Which press is under rated.
- Thread starter tonyz
- Start date
Sixgun Symphony
Moderator
I like the Turrent press from Lee.
Tommy gunn
New member
I gotta say that Lee is underrated.
Lee has some very innovative designs.
Lee has some very innovative designs.
lee turret
I'd have to agree about the lee turret being under rated. Before getting my present dillon 650, I used a lee turret for all my handgun and some rifle loading,(.223, .308). I probably went through 10,000 rounds in a little over a year. It worked as advertised, only failure was the square follower for the auto index. They include an extra one in the kit, so it was a quick fix.
I sold it to my shootin buddy, it's still going strong. It's no comparison to the dillon, but is much faster than my co-ax. One improvement that I made right away is the pro upgrade to the auto disk powder measure.
I had 7 turrets set up for all the calibers I loaded on it. Change-over was quick, the longest part was transferring the powder measure from one turret to another and getting the powder set.
I'd have to agree about the lee turret being under rated. Before getting my present dillon 650, I used a lee turret for all my handgun and some rifle loading,(.223, .308). I probably went through 10,000 rounds in a little over a year. It worked as advertised, only failure was the square follower for the auto index. They include an extra one in the kit, so it was a quick fix.
I sold it to my shootin buddy, it's still going strong. It's no comparison to the dillon, but is much faster than my co-ax. One improvement that I made right away is the pro upgrade to the auto disk powder measure.
I had 7 turrets set up for all the calibers I loaded on it. Change-over was quick, the longest part was transferring the powder measure from one turret to another and getting the powder set.
Which press is under rated
I'll toss in another vote for the Lee Turret press. If I had to load large volumes of ammo I might go for a Dillon, but for what I do (200-300 rounds a month) the lee works fine. I found a way to make their Perfect Powder Measure fit on top of the turret and then customized a RCBS primer feed setup to work on my 3-holer. If I'm loading for a handgun it all works pretty slick. The rifle loads are too long for the auto-indexing mechanism though.
I'll toss in another vote for the Lee Turret press. If I had to load large volumes of ammo I might go for a Dillon, but for what I do (200-300 rounds a month) the lee works fine. I found a way to make their Perfect Powder Measure fit on top of the turret and then customized a RCBS primer feed setup to work on my 3-holer. If I'm loading for a handgun it all works pretty slick. The rifle loads are too long for the auto-indexing mechanism though.
VAdoublegunner
New member
Hornady L-N-L AP
I'll throw in for the Hornady LNL AP. I've had one for about a year now and have never once had a primer feed problem or other technical problems at all, save for kinking the cartridge retaining spring a time or two. I think the earlier models with plastic primer feed parts had quite a few problems but not so with the more recent all metal version.
The powder measure system is simple and reliable, it's extremely easy to dump and change powder types, the LNL bushings make changes to different dies a snap (particularly if not changing primer sizes). Shell plate changes are also very simple when you need to do it. I found I can even use the 45 Colt shell plate for 44 mag, and since the case length is about the same no change to the powder drop length is necessary.....takes just a couple of minutes to change over.
I leave this press set up for large primers and have loaded about 7500 rounds since getting it. I could not be more pleased. I leave my old Hornady Pro-Jector set up for small primer work and am giving serious thought to replacing it soon with another LNL AP I like the design so much. Most of the cowboy shooters swear by Dillon so I'm kind of an outcast using Horndays. They apparently do still have a few bugs to work out with the auto case feeder, so I'll wait a while to add one of those. And some folks complain about the case ejector wire getting in the way of Lee Factory Crimp Dies at station 5 -- it does do that if you want to use it full length rather than just crimp. In most cases, that's not an insurmountable problem.
I've used the Dillons and think they are a fine machine -- I might even say superior to the old Pro-Jector, which I bought new really cheap. But I never felt particularly driven to buy a Dillon. I think the LNL AP just kicked Dillon's rear with the next generation of machine advances. It's easier to use, easier to set up, easier to change over, and much, much, much easier to keep clean for smooth running (and you dedicated Dillon users *know* what I'm talking about, admit it, you do).
I'll throw in for the Hornady LNL AP. I've had one for about a year now and have never once had a primer feed problem or other technical problems at all, save for kinking the cartridge retaining spring a time or two. I think the earlier models with plastic primer feed parts had quite a few problems but not so with the more recent all metal version.
The powder measure system is simple and reliable, it's extremely easy to dump and change powder types, the LNL bushings make changes to different dies a snap (particularly if not changing primer sizes). Shell plate changes are also very simple when you need to do it. I found I can even use the 45 Colt shell plate for 44 mag, and since the case length is about the same no change to the powder drop length is necessary.....takes just a couple of minutes to change over.
I leave this press set up for large primers and have loaded about 7500 rounds since getting it. I could not be more pleased. I leave my old Hornady Pro-Jector set up for small primer work and am giving serious thought to replacing it soon with another LNL AP I like the design so much. Most of the cowboy shooters swear by Dillon so I'm kind of an outcast using Horndays. They apparently do still have a few bugs to work out with the auto case feeder, so I'll wait a while to add one of those. And some folks complain about the case ejector wire getting in the way of Lee Factory Crimp Dies at station 5 -- it does do that if you want to use it full length rather than just crimp. In most cases, that's not an insurmountable problem.
I've used the Dillons and think they are a fine machine -- I might even say superior to the old Pro-Jector, which I bought new really cheap. But I never felt particularly driven to buy a Dillon. I think the LNL AP just kicked Dillon's rear with the next generation of machine advances. It's easier to use, easier to set up, easier to change over, and much, much, much easier to keep clean for smooth running (and you dedicated Dillon users *know* what I'm talking about, admit it, you do).
IMHO, The Hornady is everything the Dillon 650 is, and a better value. I have a very old Pro-Jector set up for .45 acp. If I clean it once a year it provides the 8,000- 10,000 rounds I use with no trouble at all. I bought it used for $200 with 10 shell plates. It took me an afternoon to get it set up, (with a few update modifications), and it's been putting out the ammo ever since. The primer fed spring broke last year so I called Hornady. I had two new ones, and a replacement for all of the other little springs, in 48 hours. I think the charge was $2.50 for the shipping. I've used a 650, and I know a lot of folks who swear by Dillon, but if I buy another progressive it will probably be a Lock & Load. BD
Bruce Layne
New member
I've been very happy with my little Lee Pro-1000. I bought it, largely because it was the least expensive progressive when I was starting out in 1995, when saving money was my primary motivation. I've since discovered that reloading is a fun, interesting and very educational hobby in its own right.
The Pro-1000 is the full progressive version of the Lee Turret Press.
If I was starting out now, I'd buy the Lee Loadmaster progressive. It's beefier than the Pro-1000, and has five stations instead of three so I can use the Lee factory crimp die as the final stage of the process to ensure more accurate and more reliable ammo. The complete Loadmaster with a set of pistol dies, factory calibrated, and drop shipped directly from Lee has been selling for $175 on eBay. This is a new press, not reconditioned.
I've reloaded a lot of 10 mm ammo on my Pro-1000. I had to fiddle a bit with the primer feed at first, but it's been trouble free since then. People report the same sort of primer issues with the Loadmaster.
I have to admit, there aren't a lot of people bad mouthing the quality of the Dillon presses. Most Dillon customers have a near fanatical devotion to them. I always assumed it was because of the hot gun-toting chicks in the Dillon catalog, The Blue Press. If you were having mechanical trouble with two different Dillon presses, I'm not sure you'll like the Lee presses either. Lee Precision does have good customer support and service, but Dillon is known for these as well. The difference is, you really pay for them up front with Dillon.
The Pro-1000 is the full progressive version of the Lee Turret Press.
If I was starting out now, I'd buy the Lee Loadmaster progressive. It's beefier than the Pro-1000, and has five stations instead of three so I can use the Lee factory crimp die as the final stage of the process to ensure more accurate and more reliable ammo. The complete Loadmaster with a set of pistol dies, factory calibrated, and drop shipped directly from Lee has been selling for $175 on eBay. This is a new press, not reconditioned.
I've reloaded a lot of 10 mm ammo on my Pro-1000. I had to fiddle a bit with the primer feed at first, but it's been trouble free since then. People report the same sort of primer issues with the Loadmaster.
I have to admit, there aren't a lot of people bad mouthing the quality of the Dillon presses. Most Dillon customers have a near fanatical devotion to them. I always assumed it was because of the hot gun-toting chicks in the Dillon catalog, The Blue Press. If you were having mechanical trouble with two different Dillon presses, I'm not sure you'll like the Lee presses either. Lee Precision does have good customer support and service, but Dillon is known for these as well. The difference is, you really pay for them up front with Dillon.