Dillon 550B vs Lee Pro 1000

[Brave Sir Robin]

I am considering purchasing my first progressive press. After a lot of reviewing Lee, RCBS, Hornady Lock n Load, and Dillon I have boiled down my choices to either the more expensive Dillon 550B or the Lee Pro 1000 for about half the cost of the Dillon. From what I have read, the Dillon is the superior product at least based upon the reviews and forums that I have visited. I do not shoot a lot though, and only go to the range about once a month if that. I shoot maybe 200-300 rds each visit to the range. For someone in my position, should I shell out the extra cash for the Dillon and invest in the more expensive Dillon accessories, or should I start of with the cheaper Lee Pro 1000 which is offered on MidwayUSA for around $200 with the 45 Auto plate and dies that I'd like to start off with? I will be reloading 45 ACP, 9mm Luger, 380 Auto, .223 and 308 Win if that information helps any. To start with though, I will only be reloading 45ACP and 9mm, because I simply can't afford the other dies, primers, shell plates and whatever else is required for caliber changes. If there are any other progressive presses that do not exceed $500 that are better than these, let me know. Also, I am only interested in progressive presses as I have reloaded with my friend's single stage and am willing to invest a little more to go progressive.

[drkphibr]

Have you considered the Lee Classic Turret press? Best bang for your buck and based on your volumes sounds like a great fit.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Have you considered the Lee Classic Turret press? Best bang for your buck and based on your volumes sounds like a great fit.

I saw that in a kit for about $230 but I wasn't sure about moving forward with it as I become a more experienced reloader. As of now, I don't shoot a whole lot but I would like to be able to still build up my mini stockpile of ammo. I don't want to have to upgrade at a later time when I may, and most probably will, be shooting a lot more ammo due to the fact that I can make it myself. That's been the main thing holding me back from shooting more, a mix of ammo cost and ammo availability in physical stores. I try to avoid online ammo purchasing as much as I can unless the price is too good to turn away from. This Lee Classic Turret seems like a hybrid between a single stage and a progressive. What's the difference between turret and progressive? It seems like the Lee Classic Turret kit is very straight forward and simple to use and is priced very similarly to the Lee Pro 1000. Im guessing the only difference between either of these Lee setups and that Dillon 550B is cost and speed. If so, I may give this classic turret a serious look. If you have this Classic Turret Kit, how has it held up for you, and how reliable has it been with reloading rifle ammunition?

[Soul_Cal]

+1 on the LCT since you are planning to load a lot of different pistol calibers. You can set-up a turret for each caliber and the caliber changes are a breeze on the LCT. Basically replace the turret and go!

With the money saved, invest in a RCBS Chargemaster and Giraud Trimmer. FTW!

[XDRoX]

The difference between a progressive and turret is that you pull the handle 4 times on a turret and 1 round is made. You pull the handle 4 times on a progressive and 4 rounds are made.

The LCT is capable of loading 200 rounds an hour, the 550 closer to 500 rounds an hour. The LCT is a very strong and durable machine that will last a lifetime. For your needs it'll work great. And for the price, nothing else compares.

[balmo]

I would also suggest a Lee Classic Turret. You can make the ammo you need in a month in one sitting. It easier to learn all the stuff that happening on a turret and its easier to spot and solve problems on a turret. Pop one disk and your ready to reload another caliber. I am failry new at reloading but have reloaded a couple of thousand rounds on my Classic Turret. I also load only for 9 and 45 for now.

[sghart]

I have owned and used a Lee Pro 1000 and I liked it very much. I have used a friends Dillon 450, not quite the same as a 550 I know, and I liked it too. I shoot about the same amount as you and I settled on a Lee Classic Turret. It is awesome. It is easy to learn and easy to use. I load many different calibers on it and I can do a leisurely 150 rounds an hour. I have attached some photos of my setup. The advantage to the Classic Turret is the ease of caliber changes. No changing shellplates, etc.

Best of luck

[1HitaQuita]

If you want a good progressive press & still save lots of money in the process I would go with the Lee LoadMaster. It can be had for about $250 as a kit, including the dies. I got mine setup about a week ago and that thing just cranks out rounds like crazy! There are some really good setup videos on this press to eliminate having problems. Plus the parts to change calibers are A LOT cheaper than the Dillon. They both do the same thing, and do them well. It's like deciding between the BMW 3 series or BMW 5 series. The Dillon just has more bells & whistles (actually it's a buzzer but you get what I'm saying) lol.

[Meety Peety]

Not to beat a dead horse, but it really does sound like the LCT is the perfect fit for you.. considering you are on a budget AND shoot a very low amount of rounds monthly. Even if your new found supply of ammo allows you to shoot 3 times more, you're still nowhere near the volume that truly warrants the need for a progressive.. unless you are short on time and have money to spare. I am in no way saying a progressive is ever a bad choice, but realistically you don't need a progressive to put out 200-300 rounds per month.

[1HitaQuita]

Why does everyone place the amount of ammo you shoot off a month as the basis for needing a progressive press? I only shoot off about 300 or so pistol rounds a month too. However, it takes about 3hrs to make 300 rounds on a Lee classic turret at a comfortable & careful pace (I know because that's how long it takes me on my Lee turret press, and that doesn't include brass prep time). Some may be able to do it faster, some slower, but 100 rounds per hour is a good average. I just don't want to be sitting in front of a press for three hours, I have other things to do. I can do 300 rounds in less than half the time on a progressive press so for me it's well worth it. If the OP is even considering the purchase of a Dillon then his budget obviously isn't that low.

[Nirrad]

I use a Pro 1000 and load the rounds you listed with the exception of the 308. It works great for pistol and 223, but for 308 you'd need something else.

It's the best bang for your buck as it includes a case feeder, can add a bullet feeder, and caliber changes are inexpensive.

[CalTeacher]

I own a Dillon 550 and have owned multiple Lee Pro 1000 presses. The Lee presses aren't built anywhere near as well as the Dillon and are prone to far more issues. I constantly had to fiddle with the Lee to keep it running...especially the timing of the shellplate...but it would produce ammo at a pretty good clip when it was running well. I don't like that it only has three stations, however, because I find that seating and crimping in separate steps gives me more consistent ammo and is less prone to shaving lead bullets, which often occurs when seating/crimping together. My 550 just runs like a tank. I have never had a single issue with it now in over 30,000 rounds and it's not even broken in yet compared with people I know who are over the 200k round mark on their Dillon presses. In my opinion, buy the Dillon if you're set on a progressive because you'll want one eventually anyways.

As others have mentioned, the LCT is a great little press for the money and will serve you well. If you want progressive loading rates, however, just pony up the money and get the Dillon and be done with it. Life is short, buy what you want.

[MR_X]

I have a LCT and a Lee Loadmaster with bullet feeder. I like my LCT much more. I use the LCT for prepping and priming all my brass. I load my rifle round in the LCT and pistol rounds in my Loadmaster. My LCT since you load one round at a time is more consistent in OAL and easier to pay attention to what you are doing. For rifle that matters to me but for pistol as long I am within my min and max OAL I'm good. In the Loadmaster I don't get consistent OAL and I'm guessing this is common in progressive press. If it wasn't because I have to reset all my dies (only have 2 tool heads) in my LCT and haven't spent the money on the Loadmaster, I would only use the LCT. in the loadmaster I pump 100 rounds in 15-20 minutes but there are 5 rounds that you have to watch out for at a time.

[gemoose23]

Dillon 550B can reload all calibers you currently desire, including 308Win.

Also Look at used Dillon's you can get a package deal normally.

Don't be scared at "caliber conversion" costs on Dillon, It is just dillon's fancy word for Shellplate with some extras, like PTX. Dillon 550B caliber conversion is 40 bucks compared to shellplates at 20 bucks, if comparing apples to apples.

Don't forget Hornady LNL AP press as a consideration.. great press and within price range, and shell plates are only 32 bucks.

[1HitaQuita]

Life is short, buy what you want.

Unfortunately sometimes money is even shorter than life!