[dphillips8191]

I am looking at buying a progressive 223 press ie Hornaday lock and load or the Lee load master. I would like to get some opinions before I make a decision.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[ysr_racer]

Buy a Dillon and never look back.

 

[PatMiles]

1 on the Dillon. One important consideration is the fact that resale on Dillon presses brings about 80% of purchase price if you ever decide to sell it.

Pat

 

[bossbasl]

Dillon 550; Better product, better resale, best customer service.

 

[TEXASZEPHYR]

The Dillon is the best you can get. I do have one of the Lee Loadmasters. I'm not sure that they are still in production. The price is cheap enough for the Lee but the quality is lacking, and parts may be hard to find. On the up side, when loading piatol ammo, I have the attachment Bullit feeder that automatically holds the bullet over the case. It did keep my fingers out of the way of the press and it was quick. Lots of ammo in a short time once it is adjusted. Lee is the eqivilent of Mec when it come to metalic loaders. The loadmaster. while it all sounds good would not be my choice for good quality ammo. Some things it is better to slow down and get a quality product (your reloaded shells) when you are done.

 

[oz]

I have a lock & load progressive. I like it. I have been reloading for about 40 years.

 

[dgh]

Have a good look at the Dillon 550

 

[build4u]

Dillon is by far the best mettalic press especially for any kind of volume. The 550 is a great press but not progresive. You can add a case feeder that will speed things up. The 650 Dillon is extremely popular with high volume shooters. Add the case feeeder and look out. The 1050 is the king but the 650 will do almost the same volume and is easier to change calibers. Once you have used a casefeeder you will never go back. I loaded 600 to 1000 rounds a week on a 1050 for 15 years with out a failure.

 

[Chichay]

Ditto on the Dillon 650, plus casefeeder; backed by their exceptional no BS warranty. I've had mine for maybe 15 years. On the rare occasion I break a part, Dillon sends me a replacement no questions asked. You have a PM.

 

[gunsmoke77802]

Have been loading metallic for 40 yrs. Used 3 Dillon 2 RCBS green machines & auto champ. Hornady progressive best there is. Dillon has great marketing, over priced, somewhat proprietary dies, great customer svc & warranty. Don't need warranty w/ Hornady projector.

 

[Sky Buster]

I have both a Dillon and the Hornady Lock & load. My preference
is the Hornady.

 

[K-GUNS]

I started loading the .45 ACP recently and was told great things about Dillion. I ended up buying the square deal. I am having trouble with reload not chambering. I was told about great customer service ?

I tried to call Dillion and could not get through on the phone,always on hold so long I hung up, so I emailed them twice about 2 questions. It took 7 days to get a reply to one question. No reply yet on the 2nd one.

I like the machine and I'm sure its just about fine tuning the adjustments on the press to get it right.

However,I would like to start loading rifle as well and am leaning toward a single stage to get started.It will not be Dillion as I am not impressed with customer service where you need to wait 7 days for a reply.

 

[HSLDS]

The magic of the Lock and Load is that you can quickly and easily change calibers.

Once properly set up changing from one to another is a matter of about a minute.

While several of the Dillon's have the ability to change caliber it is more time consuming...

 

[W.R.Buchanan]

I'm going to make an absolute statement here.

Go buy the Dillon 550B !!!!

There are 10 times the Dillons out there as Hornadays. There is a reason for this(actually several) and it ain't the pretty blue color.

It is just a far better product. Also Dillon makes upgrades to their machines that retrofit to existing machines.

Hornaday drops machines and stops producing replacement parts shortly there after. Ask me about my DL266 loaders and where the replacement parts come from.

I HAVE TO MAKE THEM! Just finished a .410 Drop tube an hour ago for my .410 DL266 cuz Hornaday nolonger has any parts for them!

If you read the posts above you'll notice most of them are positive for Dillons.

As far as speed of change over I can go from .308 to .45ACP in about 1 minute. .223 to .308 since I have to change from small to large primers is 5 minutes.

Also thier customer service is excellent, it's very hard for me to believe horror stories about them simply because in 25 years I have never had anything but positive experiences.

Your choice, but I'd have a good look and talk to as many people as possible, although the responses from above and continuing on this thread will pretty much tell you the way it is going to go.

There's a good reason for this, and it ain't the pretty blue color!

Randy

 

[build4u]

I have been using Dillon presses since 1983. started with the 450 and 450b model and still have a 550, 1050, and two sl-900. I have never needed parts or warranty. IPSC shooters burn more ammo than most can imagine. I loaded 600 to 800 rounds a week for 15 years. The 650 is by far the most popular for a progressive that runs volume. Dillon also makes a primer pocket swager that works great for military brass and the 1050 will swage automatically while reloading. many knock them because of thr sl900 shotgun loader, when it comes to mettalic they are the best.

 

[claybrdr]

Dillon, hands down. Go for a 650, it'll only hurt a little more initially but you will thank me down the road.

 

[Chango2]

Dillon 550 or 650. Lee neck sizing dies also are great IF you make sure to only use your fireformed brass..rings out more accuracy. Use your fireformed brass, neck size only. That brass will likely fit only your gun.

 

[338reddog]

I like the Dillon 650 over the 550 for the fact it auto indexes. There is a potential for a double charge on the 550 if you forget to index by hand. That said I think both are good presses with their own issues. I had a 550 and a 650 ended up selling the 550 and replaced it with another 650. I run one 650 for large primers one for small.

Jeff

 

[dphillips8191]

Thanks for all the info.

 

[nglitz]

Hornady all the way. Dillon is all image. BTDT.