I'm considering the purchase of a progressive reloader from Dillon, RCBS or Hornady. It will be used for reloading handgun cartridges where absolute precision is not necessary. Can anyone offer their opinion on which brand offers the higher quality product? Thanks for any information you can offer.
Opinions On Progressive Reloading Units
- Thread starter MikeMcC
- Start date
stool
dillon has been at it longer ,successfully.
both of the others had iffy starts..but today MAY OFFER good products.
i am spoiled with 2 dillon 550's
and you can do precision on them if you take your time and look at the process.
i believe they all have excellent warrantees today.
both of the others had iffy starts..but today MAY OFFER good products.
i am spoiled with 2 dillon 550's
and you can do precision on them if you take your time and look at the process.
i believe they all have excellent warrantees today.
Warren Dean
Team Savage F-TR
Dillon...hands down. Nothing against the others but Dillon is the class of the field.
Spend the money, whine a bit about it afterwards and then carry on knowing you have bought the best.
Spend the money, whine a bit about it afterwards and then carry on knowing you have bought the best.
CatShooter
The Dillons are top of the line. I have two Hornady's that sucked, so I pulled all the priming junk out and converted them to case prep processors.
I would not even consider the RCBS - they are the "Also ran, after thought" machines, and no serious loader considers them.
I would not even consider the RCBS - they are the "Also ran, after thought" machines, and no serious loader considers them.
Dillon ! Fantastic customer service. use as a turret press for precision. Seymour
If you don't go Auto Index don't do it for pistol, I have seen 3 pistols blow up, all 3 were double charged, and the idiots used a Dillon 550, the auto indexing feature is a must for pistol progressive reloading of pistol rounds, with that said I read read and read, the Hornady has a lot going for it, but the Dillon 650 simply works perfectly after being adjusted correctly for many thousands of rounds, BrianEnos.com is the place to order Dillon stuff over 400 bucks, my 650 was delivered with case feeder, and BE "As It Should Be" package with 4 extra primer tubes, powder check, and dies was 1071 delivered, the first 100 rounds of 9mm took me a 1/2 hour, the next 400 took 28minutes.
Yes, the 650XL is faster and easier coming from reloading with a turret press since you can get one round with a single cycle on the handle. I brough it mostly to reduce wear and tear on my old shoulders 
. In terms of speed, keep in mind that time is relative since there is signfiicant time spent cleaning brass, loading primers, and yes QCing the ammo to make sure that each round will load correctly and with no proud primers.
. In terms of speed, keep in mind that time is relative since there is signfiicant time spent cleaning brass, loading primers, and yes QCing the ammo to make sure that each round will load correctly and with no proud primers.Dillon - I have a 550 and two 650 presses and have been a Dillon owner since the early 80's. I have also set up 8 550s and a SD press for friends over the years and taught them how to use their press and reloading equipment. Dillon has been a phenomenal company to deal with. They have stood behind any problem I've ever encountered with their equipment. They have replaced things at times just to be sure that whatever the problem was it was made right, no questions, and no charge.
I belong to more than one large gun club and have encountered many other shooters who have not been satisfied with their choice in companies. You can't go wrong in choosing Dillon equipment. All I advise is that you carefully consider where you'll be a few years from now and not buy too little of a machine. You ideally want to grow into a press's capabilities and not outgrow them.
I belong to more than one large gun club and have encountered many other shooters who have not been satisfied with their choice in companies. You can't go wrong in choosing Dillon equipment. All I advise is that you carefully consider where you'll be a few years from now and not buy too little of a machine. You ideally want to grow into a press's capabilities and not outgrow them.
holstil
Silver $$ Contributor
I used to only load on a Dillon 650xl. If your going to swage primer pockets I hear the Dillon 1050 is the way to go.
The die plates are expensive but faster to change out once set up.
Dillion has the best advertising.
The Hornaday is smoother because of the half down half up cycle and the powder dispenser is very accurate. I also like the primer arrangement better.
Not a huge difference in die change out with the quick change bushings.
I rarely load more than 1000 rds at a time and the LNL feels better doing it.
I've only loaded a few hundred rds on an RCBS progressive. I liked using it but I think the LNL is a better design.
It's a good idea to spend some time on each and judge for yourself if you can. I didn't dislike any I just like the LNL better, especially for the money.
Jim
The die plates are expensive but faster to change out once set up.
Dillion has the best advertising.
The Hornaday is smoother because of the half down half up cycle and the powder dispenser is very accurate. I also like the primer arrangement better.
Not a huge difference in die change out with the quick change bushings.
I rarely load more than 1000 rds at a time and the LNL feels better doing it.
I've only loaded a few hundred rds on an RCBS progressive. I liked using it but I think the LNL is a better design.
It's a good idea to spend some time on each and judge for yourself if you can. I didn't dislike any I just like the LNL better, especially for the money.
Jim
As you see, there are plenty of recommendations for the Dillon, a fine press (or series of presses). For a high-volume or commercial reloader, the higher-end Dillons or custom commercial machines are the only possibilities.
For an individual reloader, there are other choices. Here is a link to a very thoughtful comparison:
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf
I recommend that you read this and other evaluations, then try the units for yourself and make up your own mind.
About 3 years ago I bought a (barely) used Hornady LNL AP with auto case feeder from an older gentleman who was retiring from the shooting/reloading scene. The press has been outstanding and a good fit for what I do, which is loading .223 and 6Hagar rifle cartridges for highpower competitions. Most users of progressive presses load for pistol; I don't - I load only for rifle. I need an accurate powder measure - accurate enough for competition rounds. Quick change-over from .223 to 6Hagar and back is important - not just for dies, but also for the case feeder (and its drop tubes) and powder measure. Another feature that I value highly is easy adjustment of powder loads and reproducibility of various powder load settings.
Be careful to compare apples to apples. The lower-end Dillon is not a true auto-indexing progressive press - you must manually index. When comparing cost, be sure to include the automatic case feeder price in addition to the press. Think carefully about what type of reloading you do. Loading for pistol rounds is quite different from loading for rifle rounds. Some need to change frequently from one caliber to another; others don't.
I am not in any way criticizing the Dillon!! No flames, please! But - there are some differences between the Hornady LNL AP and the corresponding Dillon (the XL650, I think - check it out for yourself). The Hornady press turned out to be better for my needs, at a better price, too. Dillons are fine presses (as is the Hornady press) but there is a certain "Dillon or Die" crowd that tends to dominate the discussion. Dillon has a fine reputation, but an individual reloader would be well-advised to do thorough research. There are nit-picky details in setup, adjustment and changeover from one caliber to another that make a big difference in the suitability of one brand of press vs. another. It's hard to know about this until you actually set up and use the presses.
For an individual reloader, there are other choices. Here is a link to a very thoughtful comparison:
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf
I recommend that you read this and other evaluations, then try the units for yourself and make up your own mind.
About 3 years ago I bought a (barely) used Hornady LNL AP with auto case feeder from an older gentleman who was retiring from the shooting/reloading scene. The press has been outstanding and a good fit for what I do, which is loading .223 and 6Hagar rifle cartridges for highpower competitions. Most users of progressive presses load for pistol; I don't - I load only for rifle. I need an accurate powder measure - accurate enough for competition rounds. Quick change-over from .223 to 6Hagar and back is important - not just for dies, but also for the case feeder (and its drop tubes) and powder measure. Another feature that I value highly is easy adjustment of powder loads and reproducibility of various powder load settings.
Be careful to compare apples to apples. The lower-end Dillon is not a true auto-indexing progressive press - you must manually index. When comparing cost, be sure to include the automatic case feeder price in addition to the press. Think carefully about what type of reloading you do. Loading for pistol rounds is quite different from loading for rifle rounds. Some need to change frequently from one caliber to another; others don't.
I am not in any way criticizing the Dillon!! No flames, please! But - there are some differences between the Hornady LNL AP and the corresponding Dillon (the XL650, I think - check it out for yourself). The Hornady press turned out to be better for my needs, at a better price, too. Dillons are fine presses (as is the Hornady press) but there is a certain "Dillon or Die" crowd that tends to dominate the discussion. Dillon has a fine reputation, but an individual reloader would be well-advised to do thorough research. There are nit-picky details in setup, adjustment and changeover from one caliber to another that make a big difference in the suitability of one brand of press vs. another. It's hard to know about this until you actually set up and use the presses.
stool
there is no STANDRD that says a progressive press has to be auto indexing.
do not let that option bump the price..as it is not a requirement for high volume.
if you want to ignore price, a camdex runs just under $40,000 with ONE SET OF DIES, but will do in excess of 10,000 rounds per hour.
do not let that option bump the price..as it is not a requirement for high volume.
if you want to ignore price, a camdex runs just under $40,000 with ONE SET OF DIES, but will do in excess of 10,000 rounds per hour.
I bought a Hornady LnL AP. I promptly sold it and bought my 3rd Dillon.
If you're only doing pistol then take a hard look at the square deal b. I had a square deal and a xl650. When I got the 650 I planned on phasing out the square deal. After a few sessions I ended up selling all of the pistol caliber conversion kits and dies for the 650 and buying another square deal. It's a very comfortable and compact press that works exceptionally well.
Thank you guys, all good information. Yes, it would be perfect to find a place where I can try several of the leading contenders to determine how they work and feel to me. My intention for a progressive is strictly for straight-wall handgun rounds. I will continue to use a RCBS single stage for all my rifle stuff.
Thanks again for all the good info and websites.
Mike
Thanks again for all the good info and websites.
Mike
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