Talk me into getting a Hornady LnL AP OR Dillon 550/650 !!!!! - Page 2

BigBoreKindaGuy · March 25, 2005, 03:08 AM

I have previously owned RBCS, Lee and Hornady presses and they just don't stack up to the 650 Dillon press I now own. You are correct about "squeeze for money" when changing calibers on the Dillon. But the overall quality of the Dillon design and material used is just plain ahead of the others that the "squeeze" is tolerable for me.

Oct_97 · May 14, 2005, 08:13 AM

Can I use my Dillon Dies with a Hornady LnL, especially the combo Bell/Powder die?

Thanks for any input

John

cheygriz · May 14, 2005, 12:33 PM

IMNSHO,

The machine a person should buy at first, is the machine they will end up with 20 years down the road.

I honestly believe that for most pholks that like progressive reloaders, that "eventual" machine will be a Dillon 650 or 1050.

Having said that, I still think the Dillon 550 and the Hornady and RCBS are truly great machines. I just think the 650/1050 are better machines

I still have, and use, an old Dillon 450 that has been partially upgraded, for those calibres that I don't load in great volume, such as .30-30, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. It's a great little machine, but it just wouldn't cut it for loading 9MM, .40, .45ACP, .223 etc., in the volumes that I load.

BigBoreKindaGuy · May 14, 2005, 06:07 PM

Dillon all the way. You cannot go wrong at all. With the other manufacturers its hit or miss depnding on the model.

caz223 · May 14, 2005, 08:50 PM

Well, I currently have a 550, and have never found it wanting. I load for 10 calibers, and the nice thing about the 550 is that it's easy to change calibers very quickly.

That being said, if you wanted to just load one or two calibers, and needed higher volume, there's no reason to not try out the hornady press, esp since auto indexing and the case feeder really speed things along.

I like my 550, but there are other presses out there, and I'm sure that hornady makes a good one.

StrikeEagle · May 15, 2005, 04:56 PM

I've been using and enjoying a Dillon 550B for about 25 years. Works great, does all I need. Yes, Dillon service is ledgendary... as good as it gets.

I seem to load 1000 rounds a mouth or so... sometimes more. And as odd as it may sound, I wouldn't WANT the machine to go faster. Reloading is kind of a relaxing time for me and something I look forward to. There have been many times that I would poke around looking for SOME cases (ANY cases!) to fill... just for the quiet rhythm of reloading.

Have you ever talked to anyone with a 550B who REGRETS having bought it? I don't believe I ever have.

best,
StrikeEagle

BigBoreKindaGuy · May 15, 2005, 07:28 PM

StrikeEagle said: " I seem to load 1000 rounds a mouth or so... sometimes more."

You must have a pretty big mouth there to load 1000 rounds or more.....

Popeye4 · May 23, 2005, 05:20 PM

I've got a Dillon 650 that is nuclear-grade. I don't have the comparable Hornady metallic cartridge progressive press; however, I've got a Hornady Apex shotshell loader that does the job but isn't as solid or reliable (I know, comparing apples and oranges, but I'm commenting more on the robustness of the design and manufacture). Also, when I've needed parts for the Hornady, they've always promptly shipped them out at MY expense. When I've needed parts for the Dillon, they've always promptly shipped them out at THEIR expense.

I use and enjoy the Hornady Apex and don't shoot enough shotgun (right now) to change my habits, but that Dillon SL900 looks pretty darned nice..... ahhhh, so many toys and so little time (and cash)!

Doug

racenutz · May 24, 2005, 01:52 AM

Quote:

By the way the dealer I bought the 650 from makes more off of the Hornady press. Despite the higher price of the Dillon press they do not have a very good dealer incentive program, so he had nothing to gain by talking me into the Dillon press.

I don't know how much your dealer charges but comparing the dealer price to the normal price at Graf & Sons (I have my C&R license on file with them & get the dealer discount) I'd say the opposite is true.

tc300mag1 · May 24, 2005, 02:07 AM

I went with a LNL myself didnt get the case feeder and have no complaints i can still load pretty fast without the feeder

Guy B. Meredith · May 24, 2005, 12:15 PM

The early LNL primer feed was awkward and cranky, but I've updated my 6XX serial number press with the new version and it is super slick.

Ran 600 rounds Sunday and basked in the pleasure of using the system--until my RCBS decap die pin fell out. Slapped in my Hornady decap die and continued until I ran out of primers.

I spend more time examining and cleaning brass than on the press for a given number of rounds.

goalie · May 31, 2005, 03:02 AM

I drank the blue kool-aid after Dillon refurbished my Square Deal for free. I recently traded it in on a 550B, and the .223 ammo it cranks out is quite accurate (using Redding competition dies). I also am impressed with how quickly I can change over to load 9mm (the primer size is the same, so that helps) and how quickly I am able to load the 9mm on it.

I find the manual indexing to be no drawback at all, especially loading rifle ammunition. I actually like having to index by hand, and the way I do it results in an extra check on the case that just received powder in it. I get about 250 rounds an hour of 9mm, but I am not exactly in a hurry when I load, and I don't have any automatic primer fillers.

The bottom line is that almost any press is able to make you good, quality ammunition. For me, the customer service provided by Dillon won my loyalty.

StrikeEagle · May 31, 2005, 06:07 AM

Hi, Goalie

I'm really with you on the Dillon 550B. Gooooood stuff.

Do you have several powder measures? It's even easier if you do. I've only got one, but have been thinking about getting 1 or 2 more.

StrikeEagle

goalie · May 31, 2005, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Do you have several powder measures? It's even easier if you do. I've only got one, but have been thinking about getting 1 or 2 more.

Well, right now I am loading 9mm and .223 on it, so I am just using one powder measure and switching out the bars. It is rather quick, because I am not actually messing around with adjusting the bars, I just switch from small/pistol to large/rifle and it is within 1/10th of a grain of where I left it.

I may invest in another powder measure if I start reloading more handgun calibers. I really like having the little Dillon toolhead stand to hold the caliber that I am not using at the time. It keeps everything organized.

View Poll Results: Hornady or Dillon
Hornady LnL AP with casefeeder for 500$	19	33.33%
Dillon 550 350$	19	33.33%
Dillon 650 with casefeeder for 670-700$	19	33.33%
Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

May 14, 2005, 12:33 PM	#28
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,232	IMNSHO, The machine a person should buy at first, is the machine they will end up with 20 years down the road. I honestly believe that for most pholks that like progressive reloaders, that "eventual" machine will be a Dillon 650 or 1050. Having said that, I still think the Dillon 550 and the Hornady and RCBS are truly great machines. I just think the 650/1050 are better machines I still have, and use, an old Dillon 450 that has been partially upgraded, for those calibres that I don't load in great volume, such as .30-30, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. It's a great little machine, but it just wouldn't cut it for loading 9MM, .40, .45ACP, .223 etc., in the volumes that I load. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

May 14, 2005, 06:07 PM	#29
BigBoreKindaGuy Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 175	Dillon all the way. You cannot go wrong at all. With the other manufacturers its hit or miss depnding on the model. __________________ BigBoreKindaGuy

May 14, 2005, 08:50 PM	#30
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,344	Well, I currently have a 550, and have never found it wanting. I load for 10 calibers, and the nice thing about the 550 is that it's easy to change calibers very quickly. That being said, if you wanted to just load one or two calibers, and needed higher volume, there's no reason to not try out the hornady press, esp since auto indexing and the case feeder really speed things along. I like my 550, but there are other presses out there, and I'm sure that hornady makes a good one. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

May 15, 2005, 04:56 PM	#31
StrikeEagle Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2004 Posts: 264	Dillon 550B I've been using and enjoying a Dillon 550B for about 25 years. Works great, does all I need. Yes, Dillon service is ledgendary... as good as it gets. I seem to load 1000 rounds a mouth or so... sometimes more. And as odd as it may sound, I wouldn't WANT the machine to go faster. Reloading is kind of a relaxing time for me and something I look forward to. There have been many times that I would poke around looking for SOME cases (ANY cases!) to fill... just for the quiet rhythm of reloading. Have you ever talked to anyone with a 550B who REGRETS having bought it? I don't believe I ever have. best, StrikeEagle

March 25, 2005, 03:08 AM	#26
BigBoreKindaGuy Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 175	I have previously owned RBCS, Lee and Hornady presses and they just don't stack up to the 650 Dillon press I now own. You are correct about "squeeze for money" when changing calibers on the Dillon. But the overall quality of the Dillon design and material used is just plain ahead of the others that the "squeeze" is tolerable for me.

May 14, 2005, 08:13 AM	#27
Oct_97 Member Join Date: June 17, 2004 Posts: 29	Can I use my Dillon Dies with a Hornady LnL, especially the combo Bell/Powder die? Thanks for any input John

May 15, 2005, 07:28 PM	#32
BigBoreKindaGuy Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 175	StrikeEagle said: " I seem to load 1000 rounds a mouth or so... sometimes more." You must have a pretty big mouth there to load 1000 rounds or more..... __________________ BigBoreKindaGuy

May 23, 2005, 05:20 PM	#33
Popeye4 Junior Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 2	I've got a Dillon 650 that is nuclear-grade. I don't have the comparable Hornady metallic cartridge progressive press; however, I've got a Hornady Apex shotshell loader that does the job but isn't as solid or reliable (I know, comparing apples and oranges, but I'm commenting more on the robustness of the design and manufacture). Also, when I've needed parts for the Hornady, they've always promptly shipped them out at MY expense. When I've needed parts for the Dillon, they've always promptly shipped them out at THEIR expense. I use and enjoy the Hornady Apex and don't shoot enough shotgun (right now) to change my habits, but that Dillon SL900 looks pretty darned nice..... ahhhh, so many toys and so little time (and cash)! Doug

May 24, 2005, 02:07 AM	#35
tc300mag1 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 117	I went with a LNL myself didnt get the case feeder and have no complaints i can still load pretty fast without the feeder

May 24, 2005, 12:15 PM	#36
Guy B. Meredith Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 1,574	The early LNL primer feed was awkward and cranky, but I've updated my 6XX serial number press with the new version and it is super slick. Ran 600 rounds Sunday and basked in the pleasure of using the system--until my RCBS decap die pin fell out. Slapped in my Hornady decap die and continued until I ran out of primers. I spend more time examining and cleaning brass than on the press for a given number of rounds. __________________ Smart Gun + 1 Battery + 3 Wires = Dumb Gun PC = Agenda driven groupthink filter on reality. Apostrophes denote ownership or missing letters NOT plurals!

May 31, 2005, 03:02 AM	#37
goalie Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 105	I drank the blue kool-aid after Dillon refurbished my Square Deal for free. I recently traded it in on a 550B, and the .223 ammo it cranks out is quite accurate (using Redding competition dies). I also am impressed with how quickly I can change over to load 9mm (the primer size is the same, so that helps) and how quickly I am able to load the 9mm on it. I find the manual indexing to be no drawback at all, especially loading rifle ammunition. I actually like having to index by hand, and the way I do it results in an extra check on the case that just received powder in it. I get about 250 rounds an hour of 9mm, but I am not exactly in a hurry when I load, and I don't have any automatic primer fillers. The bottom line is that almost any press is able to make you good, quality ammunition. For me, the customer service provided by Dillon won my loyalty.

May 31, 2005, 06:07 AM	#38
StrikeEagle Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2004 Posts: 264	Hi, Goalie I'm really with you on the Dillon 550B. Gooooood stuff. Do you have several powder measures? It's even easier if you do. I've only got one, but have been thinking about getting 1 or 2 more. StrikeEagle