What is the best progressive reloading press
- Thread starter Mr Black
- Start date
What is the best progressive reloading press looking to buy one and just had ask the people the use them any info would be helpfull thank you Blake
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
You have a budget?
Best depends on your needs! Such a question is ridiculous, unless given more details.
But the best?
Dillon 1050! Check youtube! LOL
Best depends on your needs! Such a question is ridiculous, unless given more details.
But the best?
Dillon 1050! Check youtube! LOL
I have had or do have Dillon 1050,650, 550, Lee Pro 1000, Loadmaster, Mec 9000 x 4
If you are loading pistol ammo 1050 hands down, not bad with .223 either
650 is a bit more versatile if you want to do lots of conversions and load more larger rifle calibers down side is that pressure determines primer depth.
Lee make decent ammo at a very good price but have to many plastic parts and a poor primer feed system in my opinion.
Like the mecs for the shotgun stuff.
If you plan to shoot large volumes of pistol ammo, spend the money on the 1050, it is quite expensive but worth every penny. You can load ammo almost as fast as you can shoot it.
If you are loading pistol ammo 1050 hands down, not bad with .223 either
650 is a bit more versatile if you want to do lots of conversions and load more larger rifle calibers down side is that pressure determines primer depth.
Lee make decent ammo at a very good price but have to many plastic parts and a poor primer feed system in my opinion.
Like the mecs for the shotgun stuff.
If you plan to shoot large volumes of pistol ammo, spend the money on the 1050, it is quite expensive but worth every penny. You can load ammo almost as fast as you can shoot it.
Last edited:
justsomeguy
Regular
- Location
- Calgary-ish
This is like the chevy vs. ford vs. dodge vs toyota debate.....there are as many answers as there are debaters.
http://www.ammoload.com/mark_x_pistol.htm
This is the ultimate loading machine, bit pricy though.
Andy
This is the ultimate loading machine, bit pricy though.
Andy
My standard questions;
1) How many rounds a month do you shoot?
2) How many different calibers do you shoot?
3) How much time can you spend reloading vs shooting?
4) How many years do you figure you'll be using this equipment?
5) Do you enjoy fixing your press more than loading ammo?
6) Do you reload calibers where you will find crimped primers regularly?
The 1050 with the Mr.Bulletfeeder will load 1200-1500 rounds an hour or more. Set up for one caliber, it will set you back $2500 or so. Each additional caliber will set you back another $4-500 for a new conversion kit and seperate tool head and powder measure. It will deal with crimped primers in process. It never wears out, and with proper cleaning and lubing, will last you, your kids, and thier kids.
The 650 with the casefeeder but without the Mr.Bulletfeeder will set you back around $1200. Additional calibers cost a few hundred for a sperate toolhead, powder measure and die set. With it you can load 800+ rounds an hour. Crimped primers must be dealt with seperately, so you'll need to seperate your brass before loading. It's not nearly as sturdy a press as the 1050, but it's not frail. It should last you most of your shooting life.
1) How many rounds a month do you shoot?
2) How many different calibers do you shoot?
3) How much time can you spend reloading vs shooting?
4) How many years do you figure you'll be using this equipment?
5) Do you enjoy fixing your press more than loading ammo?
6) Do you reload calibers where you will find crimped primers regularly?
The 1050 with the Mr.Bulletfeeder will load 1200-1500 rounds an hour or more. Set up for one caliber, it will set you back $2500 or so. Each additional caliber will set you back another $4-500 for a new conversion kit and seperate tool head and powder measure. It will deal with crimped primers in process. It never wears out, and with proper cleaning and lubing, will last you, your kids, and thier kids.
The 650 with the casefeeder but without the Mr.Bulletfeeder will set you back around $1200. Additional calibers cost a few hundred for a sperate toolhead, powder measure and die set. With it you can load 800+ rounds an hour. Crimped primers must be dealt with seperately, so you'll need to seperate your brass before loading. It's not nearly as sturdy a press as the 1050, but it's not frail. It should last you most of your shooting life.
personally i have a dillon 550 with serveral calibers set up on toolheads, a buddy uses a 1050 great if you shoot competions, and another thats happy with his hornaday L'n'L'.
hornaday features alot of saftey and pretty much makes "sqibs" a thing of the past. and they are faster at caliber conversions also.
my dillion takes a bit to change over and doesn't have as many safety aspects but works well for me. there is no perfect reloading device in my opinion its just learning to use what you choose to get proficiently. dillions also have the best warranty in the business if you ever need it, and they keep there value should you choose to step up to the next level of machines. dillion 550, 650 gets my vote.
hornaday features alot of saftey and pretty much makes "sqibs" a thing of the past. and they are faster at caliber conversions also.
my dillion takes a bit to change over and doesn't have as many safety aspects but works well for me. there is no perfect reloading device in my opinion its just learning to use what you choose to get proficiently. dillions also have the best warranty in the business if you ever need it, and they keep there value should you choose to step up to the next level of machines. dillion 550, 650 gets my vote.
Canuck223 offers some great advice an asks some good questions. If you plan on becoming a high-volume shooters i.e., hardcore IPSC competitor, than the Dillon 1050 might be worth it.
However, if you are looking to reload for multiple calibers, a 550 or 650 would probably be a better choice and still meet he needs of most part-time competitors or weekend plinkers/hunters. The Hornady L-N-L press has developed a good following over the past couple of years and is enjoying strong sales.
I own a 550 and a 650. They're well made presses and I'm pleased with them. However, I still regularly use my RCBS Rockchucker and even my Lyman T-Mag turret press. Some applications, the latter are the better choice.
To make a final decision, you really do need to answer Canuck223's questions, as they will really tell you what machine will best meet your needs. Good luck!
However, if you are looking to reload for multiple calibers, a 550 or 650 would probably be a better choice and still meet he needs of most part-time competitors or weekend plinkers/hunters. The Hornady L-N-L press has developed a good following over the past couple of years and is enjoying strong sales.
I own a 550 and a 650. They're well made presses and I'm pleased with them. However, I still regularly use my RCBS Rockchucker and even my Lyman T-Mag turret press. Some applications, the latter are the better choice.
To make a final decision, you really do need to answer Canuck223's questions, as they will really tell you what machine will best meet your needs. Good luck!
I load everything from pistol right up to my .378 WBY in my Dillon 550B. No one can touch their customer service (had a little problem with one of my powder charger bars and they sent me a complete powder set up with the vessel free, no questions asked). Once you try the Dillon pistol dies, you won't use anything else.
I still think there is a market for a press better than a Dillon 1050, but not at the level of a Camdex or Ammoload. A larger toolhead with more dies and a few other options.
That said, currently the 1050 is the top dog.
That said, currently the 1050 is the top dog.
+1.
8 stations sounds like alot, until you use one and realize that you can easily fill 3 more.
(Trimmer, Powder measure, etc)
I don't think you are wrong. I agree that it would be nice to keep the 1050's abilities, but be able to have a powder check before the bullet feeder. I just wonder if a 9 or more station press can work in a rotary system.
I don't see why not.
It is just a matter of scale. All of the essential linkages must be scaled appropriately to handle the increased workload. There would of course be a limit to this, but I think it could handle more then it currently does.
That said, while I believe it is mechanically possible, the market is ridiculously tiny, and would never have enough demand to warrant a production run.
With CNC machining from solid blocks I think one could do it economically. There wouldn't be a lot more force being used. As the extra stations would be for, in my opinion, trimming, belling, powder check, bullet place, seat, crimp, full length size. Since a few of those are already being done, I don't think much change in linkage would need to be done.
