Thinking of getting into reloading

[Yerman]

I see a lot of suggestions on this forum for a variety of progressive presses. I think I narrowed it down to a hornady lock-n-load or a dillon 550 or 650

I will be reloading 9mm, .40, .45, .223, .308 for starters.

Any input you guys have for me on the above mentioned presses? Thanks

[shooterbill]

Get the Hornady. As good as a Dillon but cheaper. Faster and cheaper to change calibers. Customer service is great. Check out inlinefabrication.com for cool upgrades. Google $28 bullet feeder. Don't forget 500 free bullets.

[DarkSoul]

I would say either will do the trick, and you will probably be happy with either. I have Dillons (a 550, 650, and a 1050) so i am of course biased.

I would like to eventually get my hands on the Hornady press just so I can do a comparison. Someday.......

[Horton Fenty]

Mmm, good. Feels good.

[MIAMIbaseballer]

Dillon, if you want the best

Main differences between 550 and 650 are auto indexing, 5 stations (650) vs 4, powder check option available, and 650 will put out rounds faster because it's built for the case feeder and has auto indexing. But the 550 is faster for caliber changes. And by faster, I mean the difference of +/- 5 minutes. Takes me less than 10 minutes to change calibers on my 650....

Either way it all puts out ammo!

[Yerman]

What about buying extra inserts for the Hornady and leaving the dies setup for super fast changing? Is that possible and anybody know what kind of costs to get extra inserts?

[Yerman]

Found them...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165277407/hornady-lock-n-load-die-bushings

Seems like a no-brainer to me. Does Dilon do something like is?

[MIAMIbaseballer]

Found them...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1165277407/hornady-lock-n-load-die-bushings

Seems like a no-brainer to me. Does Dilon do something like is?

Yep quick change kit. Dies are set in the toolhead and you just swap to the different caliber toolhead......

The no brainer part is getting a Dillon

[Bill Steele]

Depends

I have a 550B Dillon and love it for my handgun loading, but I do my bottle neck rifle on a single stage press. The way I process my brass (lots of individual steps) and measure my powder, a progressive just adds complexity without gaining any output.

I think you cannot go wrong with Dillon, Hornaday or RCBS.

[Colt562]

Honestly get what you think will best suit you. Aparently I am to unexperienced to give out any advice.

[damndave]

The Hornady is probably the best bang for your buck, but the Dillons have less issues from what I have seen.

Caliber conversions are super cheap on the Hornady and very fast to do.

Customer service on both are excellent.

I would also pickup a single stage to process the rifle brass. To me it is a lot easier.

[nyc71]

I agree with AlliedArmory but you can deprime on a separate toolhead also.
I have both the LnL AP & two 550b.
Lately I was having a few issues with the LnL but a trip to back to Hornady fixed the problems, on the other hand I haven't had any issue witb the 550.

[Kappy]

1. I'm going to recommend starting on single-stage presses.
2. I'm going to recommend the RCBS Rock Chucker.
3. Even if you still want to go with progressive, I'd only do it for handgun and go single stage for rifle, unless you're only reloading for plinking... but truth be told, I don't really plink with rifles.

[Kappy]

Oh... and if I had the money for a better progressive than the Lees I own... I'd go with a Dillon.

[Bongos]

get the dillon, it retain 80-90% of it's value.. in case you ever want to sale, very innovative and well thought design.. buy once and never have to cry out of frustration

I started with the 550 but settled on the 650..