Hornady LocknLoad V/S Dillon 650, opinions? - Page 3

riflemen · November 19, 2014, 09:32 PM

I went through this myself Hornady vs Dillan, I ended up going with Hornady...

They both look like really nice machines, but for me the deciding factor was cost, with Hornady you get 500 free bullets worth about $140, and the press is $999 with a bullet feeder, case feeder, powder cop, 15 bushings, ect...
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/632...plant-110-volt

Also I grabbed the control http://www.midwayusa.com/product/310...ProductFinding

Also I went with a bunch of the inline swag which made it even nicer, so far the press is a joy to work with..

The ultra stand, light kit, round plate, Inlines stuff is amazing quality and Dan is a super nice guy to deal with...

I ended up spending around $2000 for everything, case center, scale, die kits and feeder dies for 45 and 357, microjusts for both dies and for the powder die, case feeder plate, ect..

Phillip II · November 28, 2014, 12:58 AM

I’ve owned a Dillon XL650 since 1996. I still believe it is a better machine than the Hornady LNL. I haven’t used the Hornady, but have inspected it carefully. The basic Dillon 650 is a better thought out machine.

However, that said, I’m also convinced that that is all Dillon has left.

There has been no further innovation from Dillon. To me it seems that Mike Dillon has lost interest in the reloaders and has gone off to develop miniguns or some such. I have a Hornady Rifle Bullet Feeder on its way to me from Midway because Dillon “has no plans of offering a bullet feeder”. I’ve reworked the 650’s spent primer collection system on my own (adapting the upper third of a spent .270 case and some plastic tube) as well as my own rework and improvement of the missed primer collector. Essentially Dillon hasn’t made any changes to these systems since the product’s inception twenty years ago. Likewise, Hornady’s Control Panel, though maybe not yet perfect, represents progress; Dillon’s warning devices are bulky anachronisms.

Dillon’s powder measure I like, but the adjustment system, as it is from the factory, is an unfinished product. I’ve recently added a very nice knurled and graduated adjustment knob from rrpmi on Ebay; it’s such a simple and excellent upgrade to the powder measure, why isn’t Dillon offering these? If you want a Dillon XL650 Product Improved, you’re on your own.

Additionally, I like my guns and ammo in the pure sense, I’m not interested in shtick; I prefer a male technician who knows what the hell he’s talking about explaining things in videos and the like, not some bimbo in a miniskirt showing cleavage, and I don’t need something that, on the cover, looks like pornography showing up in my mailbox on a quarterly basis. And, speaking of the Blue Press, look at one from the 90s and a current issue, very little has changed. Make the same comparison with an RCBS, Hornady, Lee, or Lyman catalog….those company’s line ups have changed completely in 20 years.

Measured by the current standard, Dillon’s web site sucks really hard. And, whereas you can get an answer on the phone and they do process orders quickly, the help on the phone, in my opinion, is condescending, the product overpriced, and the shipping costs work in Dillon’s favor.
$80.00+ (with freight), for a caliber conversion is out of line for what you get.

I wish Hornady would buy Dillon. Hornady seems to me to be the thinkers and innovators in reloading right now, and the Dillon product would once again flourish with people like the Hornady people running things. That’s the thing, Mike Dillon is a brilliant eccentric and the Hornadys are third or fourth generation businessmen in the shooting sports industry. One cares more than the other.

Mavrick79 · November 28, 2014, 09:38 AM

I have a 550B and love the machine with the exception of the powder measure. I know I'm the exception here as most guys seem to like or have no issues with the measure. Mine leaked H110 at the bars that slide in and out, called Dillon and the sent me new ones that were slightly thicker but it still leaked. I even shimmed it so it was tight buy not binding and it still leaked. The other problem I had was H110 would somehow "stick" in the powder funnel and then drop out as I lowered the ram sprinkling powder all over the shell plate.

I ended up using the Hornady case activated linkage with my RCBS powder measure and it works really well now. As far as I'm concerned this is a far better set up and is really easy to move the powder measure from one caliber to another.

I'm not biased to any brand, mine is now red green and blue LOL.

Woolecox · November 30, 2014, 09:07 PM

Quote:

I ended up using the Hornady case activated linkage with my RCBS powder measure and it works really well now. As far as I'm concerned this is a far better set up and is really easy to move the powder measure from one caliber to another.

How did you go about doing this? Does Hornady have a conversion kit?

9MMand223only · November 30, 2014, 09:32 PM

The best machine is the one you buy, in other words, have no regrets, just buy what you like.

I have a Dillon. I think they are both fine. This argument can't be won, its personal preferance.

Mavrick79 · November 30, 2014, 09:54 PM

Woolecox

Its the exact same set up that you would get if your were to buy a Hornady Lock and Load but I'm using the RCBS powder measure which is the exact same as the Hornady. All you do is mount it in the same station the Dillon powder measure goes, on the 550 its the second station.

You can buy all the parts separately.
You need the.
Case activated linkage. You only need one of these, you can leave this attached to the powder measure and move it from one caliber to the next.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/591...ProductFinding

RCBS or Hornady powder measure, take your pick, it doesn't matter. I used the RCBS because thats what I had on hand. Either one is fine.

Case activated die (I have one of these mounted in each dillon die holder so I don't have to readjust each time. Once you get the height of this set for each caliber you don't have to mess with it.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/231...ProductFinding

Quick change linkage, I use one of these for each caliber so I don't have to readjust each time I change calibers. Once you get this set you won't have to adjust your bell unless your case length changes.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/959...ProductFinding

Powder funnel, I use the ptx powder funnel/beller that works with all calibers
http://powderfunnels.com/products.html

Its a little spendy to buy all this but I think its worth it. Once you get it set for each caliber its very easy to switch from one to the next, all you have to adjust is the powder throw.

Woolecox · December 2, 2014, 09:09 AM

Good info Maverik,

Thanks!

Woolly

auditude · December 22, 2014, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavrick79

I have a 550B and... ended up using the Hornady case activated linkage with my RCBS powder measure and it works really well now. As far as I'm concerned this is a far better set up and is really easy to move the powder measure from one caliber to another.

I'm not biased to any brand, mine is now red green and blue LOL.

Can you post a pic of your setup? I'm interested to see that.

(It's strange that I don't see an option to reply to a quoted post. I had to manually quote that passage.)

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November 19, 2014, 09:32 PM	#51
riflemen Junior member Join Date: November 18, 2014 Posts: 259	I went through this myself Hornady vs Dillan, I ended up going with Hornady... They both look like really nice machines, but for me the deciding factor was cost, with Hornady you get 500 free bullets worth about $140, and the press is $999 with a bullet feeder, case feeder, powder cop, 15 bushings, ect... http://www.midwayusa.com/product/632...plant-110-volt Also I grabbed the control http://www.midwayusa.com/product/310...ProductFinding Also I went with a bunch of the inline swag which made it even nicer, so far the press is a joy to work with.. The ultra stand, light kit, round plate, Inlines stuff is amazing quality and Dan is a super nice guy to deal with... I ended up spending around $2000 for everything, case center, scale, die kits and feeder dies for 45 and 357, microjusts for both dies and for the powder die, case feeder plate, ect..

November 28, 2014, 12:58 AM	#52
Phillip II Junior Member Join Date: November 27, 2014 Posts: 1	I’ve owned a Dillon XL650 since 1996. I still believe it is a better machine than the Hornady LNL. I haven’t used the Hornady, but have inspected it carefully. The basic Dillon 650 is a better thought out machine. However, that said, I’m also convinced that that is all Dillon has left. There has been no further innovation from Dillon. To me it seems that Mike Dillon has lost interest in the reloaders and has gone off to develop miniguns or some such. I have a Hornady Rifle Bullet Feeder on its way to me from Midway because Dillon “has no plans of offering a bullet feeder”. I’ve reworked the 650’s spent primer collection system on my own (adapting the upper third of a spent .270 case and some plastic tube) as well as my own rework and improvement of the missed primer collector. Essentially Dillon hasn’t made any changes to these systems since the product’s inception twenty years ago. Likewise, Hornady’s Control Panel, though maybe not yet perfect, represents progress; Dillon’s warning devices are bulky anachronisms. Dillon’s powder measure I like, but the adjustment system, as it is from the factory, is an unfinished product. I’ve recently added a very nice knurled and graduated adjustment knob from rrpmi on Ebay; it’s such a simple and excellent upgrade to the powder measure, why isn’t Dillon offering these? If you want a Dillon XL650 Product Improved, you’re on your own. Additionally, I like my guns and ammo in the pure sense, I’m not interested in shtick; I prefer a male technician who knows what the hell he’s talking about explaining things in videos and the like, not some bimbo in a miniskirt showing cleavage, and I don’t need something that, on the cover, looks like pornography showing up in my mailbox on a quarterly basis. And, speaking of the Blue Press, look at one from the 90s and a current issue, very little has changed. Make the same comparison with an RCBS, Hornady, Lee, or Lyman catalog….those company’s line ups have changed completely in 20 years. Measured by the current standard, Dillon’s web site sucks really hard. And, whereas you can get an answer on the phone and they do process orders quickly, the help on the phone, in my opinion, is condescending, the product overpriced, and the shipping costs work in Dillon’s favor. $80.00+ (with freight), for a caliber conversion is out of line for what you get. I wish Hornady would buy Dillon. Hornady seems to me to be the thinkers and innovators in reloading right now, and the Dillon product would once again flourish with people like the Hornady people running things. That’s the thing, Mike Dillon is a brilliant eccentric and the Hornadys are third or fourth generation businessmen in the shooting sports industry. One cares more than the other.

November 28, 2014, 09:38 AM	#53
Mavrick79 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2013 Posts: 143	I have a 550B and love the machine with the exception of the powder measure. I know I'm the exception here as most guys seem to like or have no issues with the measure. Mine leaked H110 at the bars that slide in and out, called Dillon and the sent me new ones that were slightly thicker but it still leaked. I even shimmed it so it was tight buy not binding and it still leaked. The other problem I had was H110 would somehow "stick" in the powder funnel and then drop out as I lowered the ram sprinkling powder all over the shell plate. I ended up using the Hornady case activated linkage with my RCBS powder measure and it works really well now. As far as I'm concerned this is a far better set up and is really easy to move the powder measure from one caliber to another. I'm not biased to any brand, mine is now red green and blue LOL.

November 30, 2014, 09:32 PM	#55
9MMand223only Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2014 Posts: 283	The best machine is the one you buy, in other words, have no regrets, just buy what you like. I have a Dillon. I think they are both fine. This argument can't be won, its personal preferance.

November 30, 2014, 09:54 PM	#56
Mavrick79 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2013 Posts: 143	Woolecox Its the exact same set up that you would get if your were to buy a Hornady Lock and Load but I'm using the RCBS powder measure which is the exact same as the Hornady. All you do is mount it in the same station the Dillon powder measure goes, on the 550 its the second station. You can buy all the parts separately. You need the. Case activated linkage. You only need one of these, you can leave this attached to the powder measure and move it from one caliber to the next. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/591...ProductFinding RCBS or Hornady powder measure, take your pick, it doesn't matter. I used the RCBS because thats what I had on hand. Either one is fine. Case activated die (I have one of these mounted in each dillon die holder so I don't have to readjust each time. Once you get the height of this set for each caliber you don't have to mess with it. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/231...ProductFinding Quick change linkage, I use one of these for each caliber so I don't have to readjust each time I change calibers. Once you get this set you won't have to adjust your bell unless your case length changes. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/959...ProductFinding Powder funnel, I use the ptx powder funnel/beller that works with all calibers http://powderfunnels.com/products.html Its a little spendy to buy all this but I think its worth it. Once you get it set for each caliber its very easy to switch from one to the next, all you have to adjust is the powder throw.

December 2, 2014, 09:09 AM	#57
Woolecox Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 152	Good info Maverik, Thanks! Woolly