Best Reloading Press

[jimmykan]

Tried and used them all and after all that....

2 Dillon RL1050's
1 Dillon XL650
1 RCBS Rock Chucker (for load development)

My father:
- Dillon 550, Rock Chucker and Orange Crusher

Rich

What the... You have TWO 1050s????

I guess it's a hassle to change priming systems huh...

[1969glasspar]

Iv'e tried a lee single stage, I like them very much, they do the job and are affordable.

I have a rcbs and wish I'd kept the lee instead of giving it away, I am dissapointed becasue the press is sloppy, and I hate there dies, they are by far the worst in my opinion.

Lastly I went progressive with a Dillon rl550b, love it. Haven't looked back, Iv'e heard good things about hornady but Iv'e never actually seen one. Good luck with your decision.

[himurax13]

Lee Breechlock Handpress .

[Oceanbob]

Without a doubt get a Dillon. 100% customer service and the machines run and run without serious issues.

I run a Dillon 1050 (1200 rounds per hour) and a Dillon 550B with optional case feeder (600 rounds per hour).

In my early days I had Lee and a Rock Chucker....and others I can't remember LOL.

The advantage to the 550B or 650 (my friends have the 650) is you can change calibers in a few minutes. Not true on my 1050, that takes about 30 minutes, but it's a dedicated .45 auto machine anyway. My 550B has quick change dies and these days I am loading 10MM. (save a bunch of $)

Brian Enos does a good job and has a very informative site:

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html

Spend the money ONCE on quality equipment and the Dillon will last a lifetime and then some. Anything goes wrong with a dillon a phone call gets you the replacement parts FREE no questions asked.

One guy on this Forum found a dillon 550B outside behind a guys garage, It was rusty and missing parts. He sent it to Dillon and they returned a new machine, no charge. Their warranty is legendary. I had an issue on my 1050 powder drop; after 16 years it needed new return springs. I called dillon and they the man said..."we don't use that model anymore so I am sending you a new model powder drop no charge". ...wow...and a couple of days later a large box with a new drop machine arrived. They also included a spare parts kit at no charge...unbelievable.!

Get a subscription to the Dillon Press (free, just call them) A monthly cataloge loaded with neat stuff, including Lonewolf barrels..etc.

Here's my reloading cave:

Be well and good luck , Bob

[Whiterabbit]

Best Reloading Press.

The one that gets used.

[Trigger Guard]

How about the Redding T7 turret press ?

Have a Redding T-7 and a RCBS Rock Chucker Bolted next to each other and they are the best of friends. The combo is perfect for my habit of about 250pcs 45acp, 250pcs 9mm, 200pcs 308 and 200pcs 223 per month.

First press was a RCBS Turret but she just sits in a box now. Couldn't get her to stop wobbling her turret.

[Antihero47]

Had the Dillon XL650 with Casefeeder. Caliber changes were a pain in the neck so I'm going Hornady. I have a Hornady LNL at home now, and just going over it seems like its going to be better overall for my use.

[gab909]

I drank the blue cool aid, and like it. Right now it is all for Pistol. I reload three calibers, 40 S+W, 41 Mag, and 45 ACP. Very accurate drops and I like the fact that everything is ready to go when I change die set ups. 10 minutes for a caliber change is nice, and that is if I get distracted.

On rifle stuff, I reload on a single stage old school, C and H "H" style press. I like the way it seats the bullet straight up and down. Maybe all in my head, but I think it loads and shoots better that way. All my rifle is precision hunting stuff, less that 1 MOA. But when I get my AR the 223 will be reloaded on my Dillon for mass production.

[OpenSightsOnly]

Single stage press - Redding Big Boss II

I load 7.5 Swiss and 223 for the AR.

For 223, I use the Forster micrometer seater.

Dang, should have gotten a Giraud trimmer from the get go, just to make brass prep/life easier . . .

[Cowboy T]

The one that gets used.

^^ +1

[stand125]

I love my LEE classic turret pres. I can knock out a box in less than 15 minutes and changing dies and primers is only a few seconds.

[Linkpimp]

[Desert_Rat]

Surprise! Dillon is leading...

[Trickpony]

Go with a Dillon.

I started with an RCBS Rockchucker, added a piggyback conversion when I started loading more. Once I got into USPSA I bought a few 550B's so I didn't have to change from small rifle/small pistol primers and large pistol. Shortly thereafter I switched to a couple XL650's - one for 40 S&W, one for 223. I switched again to 1050's since that was all the hype - one for 40 S&W, one for 223 and another for 38 Supercomp. I don't care for the 1050 unless it's automated so I switched back to XL650's for everything and square deals for the pistol calibers I load rarely (38 Spl, 45ACP). I always recommend the XL650. Great machine, affordable, can have two for the price of a 1050, add a bulletfeeder and you can load 1000/hour (you can only pull the handle so fast).

Oh, I won a Hornady or two but only used one of them for a short time. Not as user friendly as a Dillon.

Good luck.