making the move to progressive loading. Input would be helpful.

[kdsd731]

I'm going to be moving to progressive reloading for 40s&w, 45acp and 223. I will want a case feeder and bullet feeder on the press also. I have always been partial to Hornady products but I noticed their bullet feeder is only for pistol or rifle. And is pricey to get both. I found RCBS makes a feeder that does both. Now, what are your suggestions on a good route I should go. Doesn't have to be a Hornady press and I am up for mix matching brands if that's doable. I want to get all the quality stuff needed to crank out high volume but at the same time if there are more economical routes to go please give me your suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[CalTeacher]

Dillon XL650. That was easy.

[kdsd731]

Haha. Somehow I knew Dillon would be the first one to pop up : ) What about bullet feeders? Does Dillon make a bullet feeder? I couldn't find one.
And why this over say the Hornady ammo plant?

[freonr22]

lock n load ap with case feeder..

[diveRN]

Tagged

[gemoose23]

What is your quantity of shooting, per month/year?

If under 1000 a month, a Hornady LNL AP plane jane, served me well for many years.

My shooting needs has increased recently, I paid a 1300 bill to Dillon for a 650xl with all the fixings (still no bullet feeder)... I wanted to see how this "Team Blue" lives.

[CalTeacher]

Haha. Somehow I knew Dillon would be the first one to pop up : ) What about bullet feeders? Does Dillon make a bullet feeder? I couldn't find one.
And why this over say the Hornady ammo plant?

You can get aftermarket bullet feeders from a few different companies. I have never loaded on a Hornady ammo plant, so I can't make any comparison. I currently use a Dillon RL550 and have no use for a case feeder or bullet feeder. I can crank out about 400 rounds/hour easily. IHow much do you plan on reloading per month? I shoot competitively, but only 1-2 times per month as time permits. People who shoot every single weekend and go through at least 1k rounds per month are the ones who typically make use of bullet and case feeders.

[kdsd731]

Right now I only shoot a few hundred rounds a month, but I would like to shoot a lot more. I limit myself because I don't want to have to reload a ton of rounds on my single stage at a time. Also, my dad wants me to reload his pistol and rifle rounds for him so he doesn't have to. He is willing to be the pocket book for my equipment if I'm the labor. That sounds like a fair trade to me. He wants me to have all the good stuff so I don't mind reloading for him and so he can shoot all he wants. I will probably just start with a case feeder and will look more into bullet feeders later.

[kdsd731]

What are your opinions on this guys XL650 vs LNL AP review?

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/278030_.html

[milotrain]

If you only shoot a few hundred rounds a month I'd suggest not bothering with a bullet feeder. You certainly have reasons for wanting one; in case that reason is a production speed you'll find that hand feeding is plenty fast. If you shoot 500 rounds a month you can still comfortably get by without a bullet feeder. Because you want to load three different calibers your machine changeover time is an important factor, having to change a case feeder and bullet feeder over every time will put you squarely in the "produce one caliber in massive bulk once ever three months, convert and do it again".

I often load a few hundred .223 before switching the press over to .357 or .45acp and because of that I spend a large percentage of my reloading time swapping over the press (with a 550, which is very quick). You'll want to avoid that if possible, especially with a case and bullet feeder. To spend the money on either or both of those then you need to really be convinced that you like the idea of huge ammo production runs or three separate presses.

[stilly]

I'm going to be moving to progressive reloading for 40s&w, 45acp and 223. I will want a case feeder and bullet feeder on the press also. I have always been partial to Hornady products but I noticed their bullet feeder is only for pistol or rifle. And is pricey to get both. I found RCBS makes a feeder that does both. Now, what are your suggestions on a good route I should go. Doesn't have to be a Hornady press and I am up for mix matching brands if that's doable. I want to get all the quality stuff needed to crank out high volume but at the same time if there are more economical routes to go please give me your suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Way to go. You just ignited a ford/chevy flaming debate. Put on the fire gear and stand back...

Some folks will say Dillon. Some will say Hornady LNL AP.

As for ME personally, I would choose LNL AP. Here is why, Dillon is too good of a company for me. Like how Gale was too good of a lab assistant for Walt in the 4th season of Breaking Bad. He was just too nice, too good and a bromance was sure to happen until homeboy tried to ready him up to take over. Now, I am not saying that your Dillon will try to have you killed, but just beware, if you get up one morning and it has started making you coffee, you will need to toss it out. (The coffee and the machine).

I think you can say across the entire board that Dillon is probably the KING of reloading. Well, Actually, Dillon is the YANKEES of reloading. When they see something good, they buy the rights and sell it on their website for a small markup With that said, I can not tell anyone to get a Dillon because there are other alternatives on the table. I will probably get a Hornady LNL AP if my Lee Loadmaster does not work out. The Hornady LNL costs about 1/2-1/4 as much as some of those Dillons fully decked out. Hornady has been around for a while and they deserve a good shout out too.

I hate Dillon now that I think of it. I like a little bit of friction here and there and Dillon has excellent customer service and quite frankly they leave little if nothing to cause any friction. The only thing I really dislike about Dillons is the changing of calibers. Too goddamn long if you ask me. I will loose interest after 5 minutes and go watch spoogebob or whatever his name is with the square pants...

Anyways. When it comes down to voting between Dillon and Hornady, My vote is for the Lee Loadmaster... I bought one for $150 and I am a happy camper but I have not taken it out of the box yet. But one thing is for SURE, EVEN at $150 I did not cry at all... And since my current turret only cost me $120 brand new, Hey, I aint gonna complain.

BTW, Maybe you need a turret instead of a progressive? In that case consider the Lee Classic Turret with 4 holes. Those KILL... Buy once and laugh at all of those guys buying more expensive presses and crying...

One thing is for certain. I think it is a WISE investment to get the RCBS Universal APS Hand Primers. No matter WHAT loader you have, there ALWAYS seems to be issues with on press priming. Even the blue man group has issues from time to time. The best way to side step that is to already have your brass primed. Then no worries about blowing primers through your fingers or hand or ceiling and no really needing a blast shield. Things just get solved. So please add the RCBS Universal APS hand primer. I have done some research and I think I have found THAT to be the BEST hand primer on the market and right now Midway usa has them for $49. IN STOCK! I say it is the best because it uses APS strips, does not need shell holders, and you can prime at any angle. Plus I read two reviews that said it was good and I have already invested the money into spare strips, strip loader and well, I already have my primers... But really, not needing any extra damn shell holders was a win win for me. So consider that.

As for caliber changeover. Well, Lee has everyone beat with their turret, but that loadmaster seems pretty fast too AND cheap. The LNL AP seems to be the next one in the bunch that has the fastest/cheapest caliber changeover. BUT for some reason, just about ALL of the blue man group presses are SO expensive/long to change calibers, that folks would rather go out and spend ANOTHER two grand for a new blue man group press with a different caliber... Else I think it is like $200 and like 30+ minutes to change over all the parts when you swap out calibers. I dunno for certain on that, but if that is the case, 30 minutes or longer? Damn. I can take my Lee and swap out .45 ACP with a .44 mag turret and be ready to go in under a minute and back to making ammo...
I dunno about the Loadmaster though. I think it needs the top turret changed and the shell plate holder thingy and you are good to go after that. Maybe somethign with primers, but I do not plan to prime on the press. Midway shipped my order so it should be here by next week... :\



I am sorry, what were we talking about?

[Malthusian]

Your money would be better spent on a second progressive press
One set up for Rifle, the other for pistol..
Or one for large primers and the other for small primers

1000 rounds in a couple of hours is easily doable with a just a case feeder

[tiller]

Mr bullet feeder is the best on the market.... Hands down....

That paired with a dillon press... I promise you it doesn't get any better

[just in joy]

I love my hornady LNL AP but hind sight I would of went with a blue beast in the 650xl range I have friends with 650s and loved them don't get me wrong hornady makes a good product but each shell plate is 30+ dollars switching over from large to small primers also adjusting the powder measure to the caliber is time consuming...I have doubles of everything to make the change eaiser I just need another press I load all my rifle loads on my single stage...

if it was my choice tto have a redo I would go dillion

[Pauliedad]

I love Stilly. Really.
Me? I'm a Dillon 650 guy.
We met in high school and I've never been with anyone else but every time the debate comes up for newbies you just don't want less than the best you can get. When admitted anti dillon folks admitted that they were king that kind of sealed it for me. That and the powder check system.