Looking for a great progressive machine

[79M1a-texas]

Just visited two major sporting goods store and both had their ammo shelves picked cleaned. It is now time to look into a progressive reloading machine. Need a machine that can load for the following: Rifle in .223; Handgun in 9mm, 44 mag, and 45 ACP.

Currently load on a single stage for my precision rifle loads. Looking for personal recommendations.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Look at the Hornady lock n load ammo plant. Got one and it works great. You can always get a standard lock n load AP press and add what you want as well.

 

[dinosdeuce]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Dillon 550B or if you can afford it 1050. Plenty of info on here about progressives.

 

[aloreman]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Love my hornady lock and load

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Well, Dillon's 1050 is a great progressive.

 

[Deisel]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

I have used a Dillon 650 for many years. Dillon sets the standard in progressive machines. Brian Enos has a great website for them and has plenty of advice if you call him.

 

[ksthomas]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

You didn't specify a budget, but as others have already suggested, the Dillon 1050 sets the standard for all the others. If you don't want to spring for that much, then there's some other choices. However, in my opinion, all the best choices begin with "Dillon" (fill in the model). Some of the best customer service in the industry, well designed machines and with proper set-up and operation, they produce superb ammunition. Can't go wrong with Dillon.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kevin Thomas</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> all the best choices begin with "Dillon" (fill in the model). Some of the best customer service in the industry, well designed machines and with proper set-up and operation, they produce superb ammunition. Can't go wrong with Dillon. </div></div>

18 years with a 550 and well into 6 figures loaded a big +1

 

[littlerascal56]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Bought the Hornady LNL. Sold it after 2 months. Too much maintenance/adjusting to keep up with.

Bought the RCBS PRO 2000. Hated the primer strip system, and even had a detonation of some primers while loading. Sold that one also.

Bought a Dillon XL-650. 10,000 rounds later, I still can't find anything that I don't like about it. Runs..and runs..and makes great ammo.

 

[enmerdeur]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Hornady LNL AP. Not sure why people say that it needs constant adjustment. Really not much to adjust on it. Mine just keeps cranking them out.

 

[Jumper]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

+1 on the Hornady LnL AP. The quick change die system is great for caliber change overs. Your dies never need to be readjusted.
You can accomplish the same thing with interchangeable toolheads like the Dillon 650 has but, if you have one die that you use for multi calibers, like a universal de-primer, the quick change system is more convenient.

 

[wingnut49b]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

I have a 550 as a first press. I'm happy with it, but would get a 650 if I'd have loaded before. Or a 1050 if you have the cash and shoot enough.

They aren't really tough to learn if you take the time to understand the process when you begin a new caliber.

 

[Lukas Koukal]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

+1 for the Dillon; 550 seems popular with some rifle reloaders, but if you´re goind to reload handgun cartridges in volumes, you´ll soon miss the autoindexing of the 650. I reload in "bucket batches" for convenience; with brass tumbled (still primed, just getting rid of debris) and the table stocked up, I can reload two buckets of 9mm overnight. Then switch the toolhead, priming etc for a different caliber some other day. Saves on time a lot.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

For someone looking to run a bunch of calibers, the Dillon 1050 is the wrong press. I was going to go with the Hornady LNL for my second progressive. I own a Dillon 650. I thought the LNL was cheaper, but I added together everything that I would want to make it equivalent to Dillon (shell plate, ultramount, low primer warning, etc). It turns out the cost of the two are right on par for what I wanted to do.

Then, I had a primer detonation (my fault). It trashed my primer feed system. I bought the machine through Brian Enos. I called Dillon and they said they didn't have me in the system. I thought, oh great. He asked for my address, created a customer profile for me, and then sent me an entirely new primer feed system. I was just going to replace a few of the damaged parts I had identified. He told me it would be easier to just replace the whole thing. At that point, I became a Dillon customer for life.

The Hornady LNL and the Dillon each have their own flaws. Perhaps because it has been around a while, there are a number of modifications available to fix the flaws in the 650.

 

[ksthomas]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Carter,

Depends on how you do it. I have complete change-overs (complete toolheads) for at least six different calibers for my 1050, so it only takes me 30-45 minutes to make the switch. My 550 can be changed over in a few minutes, no problem. As a result, I use the 1050 when I'm doing a minimum run of 5,000 rounds or so. Usually far more than this, and that's where the time saving comes in. For those smaller runs, the 550 gets the nod. But I'll agree with you, if you're going to be loading a couple hundred rounds each for a few different calibers, the 1050 isn't the press.

They do have increbily good customer service, though, don't they? Best in the industry! (gotta love their catalogs and calendars, too!)

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

Hornady LNL AP...
2-1/2 years, 10,000 or so long-range centerfire rounds, not a hiccup...

What "adjustments"???

I just keep cranking the handle...

 

[EddieNFL]

Re: Looking for a great progressive machine

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hornady LNL AP...
2-1/2 years, 10,000 or so long-range centerfire rounds, not a hiccup...

What "adjustments"???

I just keep cranking the handle... </div></div>

Keep cranking. At 10K it's barely broken in. Eventually, they all will need adjustment...regardless of color.