Thread: Progressive presses, what's the best value.

I've recently loaded 1k of .223 on a single stage and it sucked. With young ones running around its hard to justify the time it takes.

I've been looking at the Dillon presses but the accessories seem to be priced like moon beans.

I recall @R93 saying the hornady progressive presses are as good or better? Can you get she'll feeders for them?

What are the Lee Loadmasters like @stumpy ? Not sure if you can buy them in NZ which might be saying something.

Anything else I should be looking at? Does RCBS etc make one? Will only be used for .223 and maybe 9mm in the future.

Last question, has anybody got or know of a decent second hand one that is going second hand?

Cheers

Dillon are "it" as far as I am concerned. I would not like to guess how many rounds my press has reloaded in last 20 years but it would be "lots and lots and lots" in all sorts of calibres and it has cost me $0 in repairs

Maybe we need to get a local reloading syndicate together - done by say, town/city.
Group purchase (or hired use of a members) of a decent progressive press.
That way those of us that know nothing can learn, share stories, meet and greet.
And I'll be able to run my AR for less than $1.50/round

Mate is selling his 650 with 9mmm and 223 feeders, etc. Just needs 223 dies apparently.



More than happy with my Dillon. 650 new is @$1400 from Serious for 9mm, plus you'd need 223 bits on top, this includes case feeders etc.

I wouldn't say the hornady is better than any other press but I was talked into buying it by a fella that has 2 dillions on his bench.

They are tanks of a press and only cost between 60-80 bucks to change what calibers you want to load.
They come with a great spares packet and are self indexing.
I hand feed my brass and projectiles and can load an average of 500 per hour. Including loading the primer feed.
But you can get bullet and brass feeders for them. I don't see the need for either yet, in my case.

I have used a dillion a little bit and liked it. It was a flip of a coin as to what I bought to be fair. I load 4 different calibers on my press.



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I also have the Hornady and everyone else at my club has the Dillon 550 which is around the same price once conversion kits accounted for. Most have had a go with the Hornady and love the auto index, 5th die mount and easier cleaning of the the rotating assembly simply by removing the shell plate.
Only problem I've had is that the primer punch seats very flat, won't really punch below level without modifying. I got powder where it shouldn't have been and caused 4-5 primers to sit high in one batch. Won't happen again.

With spare quick release die bushings it takes 2-3mins to change calibre, only messing around is changing the powder measure from pistol to rifle, but is still a 10 min job. A dedicated rifle measure is next on my shopping list, along with a modified shell feeder and a powder check die

Yeah I was thinking of a dedicated measure for rifle cartridges but as you say it takes a few minutes to set up.
It would just be a luxury for me as I load way more pistol than rifle and only do a run on .223 or .308 a couple times a year.
If you do buy one let me know cost and where mate.
I seen it reasonably priced at workshop innovation?


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I'm a 650 fan, and really like mine (load 9mm mainly, and 223).
If you buy the whole setup (case feeder, Dillon carbide dies 9mm ) at the start, it is a reasonable cost.
I brought a spares kit and tool head on a order from the states as a filler, and we're about 1/3 cost of NZ pricing at the time.

I have the quick change (tool head, case feeder disc, dies, powder measure, she'll holder etc) for 223 and that was a bit pricey, but I will never have to buy again.

Minus the dies, your can do another calibre for about 80-100, if you want to muck around and spin dies out , alter powder measure etc...

I did 2000 once fired 223 last year, and used both the single stage and the 650, as I didn't want lube all through the 650. There won't be a next time !! BUT if I was to, I would use the 650, and just clean it at the end. The case feeder would have made it alot faster.

As a side, I also have 2 kids, and the ability to leave it all set up, and walk away, come back load some primers in, load 50 and walk away, come back, etc... Is a big bonus.

you know , i really like my loadmaster .... it works well for me , lots of people dont have time for lee , ...i have 6 lee presses now , and may buy more when settled in canada, ... i havent used any other presses , i bet they are fantastic , but i can churn out the ammo on the loadmaster , and it just works ... if you unsure that you want to reload in bulk then try a lee .... you can always upgrade and use the lee for other calibres ...
cheers

I have used the hornady, Dillon 650 , Dillon 1050 and the Lee.

The Lee was crap but I didn't realize how crap until I used the others-ended up giving it away.

I really like the hornady and plan on buying one, as I'm doing the expat thing I have spent way to much time planning out my dream reloading bench and plan on buying another 1050(I already have one) and the hornady.
A 1050 each set up for 223 and 9mm(they are a bitch to swap out) and the hornady for everything else as its so easy to swap out. There will still be a couple of single stage presses-mainly as I have them and for load development.

I would have gone 650 if herbmister hadn't got me hooked on his 1050 with auto everything-once you have experienced the speed everything else just seems to be snails pace

Savage1, the idea of doing 1k on a single stage press is just scary!


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Originally Posted by res

Savage1, the idea of doing 1k on a single stage press is just scary!


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I am sure someone posted on here a lot more than a thousand done on a single stage😆

Just done 400 9mm and 300 .40 between periods and add breaks watching a game of Ice Hockey😆

Weather is seriously shit today, here on the coast.
Thought I better get some done.

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lol might be me, I've done prob @3000 on a Lee single stage for the 223 for rifle shooting, but that's over a few years :-) And I'll keep doing it, I find it very relaxing.

Progressive press, just fab. Would recommend one that auto-indexes rather than a manual one, but that's just a personal preference - practically zero chance of double charging.

I've got a Lee pro 1000 you can have for $200.

I'm running a Hornaday LnL. It's superb. Love the quick change bushings and the shell plate is a piece of piss to change. Dillons look too fucky for me. I almost bought a 550 but I'm glad I didn't. I'm sure they're quality presses but calibre change looks like a pain in the sack.

I can change my dillon from loading for my 6.5tCU to loading for my SAUM in 2-3 minutes max
Pull 2 pins, Remove tool head for .223 incl powder measure and fit tool head for SAUM incl Powder measure. Swap shellplate and primer feeds (small to large) and away we go

Alhough generally it stays set up for the TCU .223 brass in neck up and prime on first station, powder @ station 2 and projectile @ station 3 easy peasy. i have tried auto indexing presses but not for me

Dillon 550 and or Dillon 650 for me.
Dillon 650 with case feeder and Mr Bullet feeder is very hard to beat.