Which Press should i buy??

[dstewart]

I've bought several presses since I bought my 650. IMHO, a 650 is NOT the end all be all in presses. Of course, I don't think that there is a perfect press out there.

+1, for mass production of 45acp its great but I ran it like a single stage for my 454 loads. With the 650 I could not get the consistency out of it I was looking for, charge, seating or crimping. It was better if I ran one round at a time and manually weighed the charge. Recently I bought a Horady L-N-L classic and I love it. Very easy to use, good overall quality and most importantly its very consistent.

[bongfoo]

i started on a Lee single stage press (bought the anniversary kit). i've loaded THOUSANDS of rounds on that thing! i load 9mm, 30 carbine,223/556,7mm rem mag,38sp/357mag and soon to start 30-06 for my garand. i picked up a lee pro 1000 for cheap and am using that primarily for 9mm now. i can't say one bad thing about Lee stuff. i know ppl frown upon it but for the money it works and works well. don't discount the small guy!

[C.G.]

Besides, I don't think you can load .338LM nor .408CT - so it's dead to me

Don't know about the .408CT, but you can load .338LM on Dillon 650 with mods (Thmpr has done it) and on Hornady LNL without mods, but for some reason Hornady stopped making a shellplate for .338LM, I got mine a while back.

[Cowboy T]

I'd seriously look at the Lee Classic Turret Press for your needs. The press is very strong, very smooth, has four stations, and does a great job of reloading ammo. Oh, and it won't break your bank. I have this model of press, and there's no reloading job I wouldn't trust it for. Lee makes some good, and just as importantly, affordable to mere mortals, equipment. The Classic Turret Press is among the best example of this.

While you're at it, pick up a Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure with the riser kit. After you've measured out 500 or so powder charges the old fashioned way, you'll be glad you made that purchase.

[LGB Loader]

www.sugarfreebob.com - allegedly has free shipping - can get anything Dillon for you .

Bob and his Son (his wife is cool too) are good folks and strong supporters of 2nd ammendment rights and do their part to support shooters, hunters, and handloaders alike. I would not hesitate to buy from Bob. He also has a nice little shop in Cypress CA and I use to drop by daily after picking up my son from preschool right down the block. He is always willing to help, will cut a deal for you and will back it up with proper customer service. Just a top notch class act all around.

Back to the question...

I have 3 blue presses (1 x 550B & 2 x 650XL) , a T7, a RC (my first press), a Lee Classic cast and a Lee Challenger (old one without the breech locks) and use to have a Hornady LNL AP (Sold it because I liked the 650 a bit better).

That said, I would sincerely take a hard look at the Lee Classic Turret as it is an in-between single stage and progressive press, good to learn on, you can use it as a single stage or auto index. Good for the money and a darn good machine. $500.00 seems like alot to work with, but buy the time you buy all the little stuff...scales, trimmers, Powder throw, dies, calipers, manuals, tumbler,etc. (the list goes on from there, believe me ) and then you need consumables as well... Before you know it, $500.00 is gone....

Have a look at Kempfs shop as they seem to have the best price for a kit. I have looked around and will probably be picking up one as well.

Just my $0.02 worth...

LGB

[ar15barrels]

Seconded - the 650 is a great progressive, but the last thing I would chose for precision rifle ammo. Besides, I don't think you can load .338LM nor .408CT - so it's dead to me

Yes you can.
You just need a custom platform and shellholder that makes it into a hell of a single stage press.

[miles_ahead]

I Agree with popeye4 on this one. Get the basics down with a single stage press, get the LEE Classic cast press its not that expensive less than $100.00 last time i checked and that way you'll have a really good solid foundation on the process of reloading.

[fullspeed1]

I've bought several presses since I bought my 650. IMHO, a 650 is NOT the end all be all in presses. Of course, I don't think that there is a perfect press out there.

+1, I agree. Each and every press vary in production and use.

[Cowboy T]

Actually, for a very first press, I'd recommend this Lee press. Comes with a pretty decent load data book, too.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=480380

Don't let the low price fool you. This press is easily strong enough to reload .338 Win Magnum ammo, let alone what you're going to be doing. I still use mine (a lot!) for cast boolit sizing, and my g/f is learning how to reload on it now. So, it's durable.

[mif_slim]

I see alot of CGN blue-coolaids, yet when I ask around my area and other cities I go to...no one seem to use dillon. Only ran into a few that does, which they really do and one guy was BS'n that he's running Dillon because he couldnt even name the right press and he was a CGN member.

Lee, Hornady, RCBS, Dillon all good, just depends on your machanic skills and choose one. No press is perfect. I have a old Lee single stage press I had since 2001...they still replaced the parts for free when I called in last month. I say thats pretty good for a 1 year warranty. They also replaced my sprue plate for a mold i had since 2002, free.

[Table Rock Arms]

I have several AR15's and an AR10, i have been buying reloads, and have decided to just start reloading myself. All im going to be doing are 5.56/.223 and 7.62x39/.308. Now i want a progressive machine, and i have about $500 dollars to spend. Could someone please point me in the right direction as far as which presses are good in that price range. Thanks for the help.
Links and Pics would be great

What kind of shooting have you been doing. If you have just been buying reloads and going out and blasting (nothing wrong with that), then you are gonna be looking at way more than $500 to get you set up to load those kind of quantities with .223 or .308 as there is more to it than just throwing it in your press and powering them out. Also, you may find that it is a lot more work than it is worth.

The link to the $30 single stage press looked pretty good, as you could get your feet wet with it and find out if it's for you. If you are into it and decide to buy a progressive press then your not really out anything as it is a good idea to have a single stage press around.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Get the Dillon XL650.

Always buy a little more than you need. It will prevent you from "outgrowing it".

If you purchase a single stage press...in a few weeks you will be looking at progressive presses and wishing you had invested in one from the git-go. (The learning curve is not all that difficult).

I have a few friends who wish they had purchased an XL650 from the beginning. But I don't know anyone who purchased an XL650 first, and then wished they had purchased a single stage press.

Check out the video tutorial below my signature. (RELOADING .223 VIDEO).

By the way, I am a Dillon user, so I can only vouch for the Dillon. But I have heard many good things about the Hornady LNL as well.

In Christ: Raymond

[Malthusian]

I just got my Dillon XL650 yesterday
Made my first rounds today
Very happy with it

Wish I would have gotten it years ago
As per another post. If you start with a beginner press, you will just wind up with two presses.

I was sold on Dillon years ago, just never had the money. I would consider
the Hornady had I not been wanting a Dillon for so long

[Table Rock Arms]

Get the Dillon XL650.

Always buy a little more than you need. It will prevent you from "outgrowing it".

If you purchase a single stage press...in a few weeks you will be looking at progressive presses and wishing you had invested in one from the git-go. (The learning curve is not all that difficult).

I have a few friends who wish they had purchased an XL650 from the beginning. But I don't know anyone who purchased an XL650 first, and then wished they had purchased a single stage press.

Check out the video tutorial below my signature. (RELOADING .223 VIDEO).

By the way, I am a Dillon user, so I can only vouch for the Dillon. But I have heard many good things about the Hornady LNL as well.

In Christ: Raymond

His budget is $500 so he would be buying more than he could afford. The XL650 is more than $500 and it does not come with dies. Then he will need everything else. And you wouldn't buy that machine and not get a case feeder. he would be in it for $1000, and he doesn't even know if reloading is for him. Now don't get me wrong the 650 is a great machine and I would recommend one to most any reloader. But it is a serious investment.

[Adub]

His budget is $500 so he would be buying more than he could afford. The XL650 is more than $500 and it does not come with dies. Then he will need everything else. And you wouldn't buy that machine and not get a case feeder. he would be in it for $1000, and he doesn't even know if reloading is for him. Now don't get me wrong the 650 is a great machine and I would recommend one to most any reloader. But it is a serious investment.

Definitely a valid point, but I bet if it wasn't for him and he decided he didn't want it and sold it, he could probably get nearly as much as he decides to put into. I personally don't see them for sale too often and when you do, they sell pretty quick.