Is there an accuracy difference between reloading with the progressive press or a single press? Do they even make a progressive one for cartridges like they do shotgun hulls? Also, is RCBS, Lee, and Lyman all about the same quality?

There are some great progressive presses. I have never seen the need as I don't shoot 1,000 rounds a week, but if you have the money get a Dillon. Accuracy from even the best progressive will never equal weighing each charge. Changing from one chambering to another is much quicker with a single stage or turret press than a pregressive. You need to shoot a lot of one thing to make a progressive worth while, IMO.

I have a lee Pro 1000 that came with 38/357 dies and you can by extra plates to speed up the change over but honestly it torqued me off when I was trying to get it set up so I yanked it off my bench and through it in the closet. I've been thinking about getting it back out now that I'm shooting my 1911 and Glock but I dont' know. I use two RCBS Rock Chuckers, one is a newer Supreme and the other and old model. I don't use the priming attachment on either but instead I use the Lee hand primer and I just ordered and received the new version with the square plate and second piston to stop primers from doubling up. If I were to do anything again progressive I'd do as mentioned above and go with the Dillon but most likely I'd go with a good turret press like the Hornady or RCBS.

I use a Lee turret press but use my Lee Challenger press to seat primers,I just can't get a good feel or seat the primers very well on my turret press.

my hornady presses both produce very accurate ammo. I have one single stage and one progressive. caliber changes are easy on both. takes less than 5 mins on the AP and under a minute on the single stage.

I have been using two Lee Pro 1000s for over a decade. One is in .45 a.c.p. and the other .45 Colt. They have given me fits due to timing, primer feeding, etc. They are now used to size and expand case mouths and nothing else. They are going to be replaced with a Dillon. For Magnum handgun and all rifle rounds I use a Lee Turret press and weigh all charges. A Lee hand primer seats all my primers. I think accuracy is enhanced by weighing charges.

Have the same setup as John Williams above....

I have a Dillon 550b that I use for most of my pistol loads and the 223 & 7.69's that I run through my carbine. I have a quick change setup for each caliber and it takes me about three minutes to change over. I always drop 10 charges when I change over to verify load weights, make any minor adjustments then load away.
I also have a Rock chucker that I use for my precision 223 rounds, and have been using it for my 454 & 45LC calibers.
I use the Dillon anytime I am loading over 100 rounds at a time.

I got on ebay and looked for a Dillon 550. I saw a 650 also. what is the difference?

I don't know ,but I bet you could call Dillon and find out.

Certainly no offense meant by this reply Mr. John, but yeah, I'm sure they would. I can't STAND corporate america. Call them for advise on something, then they will try to sell ya on something else, then something else, then something else. That's why I don't call them any more when I want to find out about a product. They are mostly a bunch of blood suckers. Not all, but mostly... I was hoping to find someone on here that had some experience with the dillons, and could tell me from real life use if it is good or not, and what is different between the two presses. Manufacturers will always tell you, "OH YEAH!! This is the best thing goin..." and I don't want that crap. If someone has actually used one, and they aren't employed by Dillon, then yeah, I'll believe them. But untill then, I'd like to get my information from people most likely to have used the products -- like people here on the forum.

Sorry... I'll get off the soap box now. Someone else's turn...

rt, you might want to start another thread about just that subject. I am certain that there are some members who will be able to advise.

Try being an American manufacturer if you aren't already one. They are just fighting for their lives these days.

I find it more frustrating when having to call three times to get someone who actually knows what they are talking about, or who can form a complete sentence, in English.

OT RANT, OT RANT! (sorry (not really))

This is why I bought the Lee Turret Press. The flexibility to be "mostly progressive" if wanted, but also to be single stage and never have to fuss with the dies after they are set properly (except perhaps the bullet seating adjustment).

I owned a Dillon progressive years ago, but for me, it was overkill. Made good rounds tho.

I bought a Lee Classic Turret press last year and load 45 colt, 454 and 38's with it. I love it. Great accuracy from all ammo. It's one of those things in life that are "cheap but effective". I decap with a decapping die on my single stage, give the primer pockets a quick clean, tumble the brass and then load em on the Turret press. Size, prime, etc. This kit from Cabellas is a skookum deal. http://www.cabelas.com/presses-dies-lee-classic-turret-press-reloading-kit-1.shtml

Another +++ for the Lee Turret press. I like it a lot and it supplies me with more then enough ammo that I need. About 100 rounds 25-35 mins.. Everything moves at the right speed, I can easily all the steps like powder charge and primer seating. It isn't a full progressive but I don't need one. I keep a Hornady single stage for hunting rounds and work up loads.

Joe

The 650 is progressive and auto-indexing, i.e. every time you pull/push the lever one reloading step is performed and the case is automatically moved to the next station for the next reloading step. The 550 is progressive but not auto-indexing, i.e. you need to move the shell plate forward by hand to take the case to the next station.

Never tried a single stage since I don't load rifle and progressives are pretty cheap (no pun intended). I say, if you can swing either, go for the 650.

Thanks all. 650 it is!