Progressive Press Recommendation

[Phil3]

I am an experienced rifle reloader using a single stage press for rifles, but wish to add a progressive press for pistol rounds. I remember Dillon being regarded as the "go-to" brand, but maybe things have changed.

I will likely be reloading 9mm, 45ACP, 357 Mag, 38 Special, and 45 Colt. Maybe 223. I expect to shoot about 500 rounds a month (depends on where I live and gun shooting venue availability). I would likely load up 500+ rounds per caliber. It is likely caliber changes on the press would be rather infrequent.

It seems like the Dillon 550c would be adequate for my volume and offers the advantage of lower cost caliber change kits.

Suggestions and thoughts welcome.

Phil

[slayer61]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1601103

[sigguy552]

Dillon 650/750. Buy once and forget about it

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[elpaisa1]

Drink the blue kool-aid and be happy

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[five.five-six]

I don't think there's a wrong answer. I stay away from Square deals or caliber specific setups. I have a pair of 550's and I don't see any reason to upgrade them

[nimbus]

I drank the blue koolaid and have never been happier. A 550 will fit your volume requirements with less expensive caliber conversion kits. 750 would be better if you plan on shooting a lot more. However a 750 shines with a case feeder and that will be added costs for your initial setup.

[jimmykan]

A Dillon 650/750 with case feeder and bullet feeder will bring you the most satisfaction.

The 1050 isn't worth it unless you make it fully automated.

[Divernhunter]

Dillon is still the one to get

[C.G.]

Drank the red cool-aid and it works for me. If you can try both the blue and the red, both excellent units then make a choice. I find that the ergonomics of the Hornady AP works better for me than Dillon. Personally I don't care for the other red though, which is Lee.

[newbie1234]

Two question ?
- How many round do you shoot per month, you said 500 per one caliber or total all calibers is 500 round per month ?
- How much you plan to spend, the progressive press can go from $200- $1400 ?

[Cheep]

Might also look at the cost for changing calibers and factor that in. Red or Blue are both leading brand presses.

[jyc]

I am an experienced rifle reloader using a single stage press for rifles, but wish to add a progressive press for pistol rounds. I remember Dillon being regarded as the "go-to" brand, but maybe things have changed.



I will likely be reloading 9mm, 45ACP, 357 Mag, 38 Special, and 45 Colt. Maybe 223. I expect to shoot about 500 rounds a month (depends on where I live and gun shooting venue availability). I would likely load up 500+ rounds per caliber. It is likely caliber changes on the press would be rather infrequent.



It seems like the Dillon 550c would be adequate for my volume and offers the advantage of lower cost caliber change kits.



Suggestions and thoughts welcome.



Phil

Dillon 550 is the press you want. Fits your ammunition requirements, has cheaper conversion kits, and is simply enjoyable to use letting you control every aspect of the reloading process.

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[the_tunaman]

THIS... caliber changes are less expensive and far simpler. And you can use it in progressive mode for volume, as well as single stage for precision.

Got mine 10 years ago or so as my first press and haven’t needed anything else. It works flawlessly, and I use it for nearly 15 different calibers. Each has its own toolhead, and several have two for FL and neck only, so caliber changes take less than 5 minutes if I don’t have to change primer sizes, and about 10 minutes with the primer tube change.

For plinking ammo, I use the powder funnel system and can knock out a lot of rounds in a short amount of time.

[RandyD]

I have been a Dillon fan for over 30 years. The 550 is an adequate press for what you want. I sold my 550 and got a 650 and don't regret it. The downside to the 650 is it takes longer to change calibers.

BTW, I do the same thing you do. I use the 650 for pistol and .556, and a single stage press for accurate rifle reloads

[BajaJames83]

For the volume you are talking about a 550 will be a great fit and be muct more cost effective as you add more calibers.
The 650/750 is a amaizing machine as well but with the casefeeder it can get expensive quick when you load a bunch of different calibers.

I still use my 550 regularly (380, 38SPL, 357Mag, 44 etc) next to my Mark 7 powered Super 1050 (9mm, 40, 45, 223)
I can easily run 200 rounds in 4 or 5 different calibers in a few hours on my 550 whereas my 1050 would be 2+ hours (more if changing to large primer) to setup, clean and change to a new caliber.