Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Progressive Reloader???

I have 3 progressive presses

One Lee Loadmaster

Two Hornady LNL AP's

There is no good comparison in these two as my Lee gets the job done but the LNL AP's are like precision built sports cars

On paper is there a difference, as in grouping?

I have a Lee Classic Cast for single stage, accurate rifle reloading (where I manually load, trickle charge each load by hand - all my varmint, target, and hunting stuff).

But my blue 550 is for everything else high volume.

I am sure there are other great options but if I am pulling the handle to just make a lot of great ammo (not precision stuff), 550 is what I'd choose, personally.

Prices for Dillon 550c



Dillon RL-550C Total Cost of Ownership
One of the important factors to consider when purchasing a reloading setup is what your total spend will be once you get things setup for all of the calibers you plan to load. Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect to pay to get your RL-550C setup:

Price sheet won't copy and don't have space to download price sheet
Go here and half way down the page

https://ultimatereloader.com/2020/0...tup-loading-rifle-and-pistol-ammunition/



In addition to this, you’ll need other things like dies, powder, primers, and other tools. For complete lists of these supplies, please refer to the following articles:

From ultimatereloader.com

Get a Dillon and never look back; buy once, cry once. I have two 550s and a RCBS Rock Chucker on my bench. One 550 is for .38,9mm and .45, the other for .223. Rock Chucker is for .17s.
Ive even had Dillon presses I bought used, had breakage of a part, send it in, they fix it no questions asked. Tough to beat their customer service. There are progressive presses, and then there is Dillon.

Would you say with the price tag and someone wanting to get started, to buy a used one that might have an issue.....send in to be refurbished?
Sounds like over 5 bills plus accessories. Most can't swing that $.

When I was shooting competitively I had over a half dozen progressives set up to assemble the various calibers, including Dillon 550 - 1050s Hornady and RCBS progressive presses. These tools were necessary to provide practice and match ammo in sufficient quantities. I still have several single stage pressed and a half dozen progressives.

Keep in mind that while progressive presses will crank out a lot of rounds quickly when everything is going well, all brands of progressive presses require set-up and adjustment and maintenance to keep them running smoothly, and that is time consuming as well.

Starting with a bucket of clean brass I can load 150-200 rounds per hour using a single stage press with no set up time at all, so I would ask the question whether progressive loading is a worthwhile investment to load only 250 rounds a year...at least in terms of time savings.

When properly adjusted, all the major progressive presses will produce ammo within acceptable tolerances for volume shooting.

The advantage of a new Dillon is that it's easier to sell down the road and get most of your money back if that is important.

When I needed them, I've never regretted the money I've spent on good quality tools.

I was kind of where you are a few years ago. I did a lot of research and comparisons. I'd loaded on Dillons before, and done over 15 years of reloading on a RCBS Rockchucker. If you go on my weblog and use "progressive" as a keyword, you'll see the articles I wrote about it at the time.

http://genesis9.angzva.com/?s=progressive

I went with the Hornady LNL AP. It was cheaper than the Dillon getting in the door. It had 5 stations. It was much cheaper to add additional chamberings, and switchovers were easier than either the DIllon or the Lees.

I like the Hornady. It has its quirks. Given my experience with the Hornady, I'd say this: If I was cranking out a lot of the same chambering, I'd go with Dillon. I think their case and bullet feeders do a better job. However, for doing a quick batch of 500 9mm and then switching out to do 500 223 REM, I'll take the Hornady.

I couldn't say as I don't load for accuracy with my progressives
Just high volume bangin ammo

I have not made any serious comparisons, but I've recently been working on my Ruger American Predator in 223 REM, trying to make it as accurate as possible. I had some blasting ammo that I'd built on the H LNL AP with mixed brass and pull-down bullets with an idea towards my Mini-14. As it turned out, when I got the RAR Predator to the farm to check function, all I had was that blasting ammo. Amazingly, the Predator was putting rounds into the target touching at 100 yards. When I got home, I tested the runout on the rounds and I couldn't find any that were above .002"

I'll still probably run my accuracy loads on the Rockchucker. Still, it goes to show you how well the Hornady LNL AP functions.

thanks everyone... much appreciated..

We need to stop calling these presses "progressive." How about SEQUENTIAL?

I've got a Dillon 650, it was buy once, cry once, I think I dumped a little over $1100 initially, for a number of plates, die plates, primer feeds, to load the guns I had at the time. The learning curve was steep but I've been happy for the 20 some years I've had the 650. I keep it clean and wet (lubed), but it's been SO versatile and reliable -- nothing has ever broken.

For pistols, I have carbide dies and charge/seat all in one whack. Takes me about four hours, with breaks, to crank out 500 rounds of A number one personalize ammo.

Regarding rifles, I will say that I am still not crazy about powder charging, especially for extruded powders, and when doing FL sizing, I don't charge as there's a lot of jolting and force involved. But there are other NS rifle loads where I can zoom through a year's ammo for a rifle in just one session.

So yeah, I have a Dillon 650 sequential press and would recommend it to anyone smart enough to read the manual.

Thanks Boogaloo, Shaman, Tedthorn and Dave Skinner for answering my question.
I've learned something from all of your experiences.

Dave,

They take perfectly good words and keep changing the terms and language on us.
What used to be called socialists or
"Communists = Progressive "now.
LOL!

Here's a couple more ideas: Reloading machines, or Semiautomatic Reloaders.??

Semiautomatic Reloader? That's actually pretty good!

How about Full Semiautomatic Reloader.........

What are the advantages of carbide dies ?

LOL! Is that the one where you pull the handle once and it spits out a bunch of loaded rounds?


I think there's companies that have those.

Lots of love for the blue paint here.

Good to see - high quality products for sure!

Lol, Brrrrrrrrtttt- Box of Ammo

Dillon 750 here.