Agree 98%. Only difference was I was just as fast with my 550 and no casefeeder as I was with my LnL with a casefeeder. ANY issue with a casefeeder that happens regularly totally kills your actual production rate. 650 is a great machine. 550 is a great machine as well. They just meet different purposes.I have owned all three the LNL AP – 550B – Xl650. While they will all make more ammo then an average person could need. The lnl took the most time to fiddle with stuff during a loading session. I never made 200 rounds without having some little issue. The 550 is a lot more reliable. You do have to keep the priming system clean. By the time I hit a thousand rounds I would take the priming system apart and clean it. Then I was good for another thousand. The 650 is the most solid of the three and just cranks out rounds like nobodies business. Its easy to get two to three time the output with the 650 as the other two presses. The real issue is the price difference. If you can afford the 650 then it’s the best choice. If not get the 550. The LNL would be my last choice. It is fine as long as your not in a hurry and you don’t mind fiddling with the press as needed.
Hornady Lock N Load AP
The Lock-N-Load AP is an auto-indexing, 5-station progressive press that features the Lock-N-Load bushing system, which allows calibers to be changed very quickly. The Lock-N-Load is the cheapest press to equip with additional caliber conversions. During Automatic Indexing Each station moves 1/2 a stage on the upstroke and 1/2 a stage on the down stroke and the up stroke, making for a smoother function. This means less chance of flinging powder out of cases. The Lock-N-Load AP can be used with or without a case feeder. This allows you to start at a Dillon 550B price but to upgrade to a Dillon XL650 speed press at a later date. The earlier editions of this press were known to have issues and were more in line with Lee quality presses. With the new generation of presses Hornady is trying to go head to head with Dillon including matching their warranty.
One Hour Production Rate 500 with case feeder 800.
Cost $ $381.99 bullet feeder 279.99. 12 2010
The Dillon RL550B
RL550B is manual-indexing four station progressive press. The Dillon RL550B is the workhorse Dillon press line. It can load almost any center fire rifle or pistol cartridge. It has 120 caliber conversions available for it. In the Dillon line the Dillon RL550B is the most economical add calibers to. It has less expensive caliber conversions than other Dillon presses. If you were buying just one Dillon press and wanted the most bang for the buck, it would be a Dillon RL550B. According to Dillon more RL550s have been sold than any other progressive machine in the world.
One Hour Production Rate 400 - 500
Cost $376.00 12 2010
The Dillon XL650
The XL 650 is auto-indexing five station progressive press. The XL 650 was built from the ground up to be an auto-indexing press with a case feeder. The Dillon XL650 comes standard with a tube system for an automatic case feeder. The automatic case feeder is sold separately So the advertised starting price doesn’t accurately reflect the true price of a Dillon XL650. A fully set up Dillon XL650 cost twice what a Dillon RL550B cost but produces twice as much ammo an hour. The caliber conversions for the Dillon XL650 are noticeably more expensive than the RL550B and the LNL. For large volume reloading, versatility and ease of use a Dillon XL650 is hard to beat.
One Hour Production Rate 800 – 1150
I owned the 550 and decided it was time to upgrade to a higher production machine. After looking at the 650 and LNL on paper I decided to go with the LNL with case feeder. I bought the LNL with the intention of getting it set up and running good and then selling the 550. Instead the LNL went back. Then I bought the 650. It didn’t take any time to realize the 650 was the best of the batch and I sold the 550.
I bought the LNL thinking I would save some money over the 650 and in the end I ended up spending more in the long run.