Mark you're right, the dillon is the best, no doubt about it! (I have a Square deal b and a 550)For 19 years I used a lyman spartan press, that I had bought second hand and it worked well, it got me started,and it loaded many thousands of rounds, Maybe you should look around for a used single stage press,(something like a rcbs rockchucker)Single stage presses are a good place to learn, only one operation at a time,so screw-ups are easy to catch, IF you're paying attention, with most progressives you have 4 operations going on at the same time,and you need to know exactly whats going on at each station...all the time, lots of room for error for a beginner, Later on as you gain experience you'll want to move up to a progressive press, (hint; skip the square deal b, and get a 550)You may want to load for rifle as well, a rockchucker will work fine for this, loading for rifle is a little more complex, case legnths, and over all legnths must be watched, and this is where a single stage press really shines for the beginner it's all just one step at a time, I don't recommend a beginner starting out with a progressive (although many have)simply because there too many things going on at the same time, and its easy to miss something, DO stay away from the lee pro 1000, any press that won't seat primers all the time, and has been known to blow primers, is dangerous in my book, an accident waiting to happen,Start with a single stage, and gain some experience,The Dillons will be ready for you, when you're ready for them.