Which reloading setup?

[RichL025]

Curious as to what people here are using.

Way back when, when I was a young team medic and discovered I couldn't hit $hit with my issued pistol, I bought a Sig and started practicing every weekend we were in garrison. That led shortly to the purchase of a Dillon Square Deal B which I cranked out several thousand rounds through - I didn't keep a log, but probably close to 10,000 rounds with no problems at all.

I sold the Dillon when I started college & had no time for shooting - I was diving all the time then.

Now I'm thinking about getting back into reloading, not so much for the quantity of ammo, but the quality. I noticed that with even the slightest attention to quality control, my old SDB would make more accurate ammo than most things I could buy from the factory.

Now I'm thinking about 223 also, in addition to 9mm and .40 - the SDB can't do rifle rounds, so I've been looking at other Dillon presses - thinking real hard about the 550.

Anyone here have one? Like it?

Anyone really a big fan of something else?

I realize a single-stage press is the epitome of accuracy, but I'm not looking at winning any National Match competitions here, I'd like a nice combination of higher throughput and accuracy.

[rubberneck]

I bought a 550 two years ago and love it. Dillon still has the best customer service around and their product will last a long time. I have gotten the point where I can load anywhere between 350-400 rounds per hour.

Calibers can be changed in less than 10 minutes, quicker if they use the same sized primers. If you are reloading multiple calibers I would suggest having dedicated tool heads and powder dies for each caliber. It adds to the cost but will save you time and help you avoid a good deal of aggravation when you change calibers.

[HOLLiS]

I have two 550s, problem is they are addictive and you will find you spend a lot less time reloading.

[blue02hd]

I have been using a Dillon 650 for the past 4 or 5 months, and it is treating me pretty good. I do think however I would have gone with the 550 knowing what I know now. I simply don't use the extra die space offered for the powder check/ safety feature with the 650, as I have made it a habit to eyeball each round as it rotates out of the powder station.

At a slow pace, I can usually drop 250 rounds an hour. I haven't attempted rifle yet, but the 650 can do both pistol and rifle, just like the 550.

[Paslode]

I picked up a RCBS single stage press kit to try my hand at reloading before investing in the Blue Koolaid and now wish I would have just spent the little extra on the Dillon 550 from the git go. I also wanted to see a Dillion 550 in person to see it work and more so how it was made......it puts the Hornaday Lock-N-Load to shame IMO.

My 9mm and .40SW pistol rounds I can do 100 per hour on the single stage, so I figure the Dillion ought to triple that. My 5.56 rounds take considerably more time because of swaging, trimming and crimping.

The Dillion 550 is on my wishlist.

[optactical]

Hornady Lock and Load AP, came with 1000 free bullets and it works just fine for me. A few Dillon owners have switched to them and written comparative reviews. Do a Google search for reloading forums and start to read up on the different systems. Certain communities tend to use certain brands, ie Military and Dillon, this doesn't mean it's the best, it's just a paradigm within that community. Also check webstores that allow feedback on products, such as Midway USA, a lot can be found there as well.

Avoid Lee presses and dies like the plague, this seems to be the concensus anywhere you look.

[HOLLiS]

Originally Posted by blue02hd

I have been using a Dillon 650 for the past 4 or 5 months, and it is treating me pretty good. I do think however I would have gone with the 550 knowing what I know now. I simply don't use the extra die space offered for the powder check/ safety feature with the 650, as I have made it a habit to eyeball each round as it rotates out of the powder station.

At a slow pace, I can usually drop 250 rounds an hour. I haven't attempted rifle yet, but the 650 can do both pistol and rifle, just like the 550.

Every now and then, I sort of wished I had a 650. Having 5 stages would make a few reloads easier. When I needed a extra stage, I would combine bullet seating and crimping in one die/stage. A extra stage would be for "filler" for BP loads.

Like you I try to eye ball the powder too. Only problem with the 550, was getting use to the primer feed and getting it set.


Dillon makes a case feeder for the 550:http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...t_Large_Pistol


Coolest accessory is the primer tube feeder.

I still have my single stage press. I use it for small loads, and case forming. Both RCBS and Lyman makes a bullet proof press.


As it was mentioned, If it wasn't for friends who used the 550, I might have gone another way. After getting use to it, I really like it.

IMHO, Lee makes some really good and cost effective tools.


Biggest attribute about Dillon that I like, is change over time. one can set up the dies in a tool holder. That saves time for repetitive reloads in that caliber. It also helps if one reloads a number of different calibers. On the last count I reload for around 35 different rounds.