Dillon vs Hornady

hobo

hobo

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Good Evening....Im considering a progressive loader either a Dillon 550 or a Hornady LNL AP, All opinions are most welcome as im kinda in the dark here just getting tired of using a Lee Turret press for 9mm loading......Thx Hobo
 
If you were comparing the Dillon 650 to the Hornady then you would be making a straight comparison and it would be a bit of a toss up.

But the Hornady would win on price in that case.

Since you are comparing the 550 to the Hornady LNL.

HANDS DOWN THE HORNADY WIN!

It wins on price (almost free if you play it right...I was actually PAID about $10 to buy mine). But even if you pay list price the Horandy LNL Wins against the 550

It wins on Size as it has more holes in the turret.

It wins on speed.
It wins on capacity

Acrashb did a GREAT comparison of the various presses. Very in depth and he came to the same conclusion.

Those who suggest Dillon have never really investigated the topic. They just tend to drink the blue koolaid


Here is a link to acrashb's thread

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127691&highlight=hornady


And his article

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf
 
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Comparing these two (550 \ LNL AP).. I'd still take the Dillon cause I just love mine..... one complaint I have about my 550 (or any 4 station) is that I'd like another station for a powder check sometimes. ... BUT ...I must also say, I've never had a low or missing powder from their powder measure.. Both will work just fine.
 
I have a hard time believing that you have been a member since 2005 and have not witnessed a "Dillon vs. _________" discussion here. Or learned how to use the search function.

Those that drank the red Kool-ade are kinda like liberals. (red-liberals....coincidence? You decide!:D) They will vehemently deny they have made a bad decision but once the thread gets up to about 160-170 posts, there will be far more votes for blue and still they will ignore the popular consensus.

Eventually they put their fingers in their ears and start chanting "la-la-la-la! I can't heeeaaar you!";)

Wait and learn.:runaway:
 
you can say that you love your 550 and I will say good for you.

However.......

That does not make factual sense when you say that it is at all better than the LNL. It is just not true when you stack up the facts.

If you are happy with your Dillon......great. enjoy it. Dillon make great machines.

BUT......

The 550 is just NOT a better machine than the LNL when comparing apples to apples.

Again you would have to go to the 650 to get LNL capability but then you are paying more just to have a blue machine and you still have to take more time to change from caliber to caliber (if that is important).

Just like Joe above.........like children of imigrants who vote Liberal because that is what they have always done and that is what their parents did. They are Reloading LEMMINGS following the crowd insted of thinking and INVESTIGATING on their own.
They cannot see the RAW FACTS

Imperical evidence that the LNL is catagorically superior product to the 550.
 
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hobo said:
Good Evening....Im considering a progressive loader either a Dillon 550 or a Hornady LNL AP, All opinions are most welcome as im kinda in the dark here just getting tired of using a Lee Turret press for 9mm loading......Thx Hobo
Click to expand...

If you are just loading for pistol, then why not look into the Dillon SDB? If you plan on loading for rifle later on, you can pick up a good single stage for that as well.
 
stormbringer said:
you can say that you love your 550 and I will say good for you.

I can't heeeaaar you....
Click to expand...

I said nothing about loving my 550. I said he should count the votes once the thread has about 160 posts.;)

I said nothing about the average shooter needing LNL/650 capacity either.

I said nothing about changing calibers, the original poster mentioned one, 9mm.

So keep frothing at the mouth, it shows off your red tongue.:);)
 
Joe my first line was directed to Peter not you.

YOU of course are the Dillon LEMMING!

Once again.

Imperically the LNL is vastly superor to the 550. The 650 is brought into the equation as evidence as to which Dillon model would be needed to compare to the LNL system.

Unless of course you can come up with a LOGICAL reason as to where the 550 can beat the LNL.
I for one cannot think of a single point of comparison where the Dillon comes out on top.

I started loading only 9mm my self.

Now I load 9mm for both of my kids for IPSC.
.40 for me for IPSC
.45 for fun
.38 for plinking.
.223 for ipsc
.308 for plinking.
6.5x55 for plinking
.303
30-06.

I can switch from one load to the other INCLUDING a full powder conversion with complete load transfer including poweder charge........in about 5 minutes.

Do that with a 550.
 
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stormbringer said:
Joe my first line was directed to Peter not you.

YOU of course are the Dillon LEMMING!

Once again.

Imperically the LNL is vastly superor to the 550. The 650 is brought into the equation as evidence as to which Dillon model would be needed to compare to the LNL system.

Unless of course you can come up with a LOGICAL reason as to where the 550 can beat the LNL.
I for one cannot think of a single point of comparison where the Dillon comes out on top.

I started loading only 9mm my self.

Now I load 9mm for both of my kids for IPSC.
.40 for me for IPSC
.45 for fun
.38 for plinking.
.223 for ipsc
.308 for plinking.
6.5x55 for plinking
.303
30-06.

I can switch from one load to the other INCLUDING a full powder conversion with complete load transfer including poweder charge........in about 5 minutes.

Do that with a 550.
Click to expand...

I was only yankin' your chain up until now, but what the heck, I'll play!

Yes I can change calibers INCLUDING the only part that is a kind of pain in the ass, the large/small primer tubes in less than 5 mins. Let's see, only 2 screws holding the primer magazine assembly, 1 large screw and a set screw for the shellplate, 2 screws for the powder measure if you should only happen to have 1 measure, and a couple pins for the toolhead. But you should know that if you tried the 550. But maybe you went straight to the red koolade......:D
 
I spent months looking at the various reloading machines available and settled of the Dillon 550...Never regretted it......Yes, I CAN change calibers including powder conversion in minutes, so I don`t know what you`re referring to Stormbringer...The Dillon also is manual indexing, which means it`s easier to use as a single stage press, which is makes it easier to work up experimental loads, as well as blackpowder rifle/pistol loads...The Dillon 550 now comes with a case feeder that works flawlessly.....Changing the primer system takes me only a couples of minutes....Yes, it only has 4 stations to work with, but I never really saw much of a difference between my 550 and the Hornady`s I`ve reloaded on....And with most of the Hornady owners I`ve talked too they believe that Dillon`s are more solidly built with better customer service....In the end it`s up to the newbie to decide, but to claim that the Hornady LNL is "Imperically", (I think you mean "empirically") and vastly superor to the 550 is a little silly...
 
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After the press comes the dies...

Redding competition dies (the micrometer adjustable ones) are absolutely great if you change bullet styles in the same caliber on a frequent basis (eg 4 or 5 9mm heads for different purposes).. BUT... the smoothness of the seating die relies on a spring that gets compressed as the bullet seats. Ideally there should be enough drag on the bullet from the case during insertion to overpower the spring and the depth is then determined by the micrometer stop. However, with a little lube build up, or bullets with short insertion (eg 185gr 45ACP) quite often the spring doesn't fully compress. Solution (so far) has been to clean and lightly lube the die on a regular basis (500-1000 rounds). I;ve contacted Redding, but they don't make a lighter spring. Done some looking but haven't found any yet. If someone has springs or other info,, please share.
 
I actually tried a 550 before I bought my LNL.........

I found it well built but clumsy.........specially the manual index. PITA of PITAs I do not consider it to be a REAL progressive press for that reason. The 650 however IS really progressive.

Now.........to change total caliber on a LNL.
1 bolt for case plate.....
1 bolt for primer size change (if required)
LNL bushings change over dies in second and mantain settings
1 detent to change powder charge keeping settings from one to the next.
1 tube to pull up and push in new one if you are changing primers.

Again.........the 650 is required to compare against the LNL

(oh and I know you were pulling my chain).

But then again I RESEARCHED and RESEARCHED before I bought my LNL.

Err I mean before Hornady PAID ME $10 to take it off their hands!! LOL!
 
stormbringer said:
I actually tried a 550 before I bought my LNL.........

I found it well built but clumsy.........specially the manual index. PITA of PITAs I do not consider it to be a REAL progressive press for that reason. The 650 however IS really progressive.

Now.........to change total caliber on a LNL.
1 bolt for case plate.....
1 bolt for primer size change (if required)
LNL bushings change over dies in second and mantain settings
1 detent to change powder charge keeping settings from one to the next.
1 tube to pull up and push in new one if you are changing primers.

Again.........the 650 is required to compare against the LNL

(oh and I know you were pulling my chain).

But then again I RESEARCHED and RESEARCHED before I bought my LNL.

Err I mean before Hornady PAID ME $10 to take it off their hands!! LOL!
Click to expand...


There you have it folks, hornady presses are cheaply built, often held together by 1 bolt, where other quality presses are often held together by 2!

Feels good to spit out that red stuff, huh?:D
 
Apples-to-apples, as storm has noted, caliber changes are much faster on a Hornady LNL AP. The only way to close the gap with Dillon gear is to buy more stuff (such as getting additional charge bars and leaving them pre-set for various calibers). This shifts the value equation even further to the Hornady.

Have a read on the writeup that storm linked to. Covers a lot of ground. I`d be happy enough with a 650 if that was all I`d ever used, but the LNL AP is better overall value and just as well made.
 
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acrashb said:
Apples-to-apples, as storm has noted, caliber changes are much faster on a Hornady LNL AP. The only way to close the gap with Dillon gear is to buy more stuff (such as getting additional charge bars and leaving them pre-set for various calibers). This shifts the value equation even further to the Hornady.

Have a read on the writeup that storm linked to. Covers a lot of ground. I`d be happy enough with a 650 if that was all I`d ever used, but the LNL AP is better overall value and just as well made.
Click to expand...

I've read the article a long time ago, it's well written. And what a coincidence you just showed up! Stormy hand off to you or what?:p:D
 
Wonder why the red guys dwell on caliber changes anyway? Do you change caibers every few minutes?:confused:

Even if it takes you 5 mins on a LNL, don't you load ammo for the next hour or two?
 
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