Dillon vs Lee

[waldershrek]

So in my quest to begin reloading sometime in the near future I initially looked at Dillon units which are really nice but also expensive. Today I was looking at the Lee machines and I'm shocked how inexpensive they are but they also seem alot more simple. Just from my initial observations the Dillon machines seem like they come with lots of bells and whistles where as the Lee machines are less fancy and you have to do more work. Anybody use both machines?

[Rich]

I had a Lee machine when I first began reloading and threw it away within a month and changed to a Rock Chucker. I'm sure you'll have some people tell you that Lee is good to go but in my opinion Lee is crap. Dillon is where the money is at in reloading. Is Dillon equipment more expensive? Yes, but the equipment is better built and the extra bells and whistles are worth it when reloading. I've reloaded on the Dillon 550B and it's a great machine for the average reloader, conversion units are cheap and can be changed quickly.

In the end it all comes down to how much you want to spend. I've invested over $2K in equipment in the past two months and that's just for primary equipment (press, case trimmer, tumbler, and media separator).

You can get a basic Dillon setup (press and tumbler for under $500-600 depending on which press you get).

[av8r]

Depending on which models you're looking at, the Lee can have some advantages over the Dillon. Personally, after using both, I kept the Dillon. I'd recommend looking for used Dillon stuff on Craigslist or just googling for it. I bought my latest 650XL for about 50% of new retail and as Dillon warrants all their stuff other than the 1050 for life, regardless of owner or how it became damaged, you can get some deals out there. Just today I bought a second case feeder with shell plates for $160 shipped to my house. Check out the 550 Dillon.

[waldershrek]

Well I would only be reloading 9mm and .40 initially. In the future I will probably have more need for additional pistol calibers and maybe even start reloading rifle rounds so I want something that allows me to do that by simply switching out dies and such. My understanding was that the simplest Dillon machine (I can't remember the model now) only did pistol ammo while the 550 did both.

[av8r]

If you think you're going to load a lot, the 550B or the 650XL are the way to go, IMO. I don't like a manual indexing press so I've used the 650s for 15 years or so. I have used 550s that belong to others and they're fine, just not my cup a tea. A new 650 with just the basics is $514....expect to spend about $1000-$1300 for all the bells and whistles (new) or $800-$1000 for a nice used one with MANY extras. I buy the ones I can get cheap, keep what I need and sell the extras to offset the cost. My latest 650 cost me nothing when you consider what I have sold the last few for as well as the extras I cashed.

You cannot go wrong with the Dillon or the Lee progressive. The Lee's casefeeder is way over priced tho.

Originally Posted by waldershrek

Well I would only be reloading 9mm and .40 initially. In the future I will probably have more need for additional pistol calibers and maybe even start reloading rifle rounds so I want something that allows me to do that by simply switching out dies and such. My understanding was that the simplest Dillon machine (I can't remember the model now) only did pistol ammo while the 550 did both.

[GreytSilly]

Never used a Dillon. I have loaded thousands of rounds on Lee. I have a Lee Pro 1000 progressive set up for 9mm and a Lee three hole turret for .45, .38, .380. My Lee presses have served me well for a good number of years. Never regretted buying them. I initially had a Lee single stage press and sold that in favor of the turret and progressive. I'm sure Dillon's are nice machines but were too expensive for my taste. If you load thousands of rounds a month, then perhaps the expense is warranted.

[waldershrek]

I definitely want a progressive. With the Lee machines is the 4 hole necessary or is 3 hole all I need?

[Rich]

Get the Dillon 550B or 650 and don't look back.

[av8r]

Originally Posted by waldershrek

I definitely want a progressive. With the Lee machines is the 4 hole necessary or is 3 hole all I need?

I'd want a 4 hole unit.

[waldershrek]

Hmmm.....my other problem is I live in a 3 bedroom half house and don't have a suitable bench yet either. I could use my third bedroom I suppose.

[ValueTeck]

I have been using the Lee Loadmaster for about a year now and am very satisfied. It will load anything from small handgun rounds to magnum rifle. I have been loading .308, .223 and now .44Mag, .44 Special and .45acp. I bought it from Factory Sales Inc.
They had the best price and great service. Right now you can get the setup for 9mm or .40 with dies for $229. It's a very heavy duty press.

[av8r]

Originally Posted by waldershrek

Hmmm.....my other problem is I live in a 3 bedroom half house and don't have a suitable bench yet either. I could use my third bedroom I suppose.

Why not? I used a spare room for years. Just keep the powder and primers locked up in a metal cabinet when not using them. Preferably in another area of the house. You don't need a fantastic bench either. A used desk from Craigslist...or some cinder blocks with a piece of 3/4" ply glued to the top would be fine as a temporary setup.

[av8r]

I forgot to mention the Hornady Lock N Load progressive. Many people like it better than the Dillon. $399...hard to beat it!

Here's a good read on the 3 biggies:
http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillon...Comparison.pdf

[darkvibe]

Originally Posted by waldershrek

I definitely want a progressive. With the Lee machines is the 4 hole necessary or is 3 hole all I need?

The 4th hole would be for a crimp die. I have crimp my .40 reloads. Supposed the make more reliable feeding.

I load with a Lee turret press. I have no issues with it but it's too slow for how much I shoot. I'm going to set up a Lee progressive for .40 and use the turret for other calibers. I take the indexing rod out of the turret press and use it as a single stage for loading rifle.

[darkvibe]

Originally Posted by Rich

I'm sure you'll have some people tell you that Lee is good to go but in my opinion Lee is crap.

Any particular reason?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by darkvibe

Any particular reason?

Quality control. The Lee press I had felt cheap, it didn't feel like rigid like a press should. Sure Lee will replace/repair their products when you get one of the lemons but getting a lemon shouldn't be a common thing. I've read way too many cases where people get Lee products new from the factory and the product is faulty. Lee's products are priced considerably less so obviously you get what you pay for but quality control is still lacking, I don't think I've ever heard of a product being faulty straight from the factory with Dillon, Hornady, etc.

[FrankRochester]

Dillon is the way to go... No BS lifetime warranty. I personally know of a guy who didn't get his primer seated right because he was going so fast. It ignited and blew the whole stack! Blew up a bunch of pieces. He called Dillon to order replacement parts. And they sent him all new shit for free. Even after he admitted it was his fault.

[yukiginger]

I recently purchased Hornady's Lock n Load AP and I'm quite impressed. I had their Projektor press years ago (which has now evolved into the Lock n Load) and I must say that I'm very impressed with the changes they've made. The bushings make changes pretty quick, also. They are still offering a deal on free bullets (500 now I think) with the purchase of the press (you have to pay a shipping charge for the bullets). Last year they were offering 1,000 bullets so I have those coming. Hornady customer service is great, also (don't know if anyone can match/beat Dillon's reputation in this regard).

MarkG

[protekurbutt]

I have a Dillon and use it for 9mm and .45; all for target shooting. All I can say is it's a super product and they stand behind their product. You can't go wrong. And they are great people to deal with; they always will give you ample amount of help.

Good luck.

[av8r]

I really liked the Hornady LnL and would have kept it but for the price of the casefeeder. $300+ for what everyone else sells for $200 or less. Lots of them used for sale, but if you buy a used one, be sure to call Hornady as soon as you get it and make sure it has all the updates for primer, eject wire, etc. Really nice unit.

Originally Posted by yukiginger

I recently purchased Hornady's Lock n Load AP and I'm quite impressed. I had their Projektor press years ago (which has now evolved into the Lock n Load) and I must say that I'm very impressed with the changes they've made. The bushings make changes pretty quick, also. They are still offering a deal on free bullets (500 now I think) with the purchase of the press (you have to pay a shipping charge for the bullets). Last year they were offering 1,000 bullets so I have those coming. Hornady customer service is great, also (don't know if anyone can match/beat Dillon's reputation in this regard).

MarkG

[darkvibe]

Originally Posted by Rich

so obviously you get what you pay for

Can't argue with that. I was just wondering if you had some major disaster with a lee press.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by darkvibe

Can't argue with that. I was just wondering if you had some major disaster with a lee press.

Not a disaster, it just wasn't what I wanted in a press. The metal felt too light duty for my liking. I've heard of many people that have no complaints about Lee but there are just too many factors that affect which press is best for different people. I don't like to have swage separately, trim separately, etc. so a single stage press or just about any non Super 1050 press doesn't really interest me any more. Learning on the Rock Chucker was one of my best choices but a single stage press is quickly outgrown.

[Evilrp]

Originally Posted by Rich

a single stage press is quickly outgrown.

Not if your loading for accuracy .... I love my Dillons and all but I gotta say if I want consistent match quality ammo I load it on my Chucker or T-mag and measure each load from my Pact trickler. Progressives will give you large quantity of MBG (minute of bad guy) quality ammo but won't produce the same quality as a single stage round after round.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Evilrp

Not if your loading for accuracy .... I love my Dillons and all but I gotta say if I want consistent match quality ammo I load it on my Chucker or T-mag and measure each load from my Pact trickler. Progressives will give you large quantity of MBG (minute of bad guy) quality ammo but won't produce the same quality as a single stage round after round.

I keep my Rock Chucker around for this purpose. Any carbine and pistol ammo is done on a progressive though.

[JStarX7]

Lee Pro 1000 set up for my .40 S&W reloading. No complaints, except the case feeder likes to stop feeding for no reason. I pretty much gave up and load cases by hand now. I'd like to get a bullet feeder for it, but if it works as inconsistently as the case feeder, forget it.

But, I read a lot of people complaining about the primer feed ramp and other things, and mine has worked great for about 500 rounds so far.