Help with progressive type presses?

[JEFraze]

Ok I currently have a RCBS Rockchucker press that I have been useing for 20 years or so. There is nothing wrong with my press its just that I am wanting to upgrade to a progressive press for the increased output.

What progressive press do you all use and why. What do you all recomend?

Thanks

 

[Lost Sheep]

Ok I currently have a RCBS Rockchucker press that I have been useing for 20 years or so. There is nothing wrong with my press its just that I am wanting to upgrade to a progressive press for the increased output.

What progressive press do you all use and why. What do you all recomend?

Thanks

What cartridges will you be loading and what kind of quantities? Very important in the decision making process and will help us target our answers. What's your budget?

I had a RockChucker for several years, then got a pair of Lee Pro-1000 progressives. I found them unnerving to use, as I never got accustomed to monitoring multiple simultaneous operations. I never got more than 200 rounds per hour as I was stopping every stroke to inspect powder drop, primer feed, remember to put the bullet on the case, etc. I switched to Lee Classic Turret and can maintain the same output rate as I did on my Pro-1000s and am much more relaxed when finished.

The Pro-1000 only has 3 die stations, so if (for straight-walled cases-pistol calibers) you want a powder check die or want to seat and crimp in separate steps, you have to do some tricks or forget about it.

Other progressives all have more stations (4, 5 or more) but I have never used them, so cannot advise on those.

See my post #9 for a more detailed post about my Lee Pro-1000 experience here:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485769

Hoping to hear from you soon.

In the meantime, these might give some food for thought

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=2511043&m=7761026941

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=2511043&m=9301077331

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=2511043&m=7761026941

Lost Sheep

 

[Rick Courtright]

What progressive press do you all use and why. What do you all recomend?

Hi,

I'm a confirmed single stager and am happy w/ both my finished product and my production rate using that approach.

However, I believe if I were to ever change my mind, there would be a big blue machine on the bench. For most purposes and many reasons, Dillon pretty well owns the progressive market.

A lot of people also like the Hornady machines. If there's any way to find some guys who have both Dillon and Hornady, and will let you go for a tour of their toys, you might find a preference for one or the other that outweighs any other advice.

Rick C

 

[Cheesewhiz]

I have a Hornady LNL AP, I've used several different progressives, I like my Hornady over a Dillon 550 and find it equal or close to a 650. I only load 9mm on my press, still load other calibers on my friend's presses. I have loaded close to 35,000 on my press so far and it has just worked great.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I thought this was an article, but is just a photo. But it did generate some responses in the accompanying thread.

http://ultimatereloader.com/2010/05/18/side-by-side-all-4-5-station-progressive-reloading-presses/

or if the link does not work, paste this into your web browser

ultimatereloader.com/2010/05/18/side-by-side-all-4-5-station-progressive-reloading-presses/


Then I found this comparison article. It starts out talking about specific features and improvements to the Hornady LnL, but scroll down and it talks about the comparison between the Hornady, the Dillon 650, the Lee Loadmaster, the RCBS 2000 (all five-station progressives) and the Dillong 550 (a 4-station progressive press).

http://www.shootandreload.com/category/reloading-presses/

and it has links to several other comparison articles.

 

[JEFraze]

Thanks[/quote]
What cartridges will you be loading and what kind of quantities? Very important in the decision making process and will help us target our answers. What's your budget


I have 5000 rounds for all of my handguns and 7000-10000 rounds for my .223, 7.62x39.

I also have 2000 rounds for 30/30 30/06 7mm rem mag. These calibers I will load on my Rockchucker.
As far as a budget I am willing to go upto $500 - $600

Also I will be increasing the amounts of amunition after I decide to get a progressive press.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Hornady has a few instructional videos at http://www.hornady.com/support/instructional-videos

You might find something of interest there. Haven't been to Dillon's site for a while, but they may have some videos, too.

Rick C

 

[Lost Sheep]

Thanks

What cartridges will you be loading and what kind of quantities? Very important in the decision making process and will help us target our answers. What's your budget

I have 5000 rounds for all of my handguns and 7000-10000 rounds for my .223, 7.62x39.

I also have 2000 rounds for 30/30 30/06 7mm rem mag. These calibers I will load on my Rockchucker.
As far as a budget I am willing to go upto $500 - $600

Also I will be increasing the amounts of amunition after I decide to get a progressive press.

What I was asking was, how many rounds will you load per loading session and how many per month, not total rounds on hand? Also, I forgot to ask how often you will be changing calibers. Some presses are harder to swap calibers on than others.

I do a couple hundred rounds per afternoon and swap calibers often, so my turret press does fine. Low cost and zero time to switch calibers and 150 rounds per hour (I am slow, others get over 200 on the same press.). Guessing at your needs, I think you will be happier with a progressive, but you will be pushing it on budget unless you go with the Lee or find used equipment.

You already have dies, scale, and manuals. Your current powder measure might function on a new press, or might not.

 

[JEFraze]

I would like to be able to reload what I shot at the range in 2-3 days.
I shoot around 1000 rounds of handgun amunition in 1-2 days at the range and maybe 500 rounds of bolt action rifles, and an easy 500 to 1000 rounds of .223.

Right now it takes me 4-5 days of time at the Rockchucker. I have a .44mag .357, .45acp, 9mm, .38spl, 7mm remmag, 30/06, .223. So I have to cahnge dies a few times.

I would like to try and cut down my time at the bench as much as I can.

Yes I have all the dies I need,scales, Case trimmer, tumbler, calipers ect.
I have been loading with my rockchucker for 20 years now so I have all the other necessary items. Just looking for a progressive type press to try and increase my reloading output.

Although I havent started casting my own bullets yet I think that will be comeing very soon.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive used 1050s and 650s alot and owned or have owned square deals 550s and lnls. Right now i have 3 lnls and a 550. Out of all of those presses the 550 is probably my favorite. It doesnt have quite the production rate of the others but its about the only press short of a 1050 that a guy can sit down and load 10k of rounds without a single hickup.

 

[contender]

For your intended production of ammo, I'd seriously look at Dillon. Lifetime warranty, and their service is the best by far anywhere.
Next, a 650 with the casefeed & auto indexing will allow a lot shorter times at the bench.

Years ago, the USPSA used to poll the shooters at the Nationals as to the equipment they used, including reloading equipment. By far,, the Dillon was the main choice. (about 85% or more.)
If it's good enough for national champions, it became good enough for me. I finally bought my first one, and now I own 3 Dillons.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I would like to be able to reload what I shot at the range in 2-3 days.
I shoot around 1000 rounds of handgun amunition in 1-2 days at the range and maybe 500 rounds of bolt action rifles, and an easy 500 to 1000 rounds of .223.

Right now it takes me 4-5 days of time at the Rockchucker. I have a .44mag .357, .45acp, 9mm, .38spl, 7mm remmag, 30/06, .223. So I have to cahnge dies a few times.

I would like to try and cut down my time at the bench as much as I can.

Yes I have all the dies I need,scales, Case trimmer, tumbler, calipers ect.
I have been loading with my rockchucker for 20 years now so I have all the other necessary items. Just looking for a progressive type press to try and increase my reloading output.

Although I havent started casting my own bullets yet I think that will be comeing very soon.

Yep, a full production progressive. Maybe more than one.

Note that the Square Deal Dillon will not accept your standard dies (I am told).

The 550 (as mentioned by Lloyd Smale) does not have the production capacity of the 650 or 1050)

Caliber changes can be wasteful of time. If you have room on your bench and in budget, you can save a lot of inconvenience by keeping multiple presses set up. Second most convenient and costly is to keep an assembled tool head and shell plate carrier set up for each caliber and just swap out the assemblies. The least convenient, but cheapest is to have one really good progressive and put up with the time required to make the changeovers by swapping individual parts. (This gives the opportunity to do cleaning, lubrication and such.)

If you like the idea of having multiple presses set up all the time, ready to go, the Lee Loadmasters are the most affordable. Probably $250 each. Loadmasters have a better reputation than the Pro-1000s for being trouble-free, but that is relative. Dillons have the best reputation. Hornady and RCBS next and Lee Loadmaster and Lee Pro-1000 at the bottom of the scale. Tinker-free-edness in this case follows price pretty closely.

Good luck and good shooting.

Lost Sheep.

 

[Mobuck]

I use a LEE pro 1000 for loading sized and primed cases. I've given up on trying to utilize the priming on this press. Going to a Dillon SDB as soon as they're off backorder at my wholesaler.
I'm fairly mechanical and have done some tinkering with the LEE but the primer setup on it is way too twitchy and inconsistent to use. It's almost imposssible to determine if a primer has been fed to the priming post.

 

[Lost Sheep]

I use a LEE pro 1000 for loading sized and primed cases. I've given up on trying to utilize the priming on this press. Going to a Dillon SDB as soon as they're off backorder at my wholesaler.
I'm fairly mechanical and have done some tinkering with the LEE but the primer setup on it is way too twitchy and inconsistent to use. It's almost imposssible to determine if a primer has been fed to the priming post.

That is one of my complaints about the Pro-1000. The way I solved that is 1) keep the priming feed trough full and 2) as the shell plate indexes, do it slowly and watch the primers in the trough. If they advance fully, you have a primer in position; if they don't, I would pull out my custom-made primer advance assist tool (unbent paper clip) to do the job.

The long-term solution was to get a Lee Classic Turret whose primer feed is better (though not yet perfect).

Unfortunately, the turret is not the solution for the OP's quest.

Lost Sheep

 

[GammaRay]

I bought a like new Dillon 550 used with lots of extras from a coworker. Easy to use and set up. The 650 is even better for speed but I didnt fell I needed it.

 

[mattsbox99]

Its pretty hard to beat a Dillon 550 for versatility. The Hornady LNLAP is 'equivalent' to the Dillon 650 in production. The Dillon 550/650 has a better powder measure and you can change out the entire toolhead so no adjustments are necessary between caliber changes. The Hornady uses bushings on the dies for caliber changes which is also fast. They both use standard 7/8x14 dies.

The Square Deal B is only for pistol cartridges and does use proprietary dies but they also come with them. Also the press arrives pretty much set up and can be running in an hour.

If you're primarily loading one pistol cartridge, the SDB is very tough to beat. I can do 400 RPH on mine. Its auto indexing.

Since you're going to load several different cartridges, I would highly recommend the Dillon 550 with seperate toolheads if you don't care for making lots of adjustments.


Along with Dillon's awesome service and knowledgeable staff, they hold their value much better than any other progressive out there. There isn't anything wrong with the Hornady, its a bit cheaper than the Dillon and will last a lifetime.

 

[JEFraze]

Well I have closed my decsion down to 4 presses
1. the Dillion RL550B

2. the Dillion XL650

3. the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Progressive Press

4. the RCBS Pro2000 Auto Index Progressive Press

Although I did consider buying a Lee pro 1000 progressive kit for each cailber that I need to mass produce rounds out of. Basicly all my hand gun ammo and my .223. But that would acuattly cost more than one good press from one of the other manufactures.

So out of these 4 choices I am leaning tword the Dillion RL550B, Dillion XL650 or the Hornady Lock-n-Load AP progressive press.

The reasoning behind my desision is based on price, features, and reviews from owners that I have found on the web. I really liked the RCBS press however they are fairly pricey but I currently have the RockChucker and it has done a perfect job for the last 22 years. So there is some brand loyalty issues I am haveing. SO Hell I really dont know which way I will go. ( LOL ) I guess it will really depend on how much money I have on me when I find the press and if I find a good used one or one on sale somewhere.

 

[targetshootr]

I use a 650. About a year ago the primer tube blew up but Dillon sent all new parts for free. Also have a rockchucker that I may get around to using as a bullet puller one of these days.

 

[7p's]

Out of the 3 choices you're leaning toward I'd recommend the L-n-L for both overall price and ease of shell plate and die changes. Hornady has improved their machine since it was first introduced and it's a dandy.

If you're going to spend a little money and put on a case and bullet feeder then the Dillion 650 at this time might be the better choice but either one might be a real PITA with the attachments when you want to change calibers.

The Hornady is a solid machine and you'll easily put out 350 rounds an hour with little effort - if you're on a mission you can up the speed to over 400 an hour but you'll need half a dozen primer pickup tubes in order to run at that speed.

I have been running the LnL and know several others doing the same and only one person that I'm acquainted with experienced any problems and he experienced the problem within the 1st hour when the drive hub broke into 2 pieces. One phone call to Hornady and 4 days later the part arrived and he's been trouble free ever since.

 

[mattsbox99]

If the Hornady had a better powder measure like the Dillon it would be a very good press, but that is the big hold back. The Dillon has a slide instead of the cylinder and the adjustment is much finer so bulky powders are easily tuned. Also the linkage is far less complicated.

 

[7p's]

I've never owned a Dillion but I would think their powder measure is a good one.

The Hornady L-n-L has an exceptional powder measure IMHO, as in 10 drops I'll only be 0.2 to 0.4 off the mark and that's with BE, H110, N310, N320, N340, N350 and WW231. I use the RCBS 5-0-5 and 10/10 scale with test weights.

I haven't had a chance yet to throw N110, N120, WW296 or some of the rifle powders but I'm confident the Hornady will throw as good if not better than the Dillion with those powders.

The L-n-L is a top notch machine for the money. I think the 650 with feeders is probably a little faster and a little more money but it's top notch and their 1050 is faster than the ole Starr Progressive I had back in the late 60's and 70's when 2 of us could turn 950 an hour plus drink a beer in the process. I'd love to have a "need" for Dillion's 1050.

 

[Dobetown]

I have had a Dillion for going on 30 years. A 450, Square deal, and the current 550. I can run 300+ rounds of handgun in an hour. At my age I won't change but for some types of reloading the 5 station Hornaday would be interesting.
I have loaded 223 to 7REM mag and 38 to 45 colt, over 20,000 rds.
Just my experience.
My 550 is the last press I would let go of.

 

[mdewitt71]

I too am looking for a new press, been eyeing the Hornady L-N-L AP Reloading Package myself....under $450....seems good from what I have read.

 

[JEFraze]

I like the looks of the Hornady but the main problem I have with it is the Locking bushings that you have to use to mount your dies. I really like the ideal of a die plate or what ever you want to call it. It makes changeing claibers because your dies are set and you only change the plate instead of several dies. I am not sure which would be the most cost effective.

 

[mattsbox99]

The bushings are cheaper, 10 packs are like $25.

 

[mdewitt71]

I take it the Dillon has a great warranty and customer service....
Are they made in USA?
Will have to kick around the 650 or the LNL AP.....both seem kind of close in price.

Does it matter that I want to load not only pistol (9mm, 357) but rifle (30-30, 300wsm) with the same press?

 

[mattsbox99]

They both handle rifle and pistol reloading. Dillon products are made in Arizona.

 

[Warthog]

I use a 650. About a year ago the primer tube blew up but Dillon sent all new parts for free. Also have a rockchucker that I may get around to using as a bullet puller one of these days.

Targetshooter
Tell us what happened and how did it happen? I have a Dillon 650 and I've always wondered what a Mount Saint Dillons is like.
For those unfamilar with the 650, the is a vertical tube which holds 100 primers. A wheel with holes in it indexes each time the lever is pulled. The primers in the tube fit into these holes. About seven pulls of the lever moves a primer from the tube into position to be pressed into the case. If one primer explodes, it can cause a chain reaction of the other six primers until it reaches the tube. The tube is is armored so it doesn't burst, however the primers blow out the top. This is rare and probably from trying to pry out a stuck primer.
Warthog

 

[WESHOOT2]

I used to make handgun ammo commercially.

I bought my Dillon XL650 because at the time CorBon had a room full of them.......

I suggest the XL650 for volume, or incredibly timely, ammo production.

 

[Reload]

I have a Dillon 550 and 2- 1050's. No complaints. I have many other presses as well, no Hornady's. I have heard a lot of nice things about the LNL, either way, you will be happy.