which press?

[Thompsoncustom]

So I've decided it's time to upgrade to a 5 stations progressive presses but I'm not sold on any one model yet. Some of the things I want to do on the press are be able to charge and flare in the same station and run a RBCS lockout die. Also needs to able able to seat in station 5.


I'm leaning towards the Hornady LNL over the others so far. Any reason you would recommend a different press like the Dillon,RBCS,Lee. That Lee is a heck of a lot cheaper than the rest but I hear bad things about the priming system.

 

[Lerk]

I would personally take the Dillon 650 over the LNL. I do own both but it's been my experience that when I'm doing my larger magnum pistol rounds (44 mag, 41 mag, etc) that the LNL has a tendency to flex the shellplate when doing all five operations at once (and typically needs a little case lube to run smoothly as well). The 650 has not had this problem for me. If I break up my operations into batches the LNL doesn't have this problem. I also had the problem on the LNL when priming it wouldn't seat the primers far enough because the press had peened a dimple into the base from the priming system.

 

[kostyanj]

I started the exact same thread on another forum and every time someone posts, my decision keeps flipping. There are however several things I've learned.
Either press will do the job and do it well.
Cost really isn't a consideration because when set up in similar fashion, they are roughly the same price.
Neither press is perfect and has pros and cons.
Both companies have outstanding customer service.

Personally, I think I'm going to go with the hornady for a few reasons: the 1/2 stroke indexing, primer system that won't load the next primer unless a case is present, powder measure system, and the 500 free bullets. But your reasons and needs may be different. From what I've read, both will turn out great ammo. However those 4 reasons are the tipping point for me.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Last I heard, Dillon is months behind schedule. Dunno about the others.

People are deciding to try to protect themselves from future ammo shortages.

 

[Ex]

Dillons website says 6 to 8 weeks till ship.

 

[Bruno2]

I cant knock either Dillon or Hornady. They are both excellent products with the best CS in the business.

 

[rajbcpa]

I had a new Hornady LNL for 5 months.... After total frustration I gave up... It had constant jams ans breakages. It just refused to run. Customer service calls were many.

I bought a Dillon 550b and I never have issues.

Save yourself a lot of grief - buy a Dillon and never look back.

 

[AFK]

This is certainly not the norm as I'm sure you are finding out through your research. I have experience with both and you can't make a bad choice. Things may be different now, but when I bought my Hornady, the cost was a good bit less than the Dillon for the calibers that I load. Each have their quirks, but nothing crazy. Just take it slow and don't force anything that doesn't want to go. Stop and figure out what's up, or else something will break.

If you are gonna go Dillon, get the 650

 

[tightgroup tiger]

What color do you like?

 

[kostyanj]

What color do you like?

This is what it boils down to.

 

[Aged 1]

A vote for Hornady

I have had a L-N-L for awhile. My shoot/ load activity goes in spells, and I have yet to think I am at high rate of production. I have broken the large primer shuttle TWICE....arg, but I think I have it figured out now. I have loaded; 357 and 38 special, 22-250, 38-55, and am waiting on dies to enable me to load 9mm Luger. Have seem video of Dillon product cranking out loaded ammo, and it looks good.
Oh..the rebate helped too. At the time of my purchase they were offering a limited selection, but ..again ..on a forum ... Someone said call Hornady. I wanted the 180 grain xtp for my 357 rifle...called Hornady... Lady said " just this once we'll do it". I was happy with that help.
Would I buy Hornady again? Yep! Is there a learning curve? Yep!

 

[altitude_19]

What are your monthly ammo requirements? I find my RCBS doesn't run as smooth as Dillons at high speed. But I can't overstate how great the APS priming system on the RCBS is.

 

[safarihunter]

It is hard to fault the 650. I am running several and Dillon has been good to me

 

[hAkron]

I had a LnL AP for about 2 years. I've had a Dillon 650 for a few months. I like the Dillon better.

Neither one is perfect, and both have INCREDIBLE customer service. Most folks have a nearby shop that stocks Hornady. Not everybody has apace that carries dillon.

 

[BYJO4]

Dillon and Hornady are both good progressive presses. Since I only load 20,000 to 25,000 rounds a year, I have no need for case and bullet feeders. As a result, the Hornady has been perferct for me as I can insert cases and bullets with my left hand and keep my right hand on the operating handle. I also like how fast and easy it is to change calibers as I usually change 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[BBQJOE]

I have the red one.
As someone sorta said, you have to pay attention to progressives.
There is a learning curve for the "Feel".
It's a little like the operator they talk about in construction who can feel an earthworm with a backhoe.

 

[Hondo 60]

That Lee is a heck of a lot cheaper than the rest but I hear bad things about the priming system.

You get what you pay for in this instance.
I've tried a Lee progressive & canNOT recommend them to anyone.

I have no experience with Hornady's LNL AP.
But I DO have experience with Dillon and VERY highly recommend them.

If I were buying a 5 stage press today, it'd be a Dillon 650.
I'm not a wealthy person, so the cost will be a struggle when I DO buy one.
But I believe strongly enough in Dillon, that I'd still get their press.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I love my LnL. It does a fine job for me. Customer service has been outstanding.

 

[cfullgraf]

What color do you like?

Right, get the color that best matches the decor in your reloading room.

My first progressive was the Hornady L-N-L which I chose over the Dillon 650. I spent about 6 months comparing and researching them.

I like the L-N-L and feel the operation is more flexible and fits my mode of reloading better than the Dillon. I resize and clean cases shortly after shooting them and store them for a later reloading season.

i have since purchased two Dillon SDBs dedicated to 45 ACP and 9x19. I still resize on the Hornady L-N-L then reload later on the SDBs. While I like the SDBs, it requires feeding the case with one hand and the bullet with the other. This is not as convenient as feeding both the bullet and case with my left hand on the L-N-L. I do not use case or bullet feeders. I do not need the production volume and the feeders make too much noise.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Ya still been looking around and researching and Hornady has a special going on were you get 500 free bullets and tho everyone seems to be out of stock when it comes to the LNL the cheapest I've found it is 389 plus 100 buck worth of free bullets so it's sounding pretty darn good to me.


I just don't see any reason to go with a dillon over any other press so far except that it's a dillon.

 

[Walkalong]

I prefer the ergonomics of the LNL. I do not prime on the press so that is not an issue with me either way.
Thousands of happy Hornady LNL and Dillon 450/550/650/1050 fans, as well as RCBS Pro 2000 fans.

 

[45_auto]

Ever wonder why the vast majority of national-level competitive shooters use Dillons? You think it's because they like the color?

http://www.aafgidpa.com/admin/equpment_survey.htm

Dillon - 189 (81 were XL650)
Hornady - 11
Lee - 10
RCBS - 2

 

[kostyanj]

Ever wonder why the vast majority of national-level competitive shooters use Dillons? You think it's because they like the color?

http://www.aafgidpa.com/admin/equpment_survey.htm

Dillon - 189 (81 were XL650)
Hornady - 11
Lee - 10
RCBS - 2

I've seen that before but those statistics are meaningless without context. Is it possible that dillon sponsors shooters and gives them presses while Hornady doesn't?

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Ever wonder why the vast majority of national-level competitive shooters use Dillons? You think it's because they like the color?

http://www.aafgidpa.com/admin/equpment_survey.htm

Dillon - 189 (81 were XL650)
Hornady - 11
Lee - 10
RCBS - 2

If everyone started choosing gear based on that list, we'd all shoot Glock 34's, use Dillon 650's, and only load 9mm with mixed brass, Montana Gold bullets, and TiteGroup powder.

You can keep that list, the Montana Gold bullets are the only item that interests me. I wouldn't mind a Dillon 650, but if I'm paying for it I'd rather save a little more and go 1050.

 

[rsrocket1]

I love to hear about the folks who are incapable of using equipment that works fine for many others. Like those who can't get the Lee Safety Scale to work for them, can't get the Lee powder measure to work for them, can't get Unique to drop consistently for them.

I got an LnL AP and it works perfectly for me for over 10k rounds in the past few years. I would have probably been happy with a Dillon 550B A 650 was out of the question for me so it was a choice between the 550 and the LnL. While researching, I discovered that the LnL AP would end up costing me an effective $150 new after promotional GC's, free shipping, no tax and free bullets so it was a no-brainer. In retrospect, I am also very glad to have bought the LnL because new calibers only cost $90 ($40 dies, $30 shellplate, $16 bushings + tax shipping, etc) and it would be quite a bit more for a quick change setup for the Dillon.

If money were no object then a full setup with a 650 would still be a toss up for me because I do change calibers often so unless money and space (for multiple presses) were no object, I would still probably end up with the LnL AP.