Good progressive presses?

nsgallup

nsgallup

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Lethbridge Area
Looking to finally get into the reloading and would like to start with a progressive press for handgun ammunition. I have .44 mag, .45acp, 10mm, .357mag, 9mm. Additionally it would be nice to have the option to reload 5.56.

Looking for recommendations that won't break the bank.

Thanks

Edit: I think I've settled on the RL550C, thanks everyone for the input.
 
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The Hornady LNL AP will only dent the bank instead of breaking it, like the 650.
If you only do a few calibers the the 650 my be feasible. The Hornady more so if you do a lot of caliber and primer changes
Both good tools.
 
I second the Hornady LNL AP.
Amazing press for large quantities.
For precision rifle I still use a single stage, mainly out of habit.
 
Good comparison here. https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...691-dillon-lee-hornady-progressive-comparison

While the 650 is a fine machine I bought two Loadmasters for $140 ea. about 20 years ago (one for SP cases and one for LP cases so I didn't have to change primer assemblies) and they are still going strong so I could never justify the cost of a 650 for the little extra benefit I would gain. Over the years I've learned just about every quirk the Loadmasters can have and am able to rectify any of them. If I were starting out the LNL would appeal to me more than the 650 due both to initial cost and more reasonably priced accessories. In fact if they would adapt the $20 Lee case loader to the LNL instead of the ridiculously priced $300 Hornady factory unit I might be tempted even now.
 
I'm doing 9mm, .223 and .308 on my Dillon 550.

Just set up an RT1500 on it for .223 the other day as well.

I reload about 5-7k of 9mm and 3k of .223 on it a year. It does the job.
 
Dillon is the name.

550 if you don't plan to add brass feeder and/or bullet feeder - Cheaper caliber conversion, very flexible to set up

650 if used with brass feeder and/or bullet feeder - Higher production rate, more expensive overall and harder to tweak... but once set up it runs like a clock.

I had Hornady LNL and found it less reliable and sensitive to powder spills and alike... now have 2 Dillon 650 fully dressed.

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Dillon 550 has more caliber conversions then the 650 and they are cheaper. I was going to buy a 650 and sell my 550 but my local dealer convinced me I was better off with my 550. It can load it almost as fast as I can shoot it
 
Eventually get both Dillon 650 and 550!

That being said, if I had to chose only one it would be 550 for ease of calibre change.
All my pistol ammo other than 9mm, and my semi auto rifle calibers, are done on the 550.
The 650 is set to 9mm and never changes.

For the bolt action precision you want to stay away from progressive and go single stage.

I've had friends that steered away from the standard Dillon 550/650 pattern we see everywhere, before long they all ended up selling their Lee/Hornady to switch to team blue.
 
Mark 7....10 station ....don’t have to double up on one station ....has everything need...swager as well
And you can automate it as well ...by the time you buy all you bells and whistles for your press...then get to the point that..you start saying to your self holy Hanna I have to do this ...change this setup this to do this process before I load ...etc..etc..etc..etc....and then figure out how much time and how much money you spent for all the accessories....well for a few bucks more you can buy the mark 7...I had the xl650..and when I calculated the cost I was the same price as the 1050...buy what was needed ..then I was at the price of the mark 7....it’s a beast of a machine I have the evolution...I crank by hand ...but in time it will be fully automated....due to a horrible shoulder injury ...it might come faster
Buy once cry once...and just look at the videos on you tube ....and then you’ll see why
One station one function...oh so sweet....
But do what you can and afford...I saved up for awhile !!,
 
Best advice is to build a really big solid heavy reloading bench. If the bench jumps around as you reload you get dodgy rounds, and you need the space for all the bullets and cases and primers and trays and scales and tools, and the length because who can stop at just one machine? Keeping bullets and finished-ammo lockup on or under the bench helps ballast it down and dampen any vibration. And building it standing-height can be a good thing too.
 
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