Well, the old bench of evil turned out to be too small, too unstable, and I hated the fact that the only way I could mount the press was on the side. I decided to go to Sam’s Club and get myself a new bench of evil, where I could mount the press the right way.  Now every time I decap and resize a piece of brass, it’s like I’m playing a slot machine, only with this slot machine, I win every time!
Now I’m thinking about upping the ante toward a progressive press.
That’s lovely! It looks ESPECIALLY evil…but would be SUPER DUPER EVIL if there was a progressive press on it. I also have bench of evil…
http://picasaweb.google.com/egnilk66/ReloadingPresses/photo#5235648700830598658
I am just starting to get into casting and loading, about to grab some books on the topic. This bench looks great. Hope to have one some day.
I have a small square of evil … bench will appear at some later date, probably when I have a real workshop to put it in.
I’ve been using the same kit, though – the Lee anniversary – and think it was a fantastic deal. I added an inexpensive electronic scale – I hate the balance that came with the kit – and a set of calipers.
Have a look at the Lee Turret before you drop big bucks on a progressive.
For pistol cartridges, it’s really fast. I also like that I can change calibers in 30 seconds by swapping 3 parts.
At this point I’ve used both an RCBS single stage and the Dillon RL550B. The Dillon is pure genius. It works great and they have the NO BS warranty. They’ll rebuild/replace it even if it gets burnt up in a housefire….that YOU started. Check craigs list or ask around the pistol club at your range. Once in a while you’ll find an old guy that’s getting out of shooting or getting a divorce or something and has to sell it. Check estate sales and Craigslist…that’s how I got my RCBS Rock Chucker….FOR FREE!! Here’s the story:
http://oflifeandliberty.blogspot.com/2008/06/gods-of-reloading.html
Back in the day my old man and me used one of those Dillon presses. It was a charm to work with. I can’t remember the model number of this one, but it had it all – 4 position rotational action with each pull of the lever, and a hopper tray to collect each finished cartridge. We reloaded our 9mm Luger’s, .45 ACP’s, .30-06’s, .30-30 Winchester’s, and 7mm Remington Magnum’s with that thing, and never had a problem with it or any of the loads even after thousands of rounds later. Good times. My brother took it just a few years ago and put it in his basement, but I don’t think he ever set it up on a bench. It’s probably still in some storage box collecting dust. I should get it back from him if he’s not going to use it.
While I have the same single-stage press as you and I totally love it, I also went lee with my progressive (A Pro1000) It works well enugh, and I’m not getting rid of it anytime soon, still it has its bugs and quirks, so I kinda wish I had spent a little more and gone with a higher brand.
For what its worth to ya!
I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re wasting money if you go for a Hornady or a Lee before you go get the Dillon. It’s really the best product out there. It has no bugs or quirks…..except that it puts out tons of great ammo and quick.
Sebastian, e-mail to you bounced for : User unknown in local recipient table , e-mail me.
+1 on the Dillon as the ultimate, I upgraded to a PRO1000 after running single stage LEE for a few years. Then for a first anniversary present, MrsGunGeek bought me an XL650 with caliber conversions and all the bells and whistles. Granted, she got a Kimber Compact CDP from me but we had the funds and felt like spoiling each other.
My e-mail problems have been fixed. Sorry about that.
I’ve heard good things about the Dillon presses, but they are very expensive. I’ve read some reviews that suggest the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP is just about as good for a lot less money.
Does Hornady have a “No BS” warranty? I think Hornady would laugh at you (actually I know of someone this happened to) if yo8u told them that your press melted in a housefire…..whereas Dillon would just ask you to send it back, and they’d ship you a new one. That’s worth the extra money right there. You get what you pay for with presses, I’m afraid. Plus…. you can find them on Craigslist and other places for about the same price as the hornady. I got a full 550 setup for $250.
They probably would, but what is the likelihood of my house catching on fire and my press melting? I mean, I get that they have a really good warranty. I will have to look and see if I can find a deal on a Dillon.
Is there a reason one needs to be so concerned about whether a press will be replaced due to a house fire? I thought that’s what insurance was for…
Yes, insurance takes too long.
Also, it’s something that Hornady won’t cover.
And….you have to pay a deductible with insurance.
Honestly, if our house burns down, getting Sebastian a new reloading press is not going to be at the top of the priority list. That’s fine if it’s at the top of yours, but I somehow think we’d have a few other things we’d be buying first.
Oh my goodness, Hyperbole Jackson. I NEVER said that it would be your priority. I was only making a comparison with something that had happened. A friend called Dillon and Hornady and said that his press had burned up in the San Diego fires. Dillon said, “send it in” and Hornady literally laughed at him. Based on that principle, I decided that for my money, Dillon was the best. Lifetime No BS warranty vs someone laughing at me will get my cash every time.
Let me change it from “house burnt down” to “press was crushed by a falling [enter heavy object here]. Or maybe…used waterbased lube and seized up the cam. They’d cover that too. Or, rammed the bench with the truck after a night of drinking and bent the press’ structure. They’d cover that too.
Honestly, all of those are still way too far-fetched to be of concern. If something heavy falls on it, it means our house is falling down and we go back to setting priorities. If Sebastian uses the wrong products that cause it to become inoperable, I wouldn’t expect the company to pay for his mistakes. If Sebastian was driving drunk and rammed his car through the side of the house so that it fell into the basement, again, the problem doesn’t fall to the company. With the exception of using the wrong products, again, insurance.
I’m not saying that you don’t have the right to pay for that added protection. I just don’t believe that there’s any reason the company should be on the line for problems that they did not create. Since the warranty that covers even mistakes made by the owners and issues otherwise covered by insurance, it is likely reflected in the added cost of your favored brand. Since I don’t think either of us feels a need to have that kind of warranty against our own irresponsibility or accidents that insurance covers, it’s fine for us to set different priorities in a purchase.
OH boy. My point is still lost on you, I guess. Of course I don’t know the layout of your home and I assume a lot by expecting the press is in the garage. We don’t have basements out here. They (Dillon) will still go further than any other company, period, no matter which room your press is in. No, I don’t expect a company to cover a user’s negligence….but they do, if not for free….for a small fee. However, they don’t laugh at you.
Their presses are the most well made on the market. They have great accessories for their presses that make them even easier to use. I wouldn’t put a Hornady press on my bench. ;)
BUY THE DILLON.