In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Press Wars! Lee Loadmaster - Dillon RL 550B - etc.
danjkolb
Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
I'm about to pull the trigger on a reloading solution. I am on the Lee Loadmaster side of the fence right now. I'm looking to reload .45 colt,.40,.45, 9mm, 30-06, .243, and maybe some others eventually. Number one issue is that I am a cheap * (that's why I am going to reload, not to mention a hobby besides drinking beer or better accuracy). What does everyone think is the best solution for me? a Dillon, Lee, Hornady, Etc... has to be progressive and do both rifle and handgun rounds. What are the pros and cons from people that have used either press? I've been searching for some time now and I can't find anything wrong with Lee or Dillon. Some people say that the Prime function of the Lee Loadmaster doesn't work properly and you have to do them one at a time to make sure it works correctly and doesn't seat primers sideways? It seems like I could get all the bells and whistles to load handgun rounds without even touching the press besides to pull the lever for less than the base price for just a dillon press. who knows what?
Comments
Then; if your skill level meets the suggestion, I would forget LEE and go with a Dillon 550B.
I've loaded 100's of thousands of rounds on a Dillon 1000 press. Dillon is engineered right. There is nothing wrong with Lee equipment, but the Dillon is simply a much better made machine and will hold up to the rigours of loading rifle ammo a lot better.
I know with a large degree of certainty that if you are not an experienced reloader you SHOULD NOT purchase a progressive press until you have loaded many rounds on a single stage press.
Then; if your skill level meets the suggestion, I would forget LEE and go with a Dillon 550B.
I've loaded 100's of thousands of rounds on a Dillon 1000 press. Dillon is engineered right. There is nothing wrong with Lee equipment, but the Dillon is simply a much better made machine and will hold up to the rigours of loading rifle ammo a lot better.
+1 Learn on a single stage first!!!!! Real bad things can happen if you start out with a progressive
You can start with a progressive Dillon much easier than you could with a Lee; the steps are the same as a single stage, and you can even go one round at a time if you want.
Dillon's primer tubes are the ONLY P.I.T.A. you'll encounter. They feed perfectly, load a little slowly, are really safe inside the tube, and you'd really have to TRY to get one in there sideways.
Just pay attention while you reload, and you should be good.
With all of the videos and information online I feel like i have already been using one for years now ha [:p]
They will give you the most wonderful level of support. Start slow, and check everything as many times as you need to to assure yourself that the press is doing right. Never cease to be Vigilant and Question anything that doesn't work or look Right.
If you have limited time/money, Dillon has the solution.
Silly to buy a Single stage press and stuff, if you need a Progressive.
Less time spent loading will be freed up to ....SHOOT MORE!
If you are lucky, you might find one at a Gun Club, or even better, at a Pawn Shop. Get it at a Discount, and then they will help you get it running. I got mine as a gift basket case) from a friend who found it at a Pawnshop. Got it for FREE. One call to Dillon, and they were shipping me all I needed to get it updated to full new Specs, and replaced all missing parts.
Dillon is the best[EDIT] at customer support, and their products are among the very best, too.
Class of their Fields, IMHO.
The other thing to look at is their warranty. Hard to beat.
If you want to learn the basics; use the Dillon.
If you want to learn frustration and getting higher blood pressure because the dies keep changing position as you install them over and over; get a single stage.
BTW-the Square Deal B is ONLY set up for one caliber when you get it; the 550B will do everything from .17Mashburn Express to the 45-70 with no alterations other than changing toolheads and powder measures. (and maybe primer tubes/cups)
Dillon all the way [;)] Spend a little extra and get the best. The Lee I had cost me two 1911 barrels because of their POS powder measure not dropping the load [xx(][V][:(!]
AMEN to that - I just dropped $110 on a new 9mm barrel because of a poor charge - go for the Dillon.....
Steve
and have upgraded to a DILLON
the only thing i load off of the RCBS is the 7mm and the 30-06 i dont have the conversion kits for them yet
If you are not mechanically inclined and don't have the patience of Job run from the Lee. It works and I have been fairly succesful at keeping it running but it can be a HUGE PITA and I wouldn't think it is capable of loading larger rifle cases. I had enough trouble getting it to run correctly with .223 remington. You shouldn't be loading cases that are over 2" long on a progressive anyway. IMHO
BTW I have seen as many people at the range with squibs loaded on a blue machine as anything else. Of course blue out numbers everything else by 5 to 1. Anything can and will throw squibs.
Buuut, it is probably just like Retractible Gear on an Airplane - not a question of IF, but rather, When. Not a good thing to contemplate on a Semi-Auto.
However you have to decide if it is worth it to you.
The Lee press is far cheaper. It will not be as smooth functioning, you have to watch what it's doing constantly, and it won't be as fast as the dillon- but the end resulting ammo will be just as good.
If I were to liken presses to cars, dillon would be the cadillac, RCBS/Hornady/Lyman a Ford, and Lee a Kia. All of them will get you where you are going but do you want to pay extra for luxury?
I didn't. I got a Lee Pro 1000. Very finicky. Still I can crank out 250 rounds or so an hour once I get it going and that's good enough for me.
And just a side note, as reloaders we have to be mindful of what is going on as we reload, pay attention. You can not blame a press or powder measure for a sqib load or a damage barrel, We should verify that case has powder in it. Presses and powder measures are all mechanical things, they can and will fail or cause some sort of issue at some piont no matter who made it. I have noticed nobody ever blames a powder measure for a double charged case. Keep'em safe everybody!
Once you get it all dialed in the biggest problem is remembering to check powder and primers! This thing will run at 6-700 rounds per hour very easily and it it will run out of powder/primers very quickly at that rate. No goofy primer tubes either. Dump flip and insert[;)]
I have to say one more thing about the Lee Loadmaster.
Once you get it all dialed in the biggest problem is remembering to check powder and primers! This thing will run at 6-700 rounds per hour very easily and it it will run out of powder/primers very quickly at that rate. No goofy primer tubes either. Dump flip and insert[;)]
I seriously doubt that
I think 200-350 rounds per minute would be more realistic for most and especially the lee progressive reloaders.
to the org poster
dont get hung up by the number of rounds a machine will produce an hr
that is irrelevant it they aren't assembled right each and everytime
start with a single and work up to a progressive
And remember it's not a race
I seriously doubt that
I think 200-350 rounds per minute would be more realistic for most and especially the lee progressive reloaders.
to the org poster
dont get hung up by the number of rounds a machine will produce an hr
that is irrelevant it they aren't assembled right each and everytime
start with a single and work up to a progressive
And remember it's not a race
Never used one or even been around one have you?
quote:Originally posted by wolley
I have to say one more thing about the Lee Loadmaster.
Once you get it all dialed in the biggest problem is remembering to check powder and primers! This thing will run at 6-700 rounds per hour very easily and it it will run out of powder/primers very quickly at that rate. No goofy primer tubes either. Dump flip and insert[;)]
I seriously doubt that
I think 200-350 rounds per minute would be more realistic for most and especially the lee progressive reloaders.
to the org poster
dont get hung up by the number of rounds a machine will produce an hr
that is irrelevant it they aren't assembled right each and everytime
start with a single and work up to a progressive
And remember it's not a race
So you're saying that it will do 15,000 to 21,000 rounds per hour? I think you will need a high speed electric motor to pump the handle for that speed.[:D]
Either one will work fine for a "sportsman" loader. With the money you save buying the Lee, you have more $$ for powder, primers, and lead.
You also have to take into account how much are you gonna use it. If your'e shooting a couple thousand rounds a week, get the Dillon. If your shooting a couple thousand rounds a year, get the Lee.
I second the suggestion of buying a single stage also. Use it to load for the huntin' rifles. Use the progressive to load lots for the pistolas.
Anyway, you can't go wrong with either one.
LoL!!
I been around them all Lee, Dillon, and Hornady, RCBS and none will reload 700rnds an hour without a hicup. I don't know a reloader that would want too. To many things can go wrong no matter who's machine you use. 250-300 an hr is plenty fast.
It's not a matter of "if" things will go wrong but "when"
Starting Member
USA
3 Posts
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 10:05:25 PM
My Dillion takes a minimum of 100 #!*,< words to get set up. Then it's good to go til one of the components runs out.
so do you want to sell it [?][}:)]