Which Progressive? - The Firearms Forum

smlranger · 10-22-2011, 06:58 PM

DW is asking for suggestions for Christmas. So, even though I've only been reloading since early this year, I am getting the itch for a progressive press. While I really enjoy using my rockchucker, I would like the advantage of faster loading for my 9mm and 45 ACP.

I am a big Cabela's fan and have muchco bonus points on the Club card. Obviously, that leaves out Dillon. I am not married to Cabela's so will consider the Dillon 550B along with the Hornaday LNL. I may not even pull the trigger on either but still would like to hear the opinions of folks on the forum.

312shooter · 10-22-2011, 07:33 PM

I can't say enough great things about the Hornady LNL AP. After being in your shoes a year ago I'm enjoying every moment behind my red press. Not that Dillon would have been anything less satisfying, I just perferred the availability of Hornady parts at any of the major outfitters and sporting good stores, Midway USA etc. Hornady customer service is top notch and have provided me with friendly help from time to time and even some small parts I damaged or broke for free. Look no further the LNL, at $400 you cannot find a better five station, auto advance progressive press.

Brisk44 · 10-22-2011, 09:36 PM

You can't find a progressive press for a better price than LEE. Used my PRO 1000 to load many, many thousands of rounds for all my pistol calibers. I am extremely happy.

X Ring · 10-23-2011, 07:30 AM

It is more or less a mater of personal preference, some swear by Dillon and some by Hornady. The Hornady LnL AP press is a little lower price than the Dillon XL 650, but the case feeder is higher so it is a toss up. The Dillon RL 550b is slower than either, but will produce well enough for most.

I personally would not give up my XL 650 for any price. I need the production that the XL650 with case feeder provides. I load thousands of rounds at a time to feed the habit.

I broke the indexing ring on my 17 year old XL650. One E-mail and they sent not 1, but 2 new parts and a tool to check the timing with, all at no charge.

LDBennett · 10-23-2011, 08:47 AM

smlranger:

My first choice would be the Dillon RL550B (no surprise to those that know me here!). The press is easy to use as a single stage, a turret press or full progressive mostly because the table does not automatically index forward (you manually move the table with each pull of the handle). I would not have the RL650 because it has auto indexing, is very expensive, and mostly because I do not need the volume it can produce. The biggest thing you get with Dillon is the well known super service Dillon offers any of its users of Dillon equipment (others' service pales by comparison).

The Hornady progressive has a big following here and is comparable in function with the Dillon RL650 for less money. I don't like the auto indexing and I don't need the volume it can produce. Hornady (and RCBS too) have produced many version of progressive reloading presses over the years and it took some time before their machines could match anything Dillon made for the last 30 years (the RL550B design is about 30 years old and has had very few modifications in the intervening years but Dillon has provided free updates along the way). My experience with Hornady customer satisfaction is not good. They made a crummy shotgun progressive press I bought, then replaced it in their lineup of presses with a new and "better" model and would not help me replace my crummy model that they had discontinued).

LEE makes two completely different progressive presses: the Load Master and the Pro 1000. I have no experience on the Load Master but I owned a Pro 1000 for about a year. Every time I used the Pro 1000, it broke. Others here report the same thing. In general after reloading for over 30 years for more than 30 different cartridges, my take on anything LEE makes (and I have tired most of what they make) is LEE has inventive designs but picks the wrong materials for the implementation in order to enter the market place as the cheapest products. I no longer buy any LEE product except for their very inventive Rifle Factory Crimp Die. Even then I have had to repair them due to galling caused again by poor materials choices by LEE.

But maybe you don't need a progressive press and a simple turret press would do the job. There are several good turret presses on the market like the Lyman T-Mag 2 Turret Press or the Redding T-7 Turret Press. They increase the production rate because you put the case in the press only once, not multiple times as you would in a single stage press.

We all get to choose so get whatever you fancy but do your homework. Here's an overview:

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=76153

LDBennett

smlranger · 10-23-2011, 05:46 PM

LD:

I have been looking at turret presses but some of the reviews I've read say they don't really speed up the process. With a turret, I see that you leave the shell stationary and rotate the turret to the different dies. However, what about powder charging? Can I put my RCBS powder measure on the press?

I also don't want to spend $$ on a turret if I am going to eventually end up with a progressive press.

LDBennett · 10-23-2011, 06:08 PM

smlranger:

If you are bound and determined to eventually have a progressive then buy it now if can afford it. The turret press is only an intermediary step. It does save time as you only put the case in the press once, not once for sizing, once for priming, and once for seating the bullets as you would with a single stage press. But on a turret press you do have to operate the handle three times to get one cartridge whereas with a progressive each pull of the handle gives one completed cartridge. You can get adapters to allow most powder measures to work through a "powder die". You can get an automatic one from Hornady or others make just a powder die that is the funnel to which you screw on the regular powder measure like your RCBS.

If you can avoid being drawn to the Hornady because you get the performance of the Dillon RL650 for less money and if you can avoid being drawn to the LEE because they are so cheap, the most versatile press you can buy is the Dillon RL550B. If you buy Dillon you will not be sorry, as many here who have will attest. And you will get the best after sale service, including any reloading problems that you may have, from their reloading experts.

I say always buy the best tool you can afford.

LDBennett

Waldog · 10-23-2011, 07:05 PM

Dillon 550 and 650 are excellent presses. I know, I have loaded on both. There are other alternatives that may better match your needs. I will state that Dillon set the standard for outstanding customer service. Other companies are attempting to match that CS. In my experience, Dillon and Hornady Customer Service is equal.
Do some more research:

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillon...Comparison.pdf

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=95703

Double D · 10-23-2011, 07:35 PM

I have considered giving away my lee 1000, but I wouldnt do that to anyone, so I think I will run it over with my truck or shoot at it.

dbennett48 · 10-23-2011, 08:16 PM

Put it on eBay and let them bid on it. Presses sell pretty good on eBay.

Dave

smlranger · 10-23-2011, 08:31 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am leaning toward the Dillon RL550B. I've looked at several of the videos on the internet and like the idea of manual indexing.....to me, at least, it seems to add a bit more operator control over the entire process but still gives you the speed associated with progressive reloading.

Another good reason is the local fellow who initially helped me get into reloading has three Dillon presses and was, until recently, a very high volume reloader (he collected machine guns and recently sold all of them). He has offered any and all assistance with my reloading and he would be a good resource if needed.

For now, I still enjoy using the Rock Chucker Supreme.

cpttango30 · 10-24-2011, 05:25 AM

I own a 550 b. I can tell you what it has made my little RCBS single stage a lonely thing on the other end of the bench. I load just about everything except 223 on my dillon. Service is second to none as is RCBS and Hornady. I like teh 550 over the 650 because of the manual index.

As for speed when I get humming along and in a good rhythm I can crank out 450 to 500 rounds in an hour with my 550b.

One last note on the Dillon. If you plan on using dies other than Dillon change out the lock nuts with dillons I used my RCBS dies for my 45acp and the rcbs rings didn't offer enough room to get the dies tightened properly.

It really comes down to what you want in a press.

1. Do you want Red or Blue?
2. Do you want tool heads or die sleeves?
3. Do you want auto or manual index?
4. Do you want 4 or 5 stations?

LDBennett · 10-24-2011, 07:15 AM

Everyone's dies I have used (LEE, Hornady, RCBS, Dillon, Forster) fit the RL550B toolhead. While some of the locking rings only catch a thread or two, they are secure enough on all my 30+ setups. The problem dies are the LEE with their aluminum locking ring with an O-ring instead of a split ring with an allen screw. On those you throw away the O-ring and use the locking ring inverted. I still have a couple of sets of LEE dies for calibers for which I can not get anyone else's die set. All the LEE die sets I bought years ago I got rid of as I find them inferior to virtually everyone else's... but that's just me and you (and others here) may find them adequate.

As for the Dillon die sets, I have one set. I find them no better than say RCBS and a lot more expensive.

Here's another tip: as you procure setups for the various calibers you reload, keep a chart of what each caliber requires (that you already have bought) for the shell plate, the buttons, and the powder funnel. When you need the next setup look in the manual and see which parts you already have and only buy the parts you need loose. Then make a chart as to where each part is stored. For example, the 30 caliber powder funnel can be used on all 30 caliber cases like 308, 30-06, 30 Carbine, etc.. The #1 shell plate and #1 buttons can be used on some 30+different calibers. There are charts in the back of the RL550 instruction manual. By the way you can download the manual off the Dillon web page.

http://www.dillonhelp.com/manuals/en...l-May-2007.pdf

LDBennett

smlranger · 10-24-2011, 07:51 AM

Question about the 550B:

My RCBS die set for 45 ACP has an expander die and the bullet seat/crimp die. With the Dillon, case expansion is done at the powder charge step so my RCBS expander die would be redundant. However, since bullet seating/crimping is done with the same RCBS die, would I just leave the #4 space empty on the tool head when loading 45?

Just curious at this point.

LDBennett · 10-24-2011, 08:33 AM

Yes.

Most of my 30+ different setup use only station #1 through #3 with #4 empty. Some of my rifle setups (especially those for lever, pump and semi-autos) fill the #4 station with the LEE Factory Crimp Die (I know its LEE which is a no-no for me but this die works very well indeed and I check them regularly for galling of the collet). In that case I back out the seating/crimp die so it only seats bullets and does NOT crimp. Note that the LEE Factory Crimp Die for pistols does NOT use the collet principal for crimping (it uses a standard crimping technique) and only Glock owners need it as it resizes the cases all the way to the extractor grove during crimping.

Remember that for rifle cases you size first then trim. Trimming on my cartridges is not necessary with every reload so most rifle reloading can be done directly from the tumbler to the press and on with progressive reloading. But if after sizing a sample of five or so cases it shows that the cases exceed max case length then I decide to trim. I size-only the lot of brass using the press as a single stage press to size and deprime (ONLY). I then trim the lot of cases and return to the press. I remove the sizer die and finish off the lot progressively. This is only necessary after three or maybe more reloading cycles but the ease of using the RL550B as a single stage press is what allows this. Also if I am reloading a couple of test rounds reloading them on the press operated like a turret press is also possible.

LDBennett

Dirtypacman · 10-24-2011, 01:58 PM

Dillon 550 user here also - I can't think of a better press for the $.
the LnL is a great press also I would put them both up as 1A and 1B

RustyFN · 10-24-2011, 05:46 PM

I loaded on a Lee classic turret press for years. It is a great press and will load 2 to 3 times faster than a single stage. I also own a Dillon 550 and think it's also a great press. I don't have any experience with any other progressive. I still have the classic turret and load on it or the Dillon depending on what I'm doing.

cpttango30 · 10-24-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smlranger

Question about the 550B:

My RCBS die set for 45 ACP has an expander die and the bullet seat/crimp die. With the Dillon, case expansion is done at the powder charge step so my RCBS expander die would be redundant. However, since bullet seating/crimping is done with the same RCBS die, would I just leave the #4 space empty on the tool head when loading 45?

Just curious at this point.

Or You could add a powder cop die as I did. http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/536...s-lock-out-die

Once you set this die if the powder is to high or too low in the case it locks the press up solid.

Also I never said the dies didn't work. I said the lock rings are large enough to not allow you to tighten down enough at least for me that is what happened. RCBS lock rings are 1 1/4" the Dillon ones are 1"...

skyfire1 · 10-28-2011, 12:58 PM

I hear you, I have been contemplating the same thing. I really wanted a LnL based on some positive reviews and the price, but I have been advised to go with a Dillon 550b. So for the time being I'm saving my pennies until I can afford the dillon. Hopefully the wife will not forget that she agreed to it.

howlnmad · 10-28-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyfire1

Hopefully the wife will not forget that she agreed to it.

HA. They always do when the time comes to lay out the $$$$.

skyfire1 · 10-28-2011, 06:41 PM

Now that I finally made up my mind to get the Dillon 550b midwayusa puts the LnL on sale. !@#!@#!$! Oh well.

skyfire1 · 10-28-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howlnmad

HA. They always do when the time comes to lay out the $$$$.

How true that is.

Kevin Rohrer · 10-29-2011, 06:06 AM

Everyone likes Dillon, including me. Hornadys are supposed to be good, but I occasionally read about problems.

As for that other company named, you get what you pay for. If you don't play much for it, don't expect much and you won't be disappointed when you don't get it.

LDBennett · 10-29-2011, 07:42 AM

skyfire1:

To me it is all about the features you want and the service after sales. Using price as a determiner of which progressive press to buy may be a requirement for you but in the end the price differential may be wiped out by the cost of repairs.

Progressive presses are complicated machines. The forces required to reload cartridges can at times be very high. The possibility of part failures is certainly not zero. The better the quality of the press the less down time it will suffer. The better the service after sales the faster the press will be back in operation. The better the warrantee the less the cost for repairs out of pocket.

Is the Hornady a good press? Probably. Does Hornady give the same quality of service as Dillon? In my experience NO but you and others may have a different answer. Dillon is probably the number one progressive press in the market place (especially the RL550B). All those owners can not be all that wrong. It is very rare to hear anything bad about the Dillon RL550B or the Dillon service. That has to be worth something.

To me the feature that makes the most difference is the auto indexing. I've had it and don't like it mostly because there comes a time when the press table has to be rotated backwards like when the press screws up and you have to clear it. Auto indexing normally prevents that. While you can take the press apart to some degree to overcome that limitation (??) who wants to do that to fix the press in the middle of a reloading session?

But we all get to choose. Buy whatever tickles your fancy. But unless the price differential is huge and the price of the press you want is beyond your means, don't let price alone drive your choice. If you do you may be sorry later(??).

LDBennett

Zhurh · 10-29-2011, 10:18 AM

Half dozen years back, a buddy (who lived down near Anchorage) was moving back south and decided to drive up for a visit and shoot some caribou on his way outta country. He wanted to sell me a 550 for $200;;;; and I didn't even know what a 550 was. Of course I told him was really interested and then a year later told him over the phone "why didn't ya tell me it was a reloading press" true story and I'm still kicking myself over missing this deal, ha.

But for somebody like myself who has a back porch T bench and maybe shoots off 1000-1500 rounds a year hunting and shooting at wood debris at high water in the Yukon; is a progressive press even realistic?

My 556 AR's never see the light of day ever since I got the 6.8's and I reload more that caliber than any other. Myself, I'm foolin around adjusting this and that trying to get everything just right, all the brass preparation, playing with seating the bullet just right, trying to get everything uniform; I wonder how could I ever be happy with a progressive? Would it improve anything for me or is it just another cool toy that will save some time, maybe.

But if I ever hear about another 550 used, I'll know what it is and really look her over, ha ha; that I know for sure.

10-22-2011, 07:33 PM	#2
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,148	Re: Which Progressive? I can't say enough great things about the Hornady LNL AP. After being in your shoes a year ago I'm enjoying every moment behind my red press. Not that Dillon would have been anything less satisfying, I just perferred the availability of Hornady parts at any of the major outfitters and sporting good stores, Midway USA etc. Hornady customer service is top notch and have provided me with friendly help from time to time and even some small parts I damaged or broke for free. Look no further the LNL, at $400 you cannot find a better five station, auto advance progressive press. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin Last edited by 312shooter; 10-22-2011 at 07:35 PM..

10-23-2011, 08:47 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Which Progressive? smlranger: My first choice would be the Dillon RL550B (no surprise to those that know me here!). The press is easy to use as a single stage, a turret press or full progressive mostly because the table does not automatically index forward (you manually move the table with each pull of the handle). I would not have the RL650 because it has auto indexing, is very expensive, and mostly because I do not need the volume it can produce. The biggest thing you get with Dillon is the well known super service Dillon offers any of its users of Dillon equipment (others' service pales by comparison). The Hornady progressive has a big following here and is comparable in function with the Dillon RL650 for less money. I don't like the auto indexing and I don't need the volume it can produce. Hornady (and RCBS too) have produced many version of progressive reloading presses over the years and it took some time before their machines could match anything Dillon made for the last 30 years (the RL550B design is about 30 years old and has had very few modifications in the intervening years but Dillon has provided free updates along the way). My experience with Hornady customer satisfaction is not good. They made a crummy shotgun progressive press I bought, then replaced it in their lineup of presses with a new and "better" model and would not help me replace my crummy model that they had discontinued). LEE makes two completely different progressive presses: the Load Master and the Pro 1000. I have no experience on the Load Master but I owned a Pro 1000 for about a year. Every time I used the Pro 1000, it broke. Others here report the same thing. In general after reloading for over 30 years for more than 30 different cartridges, my take on anything LEE makes (and I have tired most of what they make) is LEE has inventive designs but picks the wrong materials for the implementation in order to enter the market place as the cheapest products. I no longer buy any LEE product except for their very inventive Rifle Factory Crimp Die. Even then I have had to repair them due to galling caused again by poor materials choices by LEE. But maybe you don't need a progressive press and a simple turret press would do the job. There are several good turret presses on the market like the Lyman T-Mag 2 Turret Press or the Redding T-7 Turret Press. They increase the production rate because you put the case in the press only once, not multiple times as you would in a single stage press. We all get to choose so get whatever you fancy but do your homework. Here's an overview: http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=76153 LDBennett

10-23-2011, 05:46 PM	#6
smlranger V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Smith Mountain Lake in VA Posts: 113	Re: Which Progressive? LD: I have been looking at turret presses but some of the reviews I've read say they don't really speed up the process. With a turret, I see that you leave the shell stationary and rotate the turret to the different dies. However, what about powder charging? Can I put my RCBS powder measure on the press? I also don't want to spend $$ on a turret if I am going to eventually end up with a progressive press. Last edited by smlranger; 10-23-2011 at 06:02 PM..

10-23-2011, 06:08 PM	#7
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Which Progressive? smlranger: If you are bound and determined to eventually have a progressive then buy it now if can afford it. The turret press is only an intermediary step. It does save time as you only put the case in the press once, not once for sizing, once for priming, and once for seating the bullets as you would with a single stage press. But on a turret press you do have to operate the handle three times to get one cartridge whereas with a progressive each pull of the handle gives one completed cartridge. You can get adapters to allow most powder measures to work through a "powder die". You can get an automatic one from Hornady or others make just a powder die that is the funnel to which you screw on the regular powder measure like your RCBS. If you can avoid being drawn to the Hornady because you get the performance of the Dillon RL650 for less money and if you can avoid being drawn to the LEE because they are so cheap, the most versatile press you can buy is the Dillon RL550B. If you buy Dillon you will not be sorry, as many here who have will attest. And you will get the best after sale service, including any reloading problems that you may have, from their reloading experts. I say always buy the best tool you can afford. LDBennett

10-23-2011, 07:05 PM	#8
Waldog V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 155	Re: Which Progressive? Dillon 550 and 650 are excellent presses. I know, I have loaded on both. There are other alternatives that may better match your needs. I will state that Dillon set the standard for outstanding customer service. Other companies are attempting to match that CS. In my experience, Dillon and Hornady Customer Service is equal. Do some more research: http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillon...Comparison.pdf http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=95703 __________________ I'm the Christian conservative male CNN warned you about!! Last edited by Waldog; 10-23-2011 at 07:11 PM..

10-22-2011, 06:58 PM	#1
smlranger V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Smith Mountain Lake in VA Posts: 113	Which Progressive? DW is asking for suggestions for Christmas. So, even though I've only been reloading since early this year, I am getting the itch for a progressive press. While I really enjoy using my rockchucker, I would like the advantage of faster loading for my 9mm and 45 ACP. I am a big Cabela's fan and have muchco bonus points on the Club card. Obviously, that leaves out Dillon. I am not married to Cabela's so will consider the Dillon 550B along with the Hornaday LNL. I may not even pull the trigger on either but still would like to hear the opinions of folks on the forum. -->

10-22-2011, 09:36 PM	#3
Brisk44 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: Which Progressive? You can't find a progressive press for a better price than LEE. Used my PRO 1000 to load many, many thousands of rounds for all my pistol calibers. I am extremely happy.

10-23-2011, 07:30 AM	#4
X Ring V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 187	Re: Which Progressive? It is more or less a mater of personal preference, some swear by Dillon and some by Hornady. The Hornady LnL AP press is a little lower price than the Dillon XL 650, but the case feeder is higher so it is a toss up. The Dillon RL 550b is slower than either, but will produce well enough for most. I personally would not give up my XL 650 for any price. I need the production that the XL650 with case feeder provides. I load thousands of rounds at a time to feed the habit. I broke the indexing ring on my 17 year old XL650. One E-mail and they sent not 1, but 2 new parts and a tool to check the timing with, all at no charge. __________________ Load More = Shoot More http://s1096.photobucket.com/albums/g327/Wynn3/

10-23-2011, 07:35 PM	#9
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,061	Re: Which Progressive? I have considered giving away my lee 1000, but I wouldnt do that to anyone, so I think I will run it over with my truck or shoot at it. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

10-23-2011, 08:16 PM	#10
dbennett48 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ukiah, California Posts: 73	Re: Which Progressive? Put it on eBay and let them bid on it. Presses sell pretty good on eBay. Dave __________________ The most important rule in a gunfight is: Always win – cheat if necessary. Two Glock 9mm's, Ruger LC9, Kimber Custom II .45ACP, Ruger 10/22, 12 ga. pump shotgun, and Rem .243 WIN. I reload all of my guns, except the shotgun.

10-23-2011, 08:31 PM	#11
smlranger V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Smith Mountain Lake in VA Posts: 113	Re: Which Progressive? Thanks for all the suggestions. I am leaning toward the Dillon RL550B. I've looked at several of the videos on the internet and like the idea of manual indexing.....to me, at least, it seems to add a bit more operator control over the entire process but still gives you the speed associated with progressive reloading. Another good reason is the local fellow who initially helped me get into reloading has three Dillon presses and was, until recently, a very high volume reloader (he collected machine guns and recently sold all of them). He has offered any and all assistance with my reloading and he would be a good resource if needed. For now, I still enjoy using the Rock Chucker Supreme.

10-24-2011, 05:25 AM	#12
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Which Progressive? I own a 550 b. I can tell you what it has made my little RCBS single stage a lonely thing on the other end of the bench. I load just about everything except 223 on my dillon. Service is second to none as is RCBS and Hornady. I like teh 550 over the 650 because of the manual index. As for speed when I get humming along and in a good rhythm I can crank out 450 to 500 rounds in an hour with my 550b. One last note on the Dillon. If you plan on using dies other than Dillon change out the lock nuts with dillons I used my RCBS dies for my 45acp and the rcbs rings didn't offer enough room to get the dies tightened properly. It really comes down to what you want in a press. 1. Do you want Red or Blue? 2. Do you want tool heads or die sleeves? 3. Do you want auto or manual index? 4. Do you want 4 or 5 stations? Last edited by cpttango30; 10-24-2011 at 05:28 AM..

10-24-2011, 07:15 AM	#13
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Which Progressive? Everyone's dies I have used (LEE, Hornady, RCBS, Dillon, Forster) fit the RL550B toolhead. While some of the locking rings only catch a thread or two, they are secure enough on all my 30+ setups. The problem dies are the LEE with their aluminum locking ring with an O-ring instead of a split ring with an allen screw. On those you throw away the O-ring and use the locking ring inverted. I still have a couple of sets of LEE dies for calibers for which I can not get anyone else's die set. All the LEE die sets I bought years ago I got rid of as I find them inferior to virtually everyone else's... but that's just me and you (and others here) may find them adequate. As for the Dillon die sets, I have one set. I find them no better than say RCBS and a lot more expensive. Here's another tip: as you procure setups for the various calibers you reload, keep a chart of what each caliber requires (that you already have bought) for the shell plate, the buttons, and the powder funnel. When you need the next setup look in the manual and see which parts you already have and only buy the parts you need loose. Then make a chart as to where each part is stored. For example, the 30 caliber powder funnel can be used on all 30 caliber cases like 308, 30-06, 30 Carbine, etc.. The #1 shell plate and #1 buttons can be used on some 30+different calibers. There are charts in the back of the RL550 instruction manual. By the way you can download the manual off the Dillon web page. http://www.dillonhelp.com/manuals/en...l-May-2007.pdf LDBennett

10-24-2011, 07:51 AM	#14
smlranger V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Smith Mountain Lake in VA Posts: 113	Re: Which Progressive? Question about the 550B: My RCBS die set for 45 ACP has an expander die and the bullet seat/crimp die. With the Dillon, case expansion is done at the powder charge step so my RCBS expander die would be redundant. However, since bullet seating/crimping is done with the same RCBS die, would I just leave the #4 space empty on the tool head when loading 45? Just curious at this point.

10-24-2011, 08:33 AM	#15
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Which Progressive? Yes. Most of my 30+ different setup use only station #1 through #3 with #4 empty. Some of my rifle setups (especially those for lever, pump and semi-autos) fill the #4 station with the LEE Factory Crimp Die (I know its LEE which is a no-no for me but this die works very well indeed and I check them regularly for galling of the collet). In that case I back out the seating/crimp die so it only seats bullets and does NOT crimp. Note that the LEE Factory Crimp Die for pistols does NOT use the collet principal for crimping (it uses a standard crimping technique) and only Glock owners need it as it resizes the cases all the way to the extractor grove during crimping. Remember that for rifle cases you size first then trim. Trimming on my cartridges is not necessary with every reload so most rifle reloading can be done directly from the tumbler to the press and on with progressive reloading. But if after sizing a sample of five or so cases it shows that the cases exceed max case length then I decide to trim. I size-only the lot of brass using the press as a single stage press to size and deprime (ONLY). I then trim the lot of cases and return to the press. I remove the sizer die and finish off the lot progressively. This is only necessary after three or maybe more reloading cycles but the ease of using the RL550B as a single stage press is what allows this. Also if I am reloading a couple of test rounds reloading them on the press operated like a turret press is also possible. LDBennett

10-24-2011, 01:58 PM	#16
Dirtypacman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Merrimac Valley, MA Posts: 908	Re: Which Progressive? Dillon 550 user here also - I can't think of a better press for the $. the LnL is a great press also I would put them both up as 1A and 1B __________________ Member HHRG and HSC, NRA Life Member, GOAL Member LTC-A

10-24-2011, 05:46 PM	#17
RustyFN Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 592	Re: Which Progressive? I loaded on a Lee classic turret press for years. It is a great press and will load 2 to 3 times faster than a single stage. I also own a Dillon 550 and think it's also a great press. I don't have any experience with any other progressive. I still have the classic turret and load on it or the Dillon depending on what I'm doing.

10-28-2011, 12:58 PM	#19
skyfire1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 66	Re: Which Progressive? I hear you, I have been contemplating the same thing. I really wanted a LnL based on some positive reviews and the price, but I have been advised to go with a Dillon 550b. So for the time being I'm saving my pennies until I can afford the dillon. Hopefully the wife will not forget that she agreed to it.

10-28-2011, 06:41 PM	#21
skyfire1 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 66	Re: Which Progressive? Now that I finally made up my mind to get the Dillon 550b midwayusa puts the LnL on sale. !@#!@#!$! Oh well.

10-29-2011, 06:06 AM	#23
Kevin Rohrer V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 278	Re: Which Progressive? Everyone likes Dillon, including me. Hornadys are supposed to be good, but I occasionally read about problems. As for that other company named, you get what you pay for. If you don't play much for it, don't expect much and you won't be disappointed when you don't get it. __________________ An armed society is a polite society--Robert Heinlein via Jeff Cooper Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, Varmint Hunters Assn, American Legion, ARCTA, & South Cuyahoga Sportsmen's Assn.

10-29-2011, 07:42 AM	#24
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Which Progressive? skyfire1: To me it is all about the features you want and the service after sales. Using price as a determiner of which progressive press to buy may be a requirement for you but in the end the price differential may be wiped out by the cost of repairs. Progressive presses are complicated machines. The forces required to reload cartridges can at times be very high. The possibility of part failures is certainly not zero. The better the quality of the press the less down time it will suffer. The better the service after sales the faster the press will be back in operation. The better the warrantee the less the cost for repairs out of pocket. Is the Hornady a good press? Probably. Does Hornady give the same quality of service as Dillon? In my experience NO but you and others may have a different answer. Dillon is probably the number one progressive press in the market place (especially the RL550B). All those owners can not be all that wrong. It is very rare to hear anything bad about the Dillon RL550B or the Dillon service. That has to be worth something. To me the feature that makes the most difference is the auto indexing. I've had it and don't like it mostly because there comes a time when the press table has to be rotated backwards like when the press screws up and you have to clear it. Auto indexing normally prevents that. While you can take the press apart to some degree to overcome that limitation (??) who wants to do that to fix the press in the middle of a reloading session? But we all get to choose. Buy whatever tickles your fancy. But unless the price differential is huge and the price of the press you want is beyond your means, don't let price alone drive your choice. If you do you may be sorry later(??). LDBennett

10-29-2011, 10:18 AM	#25
Zhurh Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Upper Yukon, Alaska Posts: 1,813	Re: Which Progressive? Half dozen years back, a buddy (who lived down near Anchorage) was moving back south and decided to drive up for a visit and shoot some caribou on his way outta country. He wanted to sell me a 550 for $200;;;; and I didn't even know what a 550 was. Of course I told him was really interested and then a year later told him over the phone "why didn't ya tell me it was a reloading press" true story and I'm still kicking myself over missing this deal, ha. But for somebody like myself who has a back porch T bench and maybe shoots off 1000-1500 rounds a year hunting and shooting at wood debris at high water in the Yukon; is a progressive press even realistic? My 556 AR's never see the light of day ever since I got the 6.8's and I reload more that caliber than any other. Myself, I'm foolin around adjusting this and that trying to get everything just right, all the brass preparation, playing with seating the bullet just right, trying to get everything uniform; I wonder how could I ever be happy with a progressive? Would it improve anything for me or is it just another cool toy that will save some time, maybe. But if I ever hear about another 550 used, I'll know what it is and really look her over, ha ha; that I know for sure.