Progressive Press

[J.Johnson]

I am currently pretty busy and will only be getting busier as life goes on, so I am wondering if it is time to move up to a progressive press. I currently load on a RCBS single stage. I did break down and buy a powder measure which was a tremendous time saver. I currently load 38/357, 45 Colt, and 30-30. Could see myself adding 44 Special, 243, 45-70 to the mix.

I think I would still load rifle cartridges on my single stage, as I don't shoot that much in volume so the progressive would be used for the pistol calibers mostly.

So now to the point. Out of the Hornady AP, Dillon 550, and Dillon 650 what would everybody recommend. I like the fact that the Hornady is made right here in Nebraska (about an hour down the road) and it seems simpler and more efficient cost wise to change calibers. I am just not quite sure about the auto indexing of the Hornady and the 650. Seems to be a lot going on and to keep track of. That's what I like about the Dillon 550.

Also don't know if I need quite the capacity the auto indexers provide, but it would be nice to have.

Let me hear your thoughts and thanks in advance for all the advice!

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

I have run a Dillon 550B for more than 10 years now and it is a sweet machine. Like anything else in reloading you must pay attention to what you're doing, but it produces ammo just as good as a single stage press at a huge time savings.

 

[6gun]

Do the Dillon 650.

 

[Twoboxer]

IMO, to benefit from time savings on a progressive when multiple calibers are involved, your batch sizes have to be large enough to offset the longer setup time vs a single stage. You can also mitigate changeover and adjustment time by buying extra parts . . . ie, more cost.

When looking at the cost of the press, the 650 and the AP can cost very close to the same if you include the case feeder either now or later. Changeover costs for the 650 are still more expensive per caliber, but the delta may not be enough for you to consider the AP a significant cost savings.

The cyclic rate on the 650 is likely a bit faster than the Hornady, but the changeover times are longer (can be mitigated on both presses by adding extra parts/cost). The AP likely produces ammo with less runout, but you are likely to do rifle on your single stage anyhow.

The 550 is a 4-hole press while the 650 and the AP are 5-hole, and it doesn't autoindex. Some people see manual indexing as an advantage - on balance I do not, YMMV. There is at least one youtube video showing the 550 in operation - take a look at it. Having to perform 3 operations using two hands before the next handle pull is not something I could do very well or for very long lol - again, YMMV. Frankly I've only really found a rythym using the AP since the bullet feeder was added. Now it's just place a bullet (and look at stuff of course) and pull the handle.

Which one? For me, not the 4-hole, manual index 550 . . . the AP if you are not likely to add a case feeder . . . the 650 if you are/will . . . though a long list of caliber changes might point you back to the AP for economic and changeover time reasons.

 

[Jim Puke]

I use the 550B and it is a great machine.

Nothing at all wrong with the 650...I just got a deal on the 550 have been very pleased with it despite the manual indexing.

One advantage that I find with the manual indexing is that I use mine as a single stage and turret press also...kind of makes one press do it all... while the single stages sit there looking lonely and the Lee turret is gonna go out the door as it has not been used in forever.

 

[Mobuck]

Just my opinion but I confine the progressives to handgun reloading. My cases go through several steps before the actual loading process and get run through a tumbler twice between sizing and charging which isn't an option on a progressive.

 

[Twoboxer]

. . . One advantage that I find with the manual indexing is that I use mine as a single stage and turret press also...kind of makes one press do it all...

Just my opinion but I confine the progressives to handgun reloading. My cases go through several steps before the actual loading process and get run through a tumbler twice between sizing and charging which isn't an option on a progressive.

One of the advantages of the AP is the bushing system makes it easy to add/remove dies at will. So, insert only one die - no adjustment necessary - and resize/decap just like a single stage.

If you want to (eg) hand prime and hand weigh/charge rifle rounds, simply insert the bullet seater only, and use as a single stage. Or pop the PM, powder cop, and seater dies in and charge and seat as a 3-die progressive.

Yup, I do pistol (and 223 plinking ammo) on the progressive and all other 223 and rifle on a single stage.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I'll cut to the chase: If you want a progressive buy a Dillon XL650 with roller handle, case feeder, and powder-check station.

People who need high quality ammo quickly appreciate it.

 

[contender]

All good info above.
I personally have 4 Dillons here. I have a pair of the SDB's, a 550 & a 650.
By far, the 650 is the best. The auto case feed, the auto indexing, make it a fast & enjoyable machine.
As noted, ANY reloading takes concentration. I have a good friend who shoots USPSA, & he had a 550 he sold, AFTER he screwed up, did a double charge, & had his Glock blow up in his hand. (Minor injuries, as he went to a big match that same day with a back-up gun.) He now uses a 650.
I have all my Dillons set up for pistol calibers only. Why? the volume I shoot. My rifle calibers see a lot less use, and I often have to trim cases after resizing. So my 2 RCBS Rockchuckers get used for rifle stuff.
But my Dillons, pistol calibers only. My SDB's are set for small pistol primers, (less equipment changes when I need to change calibers.) My 550 & my 650 are set up for large pistol primers.
I like the quick change features of my Dillons. The SDB's do use ONLY Dillon dies, so that is a turn off for many. I got lucky in getting my SDB's & extra dies & all.
Yes, you will spend a bit more,,, but the Dillon NO BS warranty is time proven.

That said, the Hornady is an excellent machine as well. Before I got my first progressive set-up, I looked at them as well. I also looked at RCBS's machine. While I truly enjoy a lot of RCBS stuff, I decided their progressive machine didn't seem to be the best.
Hornady seemed to be better than RCBS, and yet, I felt the Dillon was a bit better for my personal set-up & equipment at the time. I have loaded thousands & thousands of rounds on my Dillons & my only regret is that I didn't buy one earlier than I did.

 

[chefrob1]

the 550b will do more calibers than the 650.......the 650 will damn near do everything for you if set up right. I was looking at the Hornady press but went with Dillon due to their no BS warrantee and the fact that they are 25min away........you did say Hornady was close to you, sounds like a good excuse for road trips. BTW, Mike Dillon said his favorite model to run is the 550b...........

 

[sixshot]

I have a 550 & a 650 & prefer the 550 by a small margin. While I'm sure the Hornady would be fine its no where near as popular among the truly serious shooters around the world.
Every year USPSA makes up a list of all the items used by all the competitors at the Nationals, which amounts to several hundred of the best hangunners in the world. They give their opinion on which is the best bullet, powder, caliber, holster, scope, reloading press, etc. Out of the many hundreds of competitors there might by 8-10 Hornady presses, all the rest will be either the 550 or the 650, this from guys who are loading many, many thousands of rounds a year. I think its usually something like 97% using Dillon.

Dick

 

[Divernhunter]

I have 2 of the Dillon 650's with case feeder/roller handle/low primer and low powder warning on them. I would suggest the same. I also have change-over tool heads for several different cartridges.
Go Dillon and you will never regret it.

 

[Greebe]

I have a RL550B and have been very happy with it. I do not find the manual indexing a problem.

 

[KLNC]

I resisted as long as I could, thinking I didn't need it, and then finally bought a Dillon 550B. Having done so, I can't imagine not having it. A fantastic machine. Personally I prefer the manual indexing. It allows you to dictate the pace, and I see that as an advantage.

 

[m657]

I started with a 450 Dillon circa 1980, revamped it into a 550. After 20 years, sold it to finance a 650, which has worked well now for nearly 15 years.

I've never used a single stage press, nor any other make.

I do fine on use for rifle brass with my 650. There are ways to figure how to use it as a sort of modified single stage press if you need to.

We should wish our .gov served us as well as Dillon technical support does.

Case feeder & auto indexing with powder safety check are great features IMHO.

Changing calibers takes all of about 30 seconds if you have the right set up.
Changing the large or small primer seating die is the slower part....but there's an easy mod for that too.

Learning how to operate the 650 is rather like learning how to tie flies if you are a fly fisherman....the more you embrace the nuances the greater the pleasure of expanding your understanding of a phase of the shooting hobby.

 

[RUFFBIRD]

I can't speak for the Hornady AP or the 650, but I like my 550B Dillon press....

I used it about 4-5 times to load some pistol ammo & so far it works great & sure is faster than the single stage that I was using. Like others have stated, wish I would have got a progressive press many yrs ago.

I'm sure you would be well served with any that is being talked about, so have fun with it, please let us know how you decide & have fun with it!