Dillon vs Lee

[The Brit]

Let me preface this by saying currently I don't currently reload and know absolutely nothing (nada, zip) about the topic. But....

Having now joined an action pistol club, shelling out $60+ for 45 ammo each month is getting expensive. My initial interest is reloading .45 ACP and .308, as they're the two calibers I shoot most.

So, after a quick scan around the Dillon and Lee Precision web sites, I see both seem to have 'all-in-one' machines handling both rifle and pistol calibers and have multiple stages, but they seem to differ drastically in price.

As a complete and utter beginner, would it be worth shelling out the cash for a Dillon, or going with a cheaper system, such as the Lee (which also seems to be very high quality)?

Thanks.

[Prc329]

Do a search here and I am sure your question will be completely answered. I would suggest Dillon is you are shooting high volume.

[rksimple]

Dillon progressives are awesome, but a little harder to learn on. Lee presses are OK, and probably sufficient for what you want to do. I learned on a rockchucker and still reload most rifle on a that press. Only pistol and bulk 223 do I use an old Dillon rl300.

[50ae]

Find the number of people who have chucked their Lee's off of a bridge and bought a Dillon vs. the number who have got rid of their Dillon's and bought a Lee and I think you'll have your answer.

[xrMike]

If you're only spending $60/month on ammo (that's what, 200, maybe 250 rounds of .45ACP?), you're not shooting enough to justify spending the big bucks on the Dillon, imo. Unless you have money to burn --- in which case, get yourself a Dillon.

There are a couple Lee presses that are better suited to your current needs. Do NOT get the Lee progressive press. Almost all of the bad experiences I've heard about with Lee are generated by that progressive press they make.

Take a look at the Lee Classic Turret. It is highly regarded in the 1911 forums, and you can use it to do your .308 too. It's VERY solid, and faster than a single stage press. When you get it dialed in you ought to be able to crank out ~200 rounds/hr of .45ACP with it.

Lee also makes some single stage presses, but I wouldn't mess with single stage after using a turret press.

If you want more info, PM me. I can send you some video links and user reviews. I can also send you a list of everything you'll need, with Midway part numbers. You ought to be able to get started with the Classic Turret (and everything else you'll need) for $250 to $300.

[scrat]

i kinda have to agree. Sort of reminds me of learning how to drive. You dont go out and buy a porsche. You buy a cheap honda or toyota or something.

If you know absoluetly nothing on reloading. Buy some manuals ANDDDDD go with a lee press. If you have the patience you will not want to throw it off a bridge. Lee makes some great products. Most importantly you will gain the knowledge needed to make great ammunition. Then if you wanted to spend more money later on down the line you can either buy a RCBS or a Dillon. Just for a new reloader learn the basics start out penny wise and dollar smart. You will see what i mean as you get into it. The lee anniversary kit still is the best value kit on the market. check out www.midwayusa.com

[Wulf]

I started reloading on a Dillon 550 with no friends, no help, and no advice. I didn't even have access to the net back then. I just bought the thing, read a couple of reloading manuals, read the Dillon manual and started cranking out 45ACP. I also got PLINK started reloading on a 550, and he'll tell you its not that big a deal starting on a progressive. He came over to my house, I lead him through all the steps and helped him out while he reloaded a couple hundred rounds on my machine. A week later his press showed up and he's been off and running.

Reloading is really not that hard. People sometimes make it out to be rocket science but its really not. Its really really really not rocket science when you're all you're trying to accomplish is 170pf, and 4 inches at 25 yard groups out of a 45. 308 is a bigger trick; match grade ammo is a bigger trick. But your payback time on a 550 shooting 45 at a couple a matches a month is 2 years or less, so there's no reason not to do it, just for that one caliber. Loading 308 would be icing you can apply down the road when you're comfortable with straight walled pistol loading.

Ideally, you should find someone in your area that will go through the process with you and get you started. If that's not possible you shouldent let it hold you back though. Between the resources available here, and the reloading forums on Glocktalk.com and brianenos.com, anybody with average intelligences, a net connection and the self discipline to be careful and ask questions can very easily teach themselves to crank out the ammo you need on a progressive.

Oh, and BTW, I learned to drive in a Honda AND a Porsche....a 911sc.

[scrat]

Agree too i guess the other reason why i recomend a lee is because there are too many people that go out spend a lot of money on presses and equipment to find a few years later sitting around the garage collecting dust. Now if thats the case before you let it collect dust make sure you make us a good offer for it.

So think about it hard before you make a decision. I have been reloading for a while now. Its not a cost thing though. At first you think you will save a lot of money. Then once you get into it you realize your not really saving money. However you are makinq better quality ammo to suite your needs. Some people get addicted to it. LIKE ME. some are in to it for a while then stop doing it.

[50ae]

He may only be shooting 60/mo now but when he starts reloading that is sure to go up to 500 or more. The way I see it, is that reloading doesn't save you any money but you get to shoot 5 times as much.

[ccampbell]

I started on a Lee single stage (60th Anniversary kit on sale about $60). I still use it for rifle cases. Single stage is kinda slow for pistol rounds, so I went to the lee progressive 1000, aside from the priming it worked great. I hand prime them then run the primed cases through the progressive press. My friend who got me into reloading, used a Lee Loadmaster (and liked it). In my pistol league everyone who reloaded used Dillons (and shot Glocks), but I am happy with my Lee and 1911.

[glockman19]

As I get closer to reloading I'm leaning toward a Dillion 550 too.

[railroader]

I would also recommend the Lee turret press set up if you aren't going through real large quantities of ammo. If you decide to get one you can get it in a kit and I would also recommend the new primer set up for the turret press. Here's the press kit., also listed below is the primer tools and the riser you will need for the powder dispenser when you use the primer tool. One last thing you will need is a 45acp factory crimp die for the last hole of the turret. This die crimps and resizes the finished rounds so they feed nice. You can also buy the press seperately with an auto index setup which turns the turret automatically.

http://www.fmreloading.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FMR&Product_Code=90928&Category_Code=Semi-Progressive+Press+Kits

Mark

[PLINK]

Like WULF said he showed me the ropes on his Dillon press but I did have to set mine up myself. He assisted with answering my questions, etc. The Dillon manual will walk you through it and the tech support is cool. I just called to ask them a question and the answered it. A BIG plus 1 for Brianenos.com for your Dillon needs.

If you shoot IPSC or IDPA and are serious about it I would go ahead and reload. Tayloring loads to your gun is priceless especially if you want to be in pace with the competition. I shoot Major .40 S&W out of a Glock 35. Blazer Brass 180 grain was at a 185 PF, Blazer Brass 160 grain was at a 178 PF and the Miwall reloads 180 grain (160 PF) were not even making the Major PF. The Major PF floor is 165. I don't have to deal with shooting with unnecessary high PF's that will most likely cause more muzzle flip/ recoil. My loads are close to the floor of the Major PF last time I checked. I know the other guys who reload are doing the same in most cases. Say I want to shoot Production. No need to get the 9mm, I will just down load the .40's to a minor PF.

I only have used a Dillon and I love it. Lee may be good to but I have never tried it.

[SnWnMe]

Hmmm... I handload for 38/357, 44Sp/44 Mag, 45 ACP/45 LC and 10mm on two Lee progressives. I also shoot a lot.

If I went Dillon with all my stuff I would go broke buying their caliber conversion kits. It costs as much as one Lee Pro1000 machine to add a caliber with Dillon if I wanted drop in convenience that I have (all dies in their own toolheads).

The only tricky part with Lee's progs is the priming system. If it is off time, the machine will hang. I solved that by flicking the case sensor lever with my finger while the ram is in the up position instead of waiting for the case to do it. 100 rounds in 15 minutes is damned good for a $120 machine. (okay it was actually 17:02) According to my logs I am pushing 20,000 rds between both machines (sea duty slows me down). These range from 38 Spl mouse farts to screaming 44 Mag loads that set off car alarms at the local range

A friend of mine bought a SDB and I helped him set it up. It is a nice machine and I can really see where the money went. I liked the powder measure and the free rotating shellplate (makes it beginner proof).

It is not without its flaws though.

Loading up the primer tubes wastes a LOT of time.
We had to unbolt the whole thing everytime something fell inside the primer cavity beside the shellplate.
We also had to cut into his bench because the machine did not have enough clearance to cycle (get the strong mount IMO).

If I were to get a Dillon and don't plan on loading rifle rounds I would get a SDB. If rifles are in the cards I'd go 650. The 550 sucks for the money. It does not auto index. This will set you up for a double charge. Most folks I know who suffered a double either loaded on a single stage or a 550.

[psriley]

I'm one of the unfortunates who picked up the Lee Loadmaster. Apart from the casefeeding, priming and indexing, it was awesome. It is now a dedicated bullet-pulling press. Bought a Dillon 650 and have been in reloading heaven ever since.

The Dillon priming system is no more difficult to access than the Lee. Remove the shell plate, twist two hex screws, and you're done. Loading primer tubes, once you get the hang of it, takes a grand total of about 30 seconds. Dillon includes 3 or four of each size priming tube, so you can preload a bunch of them. Reloading primers from a pickup tube into the primer system tube takes about 1 second. There are also safety considerations when comparing the Dillon to the Lee priming systems. See:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=61039

Caliber conversions on the Dillon are extremely straightforward, and the printed instructions are exceptionally clear (Lee's, to put it mildly, are not). Once you've done it a couple of times, it only takes a couple of minutes. Yes, you need to buy a caliber conversion kit and the correct dies for whatever caliber, but you'd need to buy the dies and shell plates for any press. Parts for primer system conversion come with the press.

I have my Dillon 650 bolted to the front of my workbench. Fits like a glove even without the strong mount. No clearance issues here.

Also, Dillon has famously awesome tech support, and they stand behind their products. If a part breaks, they send you a new one.

As another poster said, if you're not going to be loading in quantity, get a turret press. From what I hear, the Lee makes a fine, inexpensive turret press. If you're going to go the progressive route, get anything BUT a Lee.

Cheers!