Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
Latest activity
Classifieds
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Log in
Register
What's New?
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More Options
Advertise with us
Contact Us
Close Menu
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Forums
The Range
Ammo & Reloading
What presses you guys use??
Search titles only
By:
Reply to Thread
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="NikatKimber" data-source="post: 1840456" data-attributes="member: 423"><p>Do you already have dies for each?</p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p>I have the old style turret. I have replaced the index bushing a couple times (over the course of several thousand rounds). It is auto indexing. Mine's old enough that the indexing doesn't work quite right. I usually have to make sure it full seated to the next station. </p><p></p><p>I use a Lee Auto-Disk. Want to get one of the <a href="http://www.midwayusa.com/product/348753/lee-pro-auto-disk-powder-measure" target="_blank">Pro Auto-Disk meters</a> because it allows you to shut off the powder flow and change the charge without having to empty the hopper.</p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>As far as caliber changes. I hate (read HAAAATE!!!!) changing the charge on the Dillon meters, since there's no graduations on the charge bar. I should probably get new charge bars for each caliber. Instead, I have a separate powder meter for each tool head. Actually, they came with the press when I bought it off here. </p><p></p><p>If you're only loading a few calibers on the progressive, and large lots with infrequent caliber changes, you could be fine with only one or two meters. But for quick changes, you want the meter set up for that caliber, then just swap tool heads and shell plates.</p><p> </p><p>A full quick change for the Dillon 550 is $230, or $160 minus the powder meter. Per caliber.</p><p></p><p>For giggles, I spec'ed out what I would buy if I was getting a Dillon 550 for the calibers you mentioned.</p><p></p><p><img src="https://www.okshooters.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/i157.photobucket.com_albums_t52_m5stingray18_Forums_Dillon5504cals.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Here's for a Lee Turret for the same calibers.</p><p></p><p><img src="https://www.okshooters.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/i157.photobucket.com_albums_t52_m5stingray18_Forums_LeeTurret4cals.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>If you get a Hornady LnL, you can save about $300 over the 550, and it's auto indexing, and a 5 station press; vs 4 station and manual indexing.</p><p></p><p>So the question comes down to this: How much are you going to reload?</p><p></p><p>If you're going to reload a couple hundred a month, and that's divided between 4 calibers, get the Lee. If you will be loading 500-100 or more of one caliber before switching, get the Dillon.</p><p></p><p>Not counting additional time for rifle loading, you can load ~200/hr on the Lee, and ~400-500/hr on the Dillon. So you're looking at roughly 2-2.5x as much of your time with the Lee.</p><p></p><p>If you figure an average of $.20/rd saving on those 4 calibers. .223 won't get that, .30-06 will be more. .38 will be that, .45 maybe, maybe not. Then you can figure you would save $200 / mo if you are loading a thousand a month. That's only 5 months longer to pay off the Dillon. At 200/mo, you're looking at 24 months extra to pay off the Dillon.</p><p></p><p>Either way, if you stick with reloading, you'll probably end up with the Dillon sooner or later anyways. But on the same token, I still use and am glad to have the Lee Turret press.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="NikatKimber, post: 1840456, member: 423"] Do you already have dies for each? I have the old style turret. I have replaced the index bushing a couple times (over the course of several thousand rounds). It is auto indexing. Mine's old enough that the indexing doesn't work quite right. I usually have to make sure it full seated to the next station. I use a Lee Auto-Disk. Want to get one of the [URL="http://www.midwayusa.com/product/348753/lee-pro-auto-disk-powder-measure"]Pro Auto-Disk meters[/URL] because it allows you to shut off the powder flow and change the charge without having to empty the hopper. As far as caliber changes. I hate (read HAAAATE!!!!) changing the charge on the Dillon meters, since there's no graduations on the charge bar. I should probably get new charge bars for each caliber. Instead, I have a separate powder meter for each tool head. Actually, they came with the press when I bought it off here. If you're only loading a few calibers on the progressive, and large lots with infrequent caliber changes, you could be fine with only one or two meters. But for quick changes, you want the meter set up for that caliber, then just swap tool heads and shell plates. A full quick change for the Dillon 550 is $230, or $160 minus the powder meter. Per caliber. For giggles, I spec'ed out what I would buy if I was getting a Dillon 550 for the calibers you mentioned. [IMG]https://www.okshooters.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/i157.photobucket.com_albums_t52_m5stingray18_Forums_Dillon5504cals.jpg[/IMG] Here's for a Lee Turret for the same calibers. [IMG]https://www.okshooters.com/data/MetaMirrorCache/i157.photobucket.com_albums_t52_m5stingray18_Forums_LeeTurret4cals.jpg[/IMG] If you get a Hornady LnL, you can save about $300 over the 550, and it's auto indexing, and a 5 station press; vs 4 station and manual indexing. So the question comes down to this: How much are you going to reload? If you're going to reload a couple hundred a month, and that's divided between 4 calibers, get the Lee. If you will be loading 500-100 or more of one caliber before switching, get the Dillon. Not counting additional time for rifle loading, you can load ~200/hr on the Lee, and ~400-500/hr on the Dillon. So you're looking at roughly 2-2.5x as much of your time with the Lee. If you figure an average of $.20/rd saving on those 4 calibers. .223 won't get that, .30-06 will be more. .38 will be that, .45 maybe, maybe not. Then you can figure you would save $200 / mo if you are loading a thousand a month. That's only 5 months longer to pay off the Dillon. At 200/mo, you're looking at 24 months extra to pay off the Dillon. Either way, if you stick with reloading, you'll probably end up with the Dillon sooner or later anyways. But on the same token, I still use and am glad to have the Lee Turret press. [/QUOTE]
Insert Quotes…
Verification
Post Reply
Forums
The Range
Ammo & Reloading
What presses you guys use??
Search titles only
By:
Top
Bottom