Question for Dillon owners...

[Big joe]

I'm getting closer to buying a Dillon progressive, but I have a few questions. I reload for rifle cartridges 300 Win, 270, 243, 223 and handgun cartridges 44 mag and 357 mag currently. I am sure to add to that list in the future. Anyway... if I could speed up the reloading process, I would probabaly reload maybe 5000 rounds a year. I'm wondering what dillon press I should buy and what "add ons" to the basic set-up I should consider. So, any of you experienced Dillon guys let me know what you think. As always... your opinions are greatly appreciated!!!

[skeet]

I have both a 550B and a XL650. Also had a 1050 for a while. If you are going to load lots of pistol rounds get a 650..but if a mix of all the rounds mentioned get a 550B. It will load all you will need and although it operates at a slower speed...how fast do you need to go. My Dillon 1050 I bought at an auction for a ridiculous price...350 bucks. I had about 1400 once fired 45 auto empties so decided before I moved out here to load them. It took me less than 2 hours from start to finish. Sold that darn loader for a heck of a profit and never looked back. I don't shoot them that fast and I'm not going to get into competitive shooting anyway. The 550B I also bought for a very low price set up in 45 auto but switched it to rifle and it will do most of what I need for rifle cartridges. The 650 is set up in 45 auto with dies for my other pistol calibers...except 9MM. It's so cheap to buy I don't load for it. Look on ebay for a loader set up the way you want. You may be able to find a good buy. BTW the Dillon pistol dies are excellent...not Redding but they will do all you want. A friend uses a Dillon 550 for almost all his loading...except load development in rifle ammo. Only person who's reloads I'll shoot. Course I set his loads up for him. Go with the 550...you won't be sorry! BTW you may want to rethink the 300 Win Mag on a Dillon. How many do you shoot?? Also..keep a single stage press for load workups...JMHO

[muledeer]

Go with skeet's advice. I have a Dillon Square Deal B that I use for pistol and a 650. For what you will be reloading the 550 is the ticket. If you don't have a single stage press I would recommend an RCBS Rock Chucker.
muledeer

[Catfish]

I would also recomand 550. If your only going to load around 5,000 round per year my guess would be that you will have that many rounds loaded in the first month you own the press. There have been many days, mostly saterdays, that I have loaded over 1,000 rounds of handgun ammo. You will have far more than their advertised price invested in the press as you will be adding tool heads for each round you load and cartridge conversion kits every time you get a new round with a different head size. DO NOT buy a cartridge conversion kit for the .243 and the .270. The only difference in them will be the powder funnel. Buy a cartridge for the .243 and a powder funnel for the .270. Then if you add a .30-06 or a .22-250 you just buy new powder funnel for those rounds. I even eliminate cartridge conversion kits all together by useing shell holder for my .476 shell heads for the .22-250 and the powder funnel from my .223 kit for the funnel and didn`t have to buy anything extra to load this round. I`ve saved several $ 100`s doing this. , BUT, that means I`ve invested well over a $ 1,000 to save that much. If I keep saveing money like this I think I`ll go broke.

[skeet]

You done ruined the surprise he was a gonna get!!

[Riposte1]

I will cast my vote for the 650. Two reasons which may not mean much to some. Both relate to two major concerns: no charge and double charge.

1. there is an extra station which allows for the powder check die.
2. It has auto advance which keeps me from *another* *&#)@(@# double charge. OK if it is a rifle it is likely to spill over but pistols are a problem.

BTW, neither of the above have anytihing to do with speed but with safety. I am a pretty leisurely loader these days.

Riposte

[skeet]

That is another reason I like my 650s also. Like the powder check and the counter and the case feeder and SPEED! But ya really don't need the speed for rifle stuff usually