Etkini
Member
Before I start I realize the types of answers I'm most likely going to get, and I'm more interested in WHY you chose what you did other than "just get a Dillon and never look back" or "you can't go wrong with a Dillon." I've nothing against Dillon or those who use them, but before posting that I've already heard it a thousand times over.
Now, with that said I'm stuck between three presses and I have heavily researched all of them. I'm not a competition shooter (yet), but I do shoot a good amount of ammo on range day, which is currently 500+ 40S&W, 500+ .223, and between 50-100 .308. Range day generally occurs 2-4 times a month, or sometimes it's broken up to 2-3 times a week and shooting smaller quantities of ammo.
For a little back history, I have been reloading a little over two years on a single stage, and it's just not cutting it anymore, especially since picking up the .40S&W. My total time for reloading 200 .223s alone is about 4 hours (and that's moving uncomfortably fast), which is not worth it to me. I do not own 40S&W dies, but will be picking up a set of Hornady New Dimension dies when I do purchase the press, unless I go with an option that includes dies.
I will be looking to get a case feeder eventually (probably after a month or two of using the press to get used to it). I am also very mechanically inclined, and do realize each press has it's own needs and tendencies. I've not fallen into the thinking that I'm going to just be able to open the box and start pumping out rounds within 10 minutes, I realize each one needs it's own cleaning and polishing of certain areas.
I have read jumbleCrash's Lee-Hornady-Dillon comparison, and it has helped, as has searching the internet extensively but I am now asking for opinions of those who have used (owned) each press, preferably at least two of the three. I've learned that, with everything, if you have nothing to compare it to generally whatever you use or own is the "best."
I am between the Lee Loadmaster, the Hornady Lock-n-Load AP, and the Dillon XL650. Unfortunately I don't have anywhere around here to try out the presses other than the Hornady.
I like the Lee because it includes a case feeder, is only $210, and includes the dies in the price. I do not like the priming system on the Lee, priming on the upstroke (and requiring a sizing die with no expander ball to center is) with every other operation going on does not seem like a good time. I could prime off press as I do have a hand primer, but to me that kind of defeats the purpose of a progressive. I also am not too excited about the Federal primer warning - I used Federals almost exclusively. I do have some CCIs, but prefer the Federals. Conversions for this are the cheapest of the bunch, but that's not too big of a deal.
I like the Hornady because it looks like a well-built press. At $520 I would have a total set-up for 40S&W, complete with dies, shellplate, PTX die and an RCBS lock-out die. I like that it's half-indexing, and primes on the bottom of the stroke between station 1 and 2. I also like that conversions are fairly cheap (~$100 to be set up for .223 and .308). While the case feeder would come eventually, a bullet feeder die and tube would be added first to speed things up a bit. This is the press I had my mind set on for the past year, but now I'm back on the fence.
I like the Dillon because it also looks like a well-built press. For $650 I would have a total set-up for 40S&W, complete with the Hornady Dies, RCBS lock-out die, and the Dillon conversion kit. I do like how it includes the bottom half of the case feeder setup, so that I could just manually feed cases into the tube and go to town. The conversions are a bit more expensive (~$160 to be set up for .223 and .308). I can find a case collator for $150, or rig the Lee collator to work for $10 if I really wanted to. Like the Hornady, the bullet feeder die would probably come first.
Customer service with Hornady or Dillon isn't a big deciding factor for me. I've had awesome experiences with both, and feel I'd get the same treatment regardless what I purchased. With the Lee I feel I'd kind of be on my own, but there's lots of help out there for them.
As for the RCBS Pro 2000, it's not an option. I don't feel it would be worth the money for me personally. The strips seem like a pain, and you either buy the pre-loaded strips (none available unless I drive over an hour away), or buy the strip loader.
That's my personal opinions though, but I do appreciate input from all sides. I am not rich, but I am able to save up money for whatever I feel will be the best bang for my buck. If it's the Lee that will be the best bang for my buck, then so be it. Most parts and the press will be purchased online so local availability isn't a big deal, but I do have a Hornady dealer about 15 minutes from me.
Now, with that said I'm stuck between three presses and I have heavily researched all of them. I'm not a competition shooter (yet), but I do shoot a good amount of ammo on range day, which is currently 500+ 40S&W, 500+ .223, and between 50-100 .308. Range day generally occurs 2-4 times a month, or sometimes it's broken up to 2-3 times a week and shooting smaller quantities of ammo.
For a little back history, I have been reloading a little over two years on a single stage, and it's just not cutting it anymore, especially since picking up the .40S&W. My total time for reloading 200 .223s alone is about 4 hours (and that's moving uncomfortably fast), which is not worth it to me. I do not own 40S&W dies, but will be picking up a set of Hornady New Dimension dies when I do purchase the press, unless I go with an option that includes dies.
I will be looking to get a case feeder eventually (probably after a month or two of using the press to get used to it). I am also very mechanically inclined, and do realize each press has it's own needs and tendencies. I've not fallen into the thinking that I'm going to just be able to open the box and start pumping out rounds within 10 minutes, I realize each one needs it's own cleaning and polishing of certain areas.
I have read jumbleCrash's Lee-Hornady-Dillon comparison, and it has helped, as has searching the internet extensively but I am now asking for opinions of those who have used (owned) each press, preferably at least two of the three. I've learned that, with everything, if you have nothing to compare it to generally whatever you use or own is the "best."
I am between the Lee Loadmaster, the Hornady Lock-n-Load AP, and the Dillon XL650. Unfortunately I don't have anywhere around here to try out the presses other than the Hornady.
I like the Lee because it includes a case feeder, is only $210, and includes the dies in the price. I do not like the priming system on the Lee, priming on the upstroke (and requiring a sizing die with no expander ball to center is) with every other operation going on does not seem like a good time. I could prime off press as I do have a hand primer, but to me that kind of defeats the purpose of a progressive. I also am not too excited about the Federal primer warning - I used Federals almost exclusively. I do have some CCIs, but prefer the Federals. Conversions for this are the cheapest of the bunch, but that's not too big of a deal.
I like the Hornady because it looks like a well-built press. At $520 I would have a total set-up for 40S&W, complete with dies, shellplate, PTX die and an RCBS lock-out die. I like that it's half-indexing, and primes on the bottom of the stroke between station 1 and 2. I also like that conversions are fairly cheap (~$100 to be set up for .223 and .308). While the case feeder would come eventually, a bullet feeder die and tube would be added first to speed things up a bit. This is the press I had my mind set on for the past year, but now I'm back on the fence.
I like the Dillon because it also looks like a well-built press. For $650 I would have a total set-up for 40S&W, complete with the Hornady Dies, RCBS lock-out die, and the Dillon conversion kit. I do like how it includes the bottom half of the case feeder setup, so that I could just manually feed cases into the tube and go to town. The conversions are a bit more expensive (~$160 to be set up for .223 and .308). I can find a case collator for $150, or rig the Lee collator to work for $10 if I really wanted to. Like the Hornady, the bullet feeder die would probably come first.
Customer service with Hornady or Dillon isn't a big deciding factor for me. I've had awesome experiences with both, and feel I'd get the same treatment regardless what I purchased. With the Lee I feel I'd kind of be on my own, but there's lots of help out there for them.
As for the RCBS Pro 2000, it's not an option. I don't feel it would be worth the money for me personally. The strips seem like a pain, and you either buy the pre-loaded strips (none available unless I drive over an hour away), or buy the strip loader.
That's my personal opinions though, but I do appreciate input from all sides. I am not rich, but I am able to save up money for whatever I feel will be the best bang for my buck. If it's the Lee that will be the best bang for my buck, then so be it. Most parts and the press will be purchased online so local availability isn't a big deal, but I do have a Hornady dealer about 15 minutes from me.