What press should I get, opinions????????

[bub524]

I need a progressive press to load 38 sp and some 9mm. I don't have the time anymore to do them 1 by 1 with a single stage press. I had a Dillon years ago and sold it for some dumb reason. Now they are about 4 times as much.
Are there any economical presses that do a good job. I had a Lee when they first came out with their very first progressive and it was junk. Don't want another one of those. Maybe the new ones are better? Any opinions. What are you guys using?

[bub524]

Looking at the Dillons, it seems they aren't as much as I thought they were. Is anyone using a Square Deal press compared to a 550?

[Graybeard]

I've never used a progressive BUT if I were gonna and in your situation the Square Deal is the one I'd buy. In fact I've toyed with the idea of doing just that a lot of times but just can't seem to bring myself to convert to a progressive. If I were gonna then I should have back in my competition days when I shot a LOT more and actually had less time to devote to reloading than I do now being retired from both work and competition. I guess I just can't convince myself to leave the one at a time crafted loads I trust. I've just seen too many folks on ranges who use progressives with too many bad shells to ever truly trust my personal health to a progressive press.

But then maybe those folks would still make unsafe loads regardless of what press they use!   

[bub524]

GB, I had a very good friend who had one of the original red (won't mention the brand) progressives. He came over one night and handed me a shoebox. Said it was that model 10 Smith I always wanted. The top strap was bent up and 2 of the chambers were blown out. He was loading wad cutters with Bullseye. Figgered he double charged the whole lot somehow. We checked the machine the next day and all seemed to be in order. He tossed it out and never used a progressive again. And it taught me to triple check everything.
He had a batch of about 400 rounds that were suspect. I'm still pulling the bullets and powder out of those new unfired cases when I need new ones.

[PlacitasSlim]

GB, I had a very good friend who had one of the original red (won't mention the brand) progressives. He came over one night and handed me a shoebox. Said it was that model 10 Smith I always wanted. The top strap was bent up and 2 of the chambers were blown out. He was loading wad cutters with Bullseye. Figgered he double charged the whole lot somehow. We checked the machine the next day and all seemed to be in order. He tossed it out and never used a progressive again. And it taught me to triple check everything.
He had a batch of about 400 rounds that were suspect. I'm still pulling the bullets and powder out of those new unfired cases when I need new ones.

That is the reason I will only use a progressive with 5 stations so you can use a powder lock out die.

[bub524]

GB, I had a very good friend who had one of the original red (won't mention the brand) progressives. He came over one night and handed me a shoebox. Said it was that model 10 Smith I always wanted. The top strap was bent up and 2 of the chambers were blown out. He was loading wad cutters with Bullseye. Figgered he double charged the whole lot somehow. We checked the machine the next day and all seemed to be in order. He tossed it out and never used a progressive again. And it taught me to triple check everything.
He had a batch of about 400 rounds that were suspect. I'm still pulling the bullets and powder out of those new unfired cases when I need new ones.

That is the reason I will only use a progressive with 5 stations so you can use a powder lock out die.

what is a powder lock out die?

[myronman3]

if you pay attention, there is no more danger with a quality progressive than a single stage. dont blame the press for your lack of focus.

[PlacitasSlim]

The powder lock out dies I use are the RCBS. You adjust the center stem to a normal powder charge and after that if there is no powder or a double charge it will lock the press and not allow you to proceed without correcting the problem. This is different than the powder check die which just gives you a visual reference.  I aso have a powder check but find I forget to look at it.

[bub524]

Interesting. I'll have to look into that. Never saw or heard of them.

[Davemuzz]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=536792  That link will take you the the RCBS lock out die at Midway. They aren't the only ones that sell it so look around. I have one in my Hornady Lock 'n Load progressive press.  These lock out dies are great inventions. They still don't take the place of focus and attention, but if your powder charge is low, or high, this die will stop your press RIGHT NOW. And that really gets your attention!


Dave.

[Davemuzz]

....and another thing....don't discount looking at the Hornady Lock 'n Load progressive press. Yeah, I know Dillion has a boat load of owners out there, but Dillon has been out there a lot longer than most. The market is getting more competitive, so shop, look and consider. Right now Hornady has this "free bullet" thing that practically makes the progressive press free. Anyway, here is my $.02 on the Hornady LNL:

The Hornady Lock-‘n-Load, Things that I like, ‘n things that I don’t like:

The “like” list:

1)   The Lock-n-load system itself. This is a great system. You can change from one caliber to the next in a minute. In fact, I bot a RCBS single stage rockchucker and did the LNL upgrade for when I do those 5 to 10 round work-up loads.
2)   The unit is made of cast iron and is as solid as a rock. The center plunger is 2” thick and will yield to nothing. Oh, nothing X-tra to buy! No mount plates for $48…no plate hold this or handle roll $49 that. It’s all there for the price.
3)   The cartridges are held in the shellplate by a spring. This is a very nice feature and makes taking the brass in and out of a shellplate (if you have too) quick and easy. Much easier than the Dillon brass pin system. Ever try to find one of those little brass pins on the floor?
4)   Powder measure. Yeah….this should be the clincher. You only need one with the LNL because it’s easy to take off, dump the powder and put a different powder in. You gotta go thru your craftsman tool box to remove the Dillon powder measure. The reason Dillon owners have so many powder measures (at $70 a pop) is because it takes 20 minutes to change powder types. In the 2.5 years of owning my  LNL, I never once thought of buying a second powder measure. Just buy the $15 quick change powder die and have it pre-set for each caliber you load. Then your change over is quick and easy. Or, if you don’t want to spend the $15, you will just have to adjust the powder die you have (cheapskate).
5)   Auto-advance. This is really nice. Pretty tough to get double powder charges when the unit advances the brass. This can still happen (a double charge) if your foolin around during setup…so caution is always recommended. But, the auto indexing is a wonderful thing!
6)   Auto case feed. I bot the case feed when I got mine. If you have the bucks and load a bunch, get it. I love mine. ‘Nuff said.

The “could be better” list”

1)   The primer feed needs to have some kind of “weight” to keep a small amount of pressure  on the primers to keep them feeding. I bot a $.40 wooden dowel rod, and marked it so I know when I’m going to run out of primers. Works like a charm.
2)   Remember those springs that hold in the brass? You know how I said they are just wonderful? Well, they are, but they do break…so, order about 10 replacements and keep ‘em hangin on your bench. ‘Cause if your loadin away and your spring breaks and you don’t have a replacement….you can’t load no more.


That’s about it. Yup….only 2 items on my “whine” list. It’s a great unit. Put it on your “consider to buy it” list.


Now, I'm now trying to get into a whizzin contest with Dillion owners. Lord knows there is enough of that goin on. I've knocked Dillon in the above, but, it's nuthin undeserved. I've also knocked the Hornady. So I think it's pretty even.

MHO

Dave

[bub524]

thanks Dave, I'll look into the LNL.