New to reloading, serious question

[Ronin13]

So I've been looking in to reloading for a couple months now... the first step, as I've learned from you fine gentlemen here (just looking not posting in here), read, read, read! I've already been reading and absorbing as much info from the ABC's of Reloading, various online reloading guides, manuals, and YouTube videos on the subject. I've got a pretty basic grasp on the science and art behind it, and feel I am ready for the big show! The brother wants to get into this activity as well, and he is pretty much where I was back in Dec when I knew jack and/or shit about it (just the basics, primer goes in the bottom of the brass, powder goes in, bullet goes in, viola!). In discussing how to go about and what the initial investment cost, we came to the conclusion (donning flame suite now) that while yes, learning the fundamentals and basics is key and we should start with a single stage press and manually switch out dies at each stage of reloading. HOWEVER, we found that for just a couple hundred dollars more ($220 each total on just the press) we could just go big instead of going home and get either a Dillon 550b, RCBS Pro 2000 or Hornady Lock-N-Load AP and streamline the entire process from the get go. The logic behind this is "if you're going to do something, do it right the first time." We're looking into getting dies for 9mm, .45ACP, and .223 to start with as we've already started saving brass. We're pretty firm () on the fact that we would like to start with a progressive press to save time, money (won't have to buy two presses in the next few years) and ease of use. But of course I totally expect the wiser, more experienced members here to decry this as a terrible idea and state that we should start with a single stage and all that- not saying this is bad, or that I'll dismiss this advice and do my own thing, but it's not me that needs convincing, it's my brother/partner in reloading that is stubborn and using this logic.

So my question is anyone here familiar with or used both that could tell which of the two is better? Pricing wise the Dillon is $440 and the Hornady is $400, but RCBS is $589 (Brownells)... so they're pretty comparable in cost with the RCBS being quite a bit more, just curious if one is markedly "better" than the other?
Thanks.

[cstone]

For a difference of $40, go Blue. The customer service alone is worth more than $40. The 550 will outlast you and you will be able to get your money back out if you decide to sell at some future date.

[asmo]

For a difference of $40, go Blue. The customer service alone is worth more than $40. The 550 will outlast you and you will be able to get your money back out if you decide to sell at some future date.

This times 1000000

[dwalker460]

If you have never reloaded before just about the worse mistake you can make is to start with a progressive press. You will ALWAYS have a need for a single stage press for decapping or working up a load.

Dillon is good, but I have never drank the blue kool-aid (although I have read the Blue Press) but so are others. I am not a fan of Hornady presses or dies. That is all.

[sellersm]

Nothing new to add here.... Go blue. Don't look back.

[Ronin13]

For a difference of $40, go Blue. The customer service alone is worth more than $40. The 550 will outlast you and you will be able to get your money back out if you decide to sell at some future date.

That's what I've read... top notch stellar customer service.
Thanks!
And in looking, the Dillon dies are pricey by comparison (already checked out cross-compatibility) so we might go with Lee dies to save a little here and there.

[Tim K]

Go Dillon.

And go buy a cheap Lee single stage for $28. Your dies will work, no reason not to still learn on a SS press.

[sellersm]

If you can walk and chew gum, you can learn to reload on a progressive press! Anyways, yes, other brand of dies will work in the Dillon. And getting a Lee Cast (be sure it's cast, not the cheapo aluminum one) SS press is a good idea cuz you'll always need it for something!

I started on all Lee equipment and have since upgraded to a Dillon 550, but still use my LCT and Lee cast SS presses, got rid of the Pro 1000 and don't miss it at all, but you didn't ask about Lee products...

I know guys that have issues with the LNL: priming, and casefeeder issues with 9mm.

[XC700116]

That's what I've read... top notch stellar customer service.
Thanks!
And in looking, the Dillon dies are pricey by comparison (already checked out cross-compatibility) so we might go with Lee dies to save a little here and there.

Go dillon, and for the calibers you are looking at, go with Dillon Carbide dies so you aren't as dependent on lube. It's worth it, remember your do it right the first time logic, dies are not a place to skimp especially in a progressive. Also by separating the crimp from the seating, it's easier to set up in the progressive, not a huge deal but it is easier.

Now back to the other looming question, you will ALWAYS have a use for a single stage, so get one it's handy and if you have a caliber you'd like to reload but don't need to crank out a pile of them, it's a hell of a lot cheaper conversion. Say you want to reload for a hunting rifle but only shoot 50 rounds a year, you don't have to buy a full conversion kit for the progressive press, you can just buy the dies and shell holder and go to town on them. You'll pay for the investment in that first year over premium factory ammo. I personally like the Forster CO-AX single stage as it's got better leverage than most, and you don't have to buy shell holders, and swapping dies takes seconds not minutes and never need to be readjusted as long as your load stays the same.

[Danimal]

If you have never reloaded before just about the worse mistake you can make is to start with a progressive press. You will ALWAYS have a need for a single stage press for decapping or working up a load.

Dillon is good, but I have never drank the blue kool-aid (although I have read the Blue Press) but so are others. I am not a fan of Hornady presses or dies. That is all.

This is pretty much exactly the way that I feel (except the Dillon part, I love my Dillon). If you want the Dillon, by all means get it. Then at the same time buy a cheap single stage. Everybody looks at reloading like it is just slapping components together. But the truth is the brunt of the work and all the heartache is in brass preparation long before you do any real reloading. If you are doing any real volume of cases on a progressive, it is very hard on the press. There is a bunch of dirt, grime and crap that comes out no matter how well you clean the brass and it goes everywhere. Then wait and see how awesome you feel when you get a stuck case and have to crank on your $440 Dillon until you rip the rim off of the case or disassemble the whole thing just to get the ram back down so that you can get the die out and use a stuck case remover. It will happen that you get a case so jammed in there that you have to drill and tap the primer pocket so that you can put a stuck case remover on it just to get it out. Brass prep is so much easier on a single stage press that you don't have a heavy investment in. If I get a stuck case I pull harder. If the case comes out great, if not and the rim pops off you are still 30 minutes ahead of where you would be if you disassemble your Dillon so that you can pull the die tool head.

It is true that anyone can learn on a progressive. It is also true that sometimes you only get one fuck up. Take it slow and take it seriously.