Hornady Lock-N-Load AP versus Dillon 550?

[Jason]

After reading up on lots of sites and watching untold numbers of videos, I started actually checking out progressive presses that my friends owned to see which I wanted to buy. I started out planning to get a Dillon 550B with all the necessary trimmings. A buddy has the latest version of the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press, as well as an older version. That new version was seriously impressive. He did say that he had to do a bit of adjusting to get everything working perfectly with the primer feed but hasn't had a problem with it since. His Dillon 550 in the corner had evidently not had the cover off of it in well over a year. When I went home to check prices, I was shocked that it would cost less to set The Hornady up well than a Dillon 550 even though it compared functionally to a Dillon 650 more than a 550. I'm seriously considering getting the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press now. I don't really have that much of a preference between the lock-n-load die setup or the Dillon tool head setup. I like the swappable inserts for the Hornady powder measure and it's supposedly very accurate for a progressive press-mounted measure, but I think I would still have to adjust the powder die for each catridge. I doubt that I would buy a separate powder measure for each of the 10+ cartridges that I'll be loading for, no matter which press I choose. What am I not thinking of that is going to make me regret spending the money on the Hornady press instead of the Dillon 550B? For the record, I would not be getting the bullet or case feeders for either the Hornady or Dillon presses.

[Bob259]

Jason, I haven't seen the new Horanady press, or know anyone with one, but one thing I know for sure is with the Dillon they really do back their "No BS Warranty" regardless of how old your unit is. Not sure how Hornady would handle a problem down the road because I know of no one using one, but with the Dillon I know many people here are using them and if a problem does arise I know of no one that had a bad word to say about the Dillon products or their after sale service.

[Jason]

Evidently, it's not just my perception that the Hornady progressive press is excellent. Here's a comparison between it and a Dillon 650.

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLee ... arison.pdf

I've pretty well decided that I'm going to buy one. Now I just need to find some money.