Hornady LnL or Dillon 550???

[Teejo]

Hi all,

I am getting back into reloading after a couple years off. The last time around I used a Lee single stage and Now I want to upgrade. I will be reloading Pistol only 45 ACP and 38/357. I have 2 Lee Die sets, calipers, digital scale. Any feedback out there?

Terry

[rn22723]

One can never ever go wrong with Dillon equipment. Your dies are compatible with the 550B. You would probably want to add a seperate crimp die! And, Lee has the the FCD. The 550 is easily operated as a single stage press till you get the hang of it. Dillon Customer Service is a benchmark in the reloading industry. Dillon along with Redding, Lyman and RCBS are in a league of their own. Hoirnady, from first hand experience, has not been as good or responsive.

[CPTMurdoc30]

The real differance in the two is the 550 is a manual index and the LNL is a auto index. I can crank out 400 rounds an hour with my 550. So in one hour i have two range sessions worth of ammo loaded.

[Teejo]

Most of the feedback I am seeing Is leaning me towards the 550. Having looked at several sites for pricing I am noticing different configurations. If I want to reload 45 and 38, what do I need outside of the press to get going. Some of the sites seem to make it confusing w/ caliber conversions etc. Thanks again for the help guys

Terry

[bakelite]

Dillion...dillion,,,dillion...

[cnjaxx]

The LNL with the 100 bullet offer is hard to beat. But you will not be sorry with the dillon 550. It gets my vote as the greatest progressive press ever contrived.

[4sarge]

I had a Dillon 450B. I was going to upgrade it to the 550B but after analizing the cost, sold it and bought the LNL. For no price difference when you figure the bullets in.
The dillon powder measure sucked.
The LNL is true progressive.
5 die stations vs. 4. The ONLY thing that is hinky on the LNL is the ejector wire.
The bullet offer is for 1000 and not 100 quantity.

I also like the fact that you can remove one die to clean and maintain then pop it right back in position.

My friend bought a LEE progressive at the same time I bought my LNL, and turned around and bought the Hornady powder measure within two weeks.

Anything I've needed from Hornady, they have mailed at no cost and no questions.

But Dillon's customer support was A1+ also. Can't go wrong with the Dillon either, they are just two different approaches to the same result...More Ammo!

[KeithB78]

Get the Dillon, before you buy a LnL do a search on it and know what your getting into besides the free bullet offer

[Waldog]

Read this: http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillon...Comparison.pdf

The Dillon, Hornady LNL and RCBS are ALL good press'. BUT, EACH HAS IT'S QUIRKS.

I have the LNL. It's a great press!

[zxcvbob]

I also like the fact that you can remove one die to clean and maintain then pop it right back in position.

I use that feature most often not for cleaning, but when I'm interrupted. I remove all the cases from the shellplate, dump the powder from the last case (if it has powder) and I have 2 or 3 cases already sized and primed to deal with. I can remove the sizing/depriming die and run them thru, then replace the die and I'm back in business.

[Jim Thompson]

Dillon doesn't have to give away bullets to sell their reloading machines.
Their machines sell themselves through word of mouth. The thing I like about Dillon is
they hold their resell and guys are always looking for used ones on ebay. The 550 and 650 have been
around for a number of years now because they work for life, no questions asked.

[Ozzieman]

Dillon
I am the second owner of a 550 and will add this. Altho a Dillon will work with other makers dies, the dillion dies work better.

[Shoney]

Read this first
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillon...Comparison.pdf

I started reloading in 1960, and have loaded metallic cartridges on various presses made by (alphabetically not by preference): - Dillon, Herters, Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Pacific, RCBS, and Redding.

In the early 90’s, I got a 550 (which I still own). I then became an official member of the "blue buffoon battalion", and then became guilty of spreading “lots of BS” blue bullroar. I was like so many of the blindly brand loyal dishonest people who have never owned or loaded with any other progressive, yet cluelessly advocate a single brand.

When I first saw the Hornady LNL Auto Progressive, my product loyalty was badly shaken. I soon after bought the LNL Auto and have never regretted it.

In comparing the LNL to 550 to 650: the Hornady is the clearly the winner, hands down and at a much lower price. And this doesn't take into aco**** the bullet bonus.

Whether or not the 650 is better than the LNL is debatable , but the innovative quick change system of the LNL and it’s more accurate powder measure, all at a significantly lower price, make it the winner in my book.

Customer service is EQUAL between Hornady and Dillon, and perhaps RCBS is a hair better than Red or Blue.

I used to load all my bolt rifle ammo on a single stage press, and recommend that method to all beginners. Lately, a friend who owns a 650 and I have discovered that the run out on cartridges from the LNL are of high quality, much higher than the 550 or 650. Semiauto rifles such as 223 or 308 and even 30-06 can be done nicely enmass on the LNL progressive.

Ask those recommending the Dillon if they have loaded on any other progressives, before blindly recommending it over others.

Good shooting.

[btefft]

Shoney is correct. When I started a thread in an attempt to see which press I should buy, I read where many "Dillonites" bragged on the blue press, without having any experience with the LnL - what a load of crap.

I was leaniing toward the 550, but after reading the same article I saw earlier in this thread, I knew which one I wanted - the LnL.

So in the future, when I give my opinion on which press to buy, I'm not just gonna type "Hornady". I'm gonna be up-front and say I've never used a Dillion and then I'm just going to tell why I bought the LnL.

Hack

[Teejo]

Well,

Maybe Im more confused now than when I started the post. I knew I was going to get multiple takes on this. Seems like at first I was leaning toward the dillon. The last couple replies seem to go Hornady. Considering the free bullet offer, Is ther a compelling reason NOT to go with the LnL??

Terry

[CPTMurdoc30]

The Hornady is a good high quality press just like the Dillon. I have a dillon after 24 years loading on a RCBS Reloader Special. I pulled my dillon out of the box mounted it and have not looked back I did not have to fiddle with anything other than setting the dies (Which you have to do with any press). The hornady press is big heavy and sturdy as all get out. Me personaly I like the fact that I advance the shells not the press. I have read many of threads where the LNL and the 650 spill powder out of the case because of the automatic motion of the shell holder.

Pick up and buy the thing if you do not like it sell it and get the other. They will both sell for about the same used as they do new.

To me it all really cmes down to which color do you lie better Dillon Blue or Hornady Red.

Of you could just go against all of us and buy a lee progressive.

My dillon powder measure is just as accurate or more accurate than my RCBS Uniflow. I would say to look on ebay and buy one of the plastic knobs for the powder measure.

[Shoney]

CPTMurdoc30
The LNL Auto does not spill powder like my Dillon does. The LNL has a Case Activated Powder Drop System. If there is no case in the shell plate to push up on the powder measure, no powder is dropped.

CPTMurdoc30 wrote
My dillon powder measure is just as accurate or more accurate than my RCBS Uniflow. I would say to look on ebay and buy one of the plastic knobs for the powder measure.

If indeed your dillon old tech slide measure is more accurate, you are either the only one on the planet with this great luck, or your RCBS measure needs to be rebuilt.

MY Dillon measure is consistenly less accurate than the RCBS or the Hornady measure.

[BigJimP]

I've used Hornady, RCBS and Dillon - and I bought the Dillon 650 when I got back into metallic reloading a few years ago. I've been reloading since the 60's as well - and I'm not saying Hornady is a bad machine - but if I thought it was better than the Dillion I would buy it.

I'd buy the Dillon 650 again. No matter what press you buy - I'd recommend you make sure it has a "Powder check" station. It's a deal breaker in my opinion without it - and it gives me a positive way to double check everything I run on the press - and that's a good thing.

Probably the 2 leaders in the industry right now are Hornady and Dillon and I think the actual mechanical / functional differences in the Hornady and Dillon machines are relatively insignificant - but a lot is made of them for some reason by some owners. I think you'll probably be happy with either machine - as long as it has a powder check system. I also like the case feeder as an option on a press - but both Hornday and Dillon have it as well.

[Shane Tuttle]

I will outright say that I haven't ever owned a Dillon. I've tinkered with one that friends had. But, that's it.

I will also admit that I have the LNL. I see it as you'll either buy a Chevy or Ford. If you buy Chevy, the Ford fans will dog you and gloat "Built Ford Tough". If you buy Ford, Chevy fans will dog you and gloat "Like a Rock".

The conclusion? BOTH are fine presses. Each has their own pros and cons. The two things that sold me:
1. Hornady's powder measure. IMO, it's been subjectively proved to be a better product and I love the Case Activated Powder Drop System. If you don't have a case in that particular station---no worries of powder dumping everywhere.
2. Hornady is MUCH cleaner to operate due to the primer drop set up. You hook up the hose from the bottom of the press and place a container underneath. All the spent primers and crud head down into the container. No mess. No fuss...

[45Dave]

I have reloaded with dillion. hornady, Texan, lee, Lyman, RCBS. They all work and right now I am enjoying the 650. In reading some of the blue bashing I am amazed at the main criticisms, of the powder measure. I mainly reload pistol and yep..the dillion will not load stick powder as well as the hornaday but I am a bit confused for the blue bashers..my reloader is case activated, no mess no loose powder so where are you guys getting powder from the measure? What the heck are you doing wrong ?
As for accuracy for measure..Dillion and hornady quite frankly just do not have the horsepower if you are serious and fussy..just spend the bucks and pick up a Harrell measure from Sinclar, stick that on your press and that will take care of all of your measure needs period.

There is another thread in this forum with some great breakdowns of the major presses, strong points and weak points when much comes down to personal preference on one or two points. Either will do in the long run.

[DaveInGA]

This should resolve the issue for you. I owned a 550. I got rid of it. I now own a Lock N Load. I have no plans of getting rid of it, unless my son takes off with it. Need I say more?

Regards,

Dave

[David Wile]

Hey Teejo,

I don't think you can compare the Dillon 550 to the Hornady L&L. One is four station - the other is five station, etc. You really should be comparing the Dillon 650 with the Hornady L&L, and forget about the bonus bullets stuff - that's just icing on the cake if you get the Hornady. If you compare the 650 and the L&L, I think the L&L is a lot less expensive.

I have used both the 650 and the L&L, and I prefer the L&L. I bought my L&L many years ago when they first came on the market, and I have never had any part replaced except for the spring band that holds the shells in place in the shell plate (there was no charge for the spring band). I have had no problems with my L&L that I was not able to solve myself.

One of my buddies bought a Dillon 650 not too long after they came out. He had a heck of a time getting his to work properly and complained about the press. I asked him to show me what his probems were, and one by one, we were able to solve all of them. He simply did not have the patience to "learn" his machine. Once I got him to take his time and think things through, he decided his Dillon was a fantastic machine. I agree with him; it is a super machine. However, I prefer a couple of things about my Hornady.

I prefer the L&L bushing system to the en bloc Dillon system, I also prefer the Hornady powder charging system, and I prefer the Hornady auto primer feed. That does not mean I am claiming they are better, only that I prefer them. They are both great reloaders, but I think the Hornady is a better price, and that you can check for yourself.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[4sarge]

Regarding Hornady's warranty.
I called them Tuesday for a replacement seater plug for the .223 die, it arrived Friday. Last time I got RCBS die parts, it took two weeks. Both companies replaced items for free with no questions asked. But I sure liked the speedy service from Hornady.
BTW: Dillon always promptly sent replacement parts and didn't charge either.

[Master Blaster]

I own the Dillon 550 and have loaded 5 different calibers in excess of 90,000 rounds on it over the last 10 years. Last year I added a Hornady LNL and currently I am using the Dillon for small primer loads, and the Hornady for .45 acp, and .44 mag. In the last year I loaded 7,000 rounds+ on the LNL.

Both presses have their quirks, and I am not thinking of selling either I like having two different calibers set up at the same time. The auto index is not at fast as you would think I can actually load a good bit faster on the Dillon 550 than I can on the Hornady LNL. This is partly practice but the 550 is just more ergonomic, and compact. With the Hornady I have to reach around the press if I use two hands to place the case and bullet.

On the Dillon left hand rotates the shellplate and places the bullet, and the right hand pulls the handle, and places the empty case in station 1.

On the Hornady right hand pulls the lever and places the bullet(reaching around the press support) left hand places the case in station one. Or I use the left hand to place the bullet and the case.

The case feeder probably improves the speed of either press but I dont have one for either.

The slop you refer to in the Dillon shell plates is no problem, when you set the die lock rings you put a case in very station and run the ram up. That references/ indexes the adjustments. There is no movement when the shells are in the dies. Dillons dies are made for progressive reloading, and changing the tool head is quick and easy, and no you dont need more than one powder measure, its easier to change the measure over on the 550 than on the LNL, if you go from a tall case to a short one, like .45 acp to .44 mag on the Hornady LNL, you have to take the measure off and completely readjust it on the through powder die.

The Dillon does in 4 stations what the hornady needs 5 for. I have found the through powder expander on the Hornady doesnt bell the cases enough for lead bullets, its marginal for jacketed, at least in .45 acp. That means a seperate belling die for proper belling on hardcast lead on the LNL.

The dillon powder measure is better for pistol powders and is not sensitive to large flake powder like, unique and trailboss. The Dillon through powder belling funnels are easy to adjust, and do a great job, adjusting the height of the powder die lets you adjust the belling from a tiny bit for jacketed to more for lead. The Dillon powder die is set once and stays on the tool head with the caliber you are loading. The Hornady measure may be good for rifle but its not so good for pistol size charges, and the pistol insert suffers bridging with large flake powders I like to use (unique, Trailboss,) That means you may load a squibb!! Now if you use only finely granulated ball powder for pistol loads the pistol insert will work fine. I called Hornady and suggested that they make a rotor with a hole size in between the pistol and current rifle rotor. I currently use the rifle insert, and the rifle micrometer, it works ok but will only throw an accurate charge provided you use a baffle which Hornady doesnt make, I made my own baffle!! I may buy another dillon measure to use on the hornady press for pistol loads.

Overall the Hornady is a bigger heavier more solid press, but the Dillon 550 is no slouch in that department either.
Both are excellent presses, and you cant go wrong either way. The 650 is a whole nother level of expense and complexity, so you cant really compare it to the LNL as some try to do.

I have never had any problem with the primer tubes, nor have I had a primer detonate. The dillon does have a very heavy primer magazine tube and the primer on both presses is seated well away from the magazine.

I dont use a lock out die, I eye every round before I put the bullet on, good lighting and case filling powders prevent double charges for me.

Decapping and resizing are much cleaner on the Hornady LNL, it keeps the primer seating seperate and clean as well. The Dillon is very dirty in its depriming operation and all of the residue falls into the primer seating station, this means you have to clean it avery 200 rounds or so or the crud causes problems.

BTW based upon cost and features I would advise somone debating these two presses that the Hornady is the better deal, the free bullets make it a much better deal, in fact its darn near free. I would also advise them to get Hornady dies, and a hornady crimping die, and not mess with any other maker's dies, you get free bullets with those also, so its like getting them at half price or better.

I would also recommend that they buy it from Graffs, good service and their shipping is $4.95, not $50 like from some other sellers.

http://www.grafs.com/product/188563

Note my comments are related to loading pistol rounds. I do all of my rifle reloading on a Super rock chucker single stage. For rifle if you want a progressive then the Hornady is going to be a better press by far than the 550 in part because it gives you more leverage to resize rifle brass.


JMHO YMMV

[hemiawd]

I know this is an old thread, but having previously owned a LNL and since disposed of it and now running a 650.

There are many things to love about the LNL, quick die changes. It's great for the casual reloader.

But it has a critical flaw no one has mentioned. The powder system. Sure it is accurate, but it can also bind at times. Now I take responsibility for my stupidity, but I bulged a barrel in a very expensive Les Baer match gun. Why? no power in the case because the powder measure hung up. I had caught it nearly every time it did this, but I finally missed one. My stupidity was not checking the barrel for a stuck bullet and sent a second round down, ruining the barrel.

I had an original LNL and they have made several improvements. But they charge a lot to upgrade. The case feeder was more expensive and add my repair bill to my gun and the 650 was a better deal by far and had a powder check station. That station is virtually unnecessary with the 550 or 650 (I have both).

The critical weakness that poses the real danger is that there is no positive return mechanism on the powder measure. Dillon has a return bar, Lee even has a return chain. Hornady has nothing! Hornady knows about the problem with the pistol metering insert and told me to just sand it down when I originally had the problem. I thought it was reliable, but then it bit me. A return mechanism would solve the problem.

Hornady gave good service, but $80 sub plate replacements to add a $300 case feeder and still needing a priming upgrade, I emailed Hornady to see if they offered an upgrade package for older presses and they don't. I see they have now added a powder through expander system available to free up a position for the lockout die, so they know this problem exists but I'm sure from a product liability standpoint it is not something they want to acknowledge.

So fully decked out and upgraded to be the equal (less positive powder return) of a 650 I would have had more invested than it cost me for a new 650. So I cut my losses and sold the press. All I can say is install that powder check, I thought I saw powder in every case, but an audible mechanism like the 650 is spot on and you can run volume with confidence.