Dillon's No BS Warranty (Long)

[Ak_Red]

For years, I chugged along with my 2 Lee Pro 1000's and 2 Challenger single stage presses. I never had a lick of trouble with them. My friends all "went Blue" and suddenly they were all telling me how Dillon was so great. It was a little irritating. My stuff worked fine. What kind of brainwashing was Dillon doing??! I could not understand that sort of vocal loyalty.

When I left Alaska, I sold my reloading stuff. I got moved in down here and started looking for new equipment. A Dillon 550 "fell" into my cart one day. I love it but, I gotta tell you, my Lee Pro 1000 worked as well. I still had no idea why Dillon owners were such fanatics.

So I am at a garage sale, and I see a Dillon 450 on the table for $50.00. I don't think, just snatch it up. What a deal! I get home and there are a few parts missing. Okay, there were 15 parts missing. But still, $50.00! I look online to find the parts, but the 450's online don't match what I have. Because, I find out, I have a 450JR. Dillon made them for one year. It was like a beefed up Square Deal. Still, it was $50.00!!! The prices in the manual weren't bad, so I decided to just order the parts.

I look on Dillon's site. No luck. So I emailed Dillon. I told them what I needed, and the stk numbers from the manual I had. I also threw in a little bit about some 45 ACP dies I bought downtown that did not come with all the parts. You know, gin up a little sympathy. I had been through this with Lee. The only thing faster than Lee's service was their ability to charge my credit card (this is not a complaint, and I still think Lee stuff is just dandy).

So I am waiting for my reply email with the price so I can get this press running.

My reply from Dillon was: "Send us your address and we will send you the parts for your press and a set of dies. " That's it. No charge to replace parts for a press that hasn't been made in yrs, that I didn't buy new. They didn't ask where I bought the dies, or what was missing. A no BS warranrty, who'd a thunk they meant it literally?

Now I understand.

P.S. It was $50.00!!!!

[toxic111]

Thats awsome.. I've had good luck with Uncle mikes and RCBS..

I was planning on a 'Blue' for my next press.. maybe I will get lucky and find a deal like you..
:D

[Catfish]

Red,
I guess you don`t relaod as much ammo as I do if you had very little troulbe with Lee junk. I`ve been reloading since 1965 and over the years I owned some of about everything and Lee junk has always let me down sooner or later. Even when I found something I liked it would break or wear out very fast. I`ve been a Dillon fan since the 1980`s and have nothing good to say about their products and their service. I run 5,000 to 10,000 rounds per year through my 550 and think it`s still the best press on the market for people like me that load a bunch of different rounds in both rifle and handgun.

[Ken14]

I bought a Lee Pro 1000 back in '88...basically wore it out...was very tempermental...I also bought a garage sale Dillion...a RL 550B..$100 with two caliber conversions. it's had a few parts break...but they have always handeled it no questions asked. Probably the best $100 ever spent next to the like new S&W model 10 2" that was that price.!!

[TreeDoc]

Great Story, Ak_Red!

Simply "par for the course" when it comes to Dillon! That's why I have 2 of them (550B's) on my bench! ;)

[billy ahring]

I use a Redding press and the same make of dies and gadgets and am pleased as punch with every piece. But I've been thinking about getting a progressive for loading auto pistol rounds. When I hear of customer service like that it makes the decision very easy. When I buy it will definately be a Dillon press that I get and when I purchase I will most assuredly tell the rep that I am buying because of favorable comments other fellow reloaders have made of their no BS warranty. In the day and age of getting the runaround from various manufactures on standing behind products it is refreshing to see that some folks still mean what they say. I will say that the majority of companies it the gun related business are very good to work with when it comes to these situations.

Billy

[Catfish]

billy,
If your going to be loading 10,000 or more rounds a year of the same cal. handgun round you should definately look at the 650. If not, I would recomand the 550.

[MarkL]

I've been using a Dillon 550 for about 15 years, but I'm looking hard at a Hornady Lock-N-Load. I frequently have problems with the primer bar jamming because of all the primer debris that gets into the mechanism. Still, it's a good machine and I suppose all the brands have their quirks.

When the machine was young I had some good experiences with Dillon's customer service. However, I recently bent the decapping pin on a Dillon die and they made me buy a new pin (actually a pack of ten for a few $$ more). Based on past experience and reading other's writings, I really expected them to replace it for free. It was my fault for bending the pin, so I really shouldn't complain.

Anyway, I recently stumbled on this comparison of the two machines. I'm afraid I have to agree with many of the faults found with the 550, though not all.

http://www.cs.odu.edu/~rtompkin/hornady/blue.php
http://www.cs.odu.edu/~rtompkin/hornady/blue.php

I saw one guy in another forum complain that the Dillon makes you use both hands for handling components (left hand for bullets and right hand for cases), whereas the Hornady allows you to leave your right hand on the handle. I actually like using both hands because I can insert a new case and place the bullet almost simultaneously. It took a few thousand rounds to get the hang of it, but I can do it my sleep now.

[TreeDoc]

I'm LMAO at that guys complaints!!!! The 2 screws on the powder measure is why you have to buy additional $55 powder measurers? LMAO!!!

Sorry, too much Blue Kool-Aid for me I guess. It's obvious to me that dude has his head up his ass and perhaps an agenda with Hornady's Press. I've been running a 550B since 1987. I can't even come close to telling you how many thousands of rounds I have loaded on the 2 I have but it's easily tens of thousands, especially when I really got heavy into competitive shooting with my wife. We were each shooting a thousand rounds a week and I was on the machine a few times a week! I have experienced the primer feed bar sticking a couple times in that long time frame but after a judicious cleaning the problem dissapeared. Try replacing your spring, that might help and sprinkle some graphite on it too.

I gotta get to the store, I'm almost out of Blue Kool-Aid!! :D

[MarkL]

The main thing I laughed at was calling the measure "antiquated" because it uses a sliding bar instead of a rotating drum. Who cares whether it slides or rotates? The other complaints do have at least some validity.

While the two screws on the powder measure aren't a big deal, it would be even better to not have to remove/replace the measure at all when changing calibers. If I remember right, another one of the claimed advantages of the Hornady was the micrometer-type powder adjustment that lets you quickly return to a given setting. I have one on a non-Dillon measure and agree it would be Really Nice to have on the measure on the progressive press. I think the real reason people buy additional measures for the Dillon is to avoid the trial-and-error method of setting the measure when changing loads. Or worse, having to change between large and small powder bars.

I do have some of the problems the guy describes, including primers not getting caught in the little cup every once in a while, and primer debris all over the place. The situation would be a lot more palatable if the primer bar didn't start jamming like crazy from all the "dirt" after a couple of hundred rounds. Apparently, not everyone has this problem, but I've seen many similar complaints. I can live with the other issues, but the jamming primer bar really sucks. A good cleaning solves the problem, but I wish it didn't have to be so often.

Most of the issues are moot if you rarely change calibers, especially if you don't have to change primer sizes. Also, a little extra time setting up is irrelevant if you're going to load thousands of rounds before changing the setup. You hear that 99% of top-rated IPSC own Dillons, but I suspect they only shoot one caliber, or dedicate a separate loader to each caliber, or use 650s instead of 550s. If you're only loading a few hundred rounds per setup, it becomes more annoying.

I thought the complaint about the tool heads was a bit bogus. Yes, the toolheads are annoyingly expensive, but you don't absolutely have to have one for each caliber. You could simply leave the toolhead in the press and spin the dies in and out individually. You would still have to remove the powder measure to replace the funnel and adjust for different length cartridges.

Still, the guy's main points were valid. No machine is perfect, including the Dillon, and the Dillon is not the only machine worthy of consideration. He's also one of the few people who have owned and used both the Dillon and the Hornady.

[Ak_Red]

I agree that no machine is perfect. Most of the problems mentioned in that article I just do not encounter. I have no problems with the primer system/debris because I deprime with a single stage press. This way I can clean the primer pockets. I always do this. Putting brass in a press, depriming, and then repriming it without cleaning the pocket is like taking a shower without washing your armpits. I can't do it. So I don't get the debris, and the priming system doesn't jam.

I also agree that Dillon's powder measure setup is complicated. But I buy the quick change kits for 75.00. Toolhead, powder meausre, powder die and toolhead stand all in one. Now when I change calibers, I do not have to adjust anything, just pull two pins slide one out and slide one in. The extra $$ spent is worth it to me for that simplicity. And complicated aside, the Dillon powder measure throws more consistant loads (for me) than either Lee or RCBS meausres. Ive never tried a Hornady.

I have never experienced the problem mentioned about the wing nut on the powder measure rod. But, if I do, I can go spend the .37 for a wing nut with a nylon insert, or the .10 for a back up nut.

I did find it amusing that he called Dillon's no BS warranty over the top. Even to the point of poking fun at them for replacing a press damaged in a house fire. I am willing to bet his view would be different if HE ever had a house fire.

As far as Dillon being rich? Well I sincerely doubt the owners of Lee, RCBS, Hornady and other such companies are paupers.

I don't care how many machines guns Mr. Dillon has. I don't care if 99% of top rated IPSC own Dillon's. I don't think anyone should switch brands if they don't want to. If they are happy so be it. I am happy with Dillon. I like that warranty (even feel just a tad bit better about ever having a house fire). I like that when I call and say I have a problem, they fix it. I like that they are straight up, tell you what costs what and do not try to hide charges. I like that when they say they will get back to you, they do.

There is ONE thing I really don't like about Dillon..... They do not make a single stage press.

[muledeer]

I have a Dillon Square Deal B that's seen thousands of pistol rounds through it (9mm, 357, 40, 44, and 45). I've had parts wear out, parts break, even had problems that I wasn't sure of the cause. Called Dillon an d spoke to a tech. Walked me through and I discovered the problem. Also always received free parts replacement. I also have a 650 with the hopper to feed the brass. This machine cranks out ammo at an unbelievable rate. I can't say enough good things about Dillon.
muledeer