help picking a new press

help picking a new press

  • Dillon Square Deal B

    Votes: 1 2.2%

  • Dillon 550 C

    Votes: 20 43.5%

  • Hornady L&L Progressive

    Votes: 25 54.3%
  • Total voters
    46
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I still have my LNL although I've transition to a 1050 since I only load 9mm in volume. My LNL had a Hornady case feeder and Mr. BulletFeeder. The Hornady was very reliable with the exception of the case feeder; I never was able to get it completely dialed in. The good news is that the way the LNL is set up you can load cases manually very quickly. An LNL with BF would be a fine setup. 550's have great reputations, but I don't have personal experience.
 
looks like the square deal b has no fans even use as a dedicated 9mm press , and the 550 and hornady are close , if I understand both the 550 and hornady will need a caliber sized shell plate and a special powder die, the 550 comes with a shell plate and the hornady comes bare, and if even using my current dies I would still need a new powder die with flare/belling insert for caliber loaded, plus add hornady bushing inserts to the dies I have, so I guess the 550 and hornady would be close on start up costs due to the hornady needing die bushings and a shell plate to start off ? the hornady on amazon $394 bare bones and the dillon 550 with caliber conversion $458 and the square deal ready to go in 9mm $404 , all so close in cost, I am having a hard time choosing so please keep the input coming :) I will be keeping my redding single stage for the rifle loading at least for now
 
If you get the Hornady you can also get 500 - 9MM .355 115 GR HP/XTP for free.
 
that is true hornady gives free bullets and hornady shell plates / stuff is sold at most sporting stores unlike Dillon not many stocking dillon dealers where I live but dillon has the legendary service I called dillon to ask a question and I was on hold all of 1 min and the guy talked to me like a friend not a salesman I dont own a dillon yet and was not calling to buy one and still he was very nice and in no hurry to get me of the phone did not even give me a sales pitch I was kind of blown away by that phone call and can see why folks rave about dillon service, I really am reading all the advise/input I can get
Thanks all the more the better
 
JO JO said:
that is true hornady gives free bullets and hornady shell plates / stuff is sold at most sporting stores unlike Dillon not many stocking dillon dealers where I live but dillon has the legendary service I called dillon to ask a question and I was on hold all of 1 min and the guy talked to me like a friend not a salesman I dont own a dillon yet and was not calling to buy one and still he was very nice and in no hurry to get me of the phone did not even give me a sales pitch I was kind of blown away by that phone call and can see why folks rave about dillon service, I really am reading all the advise/input I can get
Thanks all the more the better
Click to expand...
I've also have had a very good experience when I called Hornady. Had two problems over the years and they sent me the fixes for free . No questions asked
 
JO JO said:
looks like the square deal b has no fans even use as a dedicated 9mm press , and the 550 and hornady are close , if I understand both the 550 and hornady will need a caliber sized shell plate and a special powder die, the 550 comes with a shell plate and the hornady comes bare, and if even using my current dies I would still need a new powder die with flare/belling insert for caliber loaded, plus add hornady bushing inserts to the dies I have, so I guess the 550 and hornady would be close on start up costs due to the hornady needing die bushings and a shell plate to start off ? the hornady on amazon $394 bare bones and the dillon 550 with caliber conversion $458 and the square deal ready to go in 9mm $404 , all so close in cost, I am having a hard time choosing so please keep the input coming :) I will be keeping my redding single stage for the rifle loading at least for now
Click to expand...
Isnt the Dillon 550 a manually indexed press?
 
Jo Jo, it's not that the Square Deal is a bad press, it's that it uses proprietary dies and will not do rifle. So, while having one as a dedicated 9MM press is not a bad thing, the caliber changes for other pistol caliber would be significantly higher as you'd have to buy the dedicated dies for each. I think JMorris and others have one, or more, set up for a particular caliber.

Back to the LNL, as I mentioned, I can't speak to the Dillon. The press comes with 5 LNL bushings, you'd have to buy the shellplate for 9MM. The press includes the powder die with the powder measure case activated system. I don't use the PTX from Hornady. Some here do and they can provide some feedback on it. For 9MM and most pistol calibers I set up as follows:
Station 1 - Size/Decap
Station 2 - Flare/expand
Station 3 - Powder Measure
Station 4 - Hornady bullet feed die (9, 40, 38, 380, 357, 45 ACP) with tubes
Station 5 -Seat/Crimp

There have been some threads on the bullet feed dies and the competitors. Some day I may try the Double Alpha or Mr. Bullet Feed dies. As to the bushings, you can find them for 3-4$ each in either 5 or 10 packs.

Changing caliber would require the shellplate and some bushings, but nothing else would be a MUST. There are some things that make caliber changes easier/quicker. Additional Powder dies that way you don't spend the few minutes setting the powder drop. They run around $20-25.

CFullgrag came up with a novel way of handling this. He developed his own powder drop tubes to keep from having to change/adjust the powder die. I borrowed his idea, with his gracious permission and drawings, and made my own set. It works well for the common pistol calibers and makes it quick.

I've also had very good Customer Service from Hornady. So I can vouch for that.

Keep the questions coming!
 
mstreddy said:
Jo Jo, it's not that the Square Deal is a bad press, it's that it uses proprietary dies and will not do rifle. So, while having one as a dedicated 9MM press is not a bad thing, the caliber changes for other pistol caliber would be significantly higher as you'd have to buy the dedicated dies for each. I think JMorris and others have one, or more, set up for a particular caliber.

Back to the LNL, as I mentioned, I can't speak to the Dillon. The press comes with 5 LNL bushings, you'd have to buy the shellplate for 9MM. The press includes the powder die with the powder measure case activated system. I don't use the PTX from Hornady. Some here do and they can provide some feedback on it. For 9MM and most pistol calibers I set up as follows:
Station 1 - Size/Decap
Station 2 - Flare/expand
Station 3 - Powder Measure
Station 4 - Hornady bullet feed die (9, 40, 38, 380, 357, 45 ACP) with tubes
Station 5 -Seat/Crimp

There have been some threads on the bullet feed dies and the competitors. Some day I may try the Double Alpha or Mr. Bullet Feed dies. As to the bushings, you can find them for 3-4$ each in either 5 or 10 packs.

Changing caliber would require the shellplate and some bushings, but nothing else would be a MUST. There are some things that make caliber changes easier/quicker. Additional Powder dies that way you don't spend the few minutes setting the powder drop. They run around $20-25.

CFullgrag came up with a novel way of handling this. He developed his own powder drop tubes to keep from having to change/adjust the powder die. I borrowed his idea, with his gracious permission and drawings, and made my own set. It works well for the common pistol calibers and makes it quick.

I've also had very good Customer Service from Hornady. So I can vouch for that.

Keep the questions coming!
Click to expand...

More info please on the powder die?????

This is the biggest pain in the ass is adjusting the height of the powder measure when changing calibers??? Does this help with that?
 
Scheels has the Dillon 550 for $419 and free shipping.

http://www.scheels.com/shop/scheels...Price:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&?searchterm=dillon


Edit: I see now that that comes without a caliber conversion kit, which adds another $45.

Sorry. I thought their price was better than that. Around this time 4 years ago I got the 550 for $389 and a caliber conversion kit for $45. I can't remember if that was Scheel's normal price back then or if I got it on sale.
 
Last edited:
More info please on the powder die?????

This is the biggest pain in the ass is adjusting the height of the powder measure when changing calibers??? Does this help with that?
Click to expand...

Here you go, die adjustment stays the same, the measure moves from one to another and settings remain.



FWIW in almost all cases you have to buy different dies for different rounds but there are exceptions. Like 38/357, 44spl/mag, etc But it doesn't matter what press you have, your not loading 9mm and say 38 spl with the same dies.
 
More info please on the powder die?????
Click to expand...

The Dom Father, if you're asking about the Hornady this is it: Powder Die. How it works is you set it for the height where the case activates the powder measure linkage. So, you can have different ones for the different calibers. Just add the powder measure on top and you're good to go.

And yes, you are correct the 550 is manually indexed.
 
mstreddy said:
The Dom Father, if you're asking about the Hornady this is it: Powder Die. How it works is you set it for the height where the case activates the powder measure linkage. So, you can have different ones for the different calibers. Just add the powder measure on top and you're good to go.

And yes, you are correct the 550 is manually indexed.
Click to expand...
This is frigging great! I had no idea this existed and is one of the biggest pain in the rear to change as you have to adjust that clamp every time you change calibers. Any chance you can post a video on it? Also do you use the powder through expander? I don't. I just use a seperate expander die that comes with the Hornady die sets which I like very much for pistol calibers. Thanks so much for posting this!
 
mstreddy said:
The Dom Father, if you're asking about the Hornady this is it: Powder Die. How it works is you set it for the height where the case activates the powder measure linkage. So, you can have different ones for the different calibers. Just add the powder measure on top and you're good to go.

And yes, you are correct the 550 is manually indexed.
Click to expand...
And I just ordered 2 of them 1 for 9mm and 1 for .45, Thanks again!
 
TheDomFather, I'm not using the Hornady PTX. I'm using the cfullgraf designed "custom" drop tubes as mentioned above. This reminds me I need to make one for 32 ACP.

And I just ordered 2 of them
Click to expand...
good to hear. I think you'll be very happy with them. A buddy of mine has a few of them as well and it speeds up his caliber changes.
 
Tip: If your using the PTX and want a quick change setup. Set the Powder stop and DON'T TOUCH IT AGAIN. Adj your powder die body. This way when you change the powder die all the settings are set. I've done this for years and have not had to adj it since. Once you change the Powder stop it effects all the setups.
 
If you have the extra cash go ahead and get the Dillon 650 and you will never go back. This press just works great. I wanted one but just could not see paying that much. I did buy one and after using it decided I should have bought it a long time ago.
 
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