Best beginner progressive press

If you're set on a progressive and you're mainly (only?) loading for pistol right now, get the Dillon Square Deal B.
I repeat, GET THE SQUARE DEAL B.

They run very smoothly with minimal set up, they come set up for one caliber and conversions are relatively cheap.

I can EASILY crank out 300 in an hour.
I liked the SDB so much I bought a second one that I keep set up for large primer .45ACP and I do 9x19 and .38/.357 on the other.
One thing you need to know, though I don't consider it a downside, is that the SDB uses unique dies not used on any other press, not even other Dillons.


I do have a single stage and it's a great way to learn the fundamentals and I use it for rifle rounds.

But for sheer output and trouble free use, it's hard to beat the Square Deal B.
 
Nothing wrong with starting out on a progressive press or even one of the Lee models. I've been reloading for just less than a year and started out with my Lee 1000. I've not had any issues and have loaded thousand's of 9mm rounds that all have been better than factory loads. I got the Lee because I was not sure that I would like reloading. Turns out I like it quite a bit. Down the road I'll likely upgrade to a more expensive press for 9mm and keep the 1000 for loading M1 Carbine which would be a much lower volume. Right now I don't see a reason to though.
 
I'm not going to pass judgement on the beginner with a progressive. My first press was a Hornady LNL. I am going to pass judgement on the Lee though.

Lee presses can load, but starting with one is a good way to get yourself in a pickle.

Frankly, the Dillon and Hornady lovers are pointing you the right way.

I might add that you will likely find the learning curve and volume you desire on a Lyman Tmag turret kit. That is where I would point you.
 
Nothing wrong with starting out on a progressive press or even one of the Lee models. I've been reloading for just less than a year and started out with my Lee 1000. I've not had any issues and have loaded thousand's of 9mm rounds that all have been better than factory loads. I got the Lee because I was not sure that I would like reloading. Turns out I like it quite a bit. Down the road I'll likely upgrade to a more expensive press for 9mm and keep the 1000 for loading M1 Carbine which would be a much lower volume. Right now I don't see a reason to though.
 
Thanks for asking our advice

Welcome to reloading.

I am a fan of the Lee Classic Turret, but for your needs, the Dillon Square Deal might be ideal. I think either one would do for you, but the turret might be a little slower than you want at 100-200 rounds per hour. A true progressive could easily double that (once you have the operation down pat).

The Square Deal is auto-advancing (unlike the Dillon 550) but far lower price than the Dillon 650. If you will be concentrating on pistol cartridges only, I opine the 650 is overkill.

Good luck.

Lost Sheep

I am surprized that only K-frame and I thought of the Square Deal. (I did not see his post until I went back and reviewed)
 
I would not buy a progressive for a first press, you will be messing up many rounds learning to adjust the dies. Its better to screw up 2 rounds in a batch vs 100 rounds while learning. I'd buy RCBS, Hornady, ect... before ever buying the harbor freight of reloading (Lee).
 
My last 2 cents for the day: do not get the square deal. At some point you want to be able to use a different brand of dies. This press will exclude that and you have to start over. It also doesn't come with the option of a powder check sensor, something you should not skip as a beginner on a progressive.

If you like quality, stay clear of Lee presses. take a look at this recent thread and the pictures: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560151

Enough said.
 
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I started reloading 30-06 and bought a Rock Chucker single stage. So I learned the basics on a single stage press.

But when it came to pistol cartridges, I went straight to a progressive--a Square Deal. For the money, it's great. I see no disadvantage to the Dillon proprietary dies in this press. And it will pump out the ammo. I just ordered a second SDB so I can dedicate one to the ammo I shoot the most. I would chose the SDB over the 550 because of the auto indexing shell plate--less risk of a double charge. The 650 is a big step up, of course, and I may someday go there, but I'm not there yet.
 
There is an optional powder hopper sensor/alarm, but you are right there is no sensor to guarantee that powder has dropped, but due to the design there is no way for a squib to happen without something breaking.

I've loaded many thousand rounds on my SDB's and have NEVER had a squib load.

Like I said before, I just don't see how the proprietary dies are a negative at all.
 
Like I said before, I just don't see how the proprietary dies are a negative at all.
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You have a separate single stage press and he won't. If he wanted to do some odd balls down the road he will regret buying a half assed compromise with the square deal. Examples? Lets load up some .500. Ops. No dies available. Lets load some ammo for my brand spanking new .223. Ops. No rifle dies available.
 
I would not buy a progressive for a first press, you will be messing up many rounds learning to adjust the dies. Its better to screw up 2 rounds in a batch vs 100 rounds while learning. I'd buy RCBS, Hornady, ect... before ever buying the harbor freight of reloading (Lee).
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First, if you're burning 100 rounds getting set up, on any press, you're doing something wrong. Any progressive press on the market can be dialed in on fewer than 5 rounds, which are easily pulled apart.

Second, there's plenty of LEE users here who'll take offense to the comparison between Harbor Freight and LEE, myself being at the top of the list. LEE makes a great (GREAT) product for the money. Other brands have other features that are desired by some users, but they ALL have their quirks and the ALL can be finicky. I have friends who complain about their RCBS or Dillon presses. At the end of the day, you want to be satisfied with your purchase, and the OP is on a tight budget, so a LEE product is a great option.

My opinion of starting with a progressive is, as it always has been... NO. Start on a single stage and after a few weeks and a few hundred rounds in a few calibers, step up to a progressive and keep that single stage for all the de-capping chores and short runs. It's really the best of both worlds have both pieces of equipment, regardless of what brand you choose.
 
Don't get the Square Deal nor the 650; you don't need nor want the auto advance feature of those two machines. Get the 550B instead.
 
I will eventually load .223 down the road so I want one that I can do both on. I want auto indexing also. I don't want to spend the money on a Dillon 650 and I don't want a POS progressive. So I'm thinking about the Lee Classic Turret press kit to get started and then later upgrading to the Dillon 650 if I really need/want higher volume. I can do both pistol and rifle with the Lee Classic Turret while being faster than a single stage but not too overly burdensome starting off. Thanks for all the replies and opinions, it has been very helpful.
 
So take a closer look at the Hornady Lock and Load AP, it's less money than the Dillions, uses any standard die, has auto index, is a five station press so a powder cop can be used, has a great warranty, and great CS.
 
First, if you're burning 100 rounds getting set up, on any press, you're doing something wrong. Any progressive press on the market can be dialed in on fewer than 5 rounds, which are easily pulled apart.

Second, there's plenty of LEE users here who'll take offense to the comparison between Harbor Freight and LEE, myself being at the top of the list. LEE makes a great (GREAT) product for the money. Other brands have other features that are desired by some users, but they ALL have their quirks and the ALL can be finicky. I have friends who complain about their RCBS or Dillon presses. At the end of the day, you want to be satisfied with your purchase, and the OP is on a tight budget, so a LEE product is a great option.

My opinion of starting with a progressive is, as it always has been... NO. Start on a single stage and after a few weeks and a few hundred rounds in a few calibers, step up to a progressive and keep that single stage for all the de-capping chores and short runs. It's really the best of both worlds have both pieces of equipment, regardless of what brand you choose.
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What I meant was, as a beginner its better to learn how to adjust one at a time, not screwing up a round with every pull of the handle because you still don't know how to set things up. Also, the harbor freight comment isn't exactly a negative one. It works, but is cheap. I just prefer something a bit more sturdy and I'll pay more once to have something that will work forever. I myself have a few Lee tools, basically only things that quality doesn't matter and cost half as much. I just wouldn't buy a Lee press personally.
 
I looked to see waht the OPwas planning to start reloading first and only found that he thinks that he may get into .223 later. I still have a single stage press and at times I run a few thousand 9mm or .40 at a time but in no way would I only want a progressive. I just reformed a bunch of .270 and .30-06 brass for a guy that could not find 8mm Mauser you sure aint gonna do that on a progressive.

I asked this question a few months ago about progressives when I was runnin 2000 9mm. I still havent bought aprogressive yet but once I get a few more customer vehicles done I will probably spring for the Hornady LNL progressive. I may still handprime because I have reduced feeling in my hands and with my RCBS hand primer I can feel what is going on and since I added clothes pins to my primer tray I an not havinf sideways primers.

The guys steering you to a single stage are right.......do a search on this sight and you will find that the largest postings of OOPs what did I do wrong are from new reloaders using progressives. Learn the craft first then step up as one caboom can be your last.
 
Excellent choice... you will enjoy that Lee Turret.. 100-125/hr (once I get it set up)..is where I am comfortable at with mine. makes quality ammo.
 
What I meant was, as a beginner its better to learn how to adjust one at a time, not screwing up a round with every pull of the handle because you still don't know how to set things up.
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This makes no sense all. You still adjust one die at a time on a progressive press regardless of manufacturer. Why would you feed cases through the press during the die adjustment period. I only used on piece of brass for my die set ups. I followed the manufacturer's directions (Lee) and watched a few YouTube videos. The only one I needed to redo was the bullet seating depth as I started long on purpose and made it shorter in small steps until I reached my COL. Once set up I ran one through by it's self for the first three or so while checking to make sure all was good. Then I let cases in through the feeder tubes and had shells in each station at the same time. The only thing I adjust now is the seating depth since I'm always trying different bullets.
 
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