Bronco4me
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Posts posted by Bronco4me
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Just looking to get started in the reloading I have no experience and have been watching videos and looking at manuals.I am looking at the Hornady LNL AP(lock and load) PRESS and the DILLON 550B PRESS.Any help would be great.I like things on both of them and have watched the set-up vedios on both and seem to be about the same.THANKS RAGE01.
I agree with previous posts that compare the LNL-AP to the 650. Both are good really good machines, and IMO you can't really go wrong with either one. Both presses have some weaknesses (e.g. primer handling) but with online knowledge resources and Dillon/Hornady customer support it's not a big problem.
LNL-AP is a great value especiallly if you consider the Free Bullets program that they were running (I believe it expired 31 DEC 2009 but not sure). My friend Bronco4me has one and he is delighted with it. It took a little tinkering to get it dialed in but that applies to any press you get, including the Dillons. The ammo coming off his press is quality stuff. Hornady customer service is top notch also.
The 650 costs a little more (and no free bullet program)... but the minor cost difference may be irrelevant when you consider Dillon's support infrastructure (both Dillon Corporate and the huge community of expert users). It's widely accepted that Dillon customer service is the benchmark for excellence. The knowledge base for Dillon is vast, considering that it has been the de-facto standard for consumer-level progressive reloading since the early 80's. Need help setting up your press or debugging a problem? Dillon "Power Users" seem to outnumber all others... they are all over the internet forums, at every USPSA venue, and in all likelihood there are some in your local shooting community right now.
In my little desert hamlet (a community of about 25 thousand), I know of exactly one Hornady progressive user. I personally know at least a dozen Dillon loyalists here, running the gamut from SDBs to 650s and at least one Super 1050. Pretty much all the local Dillonites keep some spare parts, so if one of us needs something NOW it is probably a phone call and a few minutes drive away.
Yes, I do use the Hornady LNL AP and absolutely love it! It took a short time to get the "bugs" smoothed, but that's just a part of setting up a new press. I also own an old Hornady/Pacific-007 single stage press ( now called the Lock and Load classic sans the bushing system) which I bought new in 1982. I can tell you that Hornady supports their stuff every bit as good as Dillon, as I have broken a few parts over the years.
Just like Dillon, you won't get the third degree on *how* the part broke; you just get a new part mailed to you that day. I suppose I better add that I'm a Dillon fan too and a former Dillon 550 owner. I like Blue every bit as well as I like Red, and as long as money is an independent variable, just pick the color you like best. There are pros and cons with each and the passionate will debate the points with more vigor than I care to listen to. Be confidant in knowing that you won't go wrong with either one.... 
*Check out this link for a great write up on the whole Hornady vs. Dillon vs. Lee progressive presses.
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I also bought 5000 of them some time ago, and they definitely did not work for me. Maybe batch related problems, who knows... but I had way too many duds. Not something that fired on second strike - dead duds.
In addition, if I can avoid sending the fascist Putin government my money - I will!
I think you must have got a bad batch; I just shot another 200 yesterday and every one went bang on the first try. I got a chuckle out of your last statement as I'm seeing less and less differences between ours and his these days. Perhaps an primer czar needs to be appointed, because we all know things get significantly better when the government gets involved!
Gotta love that stock CZ mainspring for hitting power. I will be sure to reinstall my stock mainspring if I plan to shoot any of those hard primers. 15 pounder was iffy at best.
Kahuna - Not seeing anything like we experienced a few weeks back. Check your email.
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I also bought 5000 of them some time ago, and they definitely did not work for me. Maybe batch related problems, who knows... but I had way too many duds. Not something that fired on second strike - dead duds.
In addition, if I can avoid sending the fascist Putin government my money - I will!
I think you must have got a bad batch; I just shot another 200 yesterday and every one went bang on the first try. I got a chuckle out of your last statement as I'm seeing less and less differences between ours and his these days. Perhaps an primer czar needs to be appointed, because we all know things get significantly better when the government gets involved!
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I've loaded those PMCs in 9mm using between 4.4 and 5.0 grains of Unique with Dardas cast 124 Lead, Montana Gold 124 CMJ and Bear Creek Moly 125 bullets. My brand new bone stock CZ SP-01 went bang every time, while another worked over CZ had inconsistent ignitions with PMCs. Third test gun was a well worn Taurus PT-92, and it too had a few clicks that required another strike. The final test gun was a Ruger Blackhawk shooting light .38 target loads ( 4.5 of Unique over a 158 gn cast bullet), and it too fired every time. *Each gun was fired over 100 rounds, with test conditions of dry clear sky at ~55 deg OAT@2300 ft MSL.
Those primers require a significant hit to light off, so a weak hammer will most certainly reward you with inconsistent results.
Just like Dillon, you won't get the third degree on *how* the part broke; you just get a new part mailed to you that day. I suppose I better add that I'm a Dillon fan too and a former Dillon 550 owner. I like Blue every bit as well as I like Red, and as long as money is an independent variable, just pick the color you like best. There are pros and cons with each and the passionate will debate the points with more vigor than I care to listen to. Be confidant in knowing that you won't go wrong with either one.... 
Thinking about getting a Hornady Lock and Load
in non-Dillon Reloading Equipment
Posted
I have a LNL AP and love it. Had a Dillon 550 in the past and it was a great press too. Each have their pros and cons. Read this Link for a good comparison.