Best progressive press to learn on?

[JuanCarlos]

I am new to shooting. I have a Glock 17 and Glock 21. I have a sr22 also but can't fint ammo. I know I need a lot of practice but I can afford the ammo I need. Reloading is the way to go I have decided. I keep hearing that the dillon 650 is the best press to reload pistol I was going to buy one but talking to someone at a gun shop guaranteed me that a Hornady progressive press would be much better for someone starting out. I have never reloaded but I watched a lot of youtube videos and I think I can figure it out. Reading posts here it I think the presses are about the same quality. My question is wHich is better for a novice, dillon or hornaday?

[J-cat]

You should learn to reload on a single stage press.

[Eddy's Shooting Sports]

A Rockchucker.

You progress in baby steps from die to die until you've mastered the basics. This way you don't blow yourself or any of your guns up.

The single stage will always be there for other tasks as well, such as primer pocket swaging, etc.

Also, forget YouTube. Go buy a reloading manual, I like the RCBS one, then read the entire front section. Every word.

[sghart]

Lee Classic Turret

[kalapa]

I started out with a Dillon RL550B and I'm glad I did.

[John Browning]

RCBS Rock Chucker.

The LNL is a better press when you are ready to step into a progressive.

[Bumslie]

Lee loader

[bruce381]

if you are a handy can work on a car type guy get a 550 or a 650.

if you have no real hands on repair guy skills then a single stage press.

[J-cat]

Reloading is more than assembling rounds. There are a lot of variables to juggle. A communist press does several operations simultaneously. An individual round just does not get the attention it deserves. Sometimes, a neglected round decides to rebel and KB's your Glock.

Don't KB your Glock. Use a single-stage.

[JMP]

If you are mechanically inclined, get a Lee. If you are an average Joe like the rest of us, get a Dillon. For single stage, it doesn't matter nearly as much as your dies.

[libertyordeath]

if you are a handy can work on a car type guy get a 550 or a 650.

if you have no real hands on repair guy skills then a single stage press.

This^^^ I started on lnl no issues , you always just can use 1 die as you would a single stage.

[Mstnpete]

Dillon 550 is a great unit!
I've been using this since 1994.

[Rac97crawford]

if you are a handy can work on a car type guy get a 550 or a 650.

if you have no real hands on repair guy skills then a single stage press.

This! My thoughts exactly. The 550 would be a good starter if you're a handy guy. You can run it as a single stage to learn and move right into manually indexing as a progressive once you're comfortable.

If you are shooting a lot of pistol then starting loading on a single will be pain staking esp if all you're after is cheap, quick trigger time.

[CSACANNONEER]

I'm betting the shop in question doesn't sell Dillion products and does sell the red ones. Anyway, to learn reloading, I suggest starting out with a single stage press. When you want to go to a progressive, I prefer the 550 over the 650 for many reasons. The first is cost. It is less expensive to buy conversion kits for it. Also, there are far more conversion kits available for a 550 than a 650. Finally, it is a simpler machine and therefore simpler to learn on and operate. Again, as a certified reloading instructor, I will advise you to learn how to reload on a single stage press. They aren't expensive and every reloading bench should have one even if the bench is full of progressive units. So, if you don't want to buy a Rockchucker, at least buy a cheap used single stage press. Even a Lee single stage press is better to learn on than a progressive. In fact, I use a Lee press for part of my 50BMG brass prep and I just won 4 first place plaques and one third place plaque last weekend at a 1000 yard match. The Lee press along with a SS Hornady press were used to load the winning ammo. So, don't think you have to spend a fortune on a SS press. Just get one.

[jj805]

I am new to shooting. I have a Glock 17 and Glock 21. I have a sr22 also but can't fint ammo. I know I need a lot of practice but I can afford the ammo I need. Reloading is the way to go I have decided. I keep hearing that the dillon 650 is the best press to reload pistol I was going to buy one but talking to someone at a gun shop guaranteed me that a Hornady progressive press would be much better for someone starting out. I have never reloaded but I watched a lot of youtube videos and I think I can figure it out. Reading posts here it I think the presses are about the same quality. My question is wHich is better for a novice, dillon or hornaday?

If there is a Reloading Club Chapter in your area, I highly recommend attending a clinic before you decide to buy equipment. Check the stickies at the top of the reloading subfourm to see if there is a club in your area. Or you could give us your location and we could direct you to the appropriate thread.

That being said, as a NRA Certified Reloading Instuctor, I would have to agree with the people saying that a single stage is best. If you are going to go with a progressive, Hornady and Dillon both make great presses. You will have to research the pros and cons of each press, and figure out which one is the best fit for you.