I have been thinking about going progressive for pistol ammo. I would like some opinions from folks who have experience with more than one brand. I am leaning toward a Dillon 550 and have seen an AT500 and RL450 on an auction site, what about these Dillons?

I've got a good friend that has the 550, and loves it. I own a RCBS pro 2000, and love it too. Both are built to last and both come from companys that know how to treat their customers. If you are only going to reload 1 pistol caliber, you might want to consider Dillons Square Deal press.
Good luck.

If you are going to load only one or two pistol rounds, then I would go with a Square Deal by Dillion. Yet, if you ever think you are going to load rifle on a progressive, then I would get the Dillion 550. I have had a 550 for years and I have been very happy with it......I believe that Dillion sets the bar. RCBS and Hornady are good as well........but it's hard to beat blue.

i really like boyh my 550's really simple and can go as fast or slow as i want

I watched a video of the RCBS today and it is down to being between Dillon and RCBS. Thanks for the responses, Keep them coming!

ShooterMarc- I don't know if this helps, but a couple of years ago RCBS started getting their castings for the Rockchucker Supreme from China. They do the "finish work" on the Rockchucker at their plant in California, but the press is casted at a plant in China. I don't know about the Pro2000, but for me it's a decision factor. I am not going to support Communist China if I can help it. The Dillion is 100% made in the USA. I like RCBS, and have some of their equipment, but until they change back to making in the USA, I won't buy them if I can help it. Hope this helps.....................

I have had a 550 for over 10 years. I have loaded many thousand rounds with it. You can't go wrong with the Dillion.

I haven't used any of the three, but have friends with the Dillons that swear by them. I've a Hornedy projector progressive sitting in the shop that's broken and needs sent in to get fixed. All the rotation on this press is done by two small roll pins on the bottom of the press. One or more is broken and the former owner tried to take them out without using a roll pin punch and buggered the press ram up. I'm not impressed. Hornedy did say they will fix it, but it does not seem like great engineering to me.

I've had good luck with Lee equipment and will probably buy one of the $140 buck pro 1000's if I start shooting anymore pistol ammo. I've watched one of these used and it did an adequate job. Being monetarily challenged I wish I could afford the Dillon.

I'll put in another vote for the Dillon RL550B, it's a sweet machine! I love mine! it'll load all the pistol calibers and I load belted magnums on it, the only caliber I've had any issues with was the 30-30!???, a new set of dies (RCBS) fixed that problem!

And this just an observation but the comparable RCBS press was more $$$$$ in their 2005 catalog!

I do have lots of RCBS stuff and I cant complain about it.

ldv444 I agree with you on China. I work for a company that has Chinese suppliers and I know the truth about how the Chinese operate. Do you have any links to the RCBS China thing? And Dillon does have the best catalog!

One more thing to consider, and this may or may not even factor in to your decision, but the RCBS 2000 is iron, while the Dillon is aluminum. I've also read that about RCBS casting thier presses (Rock chucker) in China (Nat'l rifleman magazine had an article about that) and I agree, if all else is equal, support the manufacturer that supports the American worker.

ShooterMarc- This info on the China connection with RCBS broke (accidently I'm sure) in Handloader Magazine a couple of years ago. I have called RCBS and they admit this freely on the phone, but follow up quickly with saying that they do all the "finish work" at the plant in the USA. At the time, this really ticked me off and I called everyone else and asked if they were getting their castings done in the USA-ie Hornady, Redding, Forester, Lee, Lyman, and Dillion. Redding, Dillion, and Forester offered to give me the name of the company (including phone number and location) that did the press castings for them. Anyway, you can't always get away from buying something from China. But as an American shooter, hunter, reloader, veteran, and life member of the NRA.....I am not supporting those Communist &^%&% in China anymore than I have to!!! Go Blue.......you won't be sorry!!!

INFO-Not all aluminum is created equal. Dillion uses the highest quality available for the task at hand and the deminsions are huge and overbuilt. My shooting buddy bought a 550 the first year they were avaiable, and has loaded well over 100,000 rounds on it without issue. Hope everyone is well! Stay safe..

Thanks for the follow up, I wasn't doubting what you were saying about china I just hadn't seen it anywhere. Its just my luck the story would have to be in the American Rifleman because I get the Hunter!

ShooterMarc- Keep us posted on what you do and let us know if you need any help in set up. There are a lot of folks at this site who have lots of experience and knowledge. Good luck to you and keep safe!

I am going to shop the used market for a few weeks and see what surfaces. I am also going to call RCBS and ask where the Pro 2000 is cast. I really like the idea of the APS primer strips of the RCBS.

I use the Dillon 550B. I have to say that it's been a great tool for me, and have really enjoyed using it. I can't say anything bad or good about the RCBS, because I haven't used it. I do, however, use RCBS dies almost exclusively. Anyway, I would recommend the Dillon press just from my experience with it.

I have been thinking about going progressive for pistol ammo. I would like some opinions from folks who have experience with more than one brand. I am leaning toward a Dillon 550 and have seen an AT500 and RL450 on an auction site, what about these Dillons?

Absolutely nothing wrong with the Dillon 550. Owned one and liked it. I also had a Dillon RL300, RL450, RL500, Square Deal and numerous RL450 Jrs. Really wish I had kept those 450 Jrs.

But when I sold almost all my presses I kept my RCBS Pro 2000. Now I've got five of them. Much prefer the ASP priming system.

I was seriously considering a dillon 550, but i ended up getting a hornady lock and load, it is comparative to the 650 for the price of the 550, plus they give you 1000 free bullets (you pay 12.50 or something like that for S&H) when you buy it. I like it so far. In one of the older threads, there is a comparison of the Lee, Hornady and Dillon

+1 on the Hornady LNL... I think JB and I got ours about the same time... I had been using Lee and wanted a new press with no plastic crap parts to break..

I only looked at the Dillon 650 and the Hornady LNL because I wanted full progressive. I did not want to index by hand like on the 550 and the RCBS.. Just a personal preference, nothing against either machine..

Finally went with the LNL since it was cheaper to change calibers, got 1000 free bullets, great customer service and great reviews on the machine. The Dillons also get great reviews...

I dont think you can go wrong with RCBS, Dillon or Hornady.. All are quality built machines that yer grand children will likely be loading on..

I would stay away from the Lee Loadmaster (yes I know all about the herd of diehard tinkerers that love rebuilding their presses) as it is a cheap plastic part laden piece of garbage that China would be proud to build for wallyworld.. I have a brand new one with all the parts sitting in a closet so this is not hearsay..Their single stage and turrent presses seem to be fine but the Loadmaster is garbage.. This is IMHO, yer mileage may vary..

Byron

WOW KLW how much do you shoot? I saw my first Dillon today at Sportsman's Warehouse. It looks like a very tough well built machine.

This is some interesting reading http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf

OK I did it! I bought a Dillon AT 500 used. Does anyone have any info on this press?

I don't mean to hijack, But a guy i know in town is selling a dillon 550b for $250. Is it worth it?

Based on what I have been seeing on the auction site I would say yes.

I watched a video of the RCBS today and it is down to being between Dillon and RCBS. Thanks for the responses, Keep them coming!

Marc, where did you see the video of the RCBS press? If online, can you please provide the link?

Thanks,

Jake

There is alot of videos like that on youtube. I found a 5 part video on how to use a dillon progressive last night.

Here is the link and it is a long video and download if you save it.
http://www.rcbs.com/general/videos.aspx

I have been thinking about going progressive for pistol ammo. I would like some opinions from folks who have experience with more than one brand. I am leaning toward a Dillon 550 and have seen an AT500 and RL450 on an auction site, what about these Dillons?

Doesn't quiet cover all your options, but a good guy up at CanadianGunNutz put this (http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf) together.
Hope it helps!!

I cant speak for RCBS or Hornady progressive, however I have the Square Deal set up in 357 which has seen well over 10,000 rounds, a 550 set up for 9mm and switches out to 45 auto in mins, seen over 5000 rounds and a 650 set up for 223 that 3 other buddies use, and we lost count of the brass sent through this press. All of these presses had small issues at one time or another, but a short phone call to Dillon and any or all pieces you need along with extra's and even some pieces you might need are in the mail that day with no questions asked, and at no charge to me. When I hang up with Dillon, I know why I continue buying from them.