Presses

Mightyox04

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I'm looking for the best press below 1000 bucks. Is dillion the best one? I want a progressive press. I have a rock chucker but I'm looking to upgrade.
 
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Best for what purpose?
A little of everything. I'm hoping to start shooting IDPA and then also for hunting with a wide variety of calibers.

My brother will want to load some stuff for mid to long range shooting.
 
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I'm looking for the best press below 1000 bucks. Is dillion the best one? I want a progressive press. I have a rock chucker but I'm looking to upgrade.

You will never regret buying a Dillon. A 550 at a minimum and if you can swing it, get the 650 with the case feeder.


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Just a thought...if you do end up loading precision rifle, you will probably end up back on the rock chucker.

Blasting ammo like 3 gun or carbine fodder...progressive is fine.

I ended up with two presses and a conversion kit.
I do all my pistol on a SDB. Everything else is done on a 550...and I have a kit that converts the 550 into a single stage.
Saves me bench space.
 
You will never regret buying a Dillon. A 550 at a minimum and if you can swing it, get the 650 with the case feeder.


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I was looking at the xl650. I wish it did 338 Lapua.
 
There are folks that swear by and at every brand of press out there. They all can work great and they all can be problematic, but the Dillon has a great warranty and customer service. Also if you decide you don't like it you can sell it for 85-90% of what you paid for it fairly easily, and that's the one thing it will do that few others will. There are guys selling Dillon presses for more than they paid for them 20 yrs ago, almost like its an investment.

If you are in a hurry get a 650 with case feeder, ready to load one caliber you will come in just under $1000. If precision rifle will be a big part of what you are doing I would go with a 550.
 
You will never regret buying a Dillon. A 550 at a minimum and if you can swing it, get the 650 with the case feeder.


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This is what I read time and time again when searching for my first progressive.

I ended up with a SDB because my focus was 9mm, I wanted auto indexing, and I got a smoking deal on it. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it.
 
If you think you will ever want a case feeder, keep in mind that the 550 case feeder will only handle pistol calibers, while the 650 case feeder will handle pistol or rifle.

I have a 550 and like it. I've heard that the 550 is better for precision rifle than the 650, due to the way the platen and shellplates differ. I only use my 550 for semi-auto pistol, and 223 plinking loads. I use a Lee turret press for all other rifle and revolver rounds, and Wilson chamber seating dies for precision rifle (uses an arbor press).

For me, a progressive press does not provide as much benefit for rifle as it does for pistol calibers. Bottleneck rifle brass requires more case prep, and interrupts the normal progressive process as the brass needs to be cleaned, sized, then trimmed, chamfered etc, possibly cleaned again, then brought back to the press to finish. It is still definitely faster than a single-stage, but not as streamlined or as fast as loading pistol calibers that don't need to be lubed or trimmed.
 
This is what I read time and time again when searching for my first progressive.

I ended up with a SDB because my focus was 9mm, I wanted auto indexing, and I got a smoking deal on it. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it.

Very hard to best the SDB if high volume pistol is your focus. It's short stroke really increases efficiency.
No need to have a 30-06 size action for a 22lr cartridge.

I'm not aware of any other company that makes a dedicated pistol caliber press.

Anyone know differently?
 
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There was one here for sale by Jeremy Kupper. He lives near Lincolnton I think. Dunno if he sold it yet.


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Wow am I the only one that is gonna say something about a Hornady LnL AP.

That’s all I use for my 9mm stuff.

Midway or midsouth is running a sale on them. Grab one for under 400. Shell plate will run another 30ish. Can add a case and bullet feeder down the road.

I have had mine for about 4 years and loaded about 5-6k 9mm without issue.

If your set on a Dillion and gonna load a lot, get a 650. Auto indexing is a great thing. I went with a Hornady LnL AP since it is equivalent to the 650 just cheaper. But Dillion’s warranty is hard to beat.
 
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Wow am I the only one that is gonna say something about a Hornady LnL AP.

That’s all I use for my 9mm stuff.

Midway or midsouth is running a sale on them. Grab one for under 400. Shell plate will run another 30ish. Can add a case and bullet feeder down the road.

I have had mine for about 4 years and loaded about 5-6k 9mm without issue.

If your set on a Dillion and gonna load a lot, get a 650. Auto indexing is a great thing. I went with a Hornady LnL AP since it is equivalent to the 650 just cheaper. But Dillion’s warranty is hard to beat.

Nothing against the Hornady (no experience with it).

On SDB vs 550 vs 650 read the brianenos page. Auto index makes very little speed difference unless you have a case feeder. I have a 550 and 650 and it is true. The learning curve on the 650 is a little higher. Doable, but more complex especially for new reloader and auto index is kind of a pain for new reloaders and especially for load development.

I started on a 550. To me the 650 is a better choice for a) churning out thousands of the same load (case feeder!), or b) you really need the 5th station. Otherwise the 550 is more versatile, a little simpler, and cheaper. Currently my 650 is dedicated to a single 9mm load for the STI. The 550 has toolheads for loading 6 calibers and prepping 2 calibers. I also have a Lee single stage for utility duty (depriming, pulling, really odd runs like 30-30 for my brother).

All three Dillons have their advocates for sure and all three are good presses.
 
Another Hornady user here. I got a killer deal on mine used - which is the only reason I reload honestly. I dont know about the cost new hornady vs new 650 - but I've only ever loaded 9mm on mine, and cant think of a single problem that wasn't caused by me. If you are new to reloading, you might be better off getting a Dillon, for the sole reason that EVERYBODY has one. There are videos/forums everywhere that will tell you how to load on a Dillon. Similar to the reason I'll be switching over to Titegroup powder. My W231 works fine, but when talking loads with people everyone loads with TG.
 
Nothing against the Hornady (no experience with it).

On SDB vs 550 vs 650 read the brianenos page. Auto index makes very little speed difference unless you have a case feeder. I have a 550 and 650 and it is true. The learning curve on the 650 is a little higher. Doable, but more complex especially for new reloader and auto index is kind of a pain for new reloaders and especially for load development.

I started on a 550. To me the 650 is a better choice for a) churning out thousands of the same load (case feeder!), or b) you really need the 5th station. Otherwise the 550 is more versatile, a little simpler, and cheaper. Currently my 650 is dedicated to a single 9mm load for the STI. The 550 has toolheads for loading 6 calibers and prepping 2 calibers. I also have a Lee single stage for utility duty (depriming, pulling, really odd runs like 30-30 for my brother).

All three Dillons have their advocates for sure and all three are good presses.

Oh I never said you would be faster with a auto indexing, just said it is nice to have. The learning curve wasn’t bad when I started with my LnL AP and I came from a lee single stage. Not saying it won’t be with a Dillion, I wouldn’t know as my LnL AP does what I need it too without needing to drink the blue kook-aid lol.

I will agree about load development. But he has a single stage to do that lol

My Lee does all my rifle stuff as I don’t need to churn out thousands of rounds..... yet

I will say my next progressive press will be a Dillion 650. Just because


I will say the biggest thing I hate about the Dillion is the powder measure. Never really cared for that style. That’s just me
 
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I started reloading on a 650. No regrets at all.

I am blessed in that I currently have the 550,650 and 1050.

The 550 is faster for caliber changes but then I don’t run a case feeder on it.

I’ve never timed the output on the 550 but I have on the 650. I got to where I could easily do 800-900 rounds an hour on the 650.

If I could have only one, it would be the 650.


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I thought that I would convert from the SDB to the LnL (with case feeder and bullet feeder) for 9mm, but I ended up leaving the SDB setup for my favorite 9mm load and use the LnL for .45acp. Going to start using it for 223 “soon” which will be the first time I’ve had to install the small primer assembly. Use the Forster CoAx for 45/70 and load development in general.

There is no best press, so consider your pending acquisition as an enhancement to your collection of presses rather than a replacement.
 
Dillon 550 is a great all around do all press. With the quick change accessories, caliber changes are quick and easy. Your dies will be set up as you left them. 300 + rounds of hangun ammo per hour is plenty doable...and im slow. You can also use it like a single stage since its a manual indexing press.

If i were looking to put out a lot of ammo and didnt change calibers often i would look at a dillon 650 or 1050.

The forster coax press is an awesome for precision reloading and changing out dies is fast and easy. You dont need shell holders for most calibers. This press will probably replace my turret press soon....and i like my turret press.
 
Dillon 650 with case and bullet feeder.

Beer in one hand, handle in the other
Sold on a free beer hand.

I plan on doing a chit load of 45acp. Some 45-70, 308win, and whatever my brother needs. Mostly 45acp because we both shoot 45 and we are both planning to shoot 1911s in idpa and maybe uspsa.
 
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I thought that I would convert from the SDB to the LnL (with case feeder and bullet feeder) for 9mm, but I ended up leaving the SDB setup for my favorite 9mm load and use the LnL for .45acp. Going to start using it for 223 “soon” which will be the first time I’ve had to install the small primer assembly. Use the Forster CoAx for 45/70 and load development in general.

There is no best press, so consider your pending acquisition as an enhancement to your collection of presses rather than a replacement.
That's a scary thought.
 
That's a scary thought.

If it makes you feel any better, at least they don’t multiply as fast as guns do. Now, dies, powders, bullet variations, those do. And all the accessories and tweaks for presses. But not presses.

Whatever you do, don’t look at the Inline Fabrication website, or those threads about other people’s amazing reloading benches (or rooms!).

Just put down the mouse and go load some more ammo.
 
If it makes you feel any better, at least they don’t multiply as fast as guns do. Now, dies, powders, bullet variations, those do. And all the accessories and tweaks for presses. But not presses.

Whatever you do, don’t look at the Inline Fabrication website, or those threads about other people’s amazing reloading benches (or rooms!).

Just put down the mouse and go load some more ammo.
I just went to inline fabrications websites. I see some things that will look good in the man cave.
 
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The inline fabrication multi mount?? (One stand can accommodate multiple presses by using an adapter plate) is awesome.
 
In favor of Dillion, I have a 35-year-old 550, one of the very first run (it came with no manual as they hadn't been printed yet, I got a 20-page xerox to get me started). I finally wore out the whole bottom end of the press, it got so sloppy it wasn't good. I called Dillon, and they sent me a whole new bottom, at this point, the only things on the press that are original are the frame, handle and ram. They have slowly replaced the rest over the years as parts wore out.

I paid about $250 for it way back then and I wouldn't sell it for $1000!
 
So,

  • Progressive presses for quantity
  • Single stage for quality/precision
  • Reloading rifle in progressive presses is a bit interesting since you have to do steps like depriming and cleaning and trimming before actually loading it. i.e. You are going to need whatever steps you need to shove primmer, pour powder, and place and crimp bullet, but the other steps are not done at the same time.
Just learning a bit. :D
 
Just broke a pawl of my Hornady LnL, and the primer assembly is giving me fits. They are closed on Saturday, but sent an email, expect they’ll send me a free replacement.
 
Just FYI...Dillon 550 you have to advance shell plate by hand. 650 advances with pull of the handle. For whatever reason i really like loading 45 and 9mm on the 550 and so far, 10K rnds later am only loading 223/556 on my 650. And if i had to do it all over again and had the money i would get a 1050 for 223/556 because of the swaging station alone. I had a 650 for 20 years that i only loaded 38super on. Pull maintenance on dillons per the instructions and they will run much better. I never pulled maintenance on my old 650 for 20yrs and the priming system gave me fits. The lube pts have zerks now. They are better presses now than they were 20yrs ago. Just know that the powder bar charge dispensing system is not very accurate or repeatable.
 
I guess that depends on the powder, I tend to use ball powders, W231, 2400, and the like; and they have always thrown very accurately and repeatably.
Ball powder is very consistent from the dillon powder measure, flake powder isnt quite as consistent, but plenty good enough unless you were making max charge rounds. I have never tried stick powder through it.
 
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Ive run every powder u can run in an AR thru my 650 with their charge bar, Redding BR dropper and Lee Auto drum. Measure every powder drop and then tell me its accurate and repeatable. Those 3 devices will vary anywhere from 0.1grn (which is totally acceptable to me if any one of them would consistently do that) to 1.5grns over. I'll load blasting/plinking ammo for 223/556 on the 650 by dropping but match ammo gets weighed.
 
Ive run every powder u can run in an AR thru my 650 with their charge bar, Redding BR dropper and Lee Auto drum. Measure every powder drop and then tell me its accurate and repeatable. Those 3 devices will vary anywhere from 0.1grn (which is totally acceptable to me if any one of them would consistently do that) to 1.5grns over. I'll load blasting/plinking ammo for 223/556 on the 650 by dropping but match ammo gets weighed.

When checking a bunch of pistol rounds with Unique (far from easy flowing ball powder) while loading, I get variation of .1, with the very occasional .2 grains. Win 748 is more consistent, as is H4895. Those are what I have loaded the most of by far. No way should you get .5 grain variance, much less 1.5, with any powder if it is working properly and you cycle the machine consistently round to round. Most of this is on a 550, but it is the same powder drop.

For real precision ammo I have a co-ax and an RCBS auto trickler but plenty of people swear by loading precision ammo on a 550.
 
Something is wrong if you are getting 1.5 grains of variance...…
 
Could be. I convinced my shooting club to buy a Labradar chrono. An older gentleman there asked me to show him how to use it. He's shoots an AR in competition and has been for like 50yrs. He brought it out and some of his 200yd loads. We chrono'd them. Avg ES was like 100. I asked him how he was loading and charging with powder and all he would say was he sure as hell wasnt weighing them but he might have to start. I can set up my 650 and get it the powder set to where I want it and load 20 to 50rnds and weigh a charge and like I said it might be 0.1grn over or it might be 1.5grns over, never under. Had a guy who holds a couple F class records tell me the Dillon charge bars aint what they used to be. Dont know, dont care. May end up selling my 650. I'm into LR shooting and low ES. Supposed to take delivery on a digital scale tomorrow that is +/- 0.02grns.
 
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