"Penny Wise, Pound Foolish"?

[SideShow Bob]

Howdy All,
I am going to be investing in a auto progressive reloading set up. I do have experience in both single stage and progressive reloading.
I just want to ask your honest opinions as to which AP setup is the best bang for the buck.

I have researched prices and read reviews, and these are my preferred choices in descending order: (And price wise also in descending order.)
1.) Dillon 650
2.) Hornady LNL AP
3.) Lee Load Master 1000

But my Bank account says to flip my list upside down and go with least expensive.
As my title says, would this be a case of being penny wise and pound foolish ?

[Tim K]

I have a Dillon 650 and like it a lot. I like Dillon's service even more. I bought it used, so they don't know me. I've called at least 4 times for tech support, and each time the guy who answers the phone is very knowledgeable and fixes my problem on the spot. In two separate instances, they discovered through the conversation that my press had either outdated or worn parts that they then replace for free.

There are some known minor glitches with the Dillons, but the fixes seem to be simple if required. Mine has not needed the fixes.

I don't have personal experience with the other two, but going by what I've read, the Hornady is also a good machine and the Lee is not.

I'd do a Dillon again in a second. In fact, I'm planning a third press and it will be another Dillon.

[gnihcraes]

I started with Lee equipment, it is ok. Did upgrade to the Lee turret press, it was "ok" but not great. After several years I bought a used RCBS single stage, big difference. I'd have to suggest the Hornady or Dillon over the Lee products, the Lee stuff is just a little to cheap to me.

No experience with the progressive though that you mention. Have always dreamed of the Dillon experience, maybe someday.

Hope it helps a little.

[2ndChildhood]

I got the Hornady LNL AP used, and their service was very good and parts prices were quite reasonable.
The Hornady press seems to be well built.
It holds adjustment well, the overall length once set stays consistent within .001"
It doesn't have alarms like the Dillon so you have to pay attention to when your primers run out which is easy. For 223, the powder check alarm is not needed for a double charge - it would be obvious with powder overflowing the case. Initially I made a few rounds with no powder - the primer fired but didn't even move the bullet out of the case. With my loads, you can shake the round and feel the powder sloshing around in there so it's easy to tell that they didn't have a charge.

In general, if you pay attention as you work and learn what each step of the process is doing you can get fine results with the Hornady.

I've never tried a Dillon, but Dillon owners seem to love their machines so I have to assume they are pretty good. How much better than the Hornady - I can't say.

[Hoser]

I am completely biased towards Dillon. But I do know a couple guys that have newer Hornadys and are happy.

If I had to do it over I would not change a thing. Two Dillon 550s and three 1050s.

[M2MG]

Drink the (Dillion) blue Kool-Aide!!!

M2MG

[Stinky]

Welllll, I have a Lee. I don't know which one. It was given to me and it won't work quite right. I'm going to convert it to a turret press (It will still work, but not very good, and I am cheap).

So, anything but the Lee.

Also, that is not the cheapest Dillon made. And, everybody that I know of that uses a Dillon loves it...including the Square Deal and the 550. One of my buddies broke something, he made a call. What do I do? They says give me your address. The next day, a box arrives. The only problem was that the little thingy that he had broken had to be installed w/a whole brand new component that it was already attached to.

IOW< I don't remember what he broke, but suppose it was a lever on the powder measurer...they sent a complete brand new powder measure (or whatever it was). Can you say SERVICE?

[SideShow Bob]

I realize the dillon 650 is not the cheapest model, but it has the mechanical advance. The 550 is manually advanced.
I wanted the compairison to be as much apples to apples as possible.
The Hornady LNL AP with the auto case feeder and setup for a chosen caliber
for $ 670 online sounds like a good deal since I missed that Dillon 650 package on craigs list.

[SA Friday]

If you are dead set on that list, then you are smokin crack getting anything but the 650. The other two don't even compare, and fall short of other progressives not listed.

To be clear though, most look at the 550 and the 1050 Dillons instead of the 650. The are better overall machines, and in peticular, have better primer feeding systems than the 650.

Reloading presses are just not something you want to skimp on. Cry once, or suffer mediocre functioning the rest of the time you reload with it.

[SideShow Bob]

you are smokin crack getting anything but the 650. .

Yes,I would have to quit smoking crack and save some more cash especially with the Dillon price hike coming at the end of the year.
But a Dillon is what I really want to get, but I wanted to see what the other members experiences are with the lesser brands of auto progressive setups are like.

[xwisex]

I work with a very knowledgable ex-gunsmith (legal troubles) and he swears by Dillon. He's always pressuring me to get one, maybe trying to live vicariously thru me.

[SideShow Bob]

It is still very hard to afford a Cadillac on a Pinto budget, I tried selling one of my 1911s earlier to generate some cash but nobody was even slightly interested. So I'll have to get a second job at Mc D's on the weekends for awhile to afford the Dillon.

[coop68]

i have a dillon 550 and to be honest i think the 550 is a better choice when starting out, but its your money and if you like the 650 go for it. since i been home only a couple of days i have loaded 1000 45acp in only a couple of hours out of my day. when im reloading i like to have more control on what im doing.


depending on how fare your willing to drive i could get you in touch with a dillon dealer in boulder area his prices are fair and better than you can get off the site! saves you around 9 percent all said and done better than nothing! he is one of the few dealers i have meet who tries to sell me less and not buying useless add ons which you dont need!

[SA Friday]

It is still very hard to afford a Cadillac on a Pinto budget, I tried selling one of my 1911s earlier to generate some cash but nobody was even slightly interested. So I'll have to get a second job at Mc D's on the weekends for awhile to afford the Dillon.
Get a 550. Seriously, there is a reason these are almost impossible to find used. I know guys with three Dillon 1050 Supers, and they won't give up their 550. They just flat out work and are the work horse of progressive reloaders. My RCBS Pro 2000 is the only one even close to the quality and stamina IMO, and I've played with them all. For the money, get a 550 and be happy as an overweight cop at a donut shop.

[spittoon]

i got 1 off ebay shipped $325. 3 cal plates nice and smooth nice and simple to use. i have tryed the lee a lot of work to adjust . the dillon 550 works great and is reasonable. a single stage on a cold snowy day what else is there to do

[Hoser]

Get a 550. Seriously, there is a reason these are almost impossible to find used. I know guys with three Dillon 1050 Supers, and they won't give up their 550. They just flat out work and are the work horse of progressive reloaders.

Good advice there.

Even though I have many 1050s, I still use my 550s. I think the 550 is a better machine than the 650. Easier to use and caliber conversions are much cheaper.

[d_striker]

Im in the same situation. I've ruled out the 550 though as I want a press that indexes automatically.

Here's some good reading:

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=117787

I'm leaning more towards the lnl after reading it due to both the cost and ease of caliber changes. I would be reloading 3 different pistol cartridges and 1 rifle on it.

[CO-Exprs]

I've owned and/or operated most of the prominent models of progressives, and found the Hornady LNL AP to be the best designed mid level progressive on the market. I've owned one now myself for 2 years and have run about 55k rds through it. I would purchase another in a heart beat. The design is robust, simple and well thought out. 650s are good too, but the LNL changes over faster, has a supperior primer system and a more accurate powder measure. If I can only have one progressive, then my hard earned green backs are buying me a LNL. It handles all major pistol calibers with excellence and it does a good job on my 223. With that being said. If you are going to do AR or any significant volumes of pistol, the 1050 is the king of the hill. With 8 stations and the ability to accessorize to do all of your case prep progressively (including primer pocket swage), the 1050 is the must have press for the serious volume shooter. I am saving my pennies for two 1050s, one for 223 and one for 40. I will keep my LNL however for everything else. Oh and don't even consider the Lee. I have one bolted to my bench which never gets used, because the frustration level associated with the worst primer system, indexing system, timing system, die plate retention in the world is just not worth the couple of hundred dollars you will save. Oh and there is nothing wrong with the blue coolaid, most of thier products are top shelf, well made, robust and effective. When I was considering trying the LNL however I found tons of guys who told me not to get one and that the 650 was the only consideration, but not a single one of those guys had ever owned or even operated the LNL.

[dustdevil]

I use three progressives. A Dillon 650, a Hornady LNL and, a Star Universal. I use the Dillon for .223, the Hornady LNL for .45 ACP, and the Star for 9mm. The Star is not auto progressive. All three have case feeders. The Hornady I use a lock out die for powder check and the Dillon I use their powder check alarm. The Star I just visually inspect, it always drops a powder charge when you cycle it just have to watch for the double charge.
My impression is the Dillon is it is a better machine. The case feeder works without jamming, the primer feed and seating works well, and the finished cartridge eject works everytime. The downside is the powder dispenser which I do not like and, after using the Star, the primer seating is not as good.
My impression of the Hornady is the powder dispenser is the best of all three. Smooth and reliable with consistent throws. The auto indexing is smoother than the Dillon. The downside is I have more jams with the case feeder, a lot more. I have had problems with tipping cases during case insertion into the cartridge plate. Also, I have had more problems with the primer slide not going forward and delivery a primer. The press I have is the older one without the ez-ject system and I have gone to just hand pulling the finished round from the machine. I tinker a great deal more on the Hornady than the other two.
Overall the Dillon is the best. The powder dispenser is better on the Hornady and I like how the dies come out of the press easily. The Dillon is easy to pull the die plate out but you also get the powder dispenser with it. Sometimes I just want to clean a die and the Hornady is better and easier to do. Oh, sometimes I hate the little spring that holds the cases into the Hornady but I have lost the little brass studs that the Dillon uses to hold the cartridge cases into the shell plate. Hornady has always shipped parts that have worn or broken. I have not had to talk to Dillon customer service yet.
Progressives are nice but you will have to clean and maintain them with care. You will also have to adjust or play with something at some time on all of them. But, in my experience cleanliness is next to Godliness with progressives no matter what.
Sorry for the rambling first post.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Do you're self a favor and go Dillon all the way!! A little more expensive but it's worth it!!

[R&S]

I think Dillon is a good choice. I have 2 650s, one for small primers and one for large primers. I also have a different tool head for each caliber for ease in changing the different calibers I want to reload.

FWIW
Randy