swpc629
Well-Known Member
Does any one have any experience with the Lee Progressive Loaders? I am looking an purchasing one and would like some input on them. I know dillon is the best but I don't want to sink that much money into one right now.
Progressive Loader
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winmag
Well-Known Member
I think Roaddog1m has one, but he had a big compitetion shoot, at the beginning of the month, and hasnt been around for quite a while. Might wanna send him a P.M. and ask if someone else doesnt jump in with some more answers.
Hairtrigger
Well-Known Member
Consider a Hornady, Great machine with excellent customer service to back it up.
With the deal Hornady is running giving 500 bullets with a purchase, the price is hard to beat
I have loaded on a Hornady progressive press for over 20 years and am pleased. At one time I kept hearing how Dillon was so much better so I bought a SDB, I hated the powder measure and considering at the time it was almost the same price as the Hornady but would only load pistol cases I soon sold it leaving me unimpressed. Then I ran across a deal on a Dillon 550. The 550 is manual indexing... ON A PROGRESSIVE MACHINE!?!... at least I got my money back out of it. Still thinking Dillon must be better than Hornady because all of the internet experts kept saying so I began looking for a 650. I found a gun shop that had one set up and let me try it. The Dillon machines use the little brass buttons that are for case retaining and a real pain in the !$$. Then the dealer tries, on top of a machine that is more expensive than the Hornady, tries to sell me a Dillon strong mount and a roller handle... now the price is no where close.... easy choice. I purchased a second Hornady progressive press.
Many times in a brand vs brand debate I hear "my brand is the best" from those that have never owned another brand.... seems to be short on facts to me.
here is some good reading
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf
One thing when comparing presses, get to operate them if possible. The one I use is a right hand handle operation and left hand case and bullet insertion and some others are not, this is what I am used to making others seem awkward.
Just what I am used to, others may seem more comfortable to you
With the deal Hornady is running giving 500 bullets with a purchase, the price is hard to beat
I have loaded on a Hornady progressive press for over 20 years and am pleased. At one time I kept hearing how Dillon was so much better so I bought a SDB, I hated the powder measure and considering at the time it was almost the same price as the Hornady but would only load pistol cases I soon sold it leaving me unimpressed. Then I ran across a deal on a Dillon 550. The 550 is manual indexing... ON A PROGRESSIVE MACHINE!?!... at least I got my money back out of it. Still thinking Dillon must be better than Hornady because all of the internet experts kept saying so I began looking for a 650. I found a gun shop that had one set up and let me try it. The Dillon machines use the little brass buttons that are for case retaining and a real pain in the !$$. Then the dealer tries, on top of a machine that is more expensive than the Hornady, tries to sell me a Dillon strong mount and a roller handle... now the price is no where close.... easy choice. I purchased a second Hornady progressive press.
Many times in a brand vs brand debate I hear "my brand is the best" from those that have never owned another brand.... seems to be short on facts to me.
here is some good reading
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf
One thing when comparing presses, get to operate them if possible. The one I use is a right hand handle operation and left hand case and bullet insertion and some others are not, this is what I am used to making others seem awkward.
Just what I am used to, others may seem more comfortable to you
Gunpoor
Well-Known Member
The reason I didn't jump on this thread sooner is because I had to stop and put on my helmet and flak jacket, but I'm ready now. I do not plan on buying any more stuff with the Lee name on it. The dies and other tools I have bought in the past that were made by Lee were inferior in material quality, though some of their tools are brilliant in design. I too would recommend the Hornady LNL AP press but don't have any experience with any of the Dillon presses.
jimbires
Well-Known Member
I also have the Hornady LNL progressive , with the brass feeder . it is the only progressive I've used , but I really like it . if you have a buddy with any brand progressive press I would go test drive it before you buy any press. this could give you an idea of what features you want and don't want . Jim
winmag
Well-Known Member
I wont nock Lee. Ive never used one. but I will put on a plug for the Hornady L-N-L. I had to tinker with both the RCBS and Hornady before setteling on one. I love the L-N-L single stage that I have, and the quick die changing is a HUGE + in my book! and when I start loading pistol rounds, Ill be buying a Hornady progressive press. Oh, and yes customer service is AMAZING.
The Hornady may not be the best choice for extremely long cases, but I dont have anything longer than 300wby. and it works great for that size and smaller in my experience.
Ive never used Dillon either so I dont know anything about them except that there's alot of guys here on L/R/H that love them. Your the first person Ive hered of that didnt, and it certainly wasnt for lack of trying them out.
Good luck with your choice.
The Hornady may not be the best choice for extremely long cases, but I dont have anything longer than 300wby. and it works great for that size and smaller in my experience.
Ive never used Dillon either so I dont know anything about them except that there's alot of guys here on L/R/H that love them. Your the first person Ive hered of that didnt, and it certainly wasnt for lack of trying them out.
Good luck with your choice.
Hairtrigger
Well-Known Member
3 weeks ago I sent the older of my two Hornady progressive presses back to the factory as the timing was getting sloppy.
Today the press was returned after rebuilt of course at no charge
Today the press was returned after rebuilt of course at no charge
Excellent article - thanks for sharing that. I don't mind paying more for something if I know I'm getting more for it and it's always nice to have someone like that guy give a report like that. Very nice to not have to spend all the cash he did in order to receive the comparison that he gave.
