Best Progressive Press For the Price

[Brick]

I was looking at the Dillon 550/650 but is anything cheaper as good or better?

You'll find cheaper, but not better. You might also find some as good.

All brands and types have little quirks that you'll learn as you go along. The worst thing I can say about my RL550B is it has a tendency to drop used primers on the floor now and then.

Most outfits have good customer service, but, I've never heard of anyone better than Dillon.

[Rodolfo Fierro]

How does the priming system work on the Hornady? They really didn't show much about it.

The Hornady uses a tube to dispence the primers. The tube holds a hundred or a little more primers, like the RCBS or Dillon. My LNL is about ten years old and I love it.

[Kramer]

+1
I bought a Lee 1000 about 30 years ago when they first came out because it was all I could afford back then. About 10 years ago I bought a wooden crate full of used Lee parts and some other stuff for $40. From that I got two more presses and some other parts. I have three set up on my bench and I have won a lot of matches with ammo out of them. After all of the use and years they are still working but they do have their quirks.

I bought my first pro 1000 about 22 years ago and despite its quirks it has pumped out loads of ammo in many calibers. I ended up picking up another about 15 years ago so I did not have to change over calibers to often.

I never had too much of an issue keeping the primer through clean, BUT it must be kept full. Other than that, once after cranking out lots of ammo you might need a small part or two, but that stuff is cheap.

I do have a Loadmaster for larger rounds, 30 carbine, 357/44 mag, and 45 Colt, but that press has its own issues.

[budman46]

yoder...

what a great question because there are numerous answers depending on what one wants.

loading lots of a single caliber handgun round it would have to be dillon's square deal b...nothing else is as convenient, accurate and speedy...but a caliber change costs $$$.

lots of a single caliber rifle would factor in price...no object? dillon 1050. otherwise dillon's 650, 550 or hornady's unit would be the thing, but many craft smaller lots of different calibers...i load 40-60 or this of 40-60 of that, sidelining my 3 dillon presses in favor of a lee classic cast turret.

you're welcome for me adding to the confusion!

[animalmother85]

I tried to promoted the Dillon 550 with a picture of Carl Weather from Predator, but photobucket it blocked...

[Qtrborecrazy]

I have a Dillon 550 for metalic and a hornady progressive for 12 ga. The hornady is the must unforgiving piece of crap. Screw up and it takes for ever to straighten it out. DILLON.

[Rodolfo Fierro]

I have a Dillon 550 for metalic and a hornady progressive for 12 ga. The hornady is the must unforgiving piece of crap. Screw up and it takes for ever to straighten it out. DILLON.

Progressive Presses Do NOT Go Backwards

[Qtrborecrazy]

Progressive Presses Do NOT Go Backwards

Yeah I know they don`t go backwards but at least with the Dillon all I have to do is removed brass pin and I can pull the shell.

[budman46]

one post compares hornady's lnl with dillon's 650...the lnl should be compared to the 550. i believe the lnl has an auto-index feature missing on the 550, but that's not really a detriment, imo...manual indexing ain't that much of an impediment; i've occasionally had to back up a station during the process.

a 550, 650 or hornady lnl is a good choice for a high-output press capable of producing excellent ammo...all will amortize their cost in short order and handle handgun or rifle with equal ease.

budman

[ForwardAssist]

Hornady or Dillon. Personally I prefer and own the Hornady. It's just a top notch piece of gear and I like it's design features. I've yet to have any issues with mine, but I am mechanicaly inclined.

http://www.realguns.com/archives/191.htm

A guy on YouTube who goes by Gavintoobe has some real nice videos on the subject.



http://www.youtube.com/user/gavintoobe