Lee Loadmaster or Dillon Square Deal B?

Square Deal B vs RL550B

The SDB and the 550 are close in price, but the SDB comes with dies and is auto-indexing. I think auto-indexing is a big safety feature for a new reloader.
Click to expand...

When I bought my RL550B, it came with one caliber setup. dies and the complete conversion kit. I chose 9mm. I had previously owned a Lee press that auto indexed and that was one of the main reasons I went to manual indexing. Most progressive presses (including Dillon) that auto index, tend to splash powder out of a pistol case when actuated. I like to use powders that mostly fill the case so an inadvertent double charge would be obvious.

I also disagree that auto indexing is safer for the beginner. When you get that occasional 380 mixed in with your 9mm brass or, the small primer 45 ACP and your press “crashes”, it will be much easier and safer to correct the problem with a manually indexed machine. A beginner should start on a single stage anyway.

Also, the SDB comes from the factory with the dies set up to load the caliber on the box. All you need to do is set your powder charge, load primers, and start loading.
Click to expand...
I would not trust any factory to set up my dies. How would they know what bullet you are using and what the proper seating depth is? How would they know the proper amount of crimp, etc?

Don't worry about the fact that SDB's use proprietary dies. The dies are Dillon, and great quality. If/when you upgrade, sell the dies along with the press.
Click to expand...
I didn’t know that the SDB used proprietary dies. But if it does, that would be another “no go” for me. I have two pistols that have tight match chambers. A small base die is required in station 1 in order to get the cases to reliably function.

I also reload 5.56 and 300BLK on my 550 for Three Gun, and practice ammo. Cant do that on the SDB. Another great feature of the Dillon standard dies is that they can be cleaned without having to remove them from the press or mess up your adjustments.
 
Last edited:
Lee Loadmaster or Dillon Square Deal B?
I want to get away from my single stage press for pistol.

The 550 is nice. I just do not have the budget for it at this point in my life.
Click to expand...

Lee Classic Turret Kit.

I know it's not a progressive. Just do it.
 
To add to what g.willikers said, the caliber swap for the SD B is Not a quick change. I'd suggest saving some more money and then look for a used 550.

Mike
 
Do yourself a big favor and write off the Loadmaster now...Save up and get a Dillon 550B...it uses standard dies and Dillon's customer service (not that you'll ever need it) is the industry standard. I've owned both, now have two 550B's and gave my Loadmaster away to a guy who has cursed me for it, ever since. It's a RPITA to work with, requires constant tinkering to keep running (every time I loaded on it), and parts just break. Lee was less than accommodating when queried about parts reliability...I like Lee's small parts, use their dies in many calibers, but that press will turn you into a raving maniac...

If it matters, I've loaded my own ammunition since 1962. I've got a great single stage press for rifle, own and use a top of the line Harrell turret for real precision, but ALL of my pistol and revolver loads are done on the aforementioned pair of Dillons. They're just that good.

Rant over, Rod
 
Lee Classic Turret Kit.

I know it's not a progressive. Just do it.
Click to expand...

I can load up about 150 rounds an hour on my LCT, but that's 4 pulls on the handle for just one round, 600 pulls for 150 rounds. It's pretty labor intensive compared to a true progressive press.
 
Happy with my Lee Loadmaster and it's very affordable. Reloaded 9mm, .45ACP and .223 for over 6 months with about 2000 rounds each. Only issues I've had so far are the priming system and the .223 shell plate being a tad snug. Contacted Lee and they admitted a few incorrectly cut ones got through QA. They sent me a replacement at no cost.
 
I bought a Sq. Deal B on ebay for$200. It takes a few mins to change calibers, and the work table is small, but it loads fast and makes good ammo. I use mine for .44 mag, .357, and .38 sp. (even though they are carbide dies, I lube the .44's with one shot, goes way smoother)

I use a 650xl for .45 acp, 9mm, and .223.

The manual index on the 550 was a no go for me. Too easy to double charge. The 650 has a powder check.
It would be very difficult to double charge on a sq deal. It handles primers better than the 650. That's my only gripe about the 650, if you don't have a case in the primer station, it feeds anyway, and drops the unused primer down a chute, and quite often on the floor. Don't even consider getting a 650 without the case feed hopper.
 
I read and read and read on this subject and decided on an xl650 with the 550 being a close second. The auto rotate of the 650 was the last straw for me. Im actually setting up the 650 as we speak so I can make claims about its performance yet but eveything I read was it/they/dillon just works. I watched alot of videos on how to tweek the lee so it runs good....maybe. What Im getting at save up, mow some lawns (thats literally what I did, and no Im not 15) or sell somthing to make up the extra couple hundred bucks. I know a couple hundred bucks is nothing to some and MUCH to some others.
 
Dillon 650 shines in another aspect ...over the SDB and the 550...because it has an option for the "powder check" die...which is a significant advantage in terms of an extra safety factor when using a progressive.

10 yrs from now ....when you have run thousands of rounds thru your new press you'll forget all about the relative minor difference in the acquisition cost...pick the press that best meets your needs in the long run / but I recommend one of the Dillons over anything Lee makes - and if your budget is stretched now then go with the SDB / if you take care of it, you can easily sell it for more than you paid for it down the road if you want to upgrade.
 
Chainsaw, I know a couple hundred bucks is nothing to some and MUCH to some others.

Have read many of these topics also and have come to the conclusion that a few in the hobby lose perspective on the subject.

Not everyone loads hundreds or thousands of rounds at a time. Not even for pistol rounds. Though if one has that need then the top of the line most productive press is the way to go.

I only load a couple hundred rounds at a time, all my equipment is used. I have a Lee Pro 1000 and an RCBS JR3 press, again both used. I have less than $200.00 invested in all my equipment and it may be slow and clunky but it will produce just as accurate ammo as the more expensive equipment will do.

I am also retired on disability with a fixed income so I wish someone would honestly explain to me why I would need a press that is going to cost me 3 to 4 times what I have invested to reload these small amounts. Even a used Dillon 550 is going to be $400.00 to $600.00 depending on what is included with it.
 
Lee Classic Turret Kit.

I know it's not a progressive. Just do it.
Click to expand...

I would pass on the above press. I own one, loaded some 20,000 rounds on it, 80,000 pull push of the handle and this year replaced it with a Dillon 550.
With the Lee press to get a finished round you will have to pull and push the handle 8 times (4 up 4 down strokes) With the Dillon once you have brass in all the slots in the shell plate every time you push/pull the handle you get a finished round. On my Lee if I stayed with it 100 rounds and hour with the Dillon 400 rounds an hour. Definitely worth the extra money
 
When the Lee Loadmaster first came out a local gun shop was taking orders for them . (no one had seen one yet) At the time I had been using an RCBS 4X4 and it did not work all that well . The Loadmaster was to be the loader to have and life was to be good . The RCBS loaders were changing models every month or so and no one could keep up with it .

So I bought a new Loadmaster it was and still is the biggest piece of crap ever make . I bought enough parts the first month to build a loader .
I set the thing in a shop for sale and it sold fast and I was forever done with the great Loadmaster .
 
While I do not have any experience with the loadmaster, I have, in my opinion, too much experience with Lee. I bought the classic turret press, and after about 500 rounds of regular resizing, the turret socket broke. From what I polled some friends, Lee's progressives,at least at that time, are/were the absolute worst in the industry. Just go with the Dillon.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
I read and read and read on this subject and decided on an xl650 with the 550 being a close second. The auto rotate of the 650 was the last straw for me. Im actually setting up the 650 as we speak so I can make claims about its performance yet but eveything I read was it/they/dillon just works. I watched alot of videos on how to tweek the lee so it runs good....maybe. What Im getting at save up, mow some lawns (thats literally what I did, and no Im not 15) or sell somthing to make up the extra couple hundred bucks. I know a couple hundred bucks is nothing to some and MUCH to some others.
Click to expand...

Good for you! Cant wait to hear how you like it. I went with the RL550B about 5 years ago and have been very pleased. I shoot 200-300 pistol rounds a week when shooting in local matches. I usually load for a few hours over a day or two and that takes care of the whole month, and then some.

I do a lot of switching between calibers, 9mm, 40S&W, and 45ACP, depending on what the match scenario dictates and whatever components I have on hand. I don't use auto case or bullet feed, so changes are quick and easy.

I bought the Dillon setup video with my machine so I was up and running within about 2 hours of unboxing the machine.

Best of luck,
Wooly
 
My Loadmaster has been trouble free for three years and about 20000 rounds. What I saved vs a Dillon, I spent on components. For replacement parts, I've only bought an extra primer spring. The rest of the press is original.

There may be a lemon in the bunch, but those who struggle with and complain about the Loadmaster may not have the mechanical inclination of those who operate it successfully. IMO, reloading requires a certain mechanical skill set, so I'm surprised these folks don't struggle with even the most expensive equipment.

The Classic Turret is a good press as well. I've seen comments about breakage, which seem to be fluke one off issues, and not to be taken as a slamming of the make/model.
 
Glad that Loadmaster is working out for you, Stripes. But mine was and probably always will be, a PITA; an engineering disaster of the first order. With 54 years of reloading behind me, I've improved my technique enough to "master" the intricacies of the better engineered Dillon presses.

That said, in years past, Loadmasters were plagued with problems, though perhaps that was before your time. I sincerely hope that Lee has made good on the Loadmaster's problems. They did not with mine. JMHO, Rod
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top