Progressive Presses?

Mike Rae

Mike Rae

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In your opinion what is the best progressive press for reloading .45ACP and other hand gun cartrdiges only? What is the cost of the press? Where would I buy one?

Appreciate any and all advise!!

Thanks in advance.:D

Mike
 
Some say Dillon are the best. I agree, but my experience on others is limited.:D

Wait, I see a Dillon press up there in the banners at the top of the page..........:p
 
I loaded .45 ACP for years on an RCBS piggyback II then an RCBS ammomaster. Both worked well but RCBS doesn't sell the automatic indexing progressives anymore.

got a deal on a older dillon 1050 and now reload at 700-800 rounds an hour without working hard- i'm told it'll go to 1100-1200. however you're looking at $1500 US list plus shipping, taxes etc.

By & large most people seem to go with one of the Dillons for progressive reloading. I started with RCBS and stuck with them but if I were starting out now I would probably go Dillon.

Both companies have super customer support
 
If you are just loading for pistol, and never intend to move up to rifle, you can get away with the Dillon Square Deal. It's fairly cheap, but it's downside is it's small, harder to convert.

The Lee progressive has a following, and they are very cheap. Many people look down their nose at them, and never having had one, I can't offer an informed opinion.

The Dillon 550 is a better built press than the SD or the Lee, but it doesn't auto advance. It can handle rifle cases, and it has the added flexability of interchangeable tool heads, so once your dies are set, you get to leave them alone.

The Hornady Projector is built more solidly than the Dillon 550 or 650, and is ideal for rifle and pistol. However, it does not offer interchangeable tool heads, and it's origional powder system wasn't as good as the Dillons in progressive use. Many of these failings have been corrected in the newer Lock and Load press, and there is some backwards compatibility. One design feature that I personally liked was that the shellplate advanced on both the up and down stroke, smoothing out the transition and causing less shaking of the powder out of the case.

The Dillon 650 has the advantage of the quick switch capability of the 550, and the addition of an automatic case feeder.

The Dillon 1050 is the ne plus ultra of reloading, as it does every operation on the downstroke, it feed automaticly, and it can also swage the primer pockets of military brass.
 
I keep looking into this topic myself.

I'ma casual handgun shooter, but even a casual shooter can burn up alot of ammo.

I shoot my 223 alot, too.

Although i generally like to buy top end or near to the top end gear, I think I'll probbaly end up going the LEE route. I don't think I can justify spending the amount required to get a Dillion that will handle rifle cartridges as well as multiple pistol cartridges, and since I don't need to churn out more than 200 rounds of handgun an hour, I think the LEE will do me fine...

If I wanted a top end progressive, i'd be looking at the RCBS, Dillion, Hornady Lock and Load..That sort of thing.:D
 
I use a square deal B for .38 spl., load about 3-4 hundred an hour comfortably, accurate powder measure, easy to convert to other handgun calibres, reasonably priced, excellent no BS warranty from Dillon. I`ve also loaded 9mm and .45 acp. with it with absolutely no problems. Order direct from Dillon or I believe Rayn`er Shine sells them in Canada, 306-689-2654.All of the above mentioned are also excellent to my knowledge but I like the Sq. deal B. Good hunting.
 
Both myself and a friend have Lee Progressives and another friend has a Dillon. Sorry I don't know which model. The Dillon is nicer, but both will get the job done. You get a faster, better built machine the more money you spend. But for me, I'm not in such a rush that the Lee can't do the job. Its all about quality control and watching what you are doing. Either machine could make you happy or frustrate you.
 
dillon 550b is the way to go and YES it is ALOT cheaper in the us

got my 550b with 2 toolheads and 2 cal conversions,1 set of lee .223 dies for 450 U.S shipped and paid NO taxes or duties
 
Gatehouse said:
Although i generally like to buy top end or near to the top end gear, I think I'll probbaly end up going the LEE route. I don't think I can justify spending the amount required to get a Dillion that will handle rifle
Click to expand...

No swearing on Gunnutz please.:p
 
Grizzlypeg said:
The Dillon is nicer, but both will get the job done.
Click to expand...

I have both (dillon 650 recently, Lee Loadmaster for some time), and am experimenting. For the moment, grizzlypeg's words look about right.

You'll see a detailed, point-by-point comparison shortly.

If you decide to go Lee, go here: http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1138933596.3782=/html/catalog/surplus.html

You can pickup a 'second' (cosmetically imperfect) loadmaster for $225USD. When they have used ones, they usually go for $170USD. Both prices are ready-to-use, dies included. I'm using a "used" Loadmaster, it came reconditioned and in excellent working shape. And Lee ships to Canada, no problems, ask for USPS (not UPS!).
 
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Hello,

If you can find one, Star Reloaders are awesome. Some background here:
http://www.starreloaders.com/

Very easy to use and set up and built extremely well. I was introduced Star reloaders from the old timer Bullseye shooters at my club. I ended up buying two from them when they got out of shooting and have been using them to reload 45ACP and 38SPL.

Good luck,
 
What's the best would depend on your budget and the amount you shoot .
If you don't have a budget and/or do a lot of reloading ( 1000's of rounds ) the Dillon is for you .
If you have limited funds and / or shoot only 2-3000 rounds a year the Lee Pro1000 is the tool for you .
Just my .02 cents
 
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