I want to step up my volume on reloading pistol cartrages. Lkes and dislikes welcome.
how does the powder function work for you.
Do you have the case feed and bullet feed as well
Dave http://www.cabelas.com/product...16280#tabsCollection

If you can live without the case feeder/collator, then the L-N-L is the best press in my opinion.
It is more ergonomic than Dillon.
The Dillon 550 and 650 have a sub-plate mounted case "feeder" that pushed the case into the shell plate. This is on the right side so you have to take your right hand off the press handle and feed a case into the "case feeder" or you have to manually load about 25 cases into a plastic tube. I found this very awkward and told both friends to get a case feeder. The friend with the 550 couldn't at the time as there wasn't a case collator for it. The friend with the XL650 order a case collator that night, I think.
However, if you want the case collator, I would recommend the XL650, as it was designed, as far as I concerned, for a case collator.
With the Hornady, all bullet and case handling is done with the left hand and soon becomes second nature and you are loading at a good pace.
I recommend ONLY progressive presses with at least 5 stations and auto-index (another reason I really disliked the 550).
I have had two problems with the L-N-L. Once, the primers were not completely seating. I found that the shell plate had become loose. After tightening it, I had no more problems. I put some loctite blue on the bolt and it hasn't worked loosed (despite MANY shell plate switches) since.
The other problem was the powder measure. It is very top heavy and I found that the bushing I was using was not tight. After a while, it worked loose and the measure went up with the case. I found a tighter bushing and never had that problem again. If this happens, you can also make a shim to tighten the bushing down.
That is the sum total of ALL problems I have had in 5-6 years and thousands of rounds.

Thans noylj; I had not made the connection with the Dillon. I watched some demos on utube and I was going to start with out the case and bullet feeders.
I like the idea of the hornady presses as well.
Dave

I got the Hornady LNL progressive several years ago, after working for some time with a friend's Dillon.....

I liked the fact that the shell plates were linked to case-based families, instead of a separate kit for each different caliber. I also felt the powder measure (especially with the micrometer metering die) was much more repeatable than the dillon method.

I like it very well and recommend it without reservation.

I would advise that I only use the press as a full progressive with pistol calibers which I don't need to trim after resizing.....but with the LNL system it is very easy to split up the process in any way you need without resetting up dies.

Setting up a progressive takes longer than you might think.....just take your time and avoid interruptions! Once you are set up cranking out volume isn't very hard.

Cheers,

Dan

My experience very much mirrors DanH.
I am now 5+years with the LnL and somewhere over 10k rounds through it
I did upgrade from the horrid spring eject to the EZ ject sub plate and that made all the difference in the world, esp with 9mm and 380
If you are set up and have things ready, 400 to 600 per hour is very doable.
I did get the case feeder about 2 years into things and it works well.I would also highly recommend either a RCBS LockOut Die or Hornady Powder Cop in station 3-have both and greatly prefer Lock Out Die as it does the work and you don't have to remember if the Powder Cop sensing rod actually came up the right distance.
Also install a small LED light or somesuch to visually check powder level--i would do this regardless of whose press system you get.

I have been very pleased with mine.
I do have Dillon equipment and am very pleased with it but i tend to be pragmatic not emotionally invested in one particular company so I got to what is best for my needs at the price point i am comfortable with.
I have had excellent customer service from both Hornady and Dillon so no differences there.
I do believe that whatever system you go with you will be satisfied assuming you are patient and follow directions.

Gary

I too have a LNLAP an older one. SN: 0242
I don't have alot of attachments. and I don't use the primer feeder. Broke two of them. So I deprime. Then prep cases, clean pockets and trim. Then put them back in to expand , powder and seat.
I should buy a new mechanism and maybe the bullet and case feeder.
The only other problem it has is after 500 rds or so. the tower bolts at the left and right side under the feeder base get loose.
the powder feeder has the fine adjustment on it. but it can't dial down less than 5 gr, for small pistol loads like Bullseye for 38 spl or 9mm Mak. It's a 3-4 grain amt and the powder feed can't go that low.
Any options out there?

DV

i have worked with 550 and 650 dillons, and own a SDB and a hornady LNL AP -- relativity new one. an EXCELLENT press - that does have case feeders available.. and bullet feeders.. but anyway..

for the money, you can't beat the hornady -- buy some extra priming cam arms, primer slide springs, and shell plate spring.. 20-30 bucks to be well spared, and save HUNDREDS from buying a dillon 650.

if it isn't auto progressive, it is not in the class of the dillon 650 or hornady lnl ap -- but I am probably the ONLY person on the forum with time on both - the priming system isn't perfect, but neither is the dillon....

and i have to tell you, i am annoyed that dillon patented the primer loader, and then forced out all other makers, to charge 299 for a 49$ piece of equipment... that is called market manipulation....

dillon press is excellent - and so are the hornady .. i am the only person that will say both are great...

in short, get the hornady .. extra parts are cheap - and it is EASY to do load dev with -- just take off the powder thrower...

danev2 - you need the pistol drum for the powder thrower.. there are two, rifle and pistol.. and i think magnum .. the pistol one goes down to nill

Thanks for all the info. Iam have been looking for one and I have found the press for $380 at Midsouth.
a complete set up new with case feeder and bullet feeder for $950.
Thanks Dave