help picking a new press

[JO JO]

well I am going to rebuild my bench and want to add a press I shoot / load mostly handgun but do shoot / rifle too, I will be increasing my 9mm shooting soon I load for 9mm / 40 s&w / 223 / 308 I estimate at this 9mm 1.5K + per year , 40 s&w under 300 per year , 223 around 400 or so per year and 308 50 to 100 per year,
I DO have an Redding Big Boss single stage that will be going to the new bench for rifle rounds but I dont want to load 1k plus 9mm on a single stage so what do you folks think ?

 

[LoneGoose]

I think you're looking at it the right way. I started with a RCBS single stage press, loading for rifle. Then I got into pistol competition at the local range and had to get a progressive to load all of those pistol rounds. I got a Hornady LNL AP when it was on sale, with a free 100 bullets deal to boot. I love it. It has never done me wrong and the price was great.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I'd rule out the Square Deal. My understanding is that press isn't the right one if you're using the press for mu,title calibers.

If money weren't an object I'd go with the 550. It seems to be the one press that gets almost universal kudos and love.

That said, for the relatively low volume you're loading I'd go with the Lee Classic Turret. It'll be easier to change calibers, costs less and will easily handle the volume you're doing.

Actually, I wouldn't go this route, I already have this press, and I'm loading more and more and shooting more than what you have listed and it works great. It's very flexible and offers multiple ways of loading. I'm yet to feel the need to go to a progressive as some call it a semi progressive and I'm going that way.

 

[cfullgraf]

Choose the progressive press whose color best matches the decor in your reloading room. It will serve you well.

While the Dillon SDB is a good press, I have three, it uses proprietary dies. Since you planning to load a number of handgun cartridges, I'd recommend getting one of the progressives that uses standard 7/8"-14 dies. Among other things, you could use the dies you have.

 

[jmorris]

1,500/year is less than 30 a week or less than 5 a day. That's not too much to ask of a single stage. You could spend a few thousand though and load for the entire year in less than two hours.

 

[Dudedog]

Less expensive, Lee Classic Turret, Caliber changes are cheap.
Faster Hornady LNL Progressive
I am quite happy with my LNL. I use the tube type bullet feeder at the moment. You can add a case feeder and the electric bullet feeder later if you have desire to.
With the tube type bullet feeder I can use one hand to feed cases and one hand for the lever, much faster than manually placing the bullets.
I chose the LNL over the Dillon 550 because of the extra station and the auto index. To get that in the Dillon you need to go to the 650 which is more $ than the LNL.

PS
You can usually find a deal for the LNL with 500 "free" bullets. (you pay shipping)
Take the most expensive ones you load with. (I bought the LNL for 9mm at first but took the .45 cal bullets)

PS: #2 I really like using the RCBS lockout die when loading on the LNL, wish I would have bought it sooner. 5 stations are handy bullet feeder takes up one, lockout die another.

 

[goldpelican]

Been very happy with the 4 Hole Classic Turret Press. Mine is mounted on the Lee Reloading Stand - and I've no compelling need to move it off that onto my new bench. Using it for 9mm/38 Special, have loaded thousands on it.

I've no desire to move to a progressive for pistol reloading.

I don't like priming on the press though, the priming feature works ok but I would rather hand prime - I find the RCBS APS hand primer to be much faster and less fiddly, even when taking into account that the APS strips need refilling.

 

[JO JO]

I will most likely increase the 9mm count, while I like my Redding big boss I have no interest in loading 1.5 k or more 9mm on a single stage, I did have a lee classic turret but sold it to a friend,
Mainly interested in the presses listed in the poll, it's possible I end up loading
a considerable amount of 9mm in the future,

 

[Rule3]

I am not going to cast a vote as these things always boil down to one brand and press. Maybe not so much on this forum but the force is strong elsewhere. They will join in I am sure and recite the mantra "Buy once, Cry Once " drivel.

It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how often you change calibers (and if it is easy and inexpensive to do that!)

From what you mentioned I would skip the Square D.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

I will most likely increase the 9mm count, while I like my Redding big boss I have no interest in loading 1.5 k or more 9mm on a single stage, I did have a lee classic turret but sold it to a friend,
Mainly interested in the presses listed in the poll, it's possible I end up loading
a considerable amount of 9mm in the future,

I offered two opinions based on the list you gave then I offered an alternative based on several criteria you stated. Since you don't like the alternative It seems to me you really have two choices. Both are good. The third choice the Square Deal seems like the odd one out.

if you disagree you're back to three choices, in any case, make a list of pros and cons for each press you consider, weigh what's important to you then pick the one that has the most pros and less cons. I'm willing to bet no matter which one you pick you'll be happy if you do this as all are decent products by reputable companies.

 

[Schwing]

I have never had the opportunity to test out any of the dillons on your list but I have run a Hornady L&L and a Dillons 650 side by side and there is really no comparison between the two. The hornady IS a good press but the Dillion is better.

I also believe, as others have stated, that the square deals use proprietary dies so they wouldn't be great options for multiple calibers. If you are dead set on one of those three, the Hornady would probably be my choice.

 

[JO JO]

I do intend on keeping my redding single stage for the rifle loading , this will be a second press on the bench, does Hornady have the same no bs warranty like the Dillon ?

Just checked Hornady has a lifetime warranty too

 

[mstreddy]

Jo Jo, if you know anyone with either the Dillon 550 or the Hornady LNL, try them out first.
A couple of points of reference - the Hornady is 5 station, the Dillon is 4. You'd have to determine if you need 5 stations in your normal pistol loading. Some folks crimp and seat in two operations.
The Hornady is auto-indexing, the Dillon is not.
So, it may be possible to double charge a case if you don't index the press in a cycle.
Now for the record, I don't own a Dillon, but I do own 2 of the LNLs. The Hornady warranty is pretty good, not quite as solid gold as the Dillon, but they will do right by you if you need them. A call to them and they'll ship out the needed parts quick, typically at no charge.

The SDB as mentioned above uses proprietary dies and would probably not suit your needs at this time, and another thing they don't handle rifle.

 

[LiveLife]

You can usually find a deal for the LNL with 500 "free" bullets. (you pay shipping)
Take the most expensive ones you load with. (I bought the LNL for 9mm at first but took the .45 cal bullets)

Jet.com (owned by Walmart) was running 15% off on Hornaday L-N-L AP for $392.14 + Free shipping + Free return - https://jet.com/product/Hornady-Loc...:10&siteID=VCSYInvXQp8-.ytkPvKO9ILxcyM_j6mJMw

Price drops to $364.80 with 15% off with SAVE15 promo code and waived free return.

And 500 free bullets from Hornady - http://www.hornady.com/promotions/get-loaded-2017

I would take like 168/175 gr .308 bullets and use them or trade for other bullets.

 

[jmorris]

I have no interest in loading 1.5 k or more 9mm on a single stage

That's kind of like sayingI have no interest in walking 10 miles though. Sure it sounds like a lot but when you get a pedometer and figure out your walking 5 miles a day just doing normal activities it's not that big of a deal.

Sure setting at a single stage with 1000 of everything and thinking your not going to stop until your done, would be a bit more than most would want to tackle but it's not that great of a feat to knock that out over 365 days.

Slow stuff aside, if I have them set up and ready to go I can knock out 100 on a Dillon SD in 9:30, I am a bit slower on a 550, a decked out Lee loadmaster or 650 can load 100 rounds in under 4:00, an automated 1050 is a bit slower at 52 min 25 seconds per 1000 but all I have to do is stop by the room to keep everything topped off.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

9 years and well over 100k rounds with very little trouble out of my LnL. I wore out one part and broke a couple of more due to my negligence. Hornady replaced them free of charge. I like the auto indexing feature.

 

[wiiawiwb]

When I started reloading a few years ago, I bought a CoAx and reloaded 45 Colt and 9mm. Then I added 10mm. I think I reloaded ~5,000 rounds my first year. Still using the CoAx and don't see myself going to a progressive.

In contrast, a buddy of mine bought a Dillon 650 and loves it. He used a single-stage press for 30 years before buying the Dillon. Now, he rarely uses his SSP.

No right or wrong answers here but if I were going progressive I'd probably go with Dillon as well.

 

[Blue68f100]

I do intend on keeping my redding single stage for the rifle loading , this will be a second press on the bench, does Hornady have the same no bs warranty like the Dillon ?

Just checked Hornady has a lifetime warranty too

Yes, Hornady has the no BS Warranty just like Dillon. I've used it a few times over the years. All has been minor stuff, nothing major has ever happened.

Are you going to add a brass feeder?. If Not the LNL-AP is the way to go with 5 stations. If you are then the Dillon 650 is slightly more than the LNL-AP but has a better brass feeder setup. The 650 was designed around the brass feeder, without your really handicapping your self. Conversion are higher with the Dillon's. A lot more involved when switching powder dispensers due to the linkage Dillon uses. If your planning on using your current dies and switch back and forth between the SS press the Hornady is easier to do. I've had my LNL-AP for over 10 yrs now. I added the brass feeder a year after I bought it. While the brass feeder has issues there are fixes to make it run smooth. I do not run a bullet feeder for I check the powder before setting the bullet. Over all both are very good machines. The auto index pretty much eliminates any chance of a double charge provided you don't short stroke the ram. I load all the calibers you listed plus 223R on my LNL-AP.

I would stay way from the SD due to the dies and it can not load rifle if ever needed.

 

[Kaldor]

LnL is the way to go. I load alot more than most, 10k a year or so, and at least that much brass processed for the tumbler, on my LnL. And at that volume, dont worry about the case feeder, just feed manually for both.

Its a good press, but you do need to set it up correctly which isnt hard, but if you have issues they are generally easily solved.

 

[edwardware]

I just went through this same question, and I ended up with the LnL. I'm glad I did. The Hornady is solid, predictable, and inexpensive (vs the Dillon).

I've been reloading on a Rockchucker for a decade, and am very mechanically inclined, but full-on auto-indexing progressive is still quite a ride!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

For the quantities you mention a Lee turret would be a good option.
I have a LNL, Lee turret. and a couple single stage presses on my bench.
I use the LNL when I am loading several hundred rounds or more.
The Lee turret for less than 100 and a single stage when I am very particular about a load.

 

[longdayjake]

You could come over to the shop and try out our 650 and our hornady LNL. The 650 is set up for 9mm but the hornady will need some setup. I think it was last set up for .223.

 

[Kingcreek]

Buy a Dillon 550 (manual indexing does not mean double charges) and the caliber conversions and it will load everything you have, shoot more volume in the future than you have been in the past, use it for years and trouble free years to come.
It will be worth more used than you paid for it new. No kidding.

 

[TheDomFather]

well I am going to rebuild my bench and want to add a press I shoot / load mostly handgun but do shoot / rifle too, I will be increasing my 9mm shooting soon I load for 9mm / 40 s&w / 223 / 308 I estimate at this 9mm 1.5K + per year , 40 s&w under 300 per year , 223 around 400 or so per year and 308 50 to 100 per year,
I DO have an Redding Big Boss single stage that will be going to the new bench for rifle rounds but I dont want to load 1k plus 9mm on a single stage so what do you folks think ?

I have a hornady LNL AP as well as a Redding T7 Turret press, I would highly recommend the Redding T7, you can get excellent accuracy through it that you will not get through a progressive press. Everyone will tell you the Dillon is better and I think it is but its at least double maybe triple the price of a Hornady and from everything I have seen it seems to have all of the same problems of the Hornady. If you get the Hornady set it up for 9MM and leave it that way do all your 9 loading on that and the rest of it on the T7.

 

[highlander 5]

Had a 550 for ages and it would load just about anything that would fit in the press,granted manual indexing is a bit slow and the primer system can be a bit finicky all in all I had good luck with the Dillon. Should you buy the 550 and not like it you'll have no problem selling it with little if any loss. IIRC Dillon had or has a 30 day return policy not sure about the LnL. I've 2 650s now great machine but with case feeder,cost of the conversions,tool heads the cost can get very expensive real quick.