Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

[Gurry78]

I'm new to the boards here and I'm sure this is a question that has been debated in the past and could be debated all day but I'm having a difficult time deciding. Was hoping some experienced individuals might be able to help me make up my mind.

I have a friend hooking me up with a good deal and my options are:
1. Hornady lock and load AP progressive with case feeder for $642 + tax and shipping (+ the mail in rebate for 500 .308 150 grain soft points!)
2. Dillon 650 (no upgrades) with case feeder for $667 + tax and shipping.

My plans are to reload 223, 308 and 300 blk (will for sure be getting the Dillon 1200 trimmer). Will likely continue to do my 7mm mag on the single stage press and I'm pretty sure I'll not bother with reloading for my pistols (9mm and 357mag).

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

They are both good presses but if the price difference is 25 bucks then to me its a no brainer...go with the Dillon.

I dont know what your tax rate is but the 650 is available for 785 shipped from BENOS with case feed.


They're both good presses but the 650 will hold its value way way better...in fact keep it for a couple years and you'll be able to sell it for more than you paid.

The bullets are nice from hornday but remember you still have to pay shipping on those and 150gn softpoints aren't great for precision shooting.

The caliber swaps will be a little cheaper on the Hornady.


How many of each round are you planning on loading?

 

[Chiller]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

have you looked on BENOS' website?

you might also consider the 550

 

[wfjames22]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

I cant speak to Hornady's customer service, but Dillon's is the best I have ever experienced. Sometimes you have to sit on hold for a few minutes but everyone who answers the calls are virtually experts on their equipment. If you do something stupid and break a part on your machine ( although most of them are nearly unbreakable), they will replace the parts for free. I was having some issues on my 650 a few weeks ago and I realized that a large steel pin was bent-have no clue how that happened-probably in shipping, who knows. I called them up to order a new powder funnel to load 300BLK and a replacement for the pin that was bent. After talking to the guy on the phone to figure out what the pin was called, he added it (and some other related parts) to my order for FREE. When he told me my order total price, I said somethings not right because thats too low. He said that the parts were free, not to worry about it. I didnt argue with him, I guess thats one of the things you pay for when you pay up for their equipment.

Not to mention that I was not the original purchaser of my setup, I think its pretty awesome. The added benefit of the Blue Press every month isnt too shabby either.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">have you looked on BENOS' website?

you might also consider the 550 </div></div>

No way in hell...

Auto index for SURE.

I have both, and really like both. Both have quirks. Both have strong suits.

Hornadys CS is great, and they will rarely charge you for replacement parts, but Dillons CS is over the fucking top good. Dillons appreciate in value.

Price and CS aside, judged only on the merit of the machine, I think the LnL is better...

Shellplate case retention spring is better than locator pins
Camlock die bushings allow shuffling of dies without messing with die adjustment
No linkage on powder measure
Easier deactivation of priming for running a batch of brass thru the sizer/decapper/whatever when the primer magazine is full
No sloppy toolhead to cause inaccuracies...no need to buy/make toolhead stiffening hop up parts
No chance of sympathetic primer detonation, a rare but known issue with 650
No little trough of unused primers
Better spent primer dump

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chiller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">have you looked on BENOS' website?

you might also consider the 550 </div></div>

No way in hell...

Auto index for SURE.

I have both, and really like both. Both have quirks. Both have strong suits.

Hornadys CS is great, and they will rarely charge you for replacement parts, but Dillons CS is over the fucking top good. Dillons appreciate in value.

Price and CS aside, judged only on the merit of the machine, I think the LnL is better...

Shellplate case retention spring is better than locator pins
<span style="color: #990000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Non-issue...</span></span>

Camlock die bushings allow shuffling of dies without messing with die adjustment
<span style="color: #990000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Why are you shuffling dies...set it and load?!?</span></span>

No linkage on powder measure
Easier deactivation of priming for running a batch of brass thru the sizer/decapper/whatever when the primer magazine is full
<span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">A 5 cent zip tie will fix this and literally last 10,000 years.</span>
</span>

No sloppy toolhead to cause inaccuracies...no need to buy/make toolhead stiffening hop up parts<span style="font-weight: bold">
<span style="color: #FF0000">Inaccuracies? I just loaded 300 rounds of 260 and the average runout was .003 on a sinclair guage?!? My Co-ax was the same. This is one thing I've never understood</span></span>

No chance of sympathetic primer detonation, a rare but known issue with 650


No little trough of unused primers
<span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">See above</span></span>

Better spent primer dump </div></div>[color:#990000][/color]


The only thing the LNL really has going for it over the 650 is cost of caliber change and the primer dump. For a dollar you can fix the primer dump with a used 223 case and some plastic tubing so it catches every primer or pay 20 and buy the special aftermarket bracket.

The primer detonation thing I've heard of twice. Both times people should heed the golden rule with progressive presses.

DONT FORCE IT!


I hate to sound like a Dillon fanboy but I've owned the LNL, 550, 650, super 1050, etc.. etc...


For rifle only calibers I dont think you give up much with the 550. Especially if your dumping your charges with a chargemaster or similiar.

For pistol calibers the 650 is hard to beat.

The half rotation of the LNL made...to me...placing the bullet an awkward thing.


Truth be told they'll both make great ammo. As good as your components and you can make. The question...at least to me is which one will be worth more in 5 or 10 years?

 

[Gurry78]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

Thanks a ton, going to go with the 650. Do you think the strong mount is worth picking up? My work bench is standing height and very sturdy already.

 

[nhm16]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

This review was very informative:
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP



For a dollar you can fix the primer dump with a used 223 case and some plastic tubing so it catches every primer or pay 20 and buy the special aftermarket bracket.

[/quote]

What is this fix and how do I do it?

 

[71firebird400]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

I've used both and ended up with the Hornady. Cheaper caliber swaps and I only do a couple thousand a year (not full production like some guys). Hornady CS has been great, sending me parts for free with no questions asked. I've been happy with the press, and its served my needs in multiple calibers (357/10mm/45/44).

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1lnbrdg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

For a dollar you can fix the primer dump with a used 223 case and some plastic tubing so it catches every primer or pay 20 and buy the special aftermarket bracket.

</div></div>

What is this fix and how do I do it? [/quote]


http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=584&st=150


info and pics here

[/quote]

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

just saw this on there as well

[quote name='bsdubois00' timestamp='1310855464' post='1492526']
Easy fix for the Primer Catch Thingie:

Go to Lowes - buy one of these and some 1/2" clear tubing (both can be had under $5.00 total)

Take off primer catch plate and install above piece, attached tubing and run to bottle - BAM you are done. No more primers flying all over the place.

[/quote]

 

[M C]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

+ 1 for the dillion and heck yes on the strong mount. get it and the roller handle- tittie with a mustache... !

 

[204dogger]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

I have used both and decided on the Hornady. Both great but the Honrnady fits my style of reloading better. For me it is more flexible.

Chris

 

[Gurry78]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

So umm, please elaborate on the tittie with a moustache.....is that supposed to be a good thing?

 

[noz455sd]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

It was in a movie or video or something...maybe action figure therapy?

 

[AZIROC]

Re: Dillon 650 vs Hornady Lnl AP

I am a sucker for blue. friend of mine has a LNL, and its nice, but ill take my dillon any day of the week. plus they are local to me, so that helps. any issues and i can call or just take my stuff down there and they will make it right.