I currently own a Hornady LNL with the case feeder. I load 9mm and .45acp and will soon be loading .40. I have been having several problems with the primer assembly locking up and also the case feeder has been very hit or miss. It is great when it runs flawlessly but with me that has rarely been happening lately. With a little research it appears that Hornady LNL bring more now then they did 2 years ago on ebay and that dillons case feeder runs very flawless from what I have read. What is everyones opinion on making the move from hornady to dillon?
I don't know how difficult it is to change calibers and primer mechanisms for the XL650. It's fairly straightforward on the RL550B but, still, I have one for small primers and one for large primers - talk about LAZY! I suspect the caliber change is easy but I'm not sure about changing the primer mechanism.
One of the other fellows can talk about the changeover.
The Dillon case feeder works pretty well but mine is not perfect. From time to time, a case gets jammed and stalls the wheel. I need to trim the lever arm on the microswitch because it is just about 1/16" too long and hangs up on the drop tube. This is on my 1050.
I have another Dillon case feeder that I used on my RCBS Green Machine. It had the same jam issue.
But, maybe the jams are on the order of 3 or 4 per thousand. Not a big deal and it's not like there aren't a bunch of cases in the tube. You get to where you hear the case feeder turn as you load each cartridge. You notice when it stops making noise.
Does it make sense to set up the 650 for small primer and keep the LNL for large primer?
My LnL was like yours. Seldom was the complete case feeder setup reliable. My 650 is worlds better. It's not even close. I don't worry about the changeover times. It's not that big a deal.
Yes I am having horrible problems with the hornady case feeder with cases falling off the press or being flipped the wrong direction or being tipped probably 1 in 10 cases are like that. Should I go dillon?
The 650 case feeder is that much better than a LNL. You can tinker w/ the LNL & get it pretty close to 100%, but not w/o a bit of work. THe 650 is not perfect either, the worst that happens for me is it will sometimes feed a case upside down. I don't even know how to go about fixing that issue. Far quieter & more reliable going w/ the 650, but to each his own.
Yes I am having horrible problems with the hornady case feeder with cases falling off the press or being flipped the wrong direction or being tipped probably 1 in 10 cases are like that. Should I go dillon?
Even in the case where the case feeder turns one upside down (one or two in the last 1000 I loaded), all it means is that there will be an empty spot in the shell plate after the errant brass is removed or falls to the ground (on a Dillon 1050). Not a big deal.
Yes I am having horrible problems with the hornady case feeder with cases falling off the press or being flipped the wrong direction or being tipped probably 1 in 10 cases are like that. Should I go dillon?
Few people have loaded on both an XL650 and a LNL AP.
I'm one of the few that owns both. The Dillon is a better machine, hands down for production of a single caliber without issues, and it's not even a contest when you add in the case feeders.
The Dillon case feeder just works, in comparison to the Hornady. I've never had a jam in the shell plate. The cases do not stick sideways in the drop tube funnel. They do not fly off the sub plate. They do not tip while entering the shell plate, as they are guided in by a track. Brass doesn't rain on your head. The shell advance mechanism doesn't bind. For the person that had the microswitch bind on the drop tube, you do not need to cut it, just raise the case feeder up and tighten down the retaining screw. I will get an upside down case or two per 1K, but I assume that's because even with a solid bench, the case feeder still moves during operation slightly. Dillon's primer seating is much more robust and has greater leverage as well, which greatly speeds production without the chance of high primers.
The cons of the XL650 are the cost of caliber conversions, it's generally more complex, indexing isn't as smooth, primer catch system stinks, the primers advance without a case present, causing set up delays and (in my opinon) the powder measure on the Hornday is simpler, more robust and less complex. The toolhead is also more cramped.
It sounds pretty convincing that if you dont want to fiddle with a hornady LNL every day and the increased cost of the dillon doesnt bother you to go ahead and get the dillon press
I've only loaded 800 on my new 650 (9mm) and have had exactly one case feed upside down. I think it was my fault as I was trying to go a little too fast. My table is big and heavy but is not bolted to the wall/floor, and shakes just a tad if I'm going too fast. I've gone just slightly slower, and it is working perfectly.
I reload in the garage, so my floor is concrete and the wall is brick. And the previous owner covered THAT with some cheap paneling, so I can't even seen the mortar to try and attach something to the wall. With the whole thing being paneled, I don't want to remove one section for my bench. :dunno:
Ron, I don't know the specific construction of your garage, but would offer the following. If brick veneer on the outside, you probably have standard 2x4 framing in your garage walls. If concrete block with a stucco finish, there will be furring strips, typically a 1x2, nailed to the block upon which the paneling will be attached. (I doubt seriously that someone direct nailed or glued it, but who knows?).
You could make a test hole in a very inconspicuous location to confirm one of the above. If it is concrete brick with furring strips, you could get some Tapcon bolts and strategically affix your bench. If 2x4 framing, try to use an electrical box as a benchmark to locate the studs.
My bench isn't attached to the concrete block wall - it doesn't move due to sheer size and the amount of weight on the second/lower shelf.
Ron, I don't know the specific construction of your garage, but would offer the following. If brick veneer on the outside, you probably have standard 2x4 framing in your garage walls. If concrete block with a stucco finish, there will be furring strips, typically a 1x2, nailed to the block upon which the paneling will be attached. (I doubt seriously that someone direct nailed or glued it, but who knows?).
You could make a test hole in a very inconspicuous location to confirm one of the above. If it is concrete brick with furring strips, you could get some Tapcon bolts and strategically affix your bench. If 2x4 framing, try to use an electrical box as a benchmark to locate the studs.
My bench isn't attached to the concrete block wall - it doesn't move due to sheer size and the amount of weight on the second/lower shelf.
Thanks man... I will look into that. I have wondered how they attached that paneling, if it was straight to the brick wall... as you're saying, it probably isn't but I just don't know what's behind it.
I actually might try your second "idea" first... lots of weight on the bottom shelf. My bench is 6'x3'. I could get some concrete pavers and stack on the bottom in the back, I have plenty of room.
Yes I am having horrible problems with the hornady case feeder with cases falling off the press or being flipped the wrong direction or being tipped probably 1 in 10 cases are like that. Should I go dillon?
I couldn't get my LnL better then 99% after a lot of work. My 650 is much better then 99%. I can't remember the last time I had a misfeed with a case. 650 has a case retainer to hold the case in place as it get inserted. The case feeder has two speeds which helps you tune the speed to the type of case your loading. EVERY machine has issues with cases sometimes not dropping or jamming in just as they leave the plate. It's rare. 650 is way better in this regard as well.
Few people have loaded on both an XL650 and a LNL AP.
I'm one of the few that owns both. The Dillon is a better machine, hands down for production of a single caliber without issues, and it's not even a contest when you add in the case feeders.
The Dillon case feeder just works, in comparison to the Hornady. I've never had a jam in the shell plate. The cases do not stick sideways in the drop tube funnel. They do not fly off the sub plate. They do not tip while entering the shell plate, as they are guided in by a track. Brass doesn't rain on your head. The shell advance mechanism doesn't bind. For the person that had the microswitch bind on the drop tube, you do not need to cut it, just raise the case feeder up and tighten down the retaining screw. I will get an upside down case or two per 1K, but I assume that's because even with a solid bench, the case feeder still moves during operation slightly. Dillon's primer seating is much more robust and has greater leverage as well, which greatly speeds production without the chance of high primers.
The cons of the XL650 are the cost of caliber conversions, it's generally more complex, indexing isn't as smooth, primer catch system stinks, the primers advance without a case present, causing set up delays and (in my opinon) the powder measure on the Hornday is simpler, more robust and less complex. The toolhead is also more cramped.
I owned both also. Quite frankly my 650 case feeder had some issues at first and it took a couple hundred rounds to get it dialed in.
The 650 hasn't overcome the 550 as my favorite press. But it has only seen light use as I blew out my leg a few months after I got my 650.
I debated heavily between the 650 and LNL, never used an LNL, but I am not sorry in the least in my decision for a 650. It's not that difficult to change calibers, etc...
The one thing I don't like about it, is like was said above, how a primer gets ejected whether there is a case present or not. It's not that big of a deal, if you really want to prevent it, you can remove the primer cam, and index your primers manually till everything is set up. *If "spent" primers are missing your cup, there's a lot of fixes out there for that, including an easy bolt on replacement that is similar to the Hornady (tube into a trash can) from Uniquetek.
Everything that has been ordered. Obviously I have dies and everything from the Hornady. Did I miss anything thats a must have. I thought about the strong mount but my bench is very secure (3" Screws into the wall, 2x6 framing and tapconed into the floor) and its already at 36" height so I will see how it is before I order that. Basically any other must haves that I need to get?
I've only loaded 800 on my new 650 (9mm) and have had exactly one case feed upside down. I think it was my fault as I was trying to go a little too fast. My table is big and heavy but is not bolted to the wall/floor, and shakes just a tad if I'm going too fast. I've gone just slightly slower, and it is working perfectly.
I reload in the garage, so my floor is concrete and the wall is brick. And the previous owner covered THAT with some cheap paneling, so I can't even seen the mortar to try and attach something to the wall. With the whole thing being paneled, I don't want to remove one section for my bench. :dunno:
Ron, a case feeding upside down can NOT be the reloaders fault, it falls into the feeder that way. No, it just happens, I don't know why, but I doubt there is any way to make it 100% reliable. Better than the LNL system by far though.
I personally prefer my solution... just get one 650 for large primers and one for small primers. That cuts down on changeover time considerably. However, if you fear for the continued good health of various and sundry of your bodily appendages should your significant other happen to realize what you have done... I guess one will do.
Everything that has been ordered. Obviously I have dies and everything from the Hornady. Did I miss anything thats a must have. I thought about the strong mount but my bench is very secure (3" Screws into the wall, 2x6 framing and tapconed into the floor) and its already at 36" height so I will see how it is before I order that. Basically any other must haves that I need to get?
I have one, I don't like it. I put the ball back on. Most people like the roller better.
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