Best progressive press to learn on?

[Bumslie]

Funny how a lot of people here are recommending that the OP just gets a progressive press but, every reloading instructor who has commented on in this thread recommends a SS press to learn the basics on first. Lets see, should the OP go with the advise of people who have experience teaching hundreds of students how to reload or, should the OP take the advise of complete strangers on the internet who have little to no experience teaching others how to reload? Tough call. Specially since anyone with a progressive press should have a SS press on their bench anyways. So, which to get first?

Except me I knew there would be a barrage of comments, so I just said lee loader

But I too reccomend a single stage to start with. Invaluable too that sees more attention than my progressive.

[jumbopanda]

The nice thing about the Hornady LnL progressive is that it uses individual removable bushings so you can perform as many or as few operations at a time as you want. On many occasions I only size on it, and it's marginally quicker than a single stage because I don't have to pull out each case by hand. But it is also true that any reloader should have a single stage press. I keep a Forster Co-Ax next to my LnL for sizing 308 cases.

My first press was actually a Lee Classic Turret, which I have since dedicated to resizing cast bullets.

[madjack956]

[delete

[madjack956]

Funny how a lot of people here are recommending that the OP just gets a progressive press but, every reloading instructor who has commented on in this thread recommends a SS press to learn the basics on first. Lets see, should the OP go with the advise of people who have experience teaching hundreds of students how to reload or, should the OP take the advise of complete strangers on the internet who have little to no experience teaching others how to reload? Tough call. Specially since anyone with a progressive press should have a SS press on their bench anyways. So, which to get first?

I don't need any experience in teaching him how to reload. Im telling him in my experience starting out on a progressive isn't a big deal, unless you are dumber than a box of rocks.

Most of us started on progressives before the internet was even around to easily get all the information anyone would need.

Didn't need a class, or instructor; just a press, a manual, and common sense. YMMV

[Fred Foobar]

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?

Crawl > walk > run

OP, please take the advice of CSACANONNER and the other reloading instructors and start off slow. Take a reloading class, pick up a copy of Lymans 49th, don't rush into it. This is a serious decision that could have life-altering consequences.

You don't know what you don't know.

Yes. A progressive is good to have down the line since it is faster and you could process more rounds, but right now you still need to develop the fundamentals.

The analogy of learning to ride a motorcycle comes to mind. Having a YZXXXR11000000RRR is a lot sexier than saying you have a little Ninja 250 in the stable. However, if you don't have the basics like braking and throttle control down, that bigger bike isn't going to be as forgiving.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should...

[Bumslie]

Just buy both at the same time. Appease everyone and let the bickering stop

[BajaJames83]

Buy once cry once...
the blue coolaid is the way to go.
id say either 550 or 650 depends on how many different calibers amd volume you plan on loading

[jwest]

I see Randall is back - maybe he'll chime in unless he's not posting to this particular forum anymore.

[jumbopanda]

I don't need any experience in teaching him how to reload. Im telling him in my experience starting out on a progressive isn't a big deal, unless you are dumber than a box of rocks.

Most of us started on progressives before the internet was even around to easily get all the information anyone would need.

Didn't need a class, or instructor; just a press, a manual, and common sense. YMMV

[at_liberty]

Although I have a single stage for misc things, especially resizing without decapping, never mind why , I started on a single stage and lasted about one tray full, thinking this is BS, I'd rather buy ammo. I went right to my first turret. Then I thought that was better but not what I needed for higher volume shooting. It was too much of a job. I didn't love reloading.

Then I got my first progressive and never looked back.

I actually had enough exposure to the basics and the single stage by taking a reloading class before I bought anything. The instructor was a precision rifle, anti-progressive press bigot, so I thought the sun rose and set on single stages. Wrong! Anyone remotely interested in competition or spending their time doing something other than reloading chores needs a progressive, especially in the context of handguns.

[at_liberty]

To review, the OP wasn't asking if we liked his premise. He was asking whether he should go with Hornady or Dillon in a progressive to support his Glocks.

[Javi]

To kind of answer your question, I'd say look at progressives that give you the option of manual indexing like the RCBS or Dillon 550B.

[gregshin]

The 550 is not a true progressive IMO. It's a hybrid of a single and multi stage press. My first press was a 550...simple easy to learn how to understand and reload. Getting a true auto indexing can a little daunting to learn and understand unless you are really good with mechanical objects.

You can always add a case feeder to a 550 but from there you might as well just get a 650 w/case feeder or a Hornady LNL. Also dillon dies are not worth the money IMO. I use a mix of lee, rcbs, and forester dies on my presses.

Honestly for the money you can't beat a Lee Pro 1000 for pistol. For $180 it comes with dies and tube fed case feeder option. Awesome little machine that got me reloading over 500 rounds a hour taking smooth and easy.

Currently i have 550, 650, lee pro 1000, and rcbs rock chucker.

[CSACANNONEER]

I don't need any experience in teaching him how to reload. Im telling him in my experience starting out on a progressive isn't a big deal, unless you are dumber than a box of rocks.

Most of us started on progressives before the internet was even around to easily get all the information anyone would need.

Didn't need a class, or instructor; just a press, a manual, and common sense. YMMV

LOL. Who are the "us" you're referring to? If you read this thread, you'll see I started metallic cartridge reloading with a progressive too. I did have +20 years experience reloading shotshells though. I don't recommend doing so without a decent grasp on each step of the reloading process. If you had any experience teaching others how to reload, you would understand that, for many, it can be very confusing at first. That's where a SS press is far easier and better to learn on. But, obviously you know more than every experienced instructor here. I'm so glad that the internet has provided all of us with a venue to be able to read your inexperienced opinion of what is the best (not just the way you or I did it) way for the average person to learn something new. I bet you also think that one should learn to drive using a Formula One car instead of learning the basics on something simpler too.

[CalTeacher]

The 550 is not a true progressive IMO. It's a hybrid of a single and multi stage press. My first press was a 550...simple easy to learn how to understand and reload. Getting a true auto indexing can a little daunting to learn and understand unless you are really good with mechanical objects.

You can always add a case feeder to a 550 but from there you might as well just get a 650 w/case feeder or a Hornady LNL. Also dillon dies are not worth the money IMO. I use a mix of lee, rcbs, and forester dies on my presses.

Honestly for the money you can't beat a Lee Pro 1000 for pistol. For $180 it comes with dies and tube fed case feeder option. Awesome little machine that got me reloading over 500 rounds a hour taking smooth and easy.

Currently i have 550, 650, lee pro 1000, and rcbs rock chucker.

No, a 550 is a progressive that is manually indexed. It's no hybrid of anything as it accomplishes all actions with one pull of the handle.