I couldn't stand it. I sold a press or two and made a heck of a profit on them..So I went to Scheels and bought a new Dillon 650 w/casefeeder too. The reason for Sheels is because I also had some coupons good for 75 dollars. I happen to have a few 38 Sp buckets of brass. Maybe 25,000 pieces and enough bullets to load them with. Someone made the suggestion that loaded ammo is easier to keep stored than all the components...Made sense to me so I talked myself into the 650. I have a couple more in 223 and 308 and they work well. I have rationalized that when I get done loading 38s, I'll load all my 9mm bullets(I have a complete cal conversion) then I'll probably have 'nuff 9s and 38s for plinking for the rest of my life...and I will sell the machine for what I have in it. I have a friend who will want it already I'll bet! I sold 3 single stage vintage RCBS A2s and an A3. More'n paid for the 650. Amazing what we talk ourselves into

For my own records I have come to recognize the advantages of actually labeling the recipe of (nearly) each box of reloads when inspecting right off the press.

That 'buckets full' of brass will become filled in surprisingly short order.

Having tried other storage methods, for 'longer term' I like to use the 50-100 count plastic box and felt tip marker on lid for ID recipe details. Then into 50 cal ammo can, as they make marvelous storage/moving/stacking/taking to range totes.

Long ago I discovered my penchant for multiple 'favorite recipes'; thus the need for better labeling.

Cheers on your new phase of 'the Hobby'......

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

You'll love the machine. IMO, though, easier to store say 10K rds worth of components instead of 10K rds of ammo. 1000 cases takes up very little space, 8# of powder, 10K primers & 10k bullets. The bulk is the case. Cases, especially low pressure like 38sp & 45acp, will load almost indefinitely, certainly 10X. Why I rarely have more than 500rds of anything on hand, takes me less than an hour to load that on my 650.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I hate to see empty cases and bullet lying around. That would keep me busy for about a week with a Dillon 650.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

The 650 is the only press Ive owned and used. I love it. 500 round batches are a cake walk. Here's what one can do in two hours....the limiting factor was my right elbow.


1300 rounds of 357

As far as boxing them up..I will do that.I use 30 and 50 cal ammo cans I will label them with the loads that I use. I'm going to use up all the older powders I have for the 38s. I still have some WW 230 and a fair amount of AL-5, Red and Green Dots. I recently bought a large jug of Accurate #5 also. Unopened for 5 dollars a pound. I kinda like the 650 but like the 1050 better.. I may need to get a few more small primer tubes though. I use one of the Frankfort Arsenal primer tube fillers. I have a Dillon but just don't use it like I used to do. It's gonna get sold too. 98% of the cases I have are once fired

Now that makes me envious. I wish I had that many 357 cases. I may have 4-500. I have 4 or 5 times more 44 special cases than 357.

I love my 650! I don't like reloading small batches at a time - but much prefer to load a bunch which lasts me a year or so. I put the cover on the Press and pull it off about a year later to repeat.

I reload strictly to shoot - not because I love to reload.

That is the way I feel. Reloading is a means to an end. Now I do like to see a pile of ammo. I did go to Harbor Freight and got a few more of the plastic ammo cans for 3.99 each. I'll put the different loads in them with loading data inside. Haven't started loading yet..My sister came to visit from WVa. Going to the Cody museum today.

I enjoy reloading, but if it weren't for the production rate I'm getting I wouldn't be doing it. I simply don't have time to fuss with a less effecient process. I can reload maybe one Saturday a month, and those few hours I have must produce enough ammo to sustain me for at least a month.

Me to but a diff path. I shoot about 10k rds a year, mixed calibers. I move around caliber wise. So rarely have more than 500rds on hand, any given caliber at any given time. On a 650, that is about 45min work. Even on my 550, a bit over 1hr. All with less handle pulling. I reload to shoot, it isnt my fav part of the sport anymore.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO