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Let's Talk Presses

I am looking for another press for my reloading bench. Right now I have a Lyman Orange Crush single stage press. And I have a Hornady Progressive. I like both presses for what I use them for. But I want another press for a different purpose. I would like to try and explain the different purposes and see what you guys have experience with.

What I am looking for is a press for more precision reloading than I feel I can get from my Hornady Progressive, yet more speed than I am getting from my single stage. Not Bench Rest accuracy, but more precise reloading ability.

I have been looking at lots of presses. Such as the Lyman and RCBS Turret head presses. And the less expensive Dillon BL-550. With the Dillon having a shell plate that turns, while the others have the overhead turret that moves.

For alot of my relaoding I like to take out the case. and mesure the length of the cases, or do some trimming, or other case prep while I am in the reloading process. So being able to take the shells out is a must.

Second I would like a press that takes one of the belling dies that allows a powder measure such as my RCBS powder measure to be used in conjunction with the belling die?? Is there a die large enough that will allow a Uni-Flow measure to be used??

I also like the idea of the removable die plate for the RCBS turret press. Anyone have any experience with those removable heads?? Are they solid?? Or flimsy??

I know this is alot of questions, but I am trying to compile as much data as I can. Then make a decision from that data. So if you only help with one part of the post, then by all means respond.

I really like the self indexing of the Hornady progressive for fast handgun loads like 45 ACP and such. But I do not want a self-indexing press for this one. That way I can control each and every step.

Does anyone have one of the BL-550 Dillon's?? How solid is the shell plate?? Tom.
 
I am using the rl-550B dillon and get great concentricity with it providing you use good dies.I do some of the work on a single stage such as neck sizing.I bought dillons carbide .223 dies and what a good thing that was.It gives less than .002 thou concentricity and out of a progressive ,that is good. I vote for the dillon. What makes you think the hornady press is inferior? Are you having issues? Elaborate alittle and we can help you better that way.
 
In no way do I think the Hornady is inferior. I really like the Hornady Progressive. However I am not looking for another progressive like the Dillon 550-B or 650. I am asking about the BL-550 Dillon, which I belive is not considered a progressive. More like just a multi-head tool or in the Dillon a multi-shell holder??

The Hornady works great for shells that require no case prep or individual handling. I am looking for something that is easy to take in and out(casings). And NOT self indexing. Tom.
 
I would suggest the Harrels turret press. I do not owne 1 but i do have his other stuff and it is top shelf. You won't find better quality and prices anywhere else. You can buy extra turrets also if you wish. It is in my plans to buy 1 very soon.
 
It sounds like you need a real Turret press.

Lyman and Redding both make great Turret presses.

Meow.
 
I have a Harrell's Turret press and it makes extremely concentric ammo. I think the process of floating your die and shellholder and then camming over the press will produce very high-quality ammo on just about any decent press. So, I'd focus on getting the features that are important to you. I was a little hesitant about getting the Harrell's but it turned out to be a great choice. Just keep in mind the Harrell's turret is not a massive press capable of handling magnum ammo and difficult case-forming operations. It's best for 308 size and smaller
 
I think the bl-550 is a stripped down rl-550.Correct me if I am wrong.It is a fine press.
 
I'm a bit surprised that after three days, no one has mentioned The Bonanza/Forster Co-Ax press. Tons of leverage, and tends to produce very concentric ammo due to the floating of the dies. Been around a long time, and those who have any experience with them tend to swear by them. I have on my benches right now, an RCBS RockChucker, several Dillon's of various models, and the Co-Ax. For any sort of precision work, long range ammo and that sort of thing, the Co-Ax is the "go to" press.

Can't beat the Dillons for turning out large piles of ammo, and they do turn out damned good stuff if the operator pays attention and does his part. The RockChucker still sees use for some things, but it's starting to look like it's just taking up bench space these days. I've also made extensive use of the Redding T-7, and it's hands down the best turret press going. It was ideally suited to what I needed it for at the time, but that was using it almost exclusively with seating dies; no sizing at all. But for the flat out precision aspect, the Co-Ax all the way.
 
I realize the Redding Press is a real dandy. But to be honest the price is prohibitive to me. At over twice the price for the RCBS turret?? That is just a little too much for me.

I am leaning to either the Dillon BL-550 or the RCBS turret. I like the idea of the extra stations on the RCBS. But I like the shell plate on the Dillon. So I have mixed feelings on this. So I am still looing for more informatrion.

This press will mostly be used for loading 180 grain bullets that I cast in either a light "cat sneeze" load, or a heavier shooting load. But I plan on doing a good bit of 30-06 shooting. So precision is not my main variable. It is important, but not to a high degree. Thanks, Tom.
 
Before you jump on one of the big money presses take a look at the Lee Classics 4 die. I have found that the people that bad mouth it have never even used one. Its all steel and you can go from one set of dies to another in 15 secs.
 
I agree with Kevin about the Co-Ax. Tough to beat for ease of use and results. My progressive choice is one that I have owned since about 1981, a Dillon RL-450. It is a minor pain to change cartridges but the rigidity is outstanding as is ammo quality. It is difficult to find one today in good shape, most have been around the block several times. When you find a good one, they can be often be bought cheaply.
 
The Co-Ax press is a good press BUT it's not the TURRET style the OP is looking at.
 
Fat Albert said:
Before you jump on one of the big money presses take a look at the Lee Classics 4 die. I have found that the people that bad mouth it have never even used one. Its all steel and you can go from one set of dies to another in 15 secs.

I must agree about the Lee. It is a great machine too, and way less expensive than the Redding. I have one of each. The Lee is a great value and very speedy for production loading.
 
Gun Smith said:
Fat Albert said:
Before you jump on one of the big money presses take a look at the Lee Classics 4 die. I have found that the people that bad mouth it have never even used one. Its all steel and you can go from one set of dies to another in 15 secs.

I must agree about the Lee. It is a great machine too, and way less expensive than the Redding. I have one of each. The Lee is a great value and very speedy for production loading.

I'm a big fan of mine. I've got two turrets full of various utility dies (expander, decappers, bullet puller, etc.), and a turret with the dies for each caliber, though I don't use it the indexing feature.

You can use it for precision loading if you keep a few things in mind:
[list type=decimal]
[*]The diameter of the turret disks are small enough that using Hornady lock rings is problematic if you want to actually put 4 dies on it
[*]There is a bit of vertical slack because of how the turrets are mounted on the press. This is not a problem if you set up your dies to touch the shellholder; Lee presses also don't cam over so you just setup the dies to touch the shellholder when the ram is lowered and takes all the slack out of the turret.
[*] If you want to set up your body sizing dies to only bump the shoulder, etc., you have to use the Redding competition shellholders, instead of not screwing in the die all the way (because the slack makes that space between the bottom of the die and the shellholder inconsistent). Even on a single stage I prefer the Redding shellholders as opposed to no screwing the die all the way in to set up my body sizing dies.
[/list]
 
CJ6 said:
The Co-Ax press is a good press BUT it's not the TURRET style the OP is looking at.

Since we are discussing the OP's original question; note that he wanted a reasonably precise progressive press. He did not indicate that it must be a turret.
 
The BL-550 is the RL550 minus the primer and powder feed as indicated on Dillon site. To answer your question about the tool/die head being solid or not, I have a Dillon 650 and it is solid. See no reason the BL-550 would be less so. Tool head change is simple. Remove the pins, slide head out, slide another head in, reinstall pins. Again, it is the same RL-550 press.

You've indicated you have a Single Stage and a Progressive. Seems the logical choice, with respect to your inquiry is a good turret press. With the input thus far from other members you have some good info. Therefore, here is mine too. Look at the Redding Turret press. Right now it's $240 at Midway. That ain't bad and it is a very good Turret Press. I think you would be satisfied with it. For what it's worth to you, the Redding turret head holds 7 dies.

Use the link below to watch the use of a powder measure on the Redding Turret press.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3R7PkPklUM
 

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