Need a recommendation on a progressive press.

[Colt562]

Disclaimer: I have the LNL AP and am very happy with it...

I think its the best value for money in progressives. Palmetto recently had the LNL AP recently for about $360 shipped. Subtract about $100 for the 500 free bullets you get with it and so, for about $260, a better Auto-indexing progressive cannot be had...

While I can understand people choosing a 650 over a Hornady LNL (they are the same class of machine at approximately the same price for a single caliber) , I'm really puzzled with people choosing a 550 over the Hornady LNL. The Dillon 550 is a lesser machine and is more expensive.

You are right that the 550 is more expensive. I bought mine due to the over whelming support from the Dillon crowd and can now say that I am one of those "fanboys". I was actually looking at the LNL when I first was looking at my first progressive but really like the idea of just changing the toolhead and the shell plate and not having to mess with the dies.

[ExtremeX]

The Hornady LNL press used quick change bushings which essentially act as independent tool heads for each die… You are going to have to factor in the cost of those bushing as you would the tool head for each caliber conversion. The advantage for quick calibers changes are still there and still very simple.

The RCBS Pro 2000 Auto Index calibers conversions also have the benefit of a simple and quick tool head and shell plate change… All that is required is an $18 tool head and the shell plate which cost about $26 on sale, making the base cost $44 for a caliber conversion. Calibers like .45 / .308 share the same shell plate so even most caliber conversion savings.

And both of them are fantastic 5 station auto index presses.

[ExtremeX]

Palmetto recently had the LNL AP recently for about $360 shipped. Subtract about $100 for the 500 free bullets you get with it and so, for about $260, a better Auto-indexing progressive cannot be had...

The recent deals over at PSA for reloading gear have been pretty amazing... It lured me in as well, and was good enough not to pass up...

The RCBS Pro 2000 Auto Index came out to $428 shipped to my door after the $50 rebate and PSA discounts.

[Ad0nis]

I learned on a PRO 2000. Good machine, but I don't like how you are kinda stuck with the powder measure in station 3. Nevertheless I think the PRO 2000 is at least more forward thinking and evolved than the overpriced antiques that Dillon sells. The APS strips are rather convenient (especially if you buy the pre-loaded CCI strips), case retention is handled by a universal spring arm thing, spent primer capture is awesome, you can switch between manual and auto index effortlessly, and the sucker is made out of iron.

Now compare that to the xl650...

Primer carrousel absolutely sucks (prone to gang fire, absolutely a royal pain to change primer size), case retention "pins" are infernally stupid (tiny bits of brass that find the stairway to hell when you drop them (part of "caliber conversion kit along with the casefeed plastiky parts), spent primers (most of the time) end up in a cup only after flinging primer dust on everything, oh and that powder measure/bar/allen bolts holding it to that powder funnel thingy sucks.

Still, considering that it does not accept a case feeder (bullet feeder only and its plastiky suckness) I think the price point for this iron press is a tad high. If you are not overly concerned about making a bazillion rounds an hour (read case and bullet feeder) then the PRO 2000 is worth looking at. (no comment on RCBS CS as I never had to call them).

Nevertheless, I HIGHLY recommend that you look at the Hornady LnL AP prior to making your final choice.

[Ad0nis]

You are right that the 550 is more expensive. I bought mine due to the over whelming support from the Dillon crowd and can now say that I am one of those "fanboys". I was actually looking at the LNL when I first was looking at my first progressive but really like the idea of just changing the toolhead and the shell plate and not having to mess with the dies.

Never look back right???

Cause if you do, you will see that the LnL quick change bushing system is OOH so sweet. There is NO messing with die settings. 1/4 turn in, 1/4 turn out. Ever want to swap out ONE die from your toolhead? 1/4 turn out with the old die, and 1/4 turn in for the new one. No settings required. You don't have to run your dies in and out of a floppy, constantly wiggling all over the place messing with your OAL, toolhead. Oh and guess what else? I can put all of my dies back in the original die boxes when I am done. I don't have toolheads full of dies all over my bench. Everything packs up in neat little boxes that the dies already come with!

Let me ask you.... How many "blue" powder measures do you have pre-loaded on your "quick change" tool heads?

[Gothboy]

IMO I believe the 550 is the way to go if you plan on reloading multiple calibers

No intention to hijack here, but the answer might help the OP aswell as myself. You say that like it's a night mare or supremely expensive to change calibers on the 650. Is there some information you might be able to help out with?

I hear the dillon 1050 is like 500$ to change calibers but Im led to believe its similarly reasonable between the 550 and 650.

[Colt562]

Never look back right???

Cause if you do, you will see that the LnL quick change bushing system is OOH so sweet. There is NO messing with die settings. 1/4 turn in, 1/4 turn out. Ever want to swap out ONE die from your toolhead? 1/4 turn out with the old die, and 1/4 turn in for the new one. No settings required. You don't have to run your dies in and out of a floppy, constantly wiggling all over the place messing with your OAL, toolhead. Oh and guess what else? I can put all of my dies back in the original die boxes when I am done. I don't have toolheads full of dies all over my bench. Everything packs up in neat little boxes that the dies already come with!

Let me ask you.... How many "blue" powder measures do you have pre-loaded on your "quick change" tool heads?

I prefer not to mess with bushings, personally I would rather just pull out the tool head. I have the bushings for my sing stage and find it kind of bothersome. I can also put all my dies in the original box if I wanted to but don't think that's an advantage?

I have two powder measures pre-loaded right now. They are quite organized also, I can post a picture if you want me to.

[Colt562]

No intention to hijack here, but the answer might help the OP aswell as myself. You say that like it's a night mare or supremely expensive to change calibers on the 650. Is there some information you might be able to help out with?

I hear the dillon 1050 is like 500$ to change calibers but Im led to believe its similarly reasonable between the 550 and 650.

The 550 can load more calipers than the 650 can. I was mistaken its not a huge chunk of change but for the conversion for the 550 is can be as low as 70-80 for the whole conversion. For the conversion kit alone on the 650 its $77. Factor in the tool head and powder die and that's another 30 bucks. If you wanted the whole kit and kubudle it would be another 107.

Totals:
550- 156.00
650- 184.00

OP this is getting off track sorry about that,

If you are reloading multiple calipers I would go with the 550 if you are loading one or two calipers I would go with a 650 with a case feeder or as a couple people said above me look into the LNL cause I am going to start researching more about it.

[BenHa]

calibers not calipers

[ExtremeX]

I learned on a PRO 2000. Good machine, but I don't like how you are kinda stuck with the powder measure in station 3. Nevertheless I think the PRO 2000 is at least more forward thinking and evolved than the overpriced antiques that Dillon sells. The APS strips are rather convenient (especially if you buy the pre-loaded CCI strips), case retention is handled by a universal spring arm thing, spent primer capture is awesome, you can switch between manual and auto index effortlessly, and the sucker is made out of iron.

Now compare that to the xl650...

Primer carrousel absolutely sucks (prone to gang fire, absolutely a royal pain to change primer size), case retention "pins" are infernally stupid (tiny bits of brass that find the stairway to hell when you drop them (part of "caliber conversion kit along with the casefeed plastiky parts), spent primers (most of the time) end up in a cup only after flinging primer dust on everything, oh and that powder measure/bar/allen bolts holding it to that powder funnel thingy sucks.

Still, considering that it does not accept a case feeder (bullet feeder only and its plastiky suckness) I think the price point for this iron press is a tad high. If you are not overly concerned about making a bazillion rounds an hour (read case and bullet feeder) then the PRO 2000 is worth looking at. (no comment on RCBS CS as I never had to call them).

Nevertheless, I HIGHLY recommend that you look at the Hornady LnL AP prior to making your final choice.

[ExtremeX]

The 550 can load more calipers than the 650 can. I was mistaken its not a huge chunk of change but for the conversion for the 550 is can be as low as 70-80 for the whole conversion. For the conversion kit alone on the 650 its $77. Factor in the tool head and powder die and that's another 30 bucks. If you wanted the whole kit and kubudle it would be another 107.

Totals:
550- 156.00
650- 184.00

OP this is getting off track sorry about that,

If you are reloading multiple calipers I would go with the 550 if you are loading one or two calipers I would go with a 650 with a case feeder or as a couple people said above me look into the LNL cause I am going to start researching more about it.

I think you may be missing something in your comparison… I don’t think caliber conversions or the fact one can reload more than another is the problem for most… I load everything I set out to load on one press, 9mm, .45 ACP, .357, .223, .308 … and calibers I may get in the future…

There is something just flawed in the comparison of the 550B vs a 650, Pro 2000, or Hornady LNL… 4 Station vs 5 Station press…

Some people need or just prefer the versatility of a 5 station press. One may opt to use a powder check or lockout die, and or crimp in a separate step or simply want to accommodate something like a bullet feeding die. You just get more versatility and options with a 5 station press.

The cost of caliber conversions depending on your needs may be more affordable than even a 550B… this is the case for my Pro 2000 when dealing with pistol calibers. I don’t even have to move the powder measure, since it doesn’t even stay with the tool head for example. It saves me time and money even from moving a shared measure from one tool head to another.

Like I said above, there is no one best press, best is defined by the user’s needs and expectations. Each person must do their own due diligence to find what system best for them…

[Colt562]

I agree there is no one best press it all depends on the users need and find out which system works the best for them.

[bandook]

You are right that the 550 is more expensive. I bought mine due to the over whelming support from the Dillon crowd and can now say that I am one of those "fanboys". I was actually looking at the LNL when I first was looking at my first progressive but really like the idea of just changing the toolhead and the shell plate and not having to mess with the dies.

Fair enough... However, changing the dies individually on the LNL is more of a perceived mess than an actual mess. They do go on and come of very quickly.

[Colt562]

It's not mess at all. I use the bushings for my single stage just prefer the tool head.

[Multra]

I'm going to be reloading 308 on my progressive press which means I need to do reloading in 2 stages to properly trim the case, the dillon press would be terrible for this. LNL for me, and I save some money which can go into good dies.