I am doing a bit more shooting and would like to get a progressive type press.It must be able to load 223 and pistol rounds.I do not need a XL650.I was trying to decide between a 550,550B or a square deal.I want to be able to sit down and load up to 500 rounds in a session.This does not have to happen in an hour.2 or 3 would be fine.Anyone with experience with these presses????

I only have experience with a 650, but have heard good things about all the other Dillon presses.

The square deal can only do pistol, so you are looking at using the 550B. The 550 doesn't have the powder or priming section on it.

I don't use the priming section, prefer to hand place them with my lee to get a feel on the primer pocket. Just my preference. I do use the powder station though so I would get the 550B.

Once you get familar with it, you could load 500 rounds in an hour.

I have the strong mount on mine. Puts it just right for standing over the bench.

Since I load several calibers, it takes about 15 minutes to switch over to the next one, once your die have already been set up in the tool head. It is easy to use, and easy to correct and catch for mistakes.

I highly recommend the Dillon 550B. I have two of them. One of them is set up for large primers, the other one for small.
Square Deal B's are really neat, but only good for straight wall pistol cases.

My 550B's have loaded everything from 45-70 down. I have found Dillon's die sets to work the best, they are slightly different to accomodate the 550/650 designs.

The small primer one can go from 223 to 357 to 300 BLK in about four minutes. Switch the shell plate, swap out the turret heads, and get rolling. If you tube up 400 primers, you can realistically load 400 rounds in about 48 minutes. I spend a few more bucks, and get the extra powder measures for the cartridges I load a lot of. I shoot about 400 rounds of 223 a month on average.

Set up for large primers, I switch from 308 to 7mm STW to 8x58R, to 45-70 in about five minutes.

I like every dinky little part of a Dillon being made in Prescott, and assembled there by legal American citizens. I really like the "No BS" no fine print warranty. Forever, if you bought it new, if you are the tenth owner, if you manage to break something, your total cost is shipping it back.

Twenty years ago I buddy of mine and I got into IPSC. We got an SDB in 45acp and loaded two three lb coffee cans full of spent primers worth of ammunition on it over a three year or so period. I finally broke something seven or eight years ago and sent it back. They upgraded me to a brand new model at no charge.

I am so lazy about changing die sets and primer sizes, I finally bought a second SDB. Then a third. I have six of the little guys now, my bench looks like a Dillon advertisement.

You could have bought a 550B ten years ago, got out of shooting, and sold it for at least what you paid for it new, at the next local gunshow to the second guy that walked by your table and saw it.

You only have to buy a Dillon once...

Rich

being one of the few that has both dillion and hornady progressives, i'll present the following.

the 550b is an excellent reloading press, with the SAFETY exception of manual indexing - I can't tolerate this, though some don't think much of the lack thereof.

the hornady LNL ap is the feature equalivant of the 650b - feature for feature

however, it is at the cost of the 550

the SQB is an EXCELLENT press for 223 and smaller .. it is a SMALL press, as compared to the others, and requires dillion specific dies and shell holders (well, all of them do on the shell holders)

from a pure cost perspective, get the hornady, if you can find one. they are usually less than 400 and shipping ... grafs has it for 415 and 6 bucks for shipping ..

and if you want case and bullet feeders, you can also buy for hornady as well as dillion

about the only thing you can't get easy is a case trimmer, which is a great feature on the dillon

Thanks guys.Thats what I was looking for.Some hands on experience!

OLBIKER, I have A Dillon RL550B as well...

Its about 15 years old and I have made by my rough estimate 10000 rounds on it...

it runs like new to this day...I have had a few small issues with it usually caused by me, mainly adjustment problems and they do get dirty over time. cleaning your progressive press is just as important as cleaning your firearms...my only issues have been with the primer feed mechanism after talking to someone at dillon for adjustment tips they sent me a rebuild kit... I didn't even ask for one, it just showed up in the mail a few days later...so I cant say enough about the commitment to quality from Dillon...

one thing as others have mentioned is the addition of a strong mount and I also have a roller handle. Thats a big plus!!!

while I dont look at reloading as a race I must admit that I do time myself and set goals... and 800 rounds of 9mm or 223 in an hour is no prob if you can get your kids or wife to help with primer pick up tubes and setting up fresh lubed cases!

I will say this... it takes time to get the rythem of reloading and once you do it flys...however, its always good to stop on every tray and check your COL'S and powder charges...

I LOVE MY DILLON and think its a great value... if you get one, ask away with any questions. if I have expirience in that area I'll be happy to help..

definately the 550-b you'll upgrade to it anyways.
get the primer warning buzzer too.
the best upgrade i ever got was the primer filler, it saves a lot of time and poke,poke,poke....
just so you know.
i still do my sizing off press and then tumble to get the lube off the cases.
this way i have nice shiny finished ammo when done.

Check the Hornady VS Dillon warranty.
Check the Hornady VS Dillon lifetime of specific models.

Dillon upgrades, I think Hornady just replaces models every so often.
You can buy every part for every Dillon ever made.
Not even the original owner ever loses a dime selling Dillon presses.

You have to look at everything.

Geez o Pete.
Hornady has done basically 3 changes to the lnl and all the parts are available. If you don't KNOW the facts then don't conjecture that they are problems

Dillons warranty is second to none. Sure enough. But you PAY for that in that the 650 is nearly 40%ore expensive. Do the financials on that.


Parts I have broken or lost on my Dillion. Couple small springs and lost a couple pieces in the primer feed. I bought what I needed as I was going to wheedle dillon over 20 bucks

Hornady. Two parts both my fault. Primer cam and primer feeding shoe. Less than 20 bucks


And the Hornady doesn't drop in value after use. Check eBay


Bottomline. They are born excellent presses. Not a single person can point out unshared flaws. The blue guys are all about brand loyalty. I am about cost for performance.

And I have both. Heck go over to realguns.com and look at ther head to head.

And with that I will step out of this thread

For the 223, order a cartridge gage with the press. You will want an alignment pin/gage also. I load on a early Dillon RL-450. Its like the 550 without the changable tool head.

I chose the Hornady and am more than pleased. Same warranty as the Dillon and they will replace anything that has been upgraded over time as well. As has been written it is the equivalent of the 650 Dillon for a lot less money and caliber swapping is less costly as well. So the choice really is the LnL or the 650 in my view and both a great machines as I have buds that own the Dillon.

To be up front abt my preferences ... I have a 550B and a 1050 and would buy both again.

However ...

The priming system of the 550B presses is not ideal. Takes keeping it clean to keep it working.

I would get a cartridge chambering gauge for checking all cartridges I loaded on any progressive. Us it to make sure the press is set up properly, and check every round that might be used any place other than a practice range.

I have used Hornady LNL equipment -- good quality for the money. I own a Dillon 650. Remember the adage "you get what you pay for." If your budget allows, I recommend the Dillon. In my experience, Hornady's quality control is not nearly as good as Dillon's. When I've needed to use them, Hornady's warranty and customer service were terrific. I've never had an occassion to try Dillon's.

It's a shame the SD won't work with .223. Get the 550B as it is the most versatile press when cost is a consideration.

I went through the same decision making processes and chose the Dillon 550B. I have loaded thousands of accurate .223 Rem rounds with mine over the years. I would buy Dillon again over the Hornady if I had to do it over. I'd like to think it isn't brand loyalty but rather a superior product as I have a bunch of Hornady dies and assorted tools I like. I just happen to think Dillon makes a better progressive press.

i too went the hornady v.s. dillon route after using dillons for years. when the new LNL's came out i just had to have one. MAYBE I GOT A LEMON, it happens. FACT IS, i had nothing but problems w/it. finally gave up and got a 650. straight outta the box it performed flawlessly. instead of 5-10 rds. and a "damn", i got a 1000 rds. and a tired arm. for ME, the dillon wins hands down, because it works, not because its a dillon. and if a flood hadn't gotten my 15 yr (?) old 550B, i'd still be using it. when i win the lottery i'll get a 1050.

I've got 2 of Dillon's RL550B's, one Redding, and an RCBS for my 470. I use a little bit of everyone's equipment for different applications.

The Square Deals use the different dies and do not have the versatility of the 550.

All of them, the 550, the 650, and the Hornady have their pluses and their quirks. One thing to make them run smoother is to de-cap on a separate press and keep that grit out of your progressive.

The thing in choosing, and using, your Dillon press is the volume you will be loading and using. How much volume of a particular cailber in a week or month, and how often you swap around.

I think every progressive press owner has been down this road. If you call Dillon they are very helpful with this and the first qustion will be "How much are you going to load." You can even get them to send you a Dillon book with a pretty girl in it and it always has how to choose the right Dillon in it.

A very helpful place to get your Dillon from is from Brian Enos too by the way. He mostly prefers and recommends the 550B for the case you suggest.

For me it is the 650.

Jeffe,

If you buy a Dillon, you don't have to replace it every two years.

It's called Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y my friend.

My older 550B was purchased when they were first announced at the SHOT Show, nearly twenty years ago.

The man that runs Dillon's warranty station is lonelier than the Maytag Man!

I load at least 12 different calibers on my 550B big primer set up.

22-250, 22-284, 243, 257 Roberts, 260Rem, 30-40 Krag, 308, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 8x57, 8x58R Danish Krag, 45-70.

It takes less than five minutes to change.

If you place even a small order once a year, those catalogs with the pretty girls come every month. My mailman loves them.

Rich

Is it a coincidence that Dillon's blue is the same color as our Boise State University's Blue Turf? Champions and great minds think alike...

^^^^^^^

They have great stuff no doubt.

BUT, but..........

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If you place even a small order once a year, those catalogs with the pretty girls come every month. My mailman loves them.

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What ? I have to KEEP buying stuff just to get my Dillon girl ! I should have known .