loading press

[zito1553]

Thank you all for your replies...I'll be loading 45acp and 10mm for now.  And $$$$$ is an issue.  So I'll be looking into the lnl ap

[445 supermag]

I have been loading for nearly forty years... I have or have had most presses out there. I have a Dillon 550 and three single stages presses bolted to my benches.

I STILL load mostly from a single stage Redding. Most definitely for load developmental! THEN its moved to the 550 for mass production.

Just like when building a load, I will lean to accuracy over top velocity. So a SS press gets me that accuracy.

CW

pretty much.   

I load develop on my 650 but kind of use it as a faster single stage press if that makes sense. .  But when I want volume with a load I like its full bore 650.

my ancient rcbs single stage is rifle load development.   Looking to upgrade it to possibly a redding ultra mag.

will see.   Man I just love this stuff

[Taterhead]

A real sleeper of a press is the Pro 2000. However, if you need a case feeder, then it won't work since that is not an option. Just thought I'd get that out of the way. My short list ended up with the 550, LNL, 650, and Pro 2000.

I eliminated the 650 early since it really needs a case feeder. That put the cost a bit out of reach.
There were a couple of things that I did not like about the LNL (bushings, the indexing method, and some local friends that have had endless problems). There were some things that I did like about it. Auto-indexing, 5 stations, powder dispenser.
The 550 was nearly my final choice. It was close. What did it for me was the large operating area of the Pro 2000, the flexibility of 5 stations, much easier caliber and, especially, priming changeovers, and APS priming.

The Pro 2000 is a 5 station, and can be had in auto or manual index. I recommend auto-index. 223 case prep just flies with auto-index, and it is a mechanical way to reduce the risk of a double charge.

Die plates are $19 and shell plates are about $30, so caliber changes are inexpensive. One of the reasons is that it has a unique fixed station 3 dedicated for charging. In that way, caliber changes don't need a separate powder die or dedicated hopper. Re-configuring the powder throw from 223 to 10mm takes about 30 seconds. It is so simple. If you were to load large rifle in addition to pistol, I'd get another dedicated hopper so that the metering drum doesn't have to be swapped. Of course, you could move the powder throw to station 2. Add a powder through expander, then have stations 3, 4, 5 for bullet feed or powder check, seat, then crimp.

My worst-case conversion is from 223 (small primer) rifle to 10mm (large primer) pistol. That takes 2.5 minutes! Add 30 more seconds if starting with a full hopper of powder.

It has been very reliable for me, and it is very simple in design and operation. It is cast iron and built like a brick turd shack too.

The other unique feature is APS priming. Pre-filled strips from CCI are great, or filling strips with brand B primers is fast and easy. Priming is usually the bane of progressives, and I have been a few thousand rounds since the last time I had a primer flip sideways. It just works.

I recommend auto-indexing.

Prices are all over the place, and RCBS always has that $50 rebate going.

One other interesting development is the announcement of the Pro Chucker 5 and Pro Chucker 7. Those look awesome, and brilliant in their simplicity. I was a little disappointed to see them move away from APS priming though. I can understand why. The industry just never really warmed up to APS priming. Too bad. The does have the proven Uniflow powder throw, and the indexing looks to be a tremendous solution for incredibly smooth and positive indexing. Case feeders will be announced shortly, from what I've read.

EDIT:

Here is a pretty nice long-term review. I think that I read somewhere that the author has since passed 250,000 rounds.

http://handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=26

[gandog56]

Here is a pretty nice long-term review. I think that I read somewhere that the author has since passed 250,000 rounds.

So why is he eating his bullets, and passing 250,00 sounds pretty painful to me! 

[Taterhead]

Here is a pretty nice long-term review. I think that I read somewhere that the author has since passed 250,000 rounds.

So why is he eating his bullets, and passing 250,00 sounds pretty painful to me! 

I see what you did there...