Press Wars! Lee Loadmaster - Dillon RL 550B - etc.
I'm about to pull the trigger on a reloading solution. I am on the Lee Loadmaster side of the fence right now. I'm looking to reload .45 colt,.40,.45, 9mm, 30-06, .243, and maybe some others eventually. Number one issue is that I am a cheap ass (that's why I am going to reload, not to mention a hobby besides drinking beer or better accuracy). What does everyone think is the best solution for me? a Dillon, Lee, Hornady, Etc... has to be progressive and do both rifle and handgun rounds. What are the pros and cons from people that have used either press? I've been searching for some time now and I can't find anything wrong with Lee or Dillon. Some people say that the Prime function of the Lee Loadmaster doesn't work properly and you have to do them one at a time to make sure it works correctly and doesn't seat primers sideways? It seems like I could get all the bells and whistles to load handgun rounds without even touching the press besides to pull the lever for less than the base price for just a dillon press. who knows what?
0
-
"a Dillon,'........says it all, I've used both. while lee dies are ok dillons still work the best and have the lowest s.w. ratio (s.w.= swear word) 0 -
I know with a large degree of certainty that if you are not an experienced reloader you SHOULD NOT purchase a progressive press until you have loaded many rounds on a single stage press.
Then; if your skill level meets the suggestion, I would forget LEE and go with a Dillon 550B.
I've loaded 100's of thousands of rounds on a Dillon 1000 press. Dillon is engineered right. There is nothing wrong with Lee equipment, but the Dillon is simply a much better made machine and will hold up to the rigours of loading rifle ammo a lot better.0 -
DILLON hands down better product and the best customer support BAR NONE. 0 -
Dillon hands down. If you ever get ready to sell it dillon will hold it's value better 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bpost1958
I know with a large degree of certainty that if you are not an experienced reloader you SHOULD NOT purchase a progressive press until you have loaded many rounds on a single stage press.
Then; if your skill level meets the suggestion, I would forget LEE and go with a Dillon 550B.
I've loaded 100's of thousands of rounds on a Dillon 1000 press. Dillon is engineered right. There is nothing wrong with Lee equipment, but the Dillon is simply a much better made machine and will hold up to the rigours of loading rifle ammo a lot better.
+1 Learn on a single stage first!!!!! Real bad things can happen if you start out with a progressive0 -
Get yourself a Dillon and don't even look back.
You can start with a progressive Dillon much easier than you could with a Lee; the steps are the same as a single stage, and you can even go one round at a time if you want.
Dillon's primer tubes are the ONLY P.I.T.A. you'll encounter. They feed perfectly, load a little slowly, are really safe inside the tube, and you'd really have to TRY to get one in there sideways.
Just pay attention while you reload, and you should be good.0 -
Dillon all the way [;)] Spend a little extra and get the best. The Lee I had cost me two 1911 barrels because of their POS powder measure not dropping the load [xx(][V][:(!] 0 -
I accept your advice, but what is the reasoning as to why I should not start with a progressive loader?
With all of the videos and information online I feel like i have already been using one for years now ha [:p]0 -
Hello a progressive press will test the mechanical skills of some shooters while others will be able to understand the function of each part and each station . If you change your own oil in your car or lawn mower plus sharpen the blade and change air filter then you with some self training should be able to load on a progressive press. I love my wife but she should never load ammo on any press or drive a ZERO turn mower. 0 -
You don't want to start with a progressive because it increases the chance of a mistake. You are doing much more with each pull of the handle and have more to watch. Start with a single stage so you do one thing at a time and get it down really well. Then get a progressive. Besides, you will most likely make a mistake at the start. If you do that with a progressive you will have lots more to fix than if you did it with a single stage. And taking ammo apart to fix you f-up isn't the most fun. Besides, what's the rush to start fast when you are dealing with 50,000+ PSI a few inches from your head? 0 -
If you start with a cheap Lee Challenger single stage press you will not be out much money. Your dies will transfer to the Dillon. I've had a Dillon 550B for 5 yrs now but I still load all my hunting loads on a single stage press. You may find out reloading is not for you and if you stick a ton of money out there up front you may regret it later. 0 -
Dillon 0 -
If you plan on reloading that many different cartridges go Red as in Hornady. I like mine a lot, you may have a steep learning curve going right to a progressive press. 0 -
Just as a Driver is Better with better equipment, so will you be a better Reloader with better Equipment. Buy The Dillon.
They will give you the most wonderful level of support. Start slow, and check everything as many times as you need to to assure yourself that the press is doing right. Never cease to be Vigilant and Question anything that doesn't work or look Right.
If you have limited time/money, Dillon has the solution.
Silly to buy a Single stage press and stuff, if you need a Progressive.
Less time spent loading will be freed up to ....SHOOT MORE!0 -
So where does one purchase said dillon press? I see the dillon precision site is basically the only place online. There are one or two on fleabay. Most are at or above MSRP. I went to cabelas but didn't see one there. Does everyone just order from dillon precision at retail cost or what? 0 -
Yep, order from Dillon. They will ask which caliber you are loading for, and it will arrive nearly completely ready to go.
If you are lucky, you might find one at a Gun Club, or even better, at a Pawn Shop. Get it at a Discount, and then they will help you get it running. I got mine as a gift basket case) from a friend who found it at a Pawnshop. Got it for FREE. One call to Dillon, and they were shipping me all I needed to get it updated to full new Specs, and replaced all missing parts.
Dillon is the best[EDIT] at customer support, and their products are among the very best, too.0 -
If you decide to go straight to a Dillon with no single stage experience I recommend that you load one round at a time until you're comfortable with the setup and function of each of the stations. Once you're confident of each stations functions then try to go progressive. 0 -
No war, Dillon won before they started![}:)] 0 -
I've used fifteen different presses, best as I can recall - I have purchased for my use only what I consider the best - a Bonanza(Now Forster) "Single Stage" that I use for Rifle Rounds, and a Dillon Square Deal B for Pistol calibers.
Class of their Fields, IMHO.0 -
Order straight from Dillon.
The other thing to look at is their warranty. Hard to beat.0 -
Let's beat this horse to death; in my earlier post, I suggested using the Dillon as a single stage because there is no difference between a progressive using one case, primer, powder and bullet versus using a single stage and the same components.
If you want to learn the basics; use the Dillon.
If you want to learn frustration and getting higher blood pressure because the dies keep changing position as you install them over and over; get a single stage.
BTW-the Square Deal B is ONLY set up for one caliber when you get it; the 550B will do everything from .17Mashburn Express to the 45-70 with no alterations other than changing toolheads and powder measures. (and maybe primer tubes/cups)0 -
quote:Originally posted by dcs shooters
Dillon all the way [;)] Spend a little extra and get the best. The Lee I had cost me two 1911 barrels because of their POS powder measure not dropping the load [xx(][V][:(!]
AMEN to that - I just dropped $110 on a new 9mm barrel because of a poor charge - go for the Dillon.....0 -
Wish I would have read this post before I bought my Lee Load Master. This was my first reloading machine. I dont use the case feeder or the bullet feeder. I pay very close attention to every round and I usually load in shifts. Witch is to mean that I might as well be using a single stage press. The one problem I had with my Lee was cycle break in. Some times that dang thing wont cycle unless you hold the op rod against the slide. I havent used the Dillon but it's starting to look like I may have made a poor choice. But the price was right. And whatever you choose for the love of man go with carbide dies. If available of course. Just my humble opinion.
Steve0 -
I started with a rcbs rockchucker and lee turret press still use both
and have upgraded to a DILLON0 -
get a Dillon and dont look back
the only thing i load off of the RCBS is the 7mm and the 30-06 i dont have the conversion kits for them yet0 -
I have an RCBS for single stage work and a LoadMaster for progressive.
If you are not mechanically inclined and don't have the patience of Job run from the Lee. It works and I have been fairly succesful at keeping it running but it can be a HUGE PITA and I wouldn't think it is capable of loading larger rifle cases. I had enough trouble getting it to run correctly with .223 remington. You shouldn't be loading cases that are over 2" long on a progressive anyway. IMHO
BTW I have seen as many people at the range with squibs loaded on a blue machine as anything else. Of course blue out numbers everything else by 5 to 1. Anything can and will throw squibs.0 -
Boy, I have probably loaded more than 100,000 rounds on my Square Deal B (Dillon), and have not yet had a single "Squib" round.
Buuut, it is probably just like Retractible Gear on an Airplane - not a question of IF, but rather, When. Not a good thing to contemplate on a Semi-Auto.0 -
Look, I've loaded a lot of rounds on a buddy's Dillon 650. And it is a fine press.
However you have to decide if it is worth it to you.
The Lee press is far cheaper. It will not be as smooth functioning, you have to watch what it's doing constantly, and it won't be as fast as the dillon- but the end resulting ammo will be just as good.
If I were to liken presses to cars, dillon would be the cadillac, RCBS/Hornady/Lyman a Ford, and Lee a Kia. All of them will get you where you are going but do you want to pay extra for luxury?
I didn't. I got a Lee Pro 1000. Very finicky. Still I can crank out 250 rounds or so an hour once I get it going and that's good enough for me.0 -
I have a Dillon 550B and several Lee presses(turrets & single stages) and I love'em all. I was told by several Dillon owners I would not use the Lees I have after I got my Dillon, well I still use my Lees as much as I did, they've been ever faithful. I do think Dillon is the best progressive I've used, like jonk stated the Lee Pro 1000 is rather finicky.
And just a side note, as reloaders we have to be mindful of what is going on as we reload, pay attention. You can not blame a press or powder measure for a sqib load or a damage barrel, We should verify that case has powder in it. Presses and powder measures are all mechanical things, they can and will fail or cause some sort of issue at some piont no matter who made it. I have noticed nobody ever blames a powder measure for a double charged case. Keep'em safe everybody!0 -
I have to say one more thing about the Lee Loadmaster.
Once you get it all dialed in the biggest problem is remembering to check powder and primers! This thing will run at 6-700 rounds per hour very easily and it it will run out of powder/primers very quickly at that rate. No goofy primer tubes either. Dump flip and insert[;)]0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
46 comments