Dillon vs Hornady

[pmt]

It is not as efficient........it simply cannot be.

Therefore it reduces volume of rounds produced per given time period.

The whole idea (IMHO) in having a progressive is production output.

SO.........

Dillon.......get a 1050 if you can afford it.

If not......

Hornady LNL AP hands down.

I'm indexing with my thumb as I place the bullet on the case - very efficient. As for rounds produced in a given time period, I can only get out 100 in 8 minutes.

 

[stormbringer]

I'm indexing with my thumb as I place the bullet on the case - very efficient. As for rounds produced in a given time period, I can only get out 100 in 8 minutes.

Do you have a case feeder?

otherwise
4.8 seconds to place a case and bullet and actuate? Are you an octopuss?

for me having my son as case feeder makes reloading FAR more important than getting the rounds out.

It provides a great opportunity to "chat" about things........

Sure going to miss that in 3 years when he heads off to university.

 

[joe-nwt]

Do you have a case feeder?

otherwise
4.8 seconds to place a case and bullet and actuate? Are you an octopuss?

for me having my son as case feeder makes reloading FAR more important than getting the rounds out.

It provides a great opportunity to "chat" about things........

Sure going to miss that in 3 years when he heads off to university.

When you are finished the upstroke/primer seating, if you have your empty brass placed close by your right hand does have to move very far to grab a brass and place it in the shellholder. And a flick of the thumb to index does not add anything significant timewise to the process.

Hey Storm, how is it that you are always operating the press and your son is case feeder? Why aren't YOU case feeder and your son driver? He must be close to that age where he can drive your car if he's not already there, let him operate the press once in a while.

Bully.......

 

[Airwolf]

Yep. slows you down, takes concentration away from watching the rest of the press....

Oh please, are you serious?, or just easily distracted?...After 18 years and ten`s of thousand`s of rounds, I`ve never double loaded, or, if I think I may have missed a powder load, I just move the shell plate backwards, check, and move on....It was mentioned on one post that they find the 550 "clumsy" to work on...Hmmm, maybe some people are just naturally "clumsy"... It`s up the individual to decide....The strength of how Dillon`s are built, their absolute guarantee, customer service, among others, makes Dillon an excellent choice....

 

[Janeau]

I purchased my Dillon 550B 25 years ago. At least 150000 rounds were loaded if not more during that time. I broke a few parts and Dillon still gave them free to me even after that time. Try to beat that. Nothing can beat Dillon service. I am Blue forever

 

[acrashb]

Oh please, are you serious?

Always, when it comes to reloading.

Let's say you have a ten-dollar bill representing the attention you can spend at any given moment. The more you spend on one thing, the less left over for another. Simple and proven concept - if you'd like to dig into it, pick up a copy of "Twist of the Wrist".

On a manually-indexed press, that either means you slow down or you take attention away from other things, like watching the powder level or some such. How much attention it takes and how much it matters to someone varies from person to person.

I would not consider a manually-indexed progressive. Others would - and they give up speed whether they're aware of it or not. Some are aware, and are OK with it for some other perceived benefits. Some are OK with a turret press, which is slower again, for perceived benefits (cost, simplicity, etc.).

I've ended up going fully-automated, with a case and bullet feeder - all I do is pull the lever, and watch/feel the press' operation. I can tell you it's easier and faster at the same time - whether or not the expense and complexity is worth it to someone else is up to them.

 

[40cal]

Well, let's see here.....Hornady or Dillon.....hmmmm. If we want to get some INDEPENDANT information on what the TOP shooters use, there is only one source that I have ever seen confirmed on paper.

Years ago (just a couple) the folks from USPSA used to hand out a questionnaire to all the shooters at the USPSA Nationals Competition. This involves 400-500 of the most serious practical shooters in the U.S., Canada, and even Europe. They ask EVERYTHING about guns, loads, bullet make, weight, and loading equipment. The results are printed in their monthly magazine "Front Sight". For those of you who are not members of USPSA or don't receive the magazine, you are shamefully unaware of reality when it comes to the Practical shooting community.

When it comes to loading presses, well over 90% are Dillon as listed in the results of the questionnaire, and most of those are 650 presses. The 550 press is BY FAR the most popular press in the world. I am not saying it is better or worse than the Hornady, but do you really think that over 90% of the top shooters are not smart enough to figure it out?

Again, just my un-biased opinion.

 

[Airwolf]

...On a manually-indexed press, that either means you slow down or you take attention away from other things, like watching the powder level or some such...

So, what you`re saying that your not very good at multi-tasking...Fair enough...But not everyone falls into that category...As I`ve said, 18 years on my 550, and I have never had a powder charge problem...And as far as "watching the powder level"....You have problems keeping track of a large hopper of powder??

..I would not consider a manually-indexed progressive. Others would - and they give up speed whether they're aware of it or not....

Well, I`ve hit 600 rounds-per-hour, so?....To good reloaders, safety comes first, not, "I can reload 700 rds-per-hour, and you can only reload 600rds!..

"...
Auto-indexing can put too much emphasis on being a speed demon, and can lead to missing something dangerous like double-charging or something annoying like having to pull the bullets from your last hundred rounds....
+`s and -`s for both, weigh the difference`s and decide for one`s self, but let`s not go overboard in dumping on the 550....

 

[cbabes]

I have been in the market for a reloading press for a while now. I will be reloading rifle and handgun ammo. I have read countless reviews. I have talked to very experienced reloaders. My conclusion is that Dillon is the way to go. I will also note that I never heard anything bad about the Hornady. I am looking to get a 550 in the next month or so but has anyone ever tried the 1050? Looks like more press than I will ever need but it would be nice....

Auto indexing shellplate
One set of dies
Built in primer pocket swager
Automatic powder measure system
Automatic priming system
Electric casefeeder
This is a commercial grade machine, is capable of loading 1,000 to 1,200 rounds per hour and carries a one year warranty.

 

[CeeZer]

I purchased my Dillon 550B 25 years ago. At least 150000 rounds were loaded if not more during that time. I broke a few parts and Dillon still gave them free to me even after that time. Try to beat that. Nothing can beat Dillon service. I am Blue forever

Dillon, Hornady and RSBC all will replace parts for free now...

550B vs LNL AP - LNL AP is less money than 550B and is comparable with 650 in functionality; most if not all LNL users are very happy with the product and in fact, some are Hornady converts. Quality and usability is close to equal and LNL has some ups on 550B.

I know many ppl who use 550B, very happy with them and tried to steer me in the same direction (due to either lack of exposure to other makes or ignorance and being blind brand loyal) but I kept looking in RCBS and Hornady direction...

Based on available to me facts I chose LNL AP and RCBS dies works for me and works very well and as expected

 

[Airwolf]

I have been in the market for a reloading press for a while now. I will be reloading rifle and handgun ammo. I have read countless reviews. I have talked to very experienced reloaders. My conclusion is that Dillon is the way to go. I will also note that I never heard anything bad about the Hornady. I am looking to get a 550 in the next month or so but has anyone ever tried the 1050? Looks like more press than I will ever need but it would be nice....

Auto indexing shellplate
One set of dies
Built in primer pocket swager
Automatic powder measure system
Automatic priming system
Electric casefeeder
This is a commercial grade machine, is capable of loading 1,000 to 1,200 rounds per hour and carries a one year warranty.

A Dillon 1050 is not the kind of press a first time re-loader should buy...Aside from the cost, it can be a complex machine to work with, seeing that even changing calibers can take about 15-20 minutes....Also, the 1050 is more of a commercial grade press for serious, very high volume shooters...It also does not carry Dillon`s "lifetime, no BS warranty", only one year parts/labour.....Please put aside all thoughts of 1050 and look at Dillon`s 550, 650, (the 650 can case feed rifle brass, the 550 can`t), or Hornady`s LNL...Start slow, learn the basics, and go from there.....
If you ever decide to move up to the 1050, you`ll find that the 550 or 650 can be sold at nearly the same price as when you bought it new...

 

[Moike]

I own a Dillon 650, have loaded thousands of rounds of 9mm and .223 on this press and can honestly say it is the single best piece of sporting equipment I have ever purchased.

 

[acrashb]

So, what you`re saying that your not very good at multi-tasking.

That's clearly not what I'm saying. If you want to be that way, fine, but to repeat the message in slightly different terms: everyone has a set amount of attention to give to a task - when something takes part of that attention, less is available elsewhere. If that something can be eliminated, generally that's a good thing.

 

[joe-nwt]

That's clearly not what I'm saying. If you want to be that way, fine, but to repeat the message in slightly different terms: everyone has a set amount of attention to give to a task - when something takes part of that attention, less is available elsewhere. If that something can be eliminated, generally that's a good thing.

How do you ever manage to operate a motor vehicle?All those controls, your attention has to be divided between the instruments, traffic in front and behind, those pesky side mirrors.......Say, do you have to look at the accelerator every time you push it with your foot? How about the brake? Signal lever?

Progressive presses are not that complicated. I don't know about you, but I can pick up a piece of brass from a bin and place it in the shellplate without looking, it's been in the exact same place for 10's of 1000's of rounds. Same with the index lever! Same place as the last time!

So Hornady LNL is less attention consuming..... Like I said, the red guys will grasp at any straw that comes along.........

 

[mpjustin]

I just loaded a 650 for the first time and man was it awsome. I had never reloaded before and with a little help I loaded 700 45acp and then switched over to 9mm in no time at all and did another 600 rounds of 9mm. it was one nice machine.

 

[TightGroup]

I just loaded a 650 for the first time and man was it awsome. I had never reloaded before and with a little help I loaded 700 45acp and then switched over to 9mm in no time at all and did another 600 rounds of 9mm. it was one nice machine.

Unless your reloading small primers for the .45acp it takes more time to swap from large pistol primers to small pistol primers. Plus I always take some time in checking the poweder flow, (since I usually also change powders) , the primer seating, and a little bit of cleaning.

TG

 

[mdragon9]

A few things to note from some of the posts...the LNL is only less expensive is you aren't going to buy the case feeder. Thats over $400 vs. $240 from Dillon. So the initial price difference balances out. You can use any dies you want in either press, someone was arguing about the cost of Dillon dies. The LNL is really more comparable to the Dillon 650 than the Dillon 550.

I have a Dillon 550 and this week I just completed the whole buying decision process between a 650 vs. 1050 vs. LNL because I wanted to upgrade to system with a case feeder and full indexing. and I also want a powder check so need a 5th die holder. Whether or not you need these features is totally up to you personally. If you decide you need them than you have to buy a machine that is capable of providing them.

I bought my 550 used from a nice fellow on the exchange as an upgrade from a Lee progresive and its been great but I'm slow and it takes a lot of care and attention.

I am not interested in arguing about how I fast could become with it because I never will become fast. I've got arthiritis, a short attention span, I'm easily irritated and I've got better things to do with my time than fiddle with a reloading machine.

In the few months I've owned it I've produced about 5000 rounds but thats taken a lot of determination to produce.

Its a great machine, its reliable when its working right and you can pump out a lot of ammo, but becoming a high speed Dillon 550 operator is not something I need on my resume.

If you are going to get a case feeder, check your cost because the LNL is the same cost or more as a 650 and the 550 is only a little less than a 650 so whats the point of buying the 550? If you aren't going to buy a case feeder...ever....than I would swing towards the LNL and get the progressive feature.

Check out the various Dillon forums on the the 550 primer feed, people have all sorts of issues with it and there are all sorts of solutions. When it works it works great, but it has to be adjusted perfectly. A lot of people never have any issues with thier 550s, some people have plenty, it mostly boils down to adjustments. There aren't many but they are critical. Fortunately Dillon support is great.

You'll find lots of rants on the LNL also, mostly about the older models and the spring mechanism that holds the cases, but reportedlythe redesign has resolved that. Hornady support reportedly isn't as strong as Dillons but is still sounds very good.

Ask me in a couple weeks if I'm having trouble with the primer system of the 650...thats one of the things I'm worried about. I would much rather have a primer system like the LNL or the 1050. I've really developed a hate for the 550 primer system but Dillon does help!

To be honest I think its a toss up between the two systems, LNL and 650, but as I was interested in a case feeder and potentially a bullet feeder I went with the Dillon 650 because of the much larger support community, a little lower cost and the better availability of a bullet feeder. Hopefully I'll get it dialed in and it will be trouble free.

The only reason I didn't buy the 1050 is that the conversions cost to much. With the quick conversion system it ends up about $500 per conversion and I need 4 calibres! My next machine might be a 1050 dedicated to a specific calibre.

Look for a used 550 coming up for sale in a couple weeks folks! But I might keep it for producing test loads because its easy to switch calibres and pumpt out a 100 rounds.

Martin

 

[Airwolf]

...Check out the various Dillon forums on the the 550 primer feed, people have all sorts of issues with it"..."but it has to be adjusted perfectly.....

Sorry, but I`ve been to many Dillon forums, and the few people that have had "issues" with the primer system, have being people new to reloading, and where they have been too anxious to get setup....It takes me minutes to switch primer systems, and in 18 years, I have never had to fiddle with the adjustments, take off the spring, undo two screws, everything lines up perfectly....As to claiming that it, "has to be adjusted perfectly",...So?...Do you adjust your dies sloppy?...How about your powder charge?, or is within plus/minus 2 grains acceptable?...Many things on a reloader have to be properly adjusted, no shock there....Each reloader has their points, I just find that the 550 has greater flexibility..I`m not knocking auto-indexing...I`m looking at a second press, will probably go with the 650, and add a bullet feeder

 

[stormbringer]

Found this on the net today.....

Looks like some good information.

http://ezine.m1911.org/HornadyLNL.htm

 

[johnone]

I have a 650 for my .41mag, .44mag, .45LC got it about 7-8 years ago, works great, firgure it was paid for within a few weeks of reloading the above expensive calibers....
I also have a 1050 in .45acp its closing on 20 years now, no major issues, I agree not for the newbie.... any small part that ever broke was replaced at no cost by Dillion....
Bot operate with case feeders.... Great machines, great people to deal with
John