Posted: 2/18/2004 8:27:56 AM EDT
| I've had a Rock Chucker for years and am now considering the move to a progressive (my two sons and I can go through mucho ammo each week). I only reload for handguns (9mm, 10mm, .45). Any feedback? Thx. |
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Everyone is going to tell you to get a Dillon and they are probably right. They are great presses. I've loaded on a 650, but I'm poor and can't afford $500.00 + for a reloader, so I purchased the Lee Pro 1000. It works just fine. It's a little picky when it's dirty, but for $120.00 complete, I can clean it. |
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If you are only going to reload pistol ammo and you are on a limited budget the Dillion Square Deal is a great little reloader. Sure, there is the disadvantage of having to use the SDB dies, but it's such a easy machine to use. It was my first progressive press 16 years years ago and I still use it to reload all of my pistol ammo! However, if you ever have the inclination to reload rifle ammo might as well go for the 650. Has auto indexing plus all the other bells and whistles. Dillon makes some great machines! |
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Ok guys, I guess I'll be the odd man out. The Hornady Lock-n-Load AP (Auto Progressive) is quite a deal for the money. I have had one for around 6 months or so and it has been great. The Dillion "no BS warranty" is great, but with the Hornady, nothing breaks, and if it does, they will ship the parts out at NO charge just like Dillion does. Dillion is a great machine no doubt, but the Hornady AP does the same thing at a lower cost point. I have a buddy that bought the Lee 1000 and it's kind of cheaply built and I don't believe works as good as the others. I have used the Dillion 650 and the Hornady AP and they both turn out great ammo very quickly. Save your money for reloading supplies and get the Hornady AP. [url]https://www.hornady.com/cgi-bin/web_store.cgi?page=llapfeat.html&cart_id=1040218.120450[/url] [url]https://www.hornady.com/cgi-bin/web_store.cgi?page=storehome.html&cart_id=[/url] |
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I was in the same boat a long time ago. I kept my Rock Chucker for low volume rifle cases. People will talk about press flex etc., with the O-press being stronger, but for most of us it probably doesn't factor in all that much. For my large volume stuff (IE: Pistol and burn 'em up rifle cases.) It's Dillon all the way. Best of all world's. |
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I've had the Dillion RL550B for at least 10 years and it is a great press. Loaded lots of ammo and never had a problem with it. However, I wish I had the 650 instead. It is a little better press with auto indexing which the 550 does not have. You can also get the extra tool heads and set up each caliber per tool head which makes it very easy and quick to switch calibers. |
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My awesome wife just bought me a Dillon 650XL for Christmas. I love it. I got to spend some time with the Dillon guys at the shot show. Great guys and a super reloader. Sure you could buy a Hornady, but ten years down the road when you move and lose a little part, you'll pay for it. I doubt you would with a dillon. Top notch organization. matt |
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Nother Dillon vote here. I've bent stuff on mine, My own fault and I called their 800 # and the guys down there just asked for the parts needed and sent them up. BTW the part I bent was able to be straightened they had an upgrade and sent a very COMPLETE PARTS KIT with spares. If I could I would move down there and work for them. |
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crashburnrepeat: nothing wrong with Mike Dillon's equipment, but he can afford to give you all the little parts free because he charges about twice as much up-front as his competitors. There is nothing really free about it. I have an older Hornady LockNLoad press called the Projector, I broke a part on it once, sent back to the factory, and those folks completely rebuilt for me free. Also consider the cost of a caliber conversion. For the 550 it runs about $100 for all of the Dillon recommended parts. Also consider Dillon has an electric automatic case feeder mechanism for his 650 that are very expensive, and requires a high ceiling for clearance. Lee has the auto case feed mechanism that cost $50 can call handle 9mm all the way to 45LC & 223Rem. Lee also has a automatic feeding bullet mechinism that is pretty cheap. It has been out for something like 10 years so Dick Lee should have gotten the bugs out of it buy now. Remember also, Dillon linceses the automatic powder despensing mechanism from Dick Lee. |
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How about a vote for the Dillon 1050? Mine was Christmas gift from my wife. (Yes I have to make all her practice ammo) I have the older 1050 (not the 1050 super), so mine only makes pistol and some short rifle (inc .223). It positively smokes, but to run at max speed you almost need two people. When we reload my wife tubes primers and feeds me cases and bullets and takes away the full output bins. |
| I have a Dillion 550B and a Square Deal B. I use the square deal for pistol, 550 for rifle, and my .45lc cowboy loads. If all you are going to load is pistol, just get a square deal and save yourself some cash. Its nice because it auto progresses too! Then again you may later decide that you want to load rifle so get the 550B. Either way, you can't loose with a Dillion. |
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I have to sing the praises of Hornady. I have the LNL Progressive and man that thing is awesome. Very well built, clean operation, no unneccessary parts - swaping out dies (individually or all at once) takes seconds, and they stay set. I have reloaded everything from .375 RUM to .338 LM to .223 REM to 9MM to .45 ACP on my press all you do is remove one bolt to swap the plate, switch the dies and swap the powder funnel and switch the throw amount. It takes 60 seconds tops! I called to order an extra decapping pin and the sent it to me gratis. They also have a great warranty: Hornady Manufacturing offers all of its customers a No-Risk Lifetime Warranty. Our terms are simple: If it breaks, we'll fix it. The exact terms and shipping info are on the pages listed below. Be sure to use our printable form if you ever do need to send any of our products in. All you need to do is order the LNL AP (your choice of shell plate is included), add your dies and you are ready to go. I never even had a single stage reloader - this is my first one. I will be buying their 50 BMG press this year, and that will be my only single stage - I see no reason to buy a Dillon given the experience that I have had with Hornady. I have used the Dillon series, but I LOVE the Hornady LNL Automatic Progressive. |
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I have the Hornady Lock and Load AP. Overall, I am quite happy with it. Be sure to lube the linkage on the powder measure with a dry film lube, like EZOX. I hate filling primer tubes, but did not want to pay the steep price for Dillon's primer tube filler. I bought the Frankford arsenal primer tube filler from MidwayUSA. I then cut the pickup fingers off of my Hornady primer tubes, and turned a brass adaptor on my lathe to mate the Frankford arsenal tubes, and the Hornady primer tube on the press. I simply place the loaded primer tube on top of the one on the press through the adaptor bushing I made, pull the pin, and I am ready for the next hundred rounds. It only takes me a few second to fill primer tubes, for a fraction of the cost of the Dillon. I use a piece of coat hanger wire in the primer tube to let me know when I am down to last few primers. |
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You get what you pay for. If you want the best, then buy the best. And the best by far is Dillon. Dillon sets the standard that other reloaders try to measure up to. Like you I started out on a Rock chucker. I then moved up to a Square Deal B for pistol ammo. From there I progressed to a Dillon 650 and I've never looked back. Follow my footsteps and you won't either. |