Advise on What progresssive press to buy

[zeke08]

I am looking to upgrade from my rockchucker press and want to know what everyone thinks is the best option in a progressive reloading system. I have been looking at the Dillon 650. I load 9mm, .40, 10mm, 38/357, 45, 41, 223, 243, 270, 7mm, 338, 30-06, 30-30, 350 rem(as of today), 7mm-08.  I want to speed up my reloading process. What is the best press for the money?

[Varmintnut260]

My father bought a Hornady Lock-n-Load press, about 1 yr ago, and he loves it. The one thing that bothers me is some dies are not long enough to use in this press....I tried Lee dies once and they didnt work. You also have to buy shell plates for every different caliber, but I believe that is just like any other progressive press. IMO the press is great, and haven't really had much trouble learning how to use it. Any problems I had hornady customer service clears up very well. As for the other presses out there I couldn't tell ya.

[securitysix]

My only experience with a progressive press is the Dillon 650 my dad has.  I've loaded some .45 ACP and .357 Magnum on it.  It's a pretty sweet setup.  Never done any bottlenecked rifle cases on it, so I don't know first hand how well they'll do.

Dillon's customer service is second to none, and in the reloading equipment industry, that's saying something, as most reloading companies have excellent customer service. 

That said, my one experience with Hornady customer service was very smooth and satisfactory (my .308 Win. seating die had the wrong sleeve and they replaced it without question or charge).

[wncchester]

For that many cartridges, and so many of them rifle, I doubt you'll be very happy with any one progressive.  

I'd suggest looking at the Lee Classic Turret. Not a progressive but it has an auto indexing turret head that speeds things quite a bit.  It's a cast iron and steel press, very large, lots of leverage, good spent primer catcher, excellant fully adjustable lever.  The turret heads are inexpensive and can be exchanged in seconds without tools.  Uses standard 'snap-in' shell holders.

If you really want a full progressive, look at the Hornady LnL AP.  Has a very good reputation but won't be quite as easy and fast to swap calibers as the Lee and the price is much higher but it'll sure get the job done.

[gypsyman]

I've had a Dillion 550 for 5 years or so. Been really happy with it. A friend of mine has a Hornady L&L, and it to looks pretty stout. Don't think you can go wrong with either one. gypsyman

[milespb]

I liked my Dillon 550 so well that I bought a second one so I could leave them set up for lg & sm primers. I can't be critical of any of the others (never used them) but I can tell you that Dillons customer service is second to none of them.

[KansasPaul]

An associate of mine has a Dillon 650 - in my opinion it is THE progressive to own.  I have tinkered with a Lee Pro 1000 but it doesn't compare anywhere near the Dillon.  That said, the best set-up is to have extra shell/die plates to make caliber changes quick and easy - this will set you back a few bucks to get completely set up but once you are you can really crank out quality ammo as fast as you can place a bullet in the case mouth - one easy move of the press handle results in a completed round.

Paul

[wncchester]

" ....243, 270, 7mm, 338, 30-06, 30-30, 350 rem (as of today), 7mm-08.

You guys who love blue's 550/650 having good luck loading the rifle cartridges Zeke mentioned?

[shot1]

For straight wall pistol calibers a progressive works very well but sick with the single stage for bottle neck rifle. Dillon all the way for progressive presses. Use ball powders in the progressive presses or you will pull your hair out. 

[Land_Owner]

Checking in here with a vote for the RCBS Piggyback II.  I use and am very satisfied with mine.  I don't load 10's of 1,000's of rounds weekly or monthly.  If you do, then you probably need a Dillon.

The Piggyback II won't handle any cartridge over 2.260" OAL, so most bottle necked rounds above the 223 are out.  But for hand gun and the 223 cartridges it is a half-priced upgrade for your Rockchucker versus the full priced Dillons.  Buy multiple Piggyback die holders and swapping calibers is quick.  The Piggyback II is less expensive than are the Dillon, and while not a true progressive press, it WORKS and I like mine very well for the amount of personal reloading that I do.

[Dezynco]

I've got an old Dillon 450 that works great.  I've been very happy with it.  The 450 is basically the same as the 550 without the interchangeable tool heads.  It has a very solid, positive feel to it.  As with any progresive (or semi-progressive) you have to pay attention to what you're doing!

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive got 3 lnl progressives and a 550 and have used about all of them. If i were to recomend a press to someone that wasnt really into case feeders and extream high volume loading it would be the 550. Its simpler and has less that can go wrong and will still crank out a good amount of ammo.

[zeke08]

thanks for the info I will let you all know what and how it goes!

[wncchester]

Shot1:  "For straight wall pistol calibers a progressive works very well but stick with the single stage for bottle neck rifle."

Landowner:  "The Piggyback II won't handle any cartridge over 2.260" OAL, so most bottle necked rounds above the 223 are out. "

Zeke, that's the most accurate and relivant information you've gotten for what you said you want to do.

[zeke08]

wncchester so is it that the progressive wont do rifle cases or just not as accurate or what? Thanks for your help

[securitysix]

The Dillon 550, 650, and I'm pretty sure 1050 will do rifle cases.  One problem with doing bottle necked cases is that they have to be lubed (Dillon offers carbide dies for the .223 , but they still require lube) to be sized.  This can not only slow you down, but if you forget to lube one, or over lube one, or get too much lube built up in the die, you can lock up the press entirely and bring the whole process to a screeching halt.

And realistically speaking, in most cases, you're not going to shoot hundreds of rounds of rifle ammo at a time, so loading up a box or two on a single-stage is not that big a deal.  On the other hand, hen you start looking at having to feed a half dozen AR-15s, a Mini-14, 3 FALs and a CETME, you might want to start looking at setting up your progressive to handle .223 and .308 (and I don't see either on your list).  If your .30-06 is a Garand, and if you shoot it a lot (or would like to), setting your progressive up to handle .30-06 wouldn't be a bad idea.

[wncchester]

" wncchester so is it that the progressive wont do rifle cases or just not as accurate or what? Thanks for your help"

Security has most of it.  Most of the lower cost, but still expensive, progressives are too small to deal with cartridges as long and large as the .338 you listed.  It's quite easy to run small straight walled cartridges, hand gun stuff, though a progressive using carbide sizers.  You don't have that option with bottle neck cases and the lever pressure required to operate the press can get tiring, IMHO.  

Lee's auto-indexing Classic Turret press is a viable option for maximum versatility for rifle loading and moderate speed with the little cases too.

Me, I'll stick to my RC and slow going.  IF I wanted lots of speed for handgun I MIGHT get a progressive but I'd still keep my single stage for rifle ammo.

[2ndtimer]

I have used a Dillon RL-550B for years.  I have loaded 9mm, .38 spec., 357 mag. .44 mag and .223 Rem on it.  I just loaded 300 rounds of 9mm ammo this morning.  Where the Dillon (and most progressive loaders) shine is loading high volume handgun ammo.  It is great once you have established a given load for a cartridge and allows you to manufacture a lot of ammo very quickly.  If you are the type that wants to experiment with every new powder and bullet that gets introduced, then a single stage press is more practical.  On the other hand, if you have settled on a load that you are happy with for a particular cartridge, the Dillon is slick.  My load this morning was 4.6 gr Tite Group with a winchester small pistol primer and Winchester 115 gr JHP bullet.  It has become my standard load for a Glock Model 19.
I am still thrilled with the Dillon.  For the .223, I full length size and trim the brass and just use the Dillon to prime, charge the case and seat the bullet.  Messing with lubed cases in a progressive just doesn't work for me.
Chuck

[zeke08]

Thanks that makes sense I will stick with my Rock chucker for Rifle rounds an look at a progressive for pistols thanks again

[mantley]

I have a Dillon 650 that loads great with few problems.  I load both rifle and pistol on it - 9mm, 44 mag, 223, 243, 260, 270, 7mm-08, 30-30, 30-06, 7mm Mag, 300 Weatherby Mag, 45-70, 22 hornet, 444. I load most of my hunting ammo on a single stage press - I was able to increase my speed by adding a RCBS Chargemaster combo to my equipment list.  I can load a box of most rifle ammo (20) in 5 minutes.  I also use the Chargemaster in load development - so much quicker to load.

Mark