I had a dillon 550..never really "liked" it. I already had a Rockchucker with the Hornady lock and load bushings so I sold the Dillon and bought the LnL AP press. All my dies now drop right in without having to remove bushings etc..

I loaded over 400 7.62x51 in little over 2 hours. That may seem low but it was the first time I had used it and I had some learning curves and was watching what to tweak as I went along.

For whatever reason the Hornady really works for me whereas I never warmed up to the Dillon (and I had it for 5+ years).

JMHO

 

hornady ap

I have the hornady ap with the case feeder and love it!

 

I use a Dillon 650 with a case feeder. I am using 2 separate tool heads for 223. The first has decap in 1 then size/trim in 4. The second tool head has a decap in 1, primer/powder in 2, light in 3, bullet seater in 4 and crimp in 5. If money were no object a 1050 would be nice as I believe it can swage the primer pocket as one of the stations.

 

I have a Dillon 550B and can't speak highly enough about it. The way that it's set up, you have to manualy progress the shell plate, so it's hard to lose track (at least for me). I started with a Lee Single stage, so it's like going from a scooter to a Porshe.

 

Dillon

 

Dillon 550b here

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Do I see a red vs blue koolaid thread developing, I'm all RED

Put me down for the Hornady LnL Press

 

 

also have a LNL AP from hornady,

best money I have spent in a long time, time is a valuable thing, and the good progressives are worth every penny on that front.

 

Dillon 550B.

 

I use a Dillon 550, overall I like it a lot. I think the priming system could be improved. No experience with a red press, though.

 

Dillon 550b

 

Do I see a red vs blue koolaid thread developing, I'm all RED

Put me down for the Hornady LnL Press

Another vote for red!

Only thing you need to pick up a few extra is the shell plate springs to have on hand. Midway has a 3 and 5 packs. If i remember correctly.

 

I have a Dillon 550 and a Hornady LNL, the Hornady wins, but just by a hair. You won't be disappointed with either.

 

Must say I like my red press

 

I went with red after Johnny's great help but it broke after 3 days, hornady came threw and send me the part over night. Then it wouldn't index right. Sent it back and got a dillon 650 and it is soo much smoother and better.

 

I went with red after Johnny's great help but it broke after 3 days, hornady came threw and send me the part over night. Then it wouldn't index right. Sent it back and got a dillon 650 and it is soo much smoother and better.

You broke one of the drive pins didn't' you?? I did the same thing first day about 12 rounds into it..lol. Got the free repair parts and then spent about 30-45 mins playing with the adjustment to get it timed and it runs smooth now. It's like anything mechanical ..you got to tinker with it a little sometimes. Since I repaired it I've had no problems and it's indexing fine....this includes utilizing the case feeder as well.

 

You broke one of the drive pins didn't' you?? I did the same thing first day about 12 rounds into it..lol. Got the free repair parts and then spent about 30-45 mins playing with the adjustment to get it timed and it runs smooth now. It's like anything mechanical ..you got to tinker with it a little sometimes. Since I repaired it I've had no problems and it's indexing fine....this includes utilizing the case feeder as well.

I spent a good 45 mintues tinkering with it and still nothing. Yes it was the drive hub. Matter of fact I have 2 new ones and 2 pawls for sale right now lol

 

You broke one of the drive pins didn't' you?? I did the same thing first day about 12 rounds into it..lol. Got the free repair parts and then spent about 30-45 mins playing with the adjustment to get it timed and it runs smooth now. It's like anything mechanical ..you got to tinker with it a little sometimes. Since I repaired it I've had no problems and it's indexing fine....this includes utilizing the case feeder as well.

Come to think of it I had a indexing issue when I got my press in 2009. Adjusted it and it has worked liked a champ since. I had forgotten all about that. Wasn't a big issue.

 

I'm a gear head my nature. In order for it to index on the way down you kinda of had to throw the handle..if you didn't it would not index to the next station all the way.

 

Dillon 650 here...

 

I love my RED Loadmaster, just got it the other night, took about an hour and about 7 ruined pieces of brass to get it dialed in just right. Loading 9mm right now, have already done about 250 in about an hour and a half, and have the parts on order for .223 loading. Very Happy! and I don't know what 'those' blues ones run for but the loadmaster new is $275 and the pro 1000 about $175 shipped.

 

Anyone have a 1050? Thats what I'm looking at getting, but dont know if it is worth the jump from the 650.

 

Anyone have a 1050? Thats what I'm looking at getting, but dont know if it is worth the jump from the 650.

If I could find anyone who wants to buy a kid I would so get a 1050!

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The OP's question was titled, "Best progressive press for the $".

For the $, the best progressive press is the Hornady LNL. We could go on all day about which press is the absolute best, or which company offers the best customer service, or which color looks best with your decorating scheme, but you can't argue with the bottom line.

When you factor in the free bullet promotion, you can almost buy two auto-indexing LNL's for the price of one auto-indexing 650. You could leave one set for large primers and one set for small primers, and do caliber changes in less time than it takes to walk upstairs for another cup of coffee.

Best press? It's probably a toss-up. Blue might even have a slight edge.

Best press for the dollar? No contest: Red