Time For Press Upgrade, Looking For Suggestions

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ZGunner

ZGunner

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I started out reloading about 2 years ago on a Lee Challenger single stage. I've been loading .308, 30-06, .223, and 9mm. I'd like to start loading a lot more 9mm and .223 and it just takes a long time on a single stage.

So I'm looking at upgrading to a turret or progressive for speed. I'm leaning towards a Lee Load Master but haven't completely ruled anything else out. Dillon carries a very good reputation, but they're priced to match. How can I justify a $200 bump in price, is it worth that much? If I'm buying an end-all be-all press is the Load Master up to the task?

I won't be loading the .308 or 30-06 on the new press. I like to give these rounds very special attention and weigh each individual charge separately. So just 9mm and .223 "blasting" ammo.

Any experience or advice is appreciated.
 
Since cost appears to be a factor, I reloaded pistol with several Lee Pro 1000 presses (at the time, available all tricked out with dies for around $100, North of that now). This press is somewhat temperamental, but once I learned its quirks, they served me well for 20 years. This press can be used for .223, but no other rifle rounds. I have no experience with the Loadmaster, today all my progressive loading is done on a Dillon 650. A great machine, but total overkill for my volume of shooting these days.
If I was going with a turret (which would be about right for my present volume of shooting), it'd be the Lee Classic Turret (the iron one, about $100 on Amazon), hands down.
 
I would second the Hornady LNL AP since you mentioned cost. Its not cheap by any means but I feel that its value is well worth what you pay. The really nice thing is that you would only need 2 shell plates besides whats in the box to get it up and running. Over time you can add the nice little things like a case feeder, bullet feeder, strong mount, etc, I did this years ago and added stuff as deals presented themselves. Now I have more than I care to admit invested in it, but I can do just about anything I want to and with speed.

For the record I did go from a single stage press to a LEE turret. The turret was a fantastic press, when I got the LNL I had a really hard time selling the turret. It sat next to my bench for almost a year before I decided to sell it.... kind of wish I would have kept it
 
I have been using a Dillon 450 since about 1983. Although, it works as well as the day I bought it, I am expanding the operation and just bought a Dillon 550B. It cost $400.00 with no conversion kits (450/550 interchangeable) but includes tax and shipping. The 450 and 550 are the only presses I have bought new. My 5 single stages/turrents are all from yard sales and the like. I would have bought a Dillon used (given the no BS warranty) but never see them for sale or am too late. You buy a Dillon and you are covered for anything forever, for free. No BS means no BS.
 
I would pick an DIllon, Hornady or RCBS progressive before the Lee.
 
I guess it's just habit to keep things sort of cheap. This might be the last press I ever buy so I'm not opposed to spending Hornady or Dillon prices. Buy once cry once. I'll start some research on the LnL.
 
jmorris said:
I would pick an DIllon, Hornady or RCBS progressive before the Lee.
Click to expand...

Took the words right out of my mouth (re: loadmaster). And yes, I have a loadmaster and LCT. I like my LNL, but would have no reservations about getting a Dillon or RCBS (I really like the aps priming system). My LCT is a great press, but it only has 4 holes. My preferred methods requires at least 5 holes.
 
Hornady makes the purchase less to cry about by giving you 500 free jacketed bullets for buying the LnL AP....It was a sweeter deal of 1k when I bought mine.
 
My Dillon Square deal is now about 30 years old and still going strong.
A few parts replaced (for free with lifetime warranty) and perhaps a hundred thousand rounds through it. I cannot imagine a better value for my hard earned dollars.

Roger
 
If you are going to get a progressive, I urge you to get a Hornady or Dillon. Both make great presses with excellent customer service. I personally have the Hornady LNL AP.
 
I bought the dillon 550. The words "lifetime unconditional warranty" kept ringing in my ears. Im not sorry about spending a little more money. The press is flawless!
 
I had a Hornady LnL AP Press years ago and then decided to sell it as I wasn't shooting all that much. Now my sons and I all are shooting and I needed to reload again. I wanted to get up and running quick, and was fiscally challenged and a trifle soft in the treasury, so I got the Lee Classic Turret Press Kit and it is a great press, very capable, and had I never owned the LnL before, I would probably be blissfully happy for the rest of my life with the LCTP. But knowing the difference in the two, I am saving my coin for a LnL.

Have fun Shopping!!!!
 
I will also throw in a +1 for the LnL AP, had mine for over four years now and it functions great. It does have its idiosyncrasies, but it's a very good progressive IMO and I would certainly buy another if I needed it.
 
I'm leaning towards a Lee Load Master but haven't completely ruled anything else out. Dillon carries a very good reputation, but they're priced to match. How can I justify a $200 bump in price, is it worth that much?
Click to expand...

You could probably justify a $300 bump in price.
I have a lot of Lee equipment and it serves me well, but comparing it to Dillon is like comparing a Kia to a 7 series BMW.
 
My Dillon Square deal is now about 30 years old and still going strong.
A few parts replaced (for free with lifetime warranty) and perhaps a hundred thousand rounds through it. I cannot imagine a better value for my hard earned dollars.
Click to expand...

I have two that are getting close to 30, they were a great value for the $130 they cost back then.

For the asking price these days I would (and have) save up a little more for a better press.
 
If I were shooting over 1000 rounds of handgun ammo a week I would probably purchase a progressive press but I don't. I use a Lee Classic Turret press and I can safely produce between 180 and 200 rounds per hour, sometimes even more when I'm running well. I usually spend 2 to 3 hours a week loading and that takes care of all my shooting needs. I process all my rifle brass over the Winter which speeds things up during the shooting season. Caliber changes happen in seconds with additional turrets. You can quickly load .223 ammo on it too if you pre-process the brass. I like the press and it's economical.

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-classic-turret-press-90064.html
https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-4-hole-turret-90269.html
 
I use a Loadmaster. probably loaded over 100k rounds over the past ten years. Pros and cons: Cost vs aggrivation!
Cost: So many people get frustrated with them that usually you can get them for free! [I did]. Caliber conversions are about $35 if you need the shell plate, $11 for a turret if you don't I haven't had to buy any parts for it and its a good thing because Lee's customer service is kinda bad from my experience with them. No comparison with Dillon! But with Dillon you will pay for it up front.
Aggrivation: learning curve is high, it will take a while to dial it in. Priming system sucks! Large primers feed and work [most of the time] Small primers get hung up with even the smallest amount of dirt or powder. throw in some crimped primer pockets and the agrivation level skyrockets.
I've muddled along with it simply because its suites me and I am able to easly load 250 rounds per hour. It makes good ammo and I load and shoot at least 300 rds per week. When it wears out I will probably not get another one [unless its given to me again]. I will upgrade to a Dillon 650 or a Lock n Load. Both have their good points and bad points.
Watch some videos on u tube and see what suites you.
 
I'm another recent purchaser of the Hornady LnL AP. I used Lee products a lot for my single stage loading but there's just so much going on with a progressive that I wanted to make sure it worked well. The Hornady has worked great. Took a few hours to setup but once its up and going it runs like clockwork.
 
I recently sold my dillon 550 and went to a LNL ap and am quite happy. The spring thing that holds shells is great, the priming system doesn't seem to work as well as the dillon, so I decided to prime off the press. This removes one whole process on the progressive and for me that is helpful to keep things running smooth and me able to focus on the different steps. I wish that there was 1 more station though, because I want to run a powder cop, bullet feeder and separate crimp, so I also size off press on my single stage. It works for me but it's not using the full speed of a progressive.
Btw you can use shims to calibrate your single stage to the LNL bushings on the hornady so that you can quick change dies between progressive and single stage which I like quite a lot.
 
sexybeast said:
I use a Loadmaster. probably loaded over 100k rounds over the past ten years. Pros and cons: Cost vs aggrivation!
Cost: So many people get frustrated with them that usually you can get them for free! [I did]. Caliber conversions are about $35 if you need the shell plate, $11 for a turret if you don't I haven't had to buy any parts for it and its a good thing because Lee's customer service is kinda bad from my experience with them. No comparison with Dillon! But with Dillon you will pay for it up front.
Aggrivation: learning curve is high, it will take a while to dial it in. Priming system sucks! Large primers feed and work [most of the time] Small primers get hung up with even the smallest amount of dirt or powder. throw in some crimped primer pockets and the agrivation level skyrockets.
I've muddled along with it simply because its suites me and I am able to easly load 250 rounds per hour. It makes good ammo and I load and shoot at least 300 rds per week. When it wears out I will probably not get another one [unless its given to me again]. I will upgrade to a Dillon 650 or a Lock n Load. Both have their good points and bad points.
Watch some videos on u tube and see what suites you.
Click to expand...
Hey Sexybeast if you know of any place I can find one of the free Loadmasters please PM me. I want one so bad it hurts but, being retired money is just to tight to buy one.
 
I wish that there was 1 more station though, because I want to run a powder cop, bullet feeder and separate crimp, so I also size off press on my single stage. It works for me but it's not using the full speed of a progressive.
Click to expand...

If you get the expander for the powder drop you can still do it all on press. Station 1 - size, 2 - drop and expand, 3 - powder cop, 4 - seat, 5 - crimp.
 
You left out my bullet feeder! So I process brass off press and so I have clean sized primed cases ready when I load, then it goes

Station 1: powder drop /expander
2: powder cop
3: bullet feeder
4: seater
5:crimp

In reality it would be nice to have a 7 station so powder and expander can be separated too, but it is what it is. Also, moving powder to station one prevents the use of the priming system anyway because it only happens between station 1-2
 
If you go with a turret get the lee classic. Add an extra 4 hole turret and a micro charge bar for the powder dispenser for about another $15-20. This will be all you need to crank out plinking or precision ammo with 9x19 and .556.


If you go progressive, know that the Lee Pro1000 is finnicky. If you go with Lee for progressive go with the loadmaster. Otherwise look at hornandy or dillon.


Unless you shoot a lot (>1000rds/month) I think you will be happier with a turret.
 
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