 months. Having never reloaded until a month ago, I really can't speak for other brands, but I really like this Dillon.
I got the conversion kit from 9 to 10mm and it's pretty easy to change over, even for a complete newbie. I'm not sorry I got the 650. Since you are already a reloader, either one should work for you. But do get the roller handle over the ball end handle.
I got the conversion kit from 9 to 10mm and it's pretty easy to change over, even for a complete newbie. I'm not sorry I got the 650. Since you are already a reloader, either one should work for you. But do get the roller handle over the ball end handle.
Why would anyone recommend a 550 over a 650??????
The 650 has five stations and self indexes. The 650 is the best press in my opinion but the startup costs will give you a pain in the wallet!
If you can afford a 650 then get it. Best shooters in the world use them and reload 100K of bullets a year. Dillon stands behind them too!
Lee S. Forsberg
Member
I'm sure someone else has said it. If you can afford a 1050 with all the bells and whistles order it and don't look back.
32_d3gr33s
Member
well... finally caved... I bought a progressive. I spend hours watching videos of the Hornady LNL and the Dillion 650. Started pricing everything out for both... I was at just a tad under $900 for just the Dillon press and parts to load 4 different calibers... Little more than i wanted to spend, so i priced out the Hornady. That was just a tad over $600 which was around what i wanted to spend. I had forgotten about the rcbs pro 2000. Watched some videos and immediatly liked it better than the other 2 presses. priced that out and it was on sale at Midway for the same price as the Hornady. So, i bought it. Got it today, set it up, and have put it to use a little bit. Took about an hour of setting it up and getting everything dialed in, and figuring out the aps priming system... And it works flawless. I enjoy the APS strips much more than trying to pick every single primer up with a little stick, and when you are done using that primer type, the leftovers are all neatly stored in the plastic strips... Definitely think I made the right choice. Also picked up a Lee single stage just because.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The RCBS Pro 2000 looks like a stronger press than the Dillon and simpler to use. Anyone here ever use a Dillon 650, Hornady LNL and a Pro 2000 and can tell me what you think of each? I'm surprised how simple the RCBS looks to use compared to the Dillon and maybe even the Hornady LNL.
Please, if you haven't used them don't comment on a guess. I'm serious about wanting to know so I'm in no mood for a fan-boy post or speculation.
Please, if you haven't used them don't comment on a guess. I'm serious about wanting to know so I'm in no mood for a fan-boy post or speculation.
As an old man with a bad back myself, I am confused by this thread. I shoot every day, and reload about 3X a week, standing up. If you can shoot standing up, I don't get why you can't reload about the same time standing up. Don't get me wrong. For all other pleasurable activities, I complain about my bad back and lie down.
32_d3gr33s
Member
My workbench is low, so i sit down to reload. Back pain comes from leaning forward to operate the press...
jmorris
Member
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I have all of the Dillon presses. I use my 550 for batches that are larger than I want to do on a turret and smaller than would justify setting up a 650 or 1050 to do.
On a 550 it takes 30 seconds to change from 458 socom to 7-08 for example, not so with case fed machines.
I also owned two LNL's, a pre and post EZ ject. I just didn't care for them. The half index wore me out with the specific die, bullet I was using loading rifle rounds on one and the QD bushings tried to self QD a time or two before I found a thicker O ring that held them inplace. I sold the first one when I concluded the powder measure didn't do any better than the Dillon with 3031. The 2nd went to a new home after I had to adjust the paws. Nothing that was a big deal, but I didn't feel like I was loosing anything by letting them go.
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