what is the best?

First topic message reminder :

Dear people,what is the best progressive press for the money,features and cost-effective and simplicity for use: Dillon 550,Dillon 650,Hornady lock and load and RCBS?

Thanks Rob and Steve, I use a single stage and for the amount I shoot it is fine but was curious.

For the money and quality, 550 hands down.

to reload 38 wadcutters what dies recommend?? i read about redding competition seating die,lee factory crimp die and other die but i don't remeber. the dillons work same for this??

Rob Kovach wrote:Troy,
On both the Dillon 550 and the 650, a bullet feeder is optional--I don't know of any inexpensive bullet feeder that automatically orients any bullet.  With all of the bullet feeders that I have seen/used the user has to manually fill the tube with the bullet oriented in the way they wish.

Not inexpensive but it does orient the bullet - MrBulletFeeder. I have one on my 1050.

Won't work on full wadcutters, but works on SWC, FMJ, JHP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdLAGoyvlGs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofgahjq3W5g

- Dave

SW-52 wrote:to reload 38 wadcutters what dies recommend?? i read about redding competition seating die,lee factory crimp die and other die but i don't remeber. the dillons work same for this??

Redding Micrometer Competition Seating Dies are superior to all others, but I make extremely good .38spl HBWC ammo with cheap, used, non-carbide OLD RCBS dies.  HBWCs are pretty forgiving for seating and crimping.

The expander die that I use is the standard Dillon powder-through expander.

Most .38spl crimp dies are roll crimp.  The Lee FCD is sort of between a roll and a taper crimp.  The crimp die that I use for the HBWC is an RCBS taper crimp die.

john bickar wrote:No love for the Star, huh?

Man, you young whippersnappers just don't know how to appreciate the finer things in life

I recently sold my father's Star Universal. It had the Hulme case feeder and everything for converting from .45 ACP, .38 SPL and .32 S&W long. They are a great machine. I let it go for a great price. The guy who bought it really appreciates it. IMHO, the Star is far superior to my Dillon 550 and 650. I'm in too deep into Dillon equipment to change over. There is now someone who supports them, as well.
Star Machine Works
PO Box 455
Bloomsbury, New Jersey 08804
StarMachineWorks@ptd.net
(908) 750-6312

Rob Kovach wrote:Troy,
On both the Dillon 550 and the 650, a bullet feeder is optional--I don't know of any inexpensive bullet feeder that automatically orients any bullet.  With all of the bullet feeders that I have seen/used the user has to manually fill the tube with the bullet oriented in the way they wish.

Aren't the aftermarket bullet feeder systems for the Dillons made just for jacketed bullets?

I think the bullet feeder discussion is a departure from the original poster's question.  Let's bring this back on topic.

I went with a RCBS 2000.  I like the 5 stations and a bit more room between them for clumsy fingers.  I also like the APS priming system.  Auto indexes.