Top three multi-die presses?

[MSS]

I have a Lyman t mag that I love. It makes excellent, concentric ammo as long as I do my part. I also have a Dillon 550 and a coax.

 

[Dub]

I use the Area 419 Zero Press. With nine stations per head you can have multiple calibers set up as well as mandrels and seater dies if so inclined. One of the best purchases I have made for reloading.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I use the Area 419 Zero Press. With nine stations per head you can have multiple calibers set up as well as mandrels and seater dies if so inclined. One of the best purchases I have made for reloading.

I'm not planning to upgrade from my old RCBS anytime soon, but I got to mess around with one of those Zero presses while dropping some barrels off at my smith's yesterday. It took about one pull of the handle to realize why folks rave about them; it's on a totally different planet than any other press I've used.

I don't think the upgrade is a requirement from a competitive advantage standpoint, but I totally understand why people would spend the money on it.

I cannot imagine another multi-die press that comes close. I suspect the only competition (although not direct) would be a Prazi.

It's the difference between your run of the mill American sedan, and a AMG/Ferrari etc.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Dillon 550...

There are still a lot of old unmolested 450s out there. They are excellent presses and can be had pretty reasonable sometimes. .

 

[Rsadams]

There are still a lot of old unmolested 450s out there. They are excellent presses and can be had pretty reasonable sometimes. .

Not to mention Dillon's 300 I believe press that is simply a 550 without the powder thrower and primer feed etc but can be upgraded to the 550 later...

 

[JimSC]

I have never quite figured out why reloaders cannot seem to comprehend that every press has to have some float, slop, or whatever term you choose to use in order for the case to self center itself in the die. Whether that float is in the die holder (Forster coax) or in the shellholder (single stage or zero float turret) or both (conventional turret) there has to be movement of either the die or the case in the X, Y, and Z axis in order for the press to function. Once the case self centers in the die it in a press fit so no movement is possible except in the Z axis

 

[Kimber.204]

As a kid, my father taught me how to reload on his old Redding Turret press (I don't remember if it was 5 or 6 stations).
When I bought my own equipment I started with a Lee Classic Cast (no complaints) then bought a Dillon 550. Additional plates and powder measure bars make for quick change overs. My 550 has loaded just over 10,000 rounds - I love it.
This summer I was doing a lot of load development (new powders and projectiles due to shortages) so I decided to buy a Redding T7. I found a used like new one and it's amazing. I still like the Dillon for high volume stuff, but for my long line ammo - it's super easy to decap, size, mandrel, and seat. The T7 has produced more dimensionally consistent ammo than the Dillon - BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A DIFFERENCE ON PAPER OUT TO 300YDS. I shot a pair of 1/2" (0.5" not .5 MOA) with both ammo loaded entirely on the Dillon and some loaded entirely on the T7. Same Velocity ES and SD, same accuracy.

However, if there is one thing I wish the T7 had it would be one or two more die stations.
After spending a summer pulling the handle on the T7 I totally get the allure of the Area419 Zero Press. And as an Engineer and Custom Machine Designer, I appreciate the robust design and additional thought put into the Zero Press.

So to sum up..
I love my Redding T7
I love my Dillon 550
I would love to have an Area419 Zero
If I were in the market...I would also look at Lyman's newest turret press - I think it has 8 stations. But I know nothing about it's performance.

Best Luck,
Ross

 

[Iowa Fox]

Not to mention Dillon's 300 I believe press that is simply a 550 without the powder thrower and primer feed etc but can be upgraded to the 550 later...

The 300 was the grand daddy to the 550 and is unique. Dillon didn't make many of them.

Dillon RL-300

Hi, Just bought one of these and I'm not finding a lot of info. Anyone here use one??? Thanks!

forums.brianenos.com

 

[kiwijohn]

I would vote for the T7, I use mine a lot. I started with a Lee classic single stage, with the quick change inserts. They quickly burred and weren't that good for repeatability. I went to Redding BB2 with inserts (hornady) for the quick change. I used it for a fair bit, but when F/L sizing 200 mil surp brass and turning them from .308 into 260 Rem I was using a fair bit of pressure.
Two things happened.
A I split an RCBS forming die down its length ( they shipped me a new one)

B I found the inserts would back out and get slop, then eventually pop out similar to the issue with Lee.

I went to the T 7 and never looked back. But I havent had to form 260 cases on it.

In previous sporting styles I have run Dillon 10 50's 550's and such, i have been reloading for 40 yrs.

So for Turret style I would opt for Redding and for progressive it would be Dillon. Singles have their place but never again would I bother with inserts to my mind they are a gimmick and dont work well for consistency.
Just my 2c