Upgrading to a Dillon 550 or Hornady LNL?

bluetopper · September 18, 2010, 12:32 PM

I'm going to upgrade from my Lee turret press to a Dillon 550 or a Hornady Lock N Load. Which would you guys recommend?

AND also, I have a wide assortment of Lee dies. Will my Lee dies work in each one of these?

Thanks.............

BODAME · September 18, 2010, 01:12 PM

Buy Dillon
I went the LNL route in the beginning when I did not know better
Been using a Dillon 650 for over 3 years
My Opinion

Real Gun · September 18, 2010, 02:01 PM

Comparing features and what you would realistically need to invest, I would get the Hornady. What I can't get past is, when I bring up the subject with established reloaders, I get this flood of blue kool-aid. I have to think there is something to it, despite a healthy dose of skepticism on my part.

The 550B is out, because I want more automation. I would miss the relatively easy changeovers compared to other Dillons. I want auto index, which the Hornady provides, and then I want the cheapest way to get by without a case feeder. That would be awkward on the XL650, which auto-indexes but is pretty much designed to include a case feeder. The Hornady allows placing cases and bullets with one hand, gracefully allowing a case feeder to be added later, so that would be my pick to stay closer to $500 rather than $1000 in one gulp.

If I had the budget for press and case feeder, the call between XL650 and Hornady LnL AP would be much closer. I think ease of caliber changes might go to the Hornady, but Dillon guys on one hand say it isn't a big deal and on the other mention having multiple machines, each dedicated to a caliber. Few like messing with a setup that is running perfectly, it seems.

I don't read about whining from 650 owners but do catch the occasional complaint from Hornady people.

To tell you the truth, I like red better than some odd shade of bright blue.

I would be tempted to strip Dillon stuff and send it out for refinishing. RCBS green is especialy nice, but they have grand ideas about what their equipment is worth. It is not competitively priced so is rarely mentioned or even analyzed particularly.

dawico · September 18, 2010, 03:03 PM

My Hornady LnL AP has required a fair bit of tinkering/ modification to keep it operating properly. Most of the issues are clearance related, being that everything is made very tight. That is a good thing until a shaved piece of brass or a grain of powder gets into the works, especially the priming area. I have read of others with similiar issues, and almost never hear of Dillon owners complaining of this. My model is about four years old, so the newer ones may not have the same issues.

Lee dies work fine in it though.

Lost Sheep · September 18, 2010, 03:13 PM

Not Enough Information

What cartridges and quantities do you load (both annually and per session)

These are important elements in the decision-making process.

Lost Sheep

floydster · September 18, 2010, 08:09 PM

I have a new LNL EZject and what a nitemare the priming system has been,it is impossible to make a run without a stoppage of some kind do to do primer slider or any other part of the primng system, I have explored all the avenues thru Hornady without a fix, hench, I prime off the press.
I do like the die changing system, so I use this press for mostly decapping and resizing and do load pre-primed brass on the press.
I will say my Lee Cast turret is far more user friendly, put a turret on the press with the dies, select the disc you want for the powder charge and away you go.
In my mind, get a Dillon.

Waldog · September 19, 2010, 12:11 AM

Floydster,

The primer shroud tube on your LNL should not be tight. Loosen the tube about 1/4 to 1/2 turn. This provides a little "play" in the system and may help your problem.

I have loaded on a Dillon SDB, 550, 650, 1050 AND the Hornady LNL. The LNL is most comparable to the 650. I own a LNL and wouldn't have any other. The reasons are these:
-LNL powder measure is superior
-LNL has smoother auto-indexing than the 650; 1/2 index while ram going up and 1/2 index while ram going down.
-Quicker and cheaper caliper changes.
-LNL is fed from the left side of the press, both bullets and cases. This allows me to maintain my right hand on the operating handle while feeding BOTH a case and bullet with my left hand. It's very natural to me. Others hate this feature. Dillon requires BOTH hands to feed bullets and cases. One hand feeds a case, the other hand feeds the bullet then back to the other hand to activate the ram.(Note: This is for presses WITHOUT a case feeder)

These are just my opinions based on my experience with both.

It's important to emphasize that BOTH COMPANIES OFFER AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT with outstanding customer support.

Randy 1911 · September 19, 2010, 05:40 AM

I have a Hornady LnL and love it. It needed a adjustment on the priming cam rod and now it worksw perfect. The advantage to the LnL over the 550 is cheaper to change calibers, 5 stations instead of 4, auto indexing. Hornady has great customer service. Oh yeah, It is cheaper to buy.

dlb435 · September 19, 2010, 08:08 AM

I have the Dillon 550B. It's simple, well made and reliable. Dillon backs the product 100%. Caliber changes are faily easy but can get a bit pricey.
I also have a RCBS progressive. Also well made and backed 100% by RCBS. The primer and powder systems are not as good as the Dillon. (I use a Dillon powder system on the RCBS) The RCBS compares with the Dillon 650 as it is auto index.
I looked at the Hornady LNL and was not impressed.

bbqncigars · September 19, 2010, 11:29 AM

I switched from a 550B to the LNL. Better powder measure, shell holder design and spent primer system on the Hornady. The Dillon was ditched when it mangled one too many short bottlenecked cases (.30 Mauser and 25-20WCF). There are some fixes for the slop in the Dillon, but the LNL was good to go out of the box. The 500 free bullets didn't hurt either.

newrugersafan · September 19, 2010, 01:32 PM

I had the same questions as you. I had never used either press so I made my decision based on features versus price and went with the Hornady. I have not been disappointed. I did have some trouble with the primer system early on but that was easy to fix with a little file work and making sure the shuttle area is clean. The powder measure works great, easy to change calibers, 5 stations and auto index .....the price and free bullets made the decision a little easier.

I load from 380 to 44 mag in pistol on mine I sometimes load 204 Ruger and have tried 270 WSM it does OK on the larger rifle case but I thought sizeing the 270 was hard on the press ( just my opinion, no facts ) so I size and load large rifle on my Redding turret. The small rifle works great on the Hornady press.

The large extruded powders do not do well in the powder measure. Ball and flake powders work great and small extruded powders meter very accurately.
When using IMR 4831 (large extruded) I under charge and trickle to the proper weight. H322 (small extruded) meters very well.

I have only used the warranty one time and that was a die issue not press. I had a problem with a 45 acp sizeing die and Hornady sent me a new one so no complaints here.

Mike

CPTMurdoc30 · September 19, 2010, 02:26 PM

I have a 550B and love it.

That being said If the Name DILLON is on you can bet it cost twice as much. I like the die coupler on the hornady as it is relatively cheap and easy and offers slightly less play than the dillon tool head design. This lets you keep your dies in the orginal boxes vs having to have an odd sized shelf for all yoru tool head plus the tool head stands.

My dillon has be as flawless as my singles stage RCBS press. Not a single hiccup that wasn't caused by a loose nut yankin the lever.

**Shane Tuttle** · September 19, 2010, 06:40 PM

If you want a true autoloader, top of the line powder measure, no mess depriming, much quicker die changes (we're talking seconds), 5 die stations (not 4), and an overall cheaper price, then the Hornady is what I'd choose.

Both have good customer service. I don't care what each Kool-Aid drinker says. Both have had setup/tweaking issues in one form or another. It's just part of the process if having machines like this in the hands of the average person. It isn't an epidemic and it doesn't make either machine a poor choice. Both of them are quality products and if you choose one or the other, you're not likely going to be disappointed.

gregjc9 · September 20, 2010, 08:43 AM

I too have a Lee Turret press, and went throught the same thought process because I wanted to step up to a progressive. For many of the reasons already stated, plus not breaking the bank, I decided I wanted the Hornady LNL. Plus since I was familar with the LEE dies and setup, they would work with the LNL. I recently picked one up off of fleabay, so I'm anxiously waiting for it to arrive.

Patchman · September 20, 2010, 04:45 PM

I've got the Hornady. It does require a little tinkering at first but once you get the hang of it it is a great piece of equipment.

The primer system can be a little picky if you spill some powder. I keep a can of compressed air handy and that seems to do the trick.

I've never tried a Dillon (would like to). The major downfall for me was the cost of a caliber change. I don't think you would go wrong with either machine. If budget is a concern I would go with the Hornady. After using the Hornady for almost a year I probably wouldn't go with anything else now. I'm just trying to decide if I should get the case feeder.

hammer062000 · September 20, 2010, 05:32 PM

My thoughts exactly patchman

BigJimP · September 20, 2010, 06:21 PM

You should compare the Dillon 650 to the Hornady LNL ....they're more even in terms of features....

The 550 is manually indexed / and will not allow for a "powder check" die...

650 vs LNL ...to me, its the 650 / but there isn't a huge difference. I do like the Powder Check Die / it gives me a lot of extra security - making sure the powder drops are right on ... The 650 and LNL are both solid machines / but I think Dillon's customer service gets the edge / for advice during setup, or any issues that pop up ...

LOUD · September 20, 2010, 08:28 PM

Hey Guys I'll Have to agree 100% with Patchman, I have the Hornady LnL and am very pleased and think you will be too . Just remember Clean cannot be stessed enough , I dont know about the Dillon, but if you spill powder you need to blow it off or take the shellpate off and clean it out or be prepared to have primer slide problems. keep it clean and she makes bullets incredibly fast and smooth. As for caliber changes , once you get your dies just perfect you can change back and forth between calibers in seconds and be right back where you were via the LnL die bushings. A great machine for the money and great customer support . Ive made a few mistakes with it, but it was always that guy pullin the handles fault. In all I highly recommend the Hornady!!

WESHOOT2 · September 21, 2010, 07:39 AM

While I do not own the L-N-L, I have 'assisted' folks who do.

I own and recommend numerous Hornady products, but when this 'issue' comes up I still recommend the Dillon XL650.
Without exception.

Shoney · September 21, 2010, 08:06 AM

I have both the LNL AP and a 550. I remember 10 years ago, when I got the LNL, and would recommend it in this and other forums. Back then recommending the LNL was speaking heresy, and it called forth the faithful to rain the blue jihad on the infidel red menace.

This thread is very mellow, but things were downright fugly back then. However, I persisted and managed to escape with my manhood intact.

Get the LNL AP!

SwampYankee · September 21, 2010, 09:04 AM

I've had a LNL for about a year now and while I am very happy with the price point and the machine in general, it did have some problems from the beginning that should have been taken care of at the factory.

Firstly, the primer guide wire was bent to the wrong contour. The primer feed didn't work at all until I figured this out and rebent the wire. Since I was new to the machine, it took about a month for me to troubleshoot. Then I had a shell plate that was defective. This was also frustrating. Finally, the primer feed tube is positioned wrong. It literally contacts the frame of the press- whoever drilled the hole for the primer feed mount was off by about 1/8". This does not impair function but just smacks of poor quality control; there is no paint left at the contact point and eventually I assume the primer tube will wear through. I have also noted that it has problems with my RCBS .45 colt dies, it just barely crimps no matter how far I screw the die down. I shouldn't really expect it work with every brand of die but it can be a pain to have to buy a replacement from another manufacturer when I already have one.

As I said, I'm now pretty happy but the first couple months were a little rocky. But what can you expect for $388 shipped? It functions, it's fast and the ammo is pretty consistent. Oh, but I am still waiting for my bullets...

GWS · September 21, 2010, 05:28 PM

Real Gun Said,

Quote:

Comparing features and what you would realistically need to invest, I would get the Hornady. What I can't get past is, when I bring up the subject with established reloaders, I get this flood of blue kool-aid. I have to think there is something to it, despite a healthy dose of skepticism on my part.

You get the flood of "blue kool-aid" because more people buy Dillon than any other press. Those numbers make them loud and brave. They usually out-shout everybody else. The hype is loud, but it is mostly hype. If you need the Dillon 650 or 1050 feature sets, get one, nothing wrong with that, but Hornady is really a better fit for some reloaders, and the RCBS Pro 2000 is a better fit for other reloaders. Buying a press based on forum hype (Blue Koolaid) or (LnL) or (APS) and not personal research, just isn't that smart in my opinion. The point is, my Pro 2000 fits my reloading needs better than any other press available. That doesn't mean it fits another reloader's needs as well as another press..

The 550B is out, because I want more automation. I would miss the relatively easy changeovers compared to other Dillons. I want auto index, which the Hornady provides, and then I want the cheapest way to get by without a case feeder. That would be awkward on the XL650, which auto-indexes but is pretty much designed to include a case feeder. The Hornady allows placing cases and bullets with one hand, gracefully allowing a case feeder to be added later, so that would be my pick to stay closer to $500 rather than $1000 in one gulp.

If I had the budget for press and case feeder, the call between XL650 and Hornady LnL AP would be much closer. I think ease of caliber changes might go to the Hornady, but Dillon guys on one hand say it isn't a big deal and on the other mention having multiple machines, each dedicated to a caliber. Few like messing with a setup that is running perfectly, it seems.
Changing calibers on a 650 isn't a big deal if you got 15 or 20 minutes to kill. That's why the moneybags prefer to just get another press. Hornady changes are easier, RCBS changes from .45ACP to .223 in 3 minutes easily. IMO Dillon 650's excel for IPSC and IPDA shooters who load legion amounts of ammo in one caliber. That's what they were designed for. If you want to load 4 pistols and 6 rifle calibers and you can't afford 10 presses and powder measures, then Hornady and RCBS fit better.

I don't read about whining from 650 owners but do catch the occasional complaint from Hornady people.
Such whining is about the same for any press, and mostly reflects the learning curve. The only exception is the bad bushings Hornady had in their supply earlier this year, and they have to tweak their case feeder for .40 cal. Both RCBS and Dillon need softer detent springs in their autoindexing systems to prevent powder from jumping out of small short pistol cases....RCBS supplies it on request, and it works great.

To tell you the truth, I like red better than some odd shade of bright blue. I would be tempted to strip Dillon stuff and send it out for refinishing. RCBS green is especialy nice, but they have grand ideas about what their equipment is worth. It is not competitively priced so is rarely mentioned or even analyzed particularly.

As for pricing, its hard to beat Hornady pricing and free bullets. That said, it wasn't worth it to me, because the RCBS fit better. Kind of like picking shoes. You don't pick a pair based on price if they don't feel good. I prefer heads full of dies to change over LnL'ing each die. What can I say...personal preference....and I LOVE the APS primer system.

RCBS pricing is cheaper than the Dillon 650, especially when, to get the same convenience, you have to buy powder measures for every head you buy. All the brands nickel and dime you to death. Dillon wins that one, hands down.

WESHOOT2 · September 22, 2010, 08:21 AM

I have numerous full toolheads for my XL650, so changes --even from small primer to large primer-- take under five minutes.
If the primers are the same, swaps take under three minutes.

It takes me longer to write in my data log.......

GWS · September 22, 2010, 10:07 AM

Really! What do you do different than the guys on the YouTube videos. And you have a powder measure all set up for each one right?

BigJimP · September 22, 2010, 12:06 PM

Everybody has their own way of doing things. For metallic - I use a Dillon 650 with a case-feeder ( and while I have friends with Hornady, RCBS, etc presses ) I'd buy the Dillon 650 again. None of the companies are making bad equipment / it just comes down to the one you like the best.

I load 6 handgun calibers ( 9mm, .40., .45acp, .38spl, .357 mag and .44 mag ) and I have tool heads on a shelf - set up with dies, powder measure installed and a powder check die installed for each caliber ready to go. So changing from one caliber to another isn't more than a few minutes if I want to...

But in reality - I reload in case lots for bullets ( so 3,750 bullets in a case for 9mm (124gr) - 2,000 in a case for .45 acp (230gr) etc ) ... so I run that 2,000 - 4,000 rounds thru the press - then box them up and store them for use. At that point, I break down the press - check and clean everything ( pull the primer feed apart, case feeder, etc ) - and lube everything - and get it ready for the next caliber. I probably spend an hour - cleaning, inspecting, lubing ( just putzing around ) with the press between caliber changes...

So I stack up the 40 - 75 boxes of completed ammo ...and set up that caliber again when I'm down to about 8 boxes per caliber. Setting up a new caliber only takes a few minutes ....but I still go thru all the checks for case belling, bullet seating and powder drops ....and with any press that can take you at least 30 min.

It isn't about the speed you can change calibers with / its about the quality and safety of your reloads. Noone I know, that shoots a lot, loads 300 rounds and quits / changes calibers -- loads 300 rounds and quits / and goes to a 3rd caliber. I go to my local range 2 - maybe 3 times a week - and I was there yesterday ... I shot 300 rounds of 9mm and 100 rds of .357 mag....( working on my draw from a holster and 1 or 2 shots on target under 3 sec ) ....

My inventory on completed rounds per caliber right now:
138 boxes of 9mm ( what I loaded last )-and I shoot it a lot...
16 boxes of .40 S&W ...don't shoot it too much
12 boxes of .45 acp (and my press is setup on .45 acp right now)

16 boxes of .44 mag ...don't shoot it too much
24 boxes of .357 mag ( this will be my next run probably )
14 boxes of .38 spl ...keep a few around for the kids mostly ...

September 18, 2010, 12:32 PM	#1
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,214	Upgrading to a Dillon 550 or Hornady LNL? I'm going to upgrade from my Lee turret press to a Dillon 550 or a Hornady Lock N Load. Which would you guys recommend? AND also, I have a wide assortment of Lee dies. Will my Lee dies work in each one of these? Thanks.............

September 18, 2010, 01:12 PM	#2
BODAME Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: The Dodge House, NC Posts: 183	Reloaders Buy Dillon I went the LNL route in the beginning when I did not know better Been using a Dillon 650 for over 3 years My Opinion

September 18, 2010, 03:13 PM	#5
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	N.E.I.! Not Enough Information What cartridges and quantities do you load (both annually and per session) These are important elements in the decision-making process. Lost Sheep

September 19, 2010, 12:11 AM	#7
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Floydster, The primer shroud tube on your LNL should not be tight. Loosen the tube about 1/4 to 1/2 turn. This provides a little "play" in the system and may help your problem. I have loaded on a Dillon SDB, 550, 650, 1050 AND the Hornady LNL. The LNL is most comparable to the 650. I own a LNL and wouldn't have any other. The reasons are these: -LNL powder measure is superior -LNL has smoother auto-indexing than the 650; 1/2 index while ram going up and 1/2 index while ram going down. -Quicker and cheaper caliper changes. -LNL is fed from the left side of the press, both bullets and cases. This allows me to maintain my right hand on the operating handle while feeding BOTH a case and bullet with my left hand. It's very natural to me. Others hate this feature. Dillon requires BOTH hands to feed bullets and cases. One hand feeds a case, the other hand feeds the bullet then back to the other hand to activate the ram.(Note: This is for presses WITHOUT a case feeder) These are just my opinions based on my experience with both. It's important to emphasize that BOTH COMPANIES OFFER AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT with outstanding customer support. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

September 19, 2010, 11:29 AM	#10
bbqncigars Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 526	I switched from a 550B to the LNL. Better powder measure, shell holder design and spent primer system on the Hornady. The Dillon was ditched when it mangled one too many short bottlenecked cases (.30 Mauser and 25-20WCF). There are some fixes for the slop in the Dillon, but the LNL was good to go out of the box. The 500 free bullets didn't hurt either. __________________ "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant

September 18, 2010, 02:01 PM	#3
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	Comparing features and what you would realistically need to invest, I would get the Hornady. What I can't get past is, when I bring up the subject with established reloaders, I get this flood of blue kool-aid. I have to think there is something to it, despite a healthy dose of skepticism on my part. The 550B is out, because I want more automation. I would miss the relatively easy changeovers compared to other Dillons. I want auto index, which the Hornady provides, and then I want the cheapest way to get by without a case feeder. That would be awkward on the XL650, which auto-indexes but is pretty much designed to include a case feeder. The Hornady allows placing cases and bullets with one hand, gracefully allowing a case feeder to be added later, so that would be my pick to stay closer to $500 rather than $1000 in one gulp. If I had the budget for press and case feeder, the call between XL650 and Hornady LnL AP would be much closer. I think ease of caliber changes might go to the Hornady, but Dillon guys on one hand say it isn't a big deal and on the other mention having multiple machines, each dedicated to a caliber. Few like messing with a setup that is running perfectly, it seems. I don't read about whining from 650 owners but do catch the occasional complaint from Hornady people. To tell you the truth, I like red better than some odd shade of bright blue. I would be tempted to strip Dillon stuff and send it out for refinishing. RCBS green is especialy nice, but they have grand ideas about what their equipment is worth. It is not competitively priced so is rarely mentioned or even analyzed particularly.

September 18, 2010, 03:03 PM	#4
dawico Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2009 Location: Lampasas, TX Posts: 326	My Hornady LnL AP has required a fair bit of tinkering/ modification to keep it operating properly. Most of the issues are clearance related, being that everything is made very tight. That is a good thing until a shaved piece of brass or a grain of powder gets into the works, especially the priming area. I have read of others with similiar issues, and almost never hear of Dillon owners complaining of this. My model is about four years old, so the newer ones may not have the same issues. Lee dies work fine in it though.

September 18, 2010, 08:09 PM	#6
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	I have a new LNL EZject and what a nitemare the priming system has been,it is impossible to make a run without a stoppage of some kind do to do primer slider or any other part of the primng system, I have explored all the avenues thru Hornady without a fix, hench, I prime off the press. I do like the die changing system, so I use this press for mostly decapping and resizing and do load pre-primed brass on the press. I will say my Lee Cast turret is far more user friendly, put a turret on the press with the dies, select the disc you want for the powder charge and away you go. In my mind, get a Dillon.

September 19, 2010, 05:40 AM	#8
Randy 1911 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Location: Western Arkansas Posts: 273	I have a Hornady LnL and love it. It needed a adjustment on the priming cam rod and now it worksw perfect. The advantage to the LnL over the 550 is cheaper to change calibers, 5 stations instead of 4, auto indexing. Hornady has great customer service. Oh yeah, It is cheaper to buy.

September 19, 2010, 08:08 AM	#9
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	I have the Dillon 550B. It's simple, well made and reliable. Dillon backs the product 100%. Caliber changes are faily easy but can get a bit pricey. I also have a RCBS progressive. Also well made and backed 100% by RCBS. The primer and powder systems are not as good as the Dillon. (I use a Dillon powder system on the RCBS) The RCBS compares with the Dillon 650 as it is auto index. I looked at the Hornady LNL and was not impressed.

September 19, 2010, 01:32 PM	#11
newrugersafan Member Join Date: February 1, 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 47	I had the same questions as you. I had never used either press so I made my decision based on features versus price and went with the Hornady. I have not been disappointed. I did have some trouble with the primer system early on but that was easy to fix with a little file work and making sure the shuttle area is clean. The powder measure works great, easy to change calibers, 5 stations and auto index .....the price and free bullets made the decision a little easier. I load from 380 to 44 mag in pistol on mine I sometimes load 204 Ruger and have tried 270 WSM it does OK on the larger rifle case but I thought sizeing the 270 was hard on the press ( just my opinion, no facts ) so I size and load large rifle on my Redding turret. The small rifle works great on the Hornady press. The large extruded powders do not do well in the powder measure. Ball and flake powders work great and small extruded powders meter very accurately. When using IMR 4831 (large extruded) I under charge and trickle to the proper weight. H322 (small extruded) meters very well. I have only used the warranty one time and that was a die issue not press. I had a problem with a 45 acp sizeing die and Hornady sent me a new one so no complaints here. Mike Last edited by newrugersafan; September 19, 2010 at 01:37 PM.

September 19, 2010, 02:26 PM	#12
CPTMurdoc30 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 969	I have a 550B and love it. That being said If the Name DILLON is on you can bet it cost twice as much. I like the die coupler on the hornady as it is relatively cheap and easy and offers slightly less play than the dillon tool head design. This lets you keep your dies in the orginal boxes vs having to have an odd sized shelf for all yoru tool head plus the tool head stands. My dillon has be as flawless as my singles stage RCBS press. Not a single hiccup that wasn't caused by a loose nut yankin the lever.

September 19, 2010, 06:40 PM	#13
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 9,455	If you want a true autoloader, top of the line powder measure, no mess depriming, much quicker die changes (we're talking seconds), 5 die stations (not 4), and an overall cheaper price, then the Hornady is what I'd choose. Both have good customer service. I don't care what each Kool-Aid drinker says. Both have had setup/tweaking issues in one form or another. It's just part of the process if having machines like this in the hands of the average person. It isn't an epidemic and it doesn't make either machine a poor choice. Both of them are quality products and if you choose one or the other, you're not likely going to be disappointed. __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

September 20, 2010, 08:43 AM	#14
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	I too have a Lee Turret press, and went throught the same thought process because I wanted to step up to a progressive. For many of the reasons already stated, plus not breaking the bank, I decided I wanted the Hornady LNL. Plus since I was familar with the LEE dies and setup, they would work with the LNL. I recently picked one up off of fleabay, so I'm anxiously waiting for it to arrive. Last edited by gregjc9; September 20, 2010 at 08:51 AM.

September 20, 2010, 04:45 PM	#15
Patchman Member Join Date: March 28, 2010 Location: Galax, VA Posts: 73	I've got the Hornady. It does require a little tinkering at first but once you get the hang of it it is a great piece of equipment. The primer system can be a little picky if you spill some powder. I keep a can of compressed air handy and that seems to do the trick. I've never tried a Dillon (would like to). The major downfall for me was the cost of a caliber change. I don't think you would go wrong with either machine. If budget is a concern I would go with the Hornady. After using the Hornady for almost a year I probably wouldn't go with anything else now. I'm just trying to decide if I should get the case feeder.

September 20, 2010, 05:32 PM	#16
hammer062000 Junior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Posts: 8	My thoughts exactly patchman

September 20, 2010, 06:21 PM	#17
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	You should compare the Dillon 650 to the Hornady LNL ....they're more even in terms of features.... The 550 is manually indexed / and will not allow for a "powder check" die... 650 vs LNL ...to me, its the 650 / but there isn't a huge difference. I do like the Powder Check Die / it gives me a lot of extra security - making sure the powder drops are right on ... The 650 and LNL are both solid machines / but I think Dillon's customer service gets the edge / for advice during setup, or any issues that pop up ...

September 20, 2010, 08:28 PM	#18
LOUD Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 236	Hey Guys I'll Have to agree 100% with Patchman, I have the Hornady LnL and am very pleased and think you will be too . Just remember Clean cannot be stessed enough , I dont know about the Dillon, but if you spill powder you need to blow it off or take the shellpate off and clean it out or be prepared to have primer slide problems. keep it clean and she makes bullets incredibly fast and smooth. As for caliber changes , once you get your dies just perfect you can change back and forth between calibers in seconds and be right back where you were via the LnL die bushings. A great machine for the money and great customer support . Ive made a few mistakes with it, but it was always that guy pullin the handles fault. In all I highly recommend the Hornady!!

September 21, 2010, 07:39 AM	#19
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	While I do not own the L-N-L, I have 'assisted' folks who do. I own and recommend numerous Hornady products, but when this 'issue' comes up I still recommend the Dillon XL650. Without exception.

September 21, 2010, 08:06 AM	#20
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	I have both the LNL AP and a 550. I remember 10 years ago, when I got the LNL, and would recommend it in this and other forums. Back then recommending the LNL was speaking heresy, and it called forth the faithful to rain the blue jihad on the infidel red menace. This thread is very mellow, but things were downright fugly back then. However, I persisted and managed to escape with my manhood intact. Get the LNL AP!

September 21, 2010, 09:04 AM	#21
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,332	I've had a LNL for about a year now and while I am very happy with the price point and the machine in general, it did have some problems from the beginning that should have been taken care of at the factory. Firstly, the primer guide wire was bent to the wrong contour. The primer feed didn't work at all until I figured this out and rebent the wire. Since I was new to the machine, it took about a month for me to troubleshoot. Then I had a shell plate that was defective. This was also frustrating. Finally, the primer feed tube is positioned wrong. It literally contacts the frame of the press- whoever drilled the hole for the primer feed mount was off by about 1/8". This does not impair function but just smacks of poor quality control; there is no paint left at the contact point and eventually I assume the primer tube will wear through. I have also noted that it has problems with my RCBS .45 colt dies, it just barely crimps no matter how far I screw the die down. I shouldn't really expect it work with every brand of die but it can be a pain to have to buy a replacement from another manufacturer when I already have one. As I said, I'm now pretty happy but the first couple months were a little rocky. But what can you expect for $388 shipped? It functions, it's fast and the ammo is pretty consistent. Oh, but I am still waiting for my bullets...

September 22, 2010, 08:21 AM	#23
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	on mine I have numerous full toolheads for my XL650, so changes --even from small primer to large primer-- take under five minutes. If the primers are the same, swaps take under three minutes. It takes me longer to write in my data log.......

September 22, 2010, 10:07 AM	#24
GWS Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 688	Really! What do you do different than the guys on the YouTube videos. And you have a powder measure all set up for each one right?

September 22, 2010, 12:06 PM	#25
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Everybody has their own way of doing things. For metallic - I use a Dillon 650 with a case-feeder ( and while I have friends with Hornady, RCBS, etc presses ) I'd buy the Dillon 650 again. None of the companies are making bad equipment / it just comes down to the one you like the best. I load 6 handgun calibers ( 9mm, .40., .45acp, .38spl, .357 mag and .44 mag ) and I have tool heads on a shelf - set up with dies, powder measure installed and a powder check die installed for each caliber ready to go. So changing from one caliber to another isn't more than a few minutes if I want to... But in reality - I reload in case lots for bullets ( so 3,750 bullets in a case for 9mm (124gr) - 2,000 in a case for .45 acp (230gr) etc ) ... so I run that 2,000 - 4,000 rounds thru the press - then box them up and store them for use. At that point, I break down the press - check and clean everything ( pull the primer feed apart, case feeder, etc ) - and lube everything - and get it ready for the next caliber. I probably spend an hour - cleaning, inspecting, lubing ( just putzing around ) with the press between caliber changes... So I stack up the 40 - 75 boxes of completed ammo ...and set up that caliber again when I'm down to about 8 boxes per caliber. Setting up a new caliber only takes a few minutes ....but I still go thru all the checks for case belling, bullet seating and powder drops ....and with any press that can take you at least 30 min. It isn't about the speed you can change calibers with / its about the quality and safety of your reloads. Noone I know, that shoots a lot, loads 300 rounds and quits / changes calibers -- loads 300 rounds and quits / and goes to a 3rd caliber. I go to my local range 2 - maybe 3 times a week - and I was there yesterday ... I shot 300 rounds of 9mm and 100 rds of .357 mag....( working on my draw from a holster and 1 or 2 shots on target under 3 sec ) .... My inventory on completed rounds per caliber right now: 138 boxes of 9mm ( what I loaded last )-and I shoot it a lot... 16 boxes of .40 S&W ...don't shoot it too much 12 boxes of .45 acp (and my press is setup on .45 acp right now) 16 boxes of .44 mag ...don't shoot it too much 24 boxes of .357 mag ( this will be my next run probably ) 14 boxes of .38 spl ...keep a few around for the kids mostly ...