Anyone have any input on the best or most reliable progressive reloader for the 223/556? I have plenty of brass and bullets and powder but I don't feel like pounding out a couple thou on a single stage press. Curious as to what you fellas use? Im thinking Dillon 550B but I haven't paid the cash yet. Lee
- Thread starter skeetlee
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Dillon all the way. For 223 you may find the 650 a bit faster and more options available down the line when you have more money for all the extras. 550 is easier for caliber changes tho if you do pistol calibers or other rifle calibers
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+1 on the Dillon 550. I have been loading .223 on mine for 20 years.
Just purchased a Dillon 650 for this exact scenario. Only loaded a few hundred so far, but that also only took me (A Progressive Rookie) about 40 minutes 
.
Progressive is very new to me so I am still learning and getting used to the whole rhythm thing.
The weird thing is…The Dillon is so fast at producing so many rounds that I almost feel like it's over kill for me. I'm not a 3 gun guy either though.
.Progressive is very new to me so I am still learning and getting used to the whole rhythm thing.
The weird thing is…The Dillon is so fast at producing so many rounds that I almost feel like it's over kill for me. I'm not a 3 gun guy either though.
Having loaded on a Hornady LNL AP for five years I recently switched to the Dillon 650. It is by far the least finicky if you want to load large volumes of any caliber in a short period of time. It does however have a much higher cost to get fully setup in each caliber, especially if you do quick change kits for each caliber (highly recommend doing so), also I'd suggest a separate toolhead for resizing of rifle brass. As you can see, it can get expensive so you have to define what kind of expectations you have and how much you really want to load.
The Hornady LNL AP is a great press which in many ways is easier to setup and change calibers, however it does not have nearly as reliable of a case feeder setup if you add one and it requires a bit of adjustment unlike the Dillon case feeder setup. Round output also is lower with the Hornady, but it is still easy to knock out several hundred rounds in an hour if you're really going at it.
Both are great presses, but both have some negatives such as price and speed of conversion in Dillon's case and with the Hornady a slower output and a finicky case feed setup.
The Hornady LNL AP is a great press which in many ways is easier to setup and change calibers, however it does not have nearly as reliable of a case feeder setup if you add one and it requires a bit of adjustment unlike the Dillon case feeder setup. Round output also is lower with the Hornady, but it is still easy to knock out several hundred rounds in an hour if you're really going at it.
Both are great presses, but both have some negatives such as price and speed of conversion in Dillon's case and with the Hornady a slower output and a finicky case feed setup.
Dillion 650.
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Dillon 550 or 650. Both are great.
Just loaded some .223 on a S1050. The onboard swage is great for brass prep and the priming system seating on the down stroke is sweet. Nice being able to set the seat depth on the primers as well. There is a lot of stuff moving but once you learn what is going on hiccups are pretty easy to figure out and avoid.
Super 1050, I bought one in 2006 after running a 1050 since 2000. I can load 1000 5.56 in just over an hour and a 1000 9mm in 48 minutes regularly. Even cut a boat load of 300 blackout. On it too.Gonna motorise those two pretty soon. They are just great machines and almost of industrial grade.
Something was telling me to go for the 1050 when I bought my 650.... Damn me!
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It really depends on number of rounds and time you want to spend. There is nothing wrong with the 550 it will just take you longer to load the ammo. I run a 650 because I could not justify the 1050. I would love the swedging feature but could not justify the added cost. Granted over the years the countless hours of doing it by hand the added cost would be worth it.
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