Help picking a press

Ghuqu2 · March 29th, 2008, 01:07 AM

My wife gave me the OK to get the press that I want. I am looking at the RL550b, the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive, and the Lee Classic Turret kit at Kempf's.
I already have a scale, calipers, and manuals and some Lee dies.

I want a press that is easy to run, economical, and very little fuss. I will be loading, 9mm, 38, 357 and maybe 30.06 and 303 brit. I'm leaning toward the Lee because of ease of setup and adjust and the ability to then afford a case tumbler, and maybe a crono. I can also get all the "upgrades" w/o having to spend another $300-400 over the price of the press.

How fussy are the progressives? Right now if I get one, I'm leaning toward the Hornady, seems to be more bang for the buck. What do you all feel? What options are "necessary" over the basic press other than turrets?

blackhawkbill · March 29th, 2008, 01:32 AM

i have a lee classic cast press , i love it , you didn't name a bad press , i guess just check them all out , and get the one that suits you , or fits the budget ...

dukalmighty · March 29th, 2008, 04:45 AM

I have a lee pro 1000 and i bought a dillon 550 about a month ago,the dillon is eaier to operate ,more reliable pimer feed,and can change calibres pretty quick.If i would have bought th dillon first i would of never bought the lee.

fatboy97 · March 29th, 2008, 09:40 AM

Currently I reload 9mm and .40S&W, and it's very easy to change calibers and very easy to operate. My next step will be to add .38/.357 die set, powder funnel and other parts (shellplate and location pins).

mousehunter · March 29th, 2008, 10:04 AM

I have a Lee Loadmaster. It requires attention to work reliably, but if you get into a zen state with it it is fairly fast. Progressives are more suite for producing large volumes of pistol ammo, but the single stage will always have a place on your bench for rifles (I just ordered a Lee classic cast press to compliment my loadmaster). Compare and contrast the Dillion 550 and 650, both are expensive, but perhaps you get what you pay for.

I sometimes wonder if I made the right decisions myself (but then again reloading is not about turning your mind off- you have to pay attention to do it safely - The Loadmaster just makes sure you stay honest about that)
---
fwiw, between the Loadmaster's issues, and personal preference, I deprime/size, prime off press, then load. That adds time to the process, but works better for me.

HotGuns · March 29th, 2008, 10:17 AM

Buy the best equipment you can afford.

If that is Lee stuff...so be it.

When you get to a point where money is no object, go with Dillon. I can name a dozen people that started with Lee and ended up going Blue. The only thing they ever regretted was not doing it sooner.

All of them will load. Some do it better than others.

rocky · March 29th, 2008, 10:21 AM

I only have used my Dillon 550B. I ran into a few minor adjustment problems , but once I got it set up it runs fine. Dillon was quick to supply me with a new pin de primer (no charge ) when it broke because I screwed up.
I also load for my rifle. I use the Dillon like a single stage press for hunting loads.

frankmako · March 29th, 2008, 02:05 PM

i like and have the dillon. but i also use several single stage presses. to me the dillon is easy to use and they will stand behind their product. got my dillon in 1985 and never had any problems with it. i just have problems with the powder drops. they have sent me several different parts for my powder drops.

houdini · March 29th, 2008, 07:33 PM

buy a dillon it worth it.

MP40Dale · March 29th, 2008, 07:35 PM

I started with an RCBS Rockchucker and then bought a Dillon 550B. I reload both pistol and rifle on it. The lifetime no BS warranty is hard to beat. If it is financially in the cards I would definately get a Dillon. The powder measures are very accurate and repeatable.

March 29th, 2008, 01:07 AM	#1
Ghuqu2 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 188	Help picking a press My wife gave me the OK to get the press that I want. I am looking at the RL550b, the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive, and the Lee Classic Turret kit at Kempf's. I already have a scale, calipers, and manuals and some Lee dies. I want a press that is easy to run, economical, and very little fuss. I will be loading, 9mm, 38, 357 and maybe 30.06 and 303 brit. I'm leaning toward the Lee because of ease of setup and adjust and the ability to then afford a case tumbler, and maybe a crono. I can also get all the "upgrades" w/o having to spend another $300-400 over the price of the press. How fussy are the progressives? Right now if I get one, I'm leaning toward the Hornady, seems to be more bang for the buck. What do you all feel? What options are "necessary" over the basic press other than turrets? __________________ "The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us." Patrick Henry 1775 Vegetarian: Indian for inept hunter.

March 29th, 2008, 01:32 AM	#2
blackhawkbill Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: east tennessee Posts: 52	i have a lee classic cast press , i love it , you didn't name a bad press , i guess just check them all out , and get the one that suits you , or fits the budget ... __________________ and you thought this would be easy ....

March 29th, 2008, 04:45 AM	#3
dukalmighty Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,663	I have a lee pro 1000 and i bought a dillon 550 about a month ago,the dillon is eaier to operate ,more reliable pimer feed,and can change calibres pretty quick.If i would have bought th dillon first i would of never bought the lee. __________________ Quit your Whining Ya Whiny Baby

March 29th, 2008, 09:40 AM	#4
fatboy97 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Land of 10k Lakes Posts: 695	Currently I reload 9mm and .40S&W, and it's very easy to change calibers and very easy to operate. My next step will be to add .38/.357 die set, powder funnel and other parts (shellplate and location pins). __________________ Be Observant and Be Safe. Current Collection: Glock G26, G19, G23C, SIG P226-40 TT, and Ruger GP-100 Former Collection: Taurus 92SS, SIG P220 TT, S&W 360, SIG P239-40

March 29th, 2008, 10:17 AM	#6
HotGuns VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,981	Buy the best equipment you can afford. If that is Lee stuff...so be it. When you get to a point where money is no object, go with Dillon. I can name a dozen people that started with Lee and ended up going Blue. The only thing they ever regretted was not doing it sooner. All of them will load. Some do it better than others. __________________ ARKANSAS CHL Instructor Since signature lines can be offensive to some, I have removed mne. I hope you are not offended...

March 29th, 2008, 10:04 AM	#5
mousehunter Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 123	I have a Lee Loadmaster. It requires attention to work reliably, but if you get into a zen state with it it is fairly fast. Progressives are more suite for producing large volumes of pistol ammo, but the single stage will always have a place on your bench for rifles (I just ordered a Lee classic cast press to compliment my loadmaster). Compare and contrast the Dillion 550 and 650, both are expensive, but perhaps you get what you pay for. I sometimes wonder if I made the right decisions myself (but then again reloading is not about turning your mind off- you have to pay attention to do it safely - The Loadmaster just makes sure you stay honest about that) --- fwiw, between the Loadmaster's issues, and personal preference, I deprime/size, prime off press, then load. That adds time to the process, but works better for me.

March 29th, 2008, 10:21 AM	#7
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 10,867	I only have used my Dillon 550B. I ran into a few minor adjustment problems , but once I got it set up it runs fine. Dillon was quick to supply me with a new pin de primer (no charge ) when it broke because I screwed up. I also load for my rifle. I use the Dillon like a single stage press for hunting loads. __________________ "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson Nemo Me Impune Lacesset Link to my kydex builds:http://rocknloadkydex.blogspot.com/

March 29th, 2008, 02:05 PM	#8
frankmako Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 1,878	i like and have the dillon. but i also use several single stage presses. to me the dillon is easy to use and they will stand behind their product. got my dillon in 1985 and never had any problems with it. i just have problems with the powder drops. they have sent me several different parts for my powder drops. __________________ An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

March 29th, 2008, 07:33 PM	#9
houdini Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: m a Posts: 43	buy a dillon it worth it.

March 29th, 2008, 07:35 PM	#10
MP40Dale New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 4	I started with an RCBS Rockchucker and then bought a Dillon 550B. I reload both pistol and rifle on it. The lifetime no BS warranty is hard to beat. If it is financially in the cards I would definately get a Dillon. The powder measures are very accurate and repeatable. __________________ Dale Northern Nevada S&W M&P40 S&W M&P40c

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