Need a recommendation on a progressive press.

[gardenanightrider]

Some background. I got into reloading about a year and a half ago when I hurt my back and had a lot of down time. I got the rcbs rockchucker supreme master reloading kit. I have loved my rockchucker so far but I shoot far more pistol than rifle at this point and i am realizing how slow my single stage is next to my buddy's progressive. He has a dillon 550 and swears by it.

I have reloaded about 2000 pistol cartridges and about 300 rifle cartridges ( i realize this is nothing compared to some guys who have been reloading for years, but I am still relatively new at it). In any case, I am confident enough with the basic principals of reloading to want to graduate to a progressive.

I have been looking at a dillon 550, the dillon xl 650, and the rcbs pro2000.

I was looking for imput from people who may own these machines, especially if you have owned or worked on more than one of them.

Can any/all of these presses be made to auto index? I looked on the dillon site but could only find manaul indexing.

I am the type of person that only wants to buy it once, in other words I dont mind spending more money one a better press if it will last and be worth the cash, I would rather do that than buy it and want a new one in a year. BY the way I am not getting rid of my rockchucker, I still want to load my .308 on the single stage since I weigh every charge for that caliber......

Thanks in advance for your help, I am new to this forum but already love the community here.

[gardenanightrider]

I also want a machine that is easy to swap out calibers. At present I only reload 9mm and .45 acp for pistol, but in case I decide to expand my collection to include other calibers, it would be great if they were easy to swap out without having to majorly re-adjust every time (I know i will need to check and confirm before each session, dont get me wrong).

[Bill Steele]

I have a 550B and think it is the perfect progressive for my needs. Setup and operation is quick and simple (i.e. trouble free). With the quick change kits, caliber change is a few minutes within primer size type and more like 6-7 minutes when changing primer sizes with a caliber change. The 550B does not and will not auto index. If you want an auto indexing press the 650 is the one you want. If you are planning on a case feeder, then auto index is the way to go. If you are not going to do a case feeder, then auto index won't save you anyt time, just adds complexity (more things to go wrong).

Good luck, have fun.

[ar15barrels]

For reference, I have a 450, three 550's, two 650's and two 1050's until just recently when I sold off a couple 550's and a 650.

How many different cartridges do you intend to load for?
How many rounds to you realistically expect to load in a single session?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Get the 650. That's what I have...

The powder check station gives you added piece of mind.

[gregshin]

I would go with dillon 550b and keep the rcbs to decap primers and load match ammo with it.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I would go with dillon 550b and keep the rcbs to decap primers and load match ammo with it.

+1

Keep the rock chucker. If you're like me, you've got some oddball calibers you're not going want to have to do a Dillon caliber change for. It takes a while, so if you're not going to do a run of at least 500 rnds, I would hesitate to switch calibers.

[gardenanightrider]

For reference, I have a 450, three 550's, two 650's and two 1050's until just recently when I sold off a couple 550's and a 650.

How many different cartridges do you intend to load for?
How many rounds to you realistically expect to load in a single session?

I plan to load for 9mm and .45. With my bad back I can no longer sit/stand for long periods which means I can usually scrap about 50 cartridges of pistol on my single stage before I have to get up and take a pill.

I do like to shoot a lot, if i go to the range I usually like to throw at least 300 rounds per session, shooting being a perishable skill and all.

Realistically I would like to be able to crank through two sessions at the range in one sitting at the press so loading 600-1000 rounds of one caliber before switching to the other is no big deal. I guess compared to what I am doing now, any of the presses i mentioned are much faster, but if one press is considerably faster than the other, then that will be a factor. I am already looking at an auto case feeder and the rcbs auto bullet feeder (which I understand is also compatible with the xl650?).

At a max, I may eventually decide to add 223 to the progressive mix, but for now just the two calibers, I shoot both equally.

[gardenanightrider]

I am keeping my rockchucker, the thing is bullet proof and I do enjoy loading my 308 with it since I weigh each charge and like to check the seating on my primers...... I am really just wanting the progressive for pistol and possibly 556/223.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I plan to load for 9mm and .45. With my bad back I can no longer sit/stand for long periods which means I can usually scrap about 50 cartridges of pistol on my single stage before I have to get up and take a pill.

I do like to shoot a lot, if i go to the range I usually like to throw at least 300 rounds per session, shooting being a perishable skill and all.

Realistically I would like to be able to crank through two sessions at the range in one sitting at the press so loading 600-1000 rounds of one caliber before switching to the other is no big deal. I guess compared to what I am doing now, any of the presses i mentioned are much faster, but if one press is considerably faster than the other, then that will be a factor. I am already looking at an auto case feeder and the rcbs auto bullet feeder (which I understand is also compatible with the xl650?).

At a max, I may eventually decide to add 223 to the progressive mix, but for now just the two calibers, I shoot both equally.

I would say to get the XL650 and order from Brian Enos. Their prices are good and the shipping is free, over a certain amount. Have it delivered to you in 45 ACP, and buy the 9mm conversion kit. That way, if you get hung up doing a caliber change, at least you'll be loading for 45 (which is much more expensive than 9mm).

It's not that the 550 is a bad product, I just really like the powder check system. When you're moving fast, on a progressive, you start to see how you might miss something. It's nice to know that the little beeper has an eye on your charges...

[five.five-six]

[damndave]

The 550 is a manual index 4 station progressive press. The XL650 is a auto indexing 5 station press. If you plan to get a case feeder, the 650 is definitely the way to go.

[the86d]

XL 650 for sure!

I jumped straight into reloading after doing some research (watching videos, talking with a co-worker, and reading a bit) with no real issues...

XL 650 is WAY faster to crank out a few hundred rounds than the 550*, and auto-indexing, and if you get the case-feeder: auto-case-feeding.

On the XL 650 all you have to do once you start is place a bullet, crank the handle... I am VERY glad I went with the XL 650.

This major drawback is that I spent about $1400 including everything for .223 (carbide), and 9mm (carbide) w/ the casefeeder.
(The extras that I didn't think about are the needed add-ons such as: Case trimmer, tumbler, media, chamfer & deburring tool, and such. THEN you will want something better, so my total is about 2k including a BLUE media seperator, AND swager. )

[Bunsen]

I would go with the 650 but if you are shooting a lot of 308 or 223 you may want to also look at the 1050 which has a sawagging station. For my match rifle ammo I process in a 1050 then load on a single stage to help me save time but still check everything over. Dillon has a great payment plan on the 1050 right now too which is a nice incentive.

[Endofcomment]

Fine I'll play devils advocate!!

Get a Hornady LnL AP progressive!

I love mine, 5 stations with half index on the up and down stroke. The culver style powder measure gives you the ability to use a broader range of powder types and is more reliable and accurate. Easy caliber change especially of you have more than one powder measure for different calibers. I have loaded thousands of rounds on mine with no major issues just the usual primer freed shuttle needing to be cleaned out after a few.

^^ This should be enough to make your decision which is obviously Hornady.

Oh and free bullets when you buy a press.