I finally found the comparative review I was looking for - it's a .pdf file, so you'll need Acrobat to read it:

www.comrace.ca/cmfiles...arison.pdf

The reviewer does a good job of looking at & testing all three objectively.

rcbs rockchucker-circa 1978,dillon 450 circa 1983,dillon 550b circa Y2K,None of these are without faults,and none are headache free-but they work quite adequately with proper maintenance!BTW all of these presses will load any size pistol ammo,and all standard and magnum rifle ammo!And if necessary the dillons can be reduced in function to single stage presses for rifle processes.
Bushy-you being from Oregon should remember that blue koolaid comes from blueberries(smurf bushes)

Yup, but we call them huckleberrys and they grow wild and they are as big as your thumb nail.......And all my presses are raspberry colored...And I have no progresives.

"I think I might get a turret press for doin .45 rounds. Witch one though ?"

My experience with simple turret presses is that they save little, if any, time. If your die lock rings are secure there is no "fiddling" with them at all and I can unscrew one die and screw another in in about 15 seconds, without hurrying.

Assuming I install and change four pistol dies it takes me a grand total of about 1 minute to handle the dies on my single stage vs. maybe 5 seconds to rotate the turret through the four stages. Thus, my turret MAY save me some 55 seconds in a loading session, assuming the dies I want are already installed and ready to go. That's not often it seems.

Based on my own experience and your recent need for more volume, I strongly suggest you consider investing in one of the less expensive progressive type presses. From what I know of them I might buy either the Lee 1000 or Hornady AP if I were in your shoes.

If you still want a turret, get a Lee Classic Cast Turret, it has a lot of good features.

I'm new to reloading, so far I've only loaded 223, 204, 22-250 and 243. I am using a Lyman T-Mag II turret press and have been having good luck with it.

Dunno if my RCBS turret press saves me any time, since it's all I've ever used, and I load with it in single stage fashion, but I do like setting my dies up and leaving them there...

crb0417...Welcome to this fine site...Grab a beer (from Vince) and pull up a stump. Glad to have you. Enjoy...

Welcome crb0417...yep, beers on me mate.

I think that at the end of the day there are any number of presses that will do the job. I suppose it comes down to the attachments and ancillaries that are available an what it will all cost you.

Those of us that like to fiddle and play an active roll in the reloading process...other than just pulling the handle...will enjoy using a press that needs some "input" will no doubt prefer a single stage or maybe turret press, and those of us that are happy to sit down and get the job done with a minimum of fuss will like a progressive.

Main thing is that you end up with accurate safe reloads and you enjoy the process of producing your own rounds.

Cheers, Vince

My shooting partner had a Lee 1000, then he got a Dillion 550.

The Lee now exists as a doorstop for his shed/loading room.

In the 14 years I've had my 550, I've never had even one misfire/misfeed. I load 400 plus rounds per hour at a nice, leasurely pace.

Changing dies is a five minute operation (45ACP, 40S&W, 50AE)

Lifetime warranty: A few years ago I broke the powder measure (my fault); two days later a new one was in my mailbox from Dillon.

Solid as a tank and steady, I suspect it will still be working for my grand kids someday.

Go with what your budget allows and think LONGTERM!

YMMV

Bushmaster wrote:

....And all my presses are raspberry colored...And I have no progresives.

Lee or Forster?

I have one blue progressive, and one "Cherry" single stage (Co-Ax).

Welcome to this fine site Sharpshooter. I see Vince has furnished a beer and you've pulled up a stump...

I have a two Lee presses. A Lee Classic Cast single stage for resizing/decapping and priming. I use the single stage for loading rifle cases also. I have an old Lee Classic Turret that has been doin' it's job for the last 22 years...The rest of my equipment is a mixed bag, but mostly RCBS.

Wish you were alittle closer Joe, I have a Lee Classic Cast turret AND Dillon 550B and a Dillon SDB I load 44mag, 40S&W, some 9mm on. the Lee right now is only for 357 magnums and is set up for loading in a progressive manner. The Dillons are faster and just as tough as the Hornady LnL.. But more expensive.

My Turret press is the Redding T-7. It is build to last several lifetimes. Would the Lee have been fine-maybe. But I got this unit for only $125.00 2 years ago so I just couldn't resist it (now they are 200 or more).

I also bought an extra Turret so I never have to remove dies when switching calibers.