Researching the LNL and 650

[Rick McC.]

I bought a Dillon RL 550 B over 20 years ago, and I'm still using it now.

Back then, I think it was a little under $300.00. Now, I think it's a little over $400.00.

I bought most of my die sets used, and none of them have worn out yet, either.

[MajO]

I have read the above posts and in a sacrificing frame of mind I offer the following solution to the high coast of a progressive set up.

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/...for-big-bucks/


Good luck and let the bidding begin.

[skosh69]

Originally Posted by MajO

I have read the above posts and in a sacrificing frame of mind I offer the following solution to the high coast of a progressive set up.

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/...for-big-bucks/


Good luck and let the bidding begin.

Thanks to and Chris, they made excellent points about the advantages of a single stage press for long cartridges (rifle) and or accuracy. They are perfect for just that.

[Lonestar grips.]

I have my dad's square deal B. for years it had been sitting in an old truck getting sun baked and slightly rusty. I called Dillon and they said send it in. they completely re-built it for me and didn't charge me a dime. when it comes to progressive reloaders they will always get my business.


as others have said the only bad thing about the square deal is it takes it's own kind of dies. but if you only want to reload pistol calibers and only have a few calibers to reload for then the square deal is hard to beat. I have 45acp and 44 mag/spl dies for mine and over time I plan on getting 38super, 357mag/38spl, 45 colt and 32H&R dies for it.

as for rifles I have 4 or 5 single stage presses. if you have the room for it you can set several of these up and use a different die for each press. that makes things a little quicker.

[DaFadda]

Hard to believe that such a benign post has generated four pages of discussion. Let me add.... Whatever platform you choose...single stage, turret or progressive Lee, Hornady, RCBS, Forsner, Redding... you will invest in that platform. The longer you own that platform, and build upon it, the more invested you are in THAT platform.

IF IF IF... the PERFECT progressive press was invented... there are likely a bunch of Dillon, Hornady or RCBS owners that would choose not to buy, but only because they are so heavily invested in the product they own. And that investment is both financial and emotional. Read threads on reloading and people are flat out "passionate" about their reloaders.

[Grizzman]

I bought a Rock Chucker about 18 years ago, and it still works well. It seems I'm always doing load development, so I use the Rock Chucker to load the 20 or 25 round batches. For this purpose, speed doesn't matter.

I upgraded to a RL550 a few years ago, and my ammo doesn't seem to be any better than it is from the RCBS....it just takes a LOT less time.

People complain about having to manually index the 550, but it allows me to easily use it in the same manner as a turret press.

I've had absolutely no desire to upgrade to a 650.

[sdmc530]

I was tempted to get the 550 but thought the manual index would have sucked.

Remember, what ever you buy will probably last decades so if you are going to go high end do your research. Like already stated Dr. got his in 1971, that has paid for itself how many times?!!

That is why I went all out because I will have it forever and didn't want to repeat the process.

[NAMVET72]

Yes we know you have Big Bucks,

Unless you have lots of brass and money just get a single stage to start with, get two or three reloading manuals, read and read again. Then take it slow, do one at a time, measure every single load.....Good luck

[Gatorade]

I am still getting unpacked from vacation but one point I will make is that i have too much OCD to deprime and then load. I have seen some nasty junk in primer pockets and just jamming another primer in there before the pocket gets cleaned doesn't seem like a good practice. So I run the brass through the cleaner, deprive and resize. Then run it through the polish media. Then I can either bag it and pick up later or hand prime and flare. Charging and seating are pretty easy steps after that.