Switching press colors...

[Fyathyrio]

http://ultimatereloader.com/ has video and writeups of your RCBS press and the Hornady LnL that may help you decide. They also include the additional equipment such as bullet feeders.

[flomofo]

...

I am in Northern California and work in the Bay Area so its a bit of a drive for me.

I was just going to buy a Dillon, probably a 650 with all the add-ons but started to consider the pro2000 and Hornaday because if I load eratically in different calibers maybe 1000 rounds of 45 ACP then 200 rounds of 9mm then 500 rounds of .223, I kept reading that the Dillon 650 would be a pain to change over the calibers unless I was doing a bug number of one kind of cartridge.

Also wondering if I would have the room to store all those extra heads with the Dillon versus adapting my RCBS dies to the LNL or whatever the pro2000 does.

Still looking at Videos, I'll advise what I come up with I definately dont have a gun to my head right now.

[XDRoX]

Also consider the Dillon 550b. For some reason you don't hear about it too much on this forum, but it's the most popular press on every other reloading forum I belong to. I have one and couldn't be happier.

It's a little less expensive that the 650 and caliber conversions are also less expensive and easier to convert.

It doesn't auto index which is the biggest complaint of some guys, but it's no big deal to anyone that actually owns one. So don't let that be an issue in your decision. It only has 4 stations, also not a big deal to me.

It really comes down to this IMO, do you want a case feeder. The one for the 550 sucks. So if you do, consider the LNL or the 650. If you don't, you can't go wrong with a 550b. Visit some real reloading forums (no offense to this one) and get some opinions of guys that have been reloading for over 60 years. The 550 is one of the best machines out there.

It's simplicity is what impresses me most about it.

A couple of the old timers on this site load on 550's but they don't post in this section too often.

CSACANNONEER and OceanBob both load on 550's as well as other presses and can attest to its awesomeness

[grant22]

Ya beat me Grant!

Nice pull with the wheelchair! ^^^^^

Where's the emoticon with the middle finger when I need it???

[Bill Steele]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the choices mentioned above.

It always tickles me when I read about how someone bought this brand or that brand progressive press because it was a few hundred dollars cheaper.

Once you get into the volumes where a progressive press makes sense, the component bills are going to dwarf the price differences in presses in just a few months.

[gun fu]

I would visit and try a friends press to definitely decide for yourself.

I'm using my late dad's 550b he picked up from 21 years ago. One each in large primer and small primer. It still works great. I added casefeeder, strongmount and bullet tray.

IMO it doesn't matter which press you get because, you are going to make more and spend the difference in savings of buying factory made!

I agree, if I did not have a press and considered one now. No particular order.

1. 650
2. LNL
3. 1050

Main reasons is the optional accessories, IE casefeeder, bullet feeder. And lastly the proverbial "AUTO DRIVE" on the 1050. The ultimate in reloading = big $$

As long as it's reliable, easy to fix, works on demand, you are GTG, (sounds like a good pistol eh?)

[StaTiK]

I was in a similar boat, although i was deciding between a Dillon and the LNL. In the end i went with the LNL. Some things you may want to consider about the RCBS vs LNL

1. Looks like the RCBS uses primer strips instead of a tube fed system, while you can buy primers that already come in strips, it would be a pain in the *** to do it yourself if they become hard to come by or expensive.

2. Lack of an upgradeable case feeder (Someone correct me if im wrong).

3. The price is ridiculous. All the RCBS pro2000 ive seen are $600+, for that much you could get a Dillon. You could do the piggyback thing on your turret press but thats still $500 or so and you could almost get a dillon for that.

4. Both the RCBS and the LNL have similar features: 5 stations / Auto index but throughout my research ive had to constantly hand the win to Hornady: better priming system, upgradeable case feeder, and half the price.

Ive never really understood the RCBS niche to tell you the truth. Maybe im just Niggardly with my funds, but a $300 single stage press? A $60 Lee press will do almost everything a rock chucker can at almost 1/5th the price. Sure its not built as well, but your not getting a whole hell of a lot for the extra money.

I don't have a Pro 2000, but I've done a ton of research in preparation for buying one (or a different brand). Please don't feel like I'm attacking anyone but I think some information listed here needs to be clarified.

#1: putting primers into the strips probably is a pain, but pecking primers into a tube (for the LNL) isn't usually considered fun either. It seems that 99% of people who have tried the APS seem to like it more than pickup tubes. As you said, you can also buy them preloaded at often the same price as loose packed (who wouldn't buy preloaded pickup tubes if they were safe and equally priced).

#2: You are correct, no casefeeder. And I'm not sure one is even possible based on the required loading location. Bullet feeders are available, though.

#3: $520 for manual index, $530 for auto index at MidwayUSA. You could get almost any brand for this price but the caliber conversion costs are incredibly low and caliber conversion is where the press really becomes attractive. $35 shellplate and $19 toolhead (Midway prices) and you're done. The powder measure has a micrometer and stays attached so you won't even want a second one. Changing primer sizes is done with one ridiculously simple bolt change and then feeding the WHITE primer strip instead of the YELLOW one (or whatever your color scheme is). The press also uses a really nice spring-arm system instead of a coiled spring or brass buttons to keep cases in place. These are caliber independent and allow easy case removal but don't kink or bind.

#4: the biggest complaint I hear about the LNL is the priming system, and the biggest compliment I hear about the Pro 2000 is the priming system. The LNL does have an advantage, though, in that it is a true 5 station progressive. To use the Pro 2000 as "intended" the powder measure is fixed at station #3 which means you cannot use a powder check as well as separate seat & crimp. A workaround is to use a PTX in station #2 but then you sacrifice the beauty and simplicity of a fixed powder measure. Many people will tell you, though, that a powder check isn't needed and many old timers will tell you that bullets were made with a single seat/crimp die for decades before the separate crimping step became the norm. They're both probably right but I personally prefer to have a powder check as well as separate seating and crimping.

Personally I would absolutely pick the Pro 2000 over the LNL any day, but that's just me and we obviously disagree. No problems there. I think it all boils down to what each person values more. I think the LNL has the ability to go "faster" (much much faster if you add casefeeder and bullet feeder) but the Pro 2000 seems much simpler and "dead nuts" reliable. The Pro 2000 is also iron while every other progressive mentioned in this thread is aluminum. Again, not necessarily a deal breaker because tens of thousands of aluminum presses have been in use longer than I have been alive.

-StaTiK-

[Dark Mod]

I don't have a Pro 2000, but I've done a ton of research in preparation for buying one (or a different brand). Please don't feel like I'm attacking anyone but I think some information listed here needs to be clarified.

#1: putting primers into the strips probably is a pain, but pecking primers into a tube (for the LNL) isn't usually considered fun either. It seems that 99% of people who have tried the APS seem to like it more than pickup tubes. As you said, you can also buy them preloaded at often the same price as loose packed (who wouldn't buy preloaded pickup tubes if they were safe and equally priced).

#2: You are correct, no casefeeder. And I'm not sure one is even possible based on the required loading location. Bullet feeders are available, though.

#3: $520 for manual index, $530 for auto index at MidwayUSA. You could get almost any brand for this price but the caliber conversion costs are incredibly low and caliber conversion is where the press really becomes attractive. $35 shellplate and $19 toolhead (Midway prices) and you're done. The powder measure has a micrometer and stays attached so you won't even want a second one. Changing primer sizes is done with one ridiculously simple bolt change and then feeding the WHITE primer strip instead of the YELLOW one (or whatever your color scheme is). The press also uses a really nice spring-arm system instead of a coiled spring or brass buttons to keep cases in place. These are caliber independent and allow easy case removal but don't kink or bind.

#4: the biggest complaint I hear about the LNL is the priming system, and the biggest compliment I hear about the Pro 2000 is the priming system. The LNL does have an advantage, though, in that it is a true 5 station progressive. To use the Pro 2000 as "intended" the powder measure is fixed at station #3 which means you cannot use a powder check as well as separate seat & crimp. A workaround is to use a PTX in station #2 but then you sacrifice the beauty and simplicity of a fixed powder measure. Many people will tell you, though, that a powder check isn't needed and many old timers will tell you that bullets were made with a single seat/crimp die for decades before the separate crimping step became the norm. They're both probably right but I personally prefer to have a powder check as well as separate seating and crimping.

Personally I would absolutely pick the Pro 2000 over the LNL any day, but that's just me and we obviously disagree. No problems there. I think it all boils down to what each person values more. I think the LNL has the ability to go "faster" (much much faster if you add casefeeder and bullet feeder) but the Pro 2000 seems much simpler and "dead nuts" reliable. The Pro 2000 is also iron while every other progressive mentioned in this thread is aluminum. Again, not necessarily a deal breaker because tens of thousands of aluminum presses have been in use longer than I have been alive.

-StaTiK-

You raise several valid points, i just dont see the cost adding up... The priming system on the LNL seems to only hang up when you spill powder all over the place, which probably wont be a problem with the Pro2000, but honestly how often does this happen?

I setup my LNL last night and pumped out a good 1000 rounds of .223 with all in a span of 5 hours or so without any priming hickups.

Like all RCBS products it seems very well made, but maybe unnecisarily overbuilt. I cant think of one good reason to make a press out of iron except to say you salvaged a Sherman tank to make it.

I should have known better than to Bash RCBS on a public forum, granted they are very popular for a reason, its just a reason i dont get. For whatever reason their progressive isnt all that popular so maybe thats saying something too.

By the way this is all coming from a very budget minded guy. I buy pretty much the cheapest i can get away with and as far as reloading is concerned ive never had a problem. My first set of Lee .30-30 dies are still going strong, along with all the cheap LEE equipment ive bought (excluding the powder scale).

I dont mind paying the extra price if it is a VALUE and the cost is justified. I cant see spending 3 times as much on a set of redding dies when the $20 set works just fine. Likewise most RCBS equipment probably works great at twice the price, but will it make you twice as many bullets?

..... Actually it probably will make you twice as many bullets

But will you ever make enough bullets in your lifetime to wear out either?

...... Actually you probably could

But will most normal reloaders who dont reload as a business ever see any added benefit from an RCBS press?

i dont think so, Unless you want to start Swaging your own bullets and really need a heavy duty press like a rockchukcer...

Awww crap maybe you should just buy RCBS

[Clownpuncher]

I setup my LNL last night and pumped out a good 1000 rounds of .223 with all in a span of 5 hours or so without any priming hickups.

didn't you order yours after I ordered mine? I'm still waiting on the dag gum screws.

[flomofo]

...

I am leaning towards the pro2000 now as I dont shoot enough to need a bullet and case feeder right away and am paranoid about checking everything pretty often.

Thank you for the help, any one of them would have worked but for shooting several different calibers in numbers too large to have time doing it in batches like I usually do, this press should work out fine.

[Dark Mod]

didn't you order yours after I ordered mine? I'm still waiting on the dag gum screws.

Your gonna hate me for this, but i got mine complete with shellplate screws and that nifty powder measure stabilizer thing. It took exactly 1 week to get and i set it up in a few hours and it functions perfectly. I feel for your situation, i was worried mine would arrive all jacked up but thankfully its fine. Thanks to your thread i had One shot and some bolts ready to rock by the time it got here.

I got mine from Cabelas though, maybe they have better QC or just dont ship out returned items to new customers

[Clownpuncher]

Your gonna hate me for this, but i got mine complete with shellplate screws and that nifty powder measure stabilizer thing. It took exactly 1 week to get and i set it up in a few hours and it functions perfectly. I feel for your situation, i was worried mine would arrive all jacked up but thankfully its fine. Thanks to your thread i had One shot and some bolts ready to rock by the time it got here.

I got mine from Cabelas though, maybe they have better QC or just dont ship out returned items to new customers

Heck no, I have no ill will toward you!! I'm glad you got yours up and running the way I expected to get mine going. I just can't wait for the dang screws to come in. I've been looking at the thing setup for a week and can't do anything.

The thing that really bothered me was I called about the screws last Thursday evening and I called yesterday for a status and he told me they were just sent out Tuesday. Kind of pissed me off there was a delay, or if there was a delay and they weren't sent overnight due to delay.

You may be right about Cabelas, although I got mine from Midway, I would think it would be the same. Maybe I should call them.

In hindsight though, I am wondering if a lot of my adjustment problems were from the sub plate shifting and me not seeing it. I fully expect to have to readjust everything when I get the scews.

Oh well, hopefully I have them by this weekend.

[jharry]

I have the Pro 2000 and a Rockchucker on the bench - love them both.

Got nothing bad to say about the LnL and I hear a lot of good things about Dillon

I just like the easy switch caliber on the RCBS - just me

It's Ford's and Chevy's - It's what YOU like

BTW - Primers on the Pro 2000 are easy

[uscbigdawg]

I am in Northern California and work in the Bay Area so its a bit of a drive for me.

I was just going to buy a Dillon, probably a 650 with all the add-ons but started to consider the pro2000 and Hornaday because if I load eratically in different calibers maybe 1000 rounds of 45 ACP then 200 rounds of 9mm then 500 rounds of .223, I kept reading that the Dillon 650 would be a pain to change over the calibers unless I was doing a bug number of one kind of cartridge.

Also wondering if I would have the room to store all those extra heads with the Dillon versus adapting my RCBS dies to the LNL or whatever the pro2000 does.

Still looking at Videos, I'll advise what I come up with I definately dont have a gun to my head right now.

Caliber changes on the 650 take less than 5 minutes unless you're swapping primer sizes. If you are, then it's about 8 minutes. Dillon dies are the same as the others. The "space" toolheads take up is really small. Like 4" square I think. On a standard 18-24" work bench depth, mine live on a shelf above the bins that are behind the press with plenty of room to spare. If not for the bins, they'd be on the bench behind the press, but have a bunch of real estate.

Rich

[Nessal]

Only considering ease of use, the Pro2000 is the best progressive out there. It has the best (read: trouble-free) primer system out of the bunch ("the big 4" for progressives--Hornady, Dillon, RBCS, Lee) and once you have the press setup it is a BREEZE to operate.

I own a Dillon 650 and a Hornady LNL-AP and I love both of them. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either one. However, I have helped a friend setup his Pro2000. It is the easiest to configure out of the box and has the best priming system of the three. The ONLY drawback that I can think of is the lack of an automatic casefeeding system available for the RCBS.

However, there isn't much a concern in terms of interoperability between brands. All of the dies that you have will work in either the Hornady or the RCBS. (You don't use the shellholders for turrets and single stage presses on the progressives).

Kinda strange for a guy that owns the Hornady and Dillon, but if ease of use is your top concern, I vote for the Pro2000!

RCBS makes a case feeder....I believe that it came out even before the LNL.