Single stage press- RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme , Hornady, Redding Big Boss or Big Boss 2, buy a kit if you can
Umm.. no!!!! Stop spreading misinformation. You have obviously never used / seen a dillon.
I had two single stage presses when I started out: never went a year before upgrading to a progressive & that was almost 30 years ago now....
Dillon machines use the typical 7/8 thread which means dies from any manufacturer will work in their machine. Many precision shooters have proven time and again (including David Tubb 20+ time world / international etc etc champion, developer of the OCW etc etc ) that precision rifle rounds are done on a dillon progressive. The 550 can do from the smallest pistol up to 338LM and do it very accurately (all my rifle reloads shoot sub moa out to 1580M; a testament to the capabilities of a dillon progressive). FYI my Dillon is over 28 yo and still rocking out.
The options / convenience/ speed & product support a dillon machine has is unparalleled. Pretty much everyone who shoots any amount of ammo / has multiple calibres to reload always ends up with a progressive anyway; buy once cry once. If you only shoot a few hundred rounds a season, reload for only one or two calibres and are hell bent on a single stage then go for the rockchucker.
If I had to do it all again I would just buy the Dillon from the start and be done with it!
Last edited by Boomer686; 04-22-2020 at 09:30 AM.
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If you're choosing Lee due to budget realities (welcome to the club ) I would recommend the loadmaster if you can scrape up a little extra. The extra die stations will come in handy. They are quite readily available on the used market, and parts and accessories are not hard to get. Also get the drum powder dispenser, it's case activated and so much more reliable than that flimsy chain system you get with the press.
If money is no object, then yeah, go with the Dillon. I started with the Lee hand press. Production was slow lol but it was a cheap way to get in and learn the hows and whys.
I started with a used package deal that included a single stage press and a Dillon Square Deal B.
I set up the single stage first and started loading 9mm on that for many of the reasons mentioned above.
My thoughts were, man this is slow and somewhat annoying. And I tend to like detailed, fine work.
Then I set up the Dillon SDB and thought, wow that's better.
After that, I picked up a used Dillon 550B for .223.
I've ended up competing as well as shooting for practice and fun and can fine tune both calibers however I like.
The single stage never gets used. I only hold on to it in case I start to shoot a lot more .308 and end up competing in long range rifle shoots.
If I had to buy one all round press, it would probably be a Dillon 550 budget wise, or possibly 650.
Dillon's warranty service is fantastic. Just call them and tell them what parts you need and all you pay is shipping.
I have been reloading for years with my lee pro 1000 press, i first got into lee because of the lower price point than the others....i finally started to wear out parts of the press after many years of use, and was time for an overhaul
Instead of overhauling my pro 1000....I decided to try lees new auto breech lock pro press....and the price was fantastic...200 bucks new!!
I really like it a lot, it doesnt need to be fiddled with as much as the pro 1000, and its sorta can be described as a hybrid press....has a good solid plate locking pin between stages...and is very easy to swap out plates
Just ran off 1000 44mag thru it for its maiden voyage.....and i am very happy with it....if you are on a tight budget (who isnt these days) thats the one i would recommend
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Not very fond of Dillon presses, expensive if you want to add other calibres, got to use Dillon dies... Like to have different options... Have been using RCBS progressives for 20+ years, great products, great warranty...