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Progressive loaders. Preference. #6173025 02/07/16 07:09 PM
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toybox2510 Offline OP
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Looking into getting a progressive. Using for .223 and .45 acp Considering Dillon
Any thoughts or preferences


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Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6173054 02/07/16 07:32 PM
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Dillon is good.

Hornady is also good

Both have there ups and downs....depends on which machine you are looking at. I would rank them 550, lnl ap, and 650.

if you want to put the money into tool heads and such the 650 is hard to beat. But you are looking at 150+ per head/set up.

I would look at the videos on ultimate reloader...

Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6173237 02/07/16 10:38 PM
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Id Recommend the Dillon XL650.

I own both the Dillon 650 and Hornady LnL AP.

Believe it or not they cost the same when you equip them equally. The casefeeder on the Hornady works but not the greatest. Th

Dillon Pros

I like a sturdy mounted press on the bench, the dillon mounts with 4 bolts, hornady with just 2. The hornady is always a little wobbly.

The priming system on the hornady needs improvement and tweeking. Youll need to glue a dime under the hornady primer piston or else it digs into the press.

If you decide on the LnL buy a vibraprime or the dillon primer tubes. Hornady made the primer pickup tubes a bit harsh to use. Dillons will pickup primers without effoert while hornadys will require you to press hard to get the primer in the tube.

Dillons powder check just rocks compared to the hornady cop die.

Hornady Pros

Hornady Bushing system is more modular than the toolhead system.

Hornady parts are available at bass pro and cabelas, where as you have to order dillon parts.

Hornady spent primer system is better than dillons cup but for little money you can make the 650 have the same.


Id rank them as

1. Dillon XL650
2. Dillon 550
3. Hornady LnL


Last edited by Gemlin; 02/07/16 10:39 PM.
Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6173263 02/07/16 10:54 PM
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I really like my 550. I have no complaints about running it. The only one I know to tell you to stay away from is the Lee. I generally like lee equipment, so I bought one of their progressives. Two days after I got it, it was on it's way back to Midway.


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Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6173415 02/08/16 12:18 AM
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I really like my 550, and our local(kinda) reload shop keeps alot of Dillon parts on hand.


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Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6173509 02/08/16 01:20 AM
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Lots of really good info in here. Only reason i would take put lnl ap over 550 is auto index.


Only other slight inconvenience about Dillon is limited distrubutors of parts

Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6173987 02/08/16 12:57 PM
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I still don't get the availability of parts. I have never had an issue with getting accessories or parts for my 650. In today's age, who cares if you can run to Cabela's for a part? Going to Cabela's would be a huge negative for me.

Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6174012 02/08/16 01:20 PM
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It's two things for me

1) if I need it the part, with Dillion I can't just run to a store get it and keep going
2) things going on clearance for Hornady...I have never seen a Dillion part on clearance

Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6174060 02/08/16 02:02 PM
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If you need a part for Hornady, You can't run down to Bass Pro/Cabelas to get the machine running again. Examples:

You break an indexing paw, have a primer slide snap, bend the primer wire, or hurt something on the case feed, you're going to call Hornady to get a replacement. The biggest advantage of a Hornady, is that I can buy a shell plate at the local shops if I felt the need to get it now. However most people would probably mail order the plates from midway or brownells because its cheaper.

I've yet to break anything on my Dillon XL650. I have destroyed the primer slide on small rifle on the Hornady though. Hornady system has a weighted rod that locks the slide back. When you remove the rod, the slide slams forward against the piston and wears a groove into the front of the slide. Eventually it will crack the slide and you'll have to replace it.

Again I have both presses. The Dillon is my go to press and the Hornady is my "Odd Caliber less used" Press these days. Since I bought the Hornady Press because everyone said it was cheaper than the Dillon XL650, and I needed 4 Caliber Conversions, I elected to buy the LnL. Now I wish I would have simply purchased the XL650 Quick Change Kits and the Caliber Conversions.

Like I said, If you equip both presses the same, the Hornady costs just as much as the XL650. The Casefeeder on the Hornady $100 dollars more at least than the Dillons. It doesn't work as good, and you'll be praying that the brass will stay balanced on the down stroke of the Hornady. With Dillon, it's contained in a channel.

Another problem with the Hornady is the press height. Loading a 30-06 cartridge on the Hornady is "Tight". You are almost required to hold the bullet in the case as it 1/2 indexes (Which the top of the bullet can hit the seating die.) Dillon's Press is taller and you will not have this issue.

Caliber Conversion on the Hornady:

1. LnL Bushings (I buy the Rock Chucker Conversion 6 Count at Cabelas for 20 dollars) but caliber conversions require 2-3 individual bushings so $10 per conversion.
2. LnL Powder Insert $15.00
3. LnL Powder Quick Change Die $29.00 @ Midway
4. LnL Powder Funnel or PTX Expander $11.00 @ Midway
5. LnL Quick Change Powder Through Expander Linkage $8.00 @ Midway
6. LnL Shell Plate $34.00 @ Midway

$107.00 For a Caliber Conversion without Dies. In all fairness, the Dillon conversion costs me nearly $200.00 for a Conversion, but it's a better conversion. I get all the parts for the casefeeder, a new powder measure, etc.. If I were to throw a powder dropper in the hornady, it would be over 200 dollars also. (The Hornady Powder Dropper is like 70 dollars and you have to buy the case activated assembly which is another 40-50 dollars, but I'm realistic, no one is going to do that with Hornady because your Caliber conversion would then be $230-$250).

I'd recommend to people, if you want the Hornady, it's a good press, but the Dillon XL650 is much better. Let me say they will BOTH load quality rounds, but the Dillon is much smoother. Again, if you buy the Dillon XL650, buy the Case Feeder. If you buy the Hornady buy the Case Feeder, even with it's issues.

Dillon XL650 = $566
Dillon XL650 Casefeeder = $219 (You get one Plate Included)
(Total $785)

Hornady LnL AP = $450
Hornady Casefeeder = $345 (And you don't get a Plate)
(Total $795 and you need to buy a Plate)

Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6174407 02/08/16 05:45 PM
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One thing I will say. From my experience Dillion presses hold their value slightly better then Hornady. Although the sample size is small because I rarely see used 650s or lnl ap.



If you want to go crazy buy a 1050 smile. I want one... I don't need one by any stretch of the imagaination.

Last edited by Cleric; 02/08/16 05:46 PM.
Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6174518 02/08/16 06:55 PM
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The Hornady LNL and Dillon 650 are very similar in performance. I went Dillon 1050 on all my progressive presses, and have run 650's a while back. The 650's are decent. The Hornady LNL will change out calibers much faster than a Dillon 650. This can be a big time saver. The LNL is a great press. If you can spring for a Dillon 1050, it is the Cadillac of the progressive machines.


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Re: Progressive loaders. Preference. [Re: toybox2510] #6174549 02/08/16 07:15 PM
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buy a 550 or 650 and dedicate it to 223 once you are set up the 650 will spit ammo, the 550 is a little slower.

buy a dillon square deal for the 45.

I have both and load most of my pistols on the square deal, easey to change the tool head.

No bs warranty, you can keep an index pawl on hand but the only time I broke one it was operator error.

Dillon customer service is hard to beat.

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