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Posted: 12/16/2009 8:22:42 AM EDT
| Ok, i am looking at getting a progressive press next year. I have been looking at the Dillon XL650 and Hornady AP. From what i can tell they have the same features for the most part and can load about the same amount of rounds per hour with the same accessories. The only big difference is that the Dillon press is about 200 higher than the AP. Other than thier customer service what else would be worth it for that price difference? |
And so it begins...... The next chapter in the never ending war of Red Vs Blue Vs Green. 
To start it off most all of the manufactures have outstanding customer service, Lee seems to be hit and miss. That being said I own 2 Hornady progressives, a Lee 1000 dedicated to 45acp and ancient Lee turret press. No Blue to be found.... |
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I had the older Hornady Projector sold it. I now have the RCBS Pro 2000 I was it at a gun show and love the way it seats a primers it can crush it if need be. The Hornady would never seat them below flush drove me crazy. For me getting it right is first , speed is less important. I love the RCBS but can't say anything bad about the Dillon,
Thanks,Keith |
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I had the older Hornady Projector sold it. I now have the RCBS Pro 2000 I was it at a gun show and love the way it seats a primers it can crush it if need be. The Hornady would never seat them below flush drove me crazy. For me getting it right is first , speed is less important. I love the RCBS but can't say anything bad about the Dillon, Thanks,Keith You needed to adjust your primer ram then. There is/was an adjustment screw and lock nut for the purpose. |
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Ok, i am looking at getting a progressive press next year. I have been looking at the Dillon XL650 and Hornady AP. From what i can tell they have the same features for the most part and can load about the same amount of rounds per hour with the same accessories. The only big difference is that the Dillon press is about 200 higher than the AP. Other than thier customer service what else would be worth it for that price difference? Graf & Sons..... 573-581-9777. I believe that's the number to the retail store. They sell all makes and models of presses and can give you a fair and biased assesment of your choices. |
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Ok, i am looking at getting a progressive press next year. I have been looking at the Dillon XL650 and Hornady AP. From what i can tell they have the same features for the most part and can load about the same amount of rounds per hour with the same accessories. The only big difference is that the Dillon press is about 200 higher than the AP. Other than thier customer service what else would be worth it for that price difference? Sir, FWIW I'm a long standing Dillon owner. Besides some other accessories I use a RL550B and a XL650. A quick check of the two web sites show the Hornady L&L machine goes for about $430 and the Dillon 650 is $525. The case feed assembly for the Hornady is $300 and the Dillon is slightly over $200. Therefore comparable costs of the basic machine with the case feeder is the same at about $730. Accessories, caliber change kits, etc. will make up the difference but your comment that the Dillon press is about $200 higher than the Hornady is not true as near as I can tell. I've never tried the Hornady machine but functionally it does not appear any different than the Dillon. My experience with Dillon powder measures is that for coarse grain rifle type powders it does not meter as accurately as I would like. Dillon even mentions in the Blue press that they do not recommend using long grain extruded type powders, which excludes what in my humble opinion are some of the best powders for the purpose. Since I don't use a Hornady measure I can't say for sure but it does look more like the RCBS uniflow or Redding 3BR measures which are consistantly more accurate with these type powders than the Dillon measure. The true test of comparability is how consistant the loaded rounds are and only comparing them across a chronograph will reveal any true superiority. My recommendation is Dillon simply because I have no personal experience with the Hornady machine. And yes, when Dillon claims they have a no "BS warranty", they really mean it but in my experience with the other manufacurers their customer service is outstanding also. JMHO, 7zero1 out. |
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Ok, i am looking at getting a progressive press next year. I have been looking at the Dillon XL650 and Hornady AP. From what i can tell they have the same features for the most part and can load about the same amount of rounds per hour with the same accessories. The only big difference is that the Dillon press is about 200 higher than the AP. Other than thier customer service what else would be worth it for that price difference? Graf & Sons..... 573-581-9777. I believe that's the number to the retail store. They sell all makes and models of presses and can give you a fair and biased assesment of your choices. ya, i should call them. they aren't too far from me either. |
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All the presses work, some will work longer (years of service) and faster. But it all comes down to the skills of the operator. If your going to run 100,000+ rounds buy a Dillon 1050 (best bang for the buck) or less than 100,000 rounds buy the other name brands (the green machines or hornady). Lee is great for pistol ammo and light duty rifle. That's IMHO.
Mike |
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Quoted:A quick check of the two web sites show the Hornady L&L machine goes for about $430 and the Dillon 650 is $525. The case feed assembly for the Hornady is $300 and the Dillon is slightly over $200. Therefore comparable costs of the basic machine with the case feeder is the same at about $730. Accessories, caliber change kits, etc. will make up the difference but your comment that the Dillon press is about $200 higher than the Hornady is not true as near as I can tell.
ya, i saw some deals other places for the L&L that dropped the price some so it was closer to the 200 diff. i didn't compair the case feeders though. |
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I love my LnL AP, it's solid as a tank and the quick change bushings are much better than a tool head because you can move the dies around, remove all but one die and use as a single stage, and swap calibers super fast if needed with no setup each time.
I like the Hornady PM much better than the Dillon as well, it is very similar to the Redding BR3 I have and works great with most all powders except the very long sticks, but no PM works good with the long stick powders. |
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Graf & Sons..... 573-581-9777. I believe that's the number to the retail store. They sell all makes and models of presses and can give you a fair and biased assesment of your choices. Well, at least it'll be fair.
But yeah, a +1 for Grafs. I got my LnL AP from them, and not only was the price of the unit among the lowest, $4 for shipping a heavy item like that can't be beat with a stick. |
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550b for large primers 550b for .223 450 for 9mm Dillon works for me. Haven't used any other progressives the 450 and 550's manual index right? and manual index means that you have to hand turn the shell plate after you move the lever right? i just want to get that straight. |
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550b for large primers 550b for .223 450 for 9mm Dillon works for me. Haven't used any other progressives the 450 and 550's manual index right? and manual index means that you have to hand turn the shell plate after you move the lever right? i just want to get that straight. Yes, that is correct. The 450 and 550 are manually indexed. I've been using a Dillon since 1984. Mine started as a 450 but I upgraded the frame to 550 type. I've loaded 100's of thousands of rounds on it. I'm 100% satisfied with Dillon. |
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ya, i should call them. they aren't too far from me either.[/quote] So I called gaffs today. I talked to someone in their support line for a bit. I told him I was looking at the 650 and LnL AP. He asked a few questions and then suggested the LnL. I do plan to right now reload for 4 calibers (9mm, .40, .223, and .308/30-06). The cost of caliber changes between the 2 make the LnL look better and I can still use the dies in a single stage (the LnL single) if I needed to. The guy I was talking to said he has used both but owns a LnL. I am just waiting now for my CRN to come back and then it is road trip time. |
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Quoted:
Ok, i am looking at getting a progressive press next year. I have been looking at the Dillon XL650 and Hornady AP. From what i can tell they have the same features for the most part and can load about the same amount of rounds per hour with the same accessories. The only big difference is that the Dillon press is about 200 higher than the AP. Other than thier customer service what else would be worth it for that price difference? I can't speak for Hornady customer service but Dillon is top notch. I haven't encountered a company with as good customer service and backing of their warranty. They will replace any parts that break no questions asked, no need to send in the broken part, and they send it fast. |
| This is my third winter with the LNL. I never loaded before i purchased it (or with any other press since) . Customer Service is GREAT! They were there when i was going through the learning curve and any parts i broke in the process they replaced for free. Between them and this board I've come along way. |
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