Dillon Service/Square Deal Repair

A year ago I bought a Square Deal press from a local shooter. He had a bunch of problems with it and at one time even broke the handle off! He is a big as I am but still, I'm not sure I could do that!

At any rate, it got broke and he had parts sent to him and he repaired it. I gave $150 for it and got 2 caliber conversions with it. That's a pretty good deal in my book. Your book may be different but, I'm writing this one!

Anyway, on with the post.

I had other caliber conversions and started loading 45ACP on this press. I noticed something that was concerning to me.
If I sent one round around the press for setup I had a certain OAL. I would set it for the final desired one but then when I would put a full shell plate of bullets in the press I would get a significantly longer one. So making adjustments to get the OAL back in specification, because I check my rounds while running, when I would run the press empty the last few rounds would be WAY too short.
Very frustrating. Short OALs in semi-auto firearms is a baaaaaadd thing!

After checking with Dillon and investigating some on my own, I noticed that there was a crack in the frame where one of the "ears" for the pivots was. I called and asked for a frame to be sent and they said: "Nope, that's the only part we won't ship out under the warranty. Send the press back to us and we will take care of it." So I did.

I got it back today. One month turn around. From the time I shipped it out to the time I got it back. Not too bad in my book.
There was a total of over $400 of stuff done to the press while they had it. I had them put a new set of dies in it for 38spl/357mag and there was a $45 charge for labor. Out of the $400 those were the only two charges I had to pay. It came to $125 and some change.

Now I have a press that is like new, mostly, and I am going to be sending it to our oldest son so he can do some reloading.

Something he will use for a while as he has 4 boys!

I was a little shocked at first to see the accumulated charges so high, seeing you can buy a new one for $350. Then as I read the fine print I remembered why I bought Dillon in the first place, and it wasn't for those catalogs! IMHO

Good job Dillon, THANKS!

i have been reloading using a dillon 550B since the early 1990's. on the rare occasion that something has broken, they have always been true to their promise of free lifetime service.

it's nice dealing with a first-rate company for a change!

Good deal. Dillon has always been good to me. The only time they gave me any static was on a set of 45 LC dies for the SDB that were out of round. When I called them they wanted to argue that it was impossible but they sent me a new sizing die anyway and I sent them my original die. Surprisingly I got a phone call from Dillon and they APOLOGIZED for not believing me. Now that is first class in my book also.

Dillon is the standard by which I judge any other warranty and customer service...and not just in the shooting sports!

Amen to their great warranty service. It is unbelievable that they will replace at no charge a piece that was broken through my stupidity, but they will. Great company!

Since moving to Phoenix, I've dropped my 650 off twice at their shop for a tune-up. They completely disassembled it, cleaned it, lubed it, replaced springs and put it all back together for no charge. I was even "given" a 550 that I took into them for the same treatment.

Great service, every time I've offered to pay but was told no, it was all part of their customer serivce.

I need to go to work for them, warm climate, employee discount.....EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH YEAH!

I'm planning on ordering myself another Square Deal B here shortly. I had one for years in .45ACP. Due to some space issues I loaned it to a friend who wanted to start reloading. Four years later he still has it, but he loaded me so much ammo on it at his expense while I didn't have the space to do it myself that I consider him to be its new owner.

I never needed anything done to it or needed any replacement parts while I had it (and I loaded tens of thousands of rounds on it). A couple of years ago he needed some small parts that wore out and Dillon, as usual, sent them for free no questions asked.

Given my positive experience with Dillon and the Square Deal B, I'm not even considering a progressive from anyone else. I'll probably get another in .45ACP. I only load handgun, and .45ACP and .38 Special are my highest volume, so it will be one or the other. I'll stick with the single stage or the turret for the others.

I have 2 SDB's. Got them both (very) used about 5 years ago. Came with 4 powder measures and conversions/dies for 38/357, 9mm, 44 spl/mag, and 45 ACP. My price $200. Oh, that also included a Rock Chucker, 2 Lil Dandy powder measures with full set of rotors, a RCBS 1010 scale, and assorted other goodies.

Anyway they were of very different vintages. The number and dimensions of the reinforcing webs in the mainframe and handle castings were the biggest differences. A few years ago, one of the mainframe linkage mounts on the older one broke. Called Dillon, the gave me a return authorization, sent it back. They replaced the frame and rebuilt the the whole press. No charge. Very nice.

A couple months ago, the handle on the "older" one broke at one of the webs near the pivot. A quick call to Dillon and a new handle was on its way. Again, very nice.

Dillon has been very supportive over the years. Any problems are literally "no problem".

Before you think I've been drinking too much of the Blue Koolaid, I should let you know I'm seriously considering a Hornady LnL AP for progressive reloading for rifles.

I have a Dillon Square Deal I bought way back in 1987, I think, when I was stationed in Germany. Last fall I had some problems and Dillon not only diagnosed it over the phone, but sent me close to $100 worth of parts for free so I could upgrade and refurbish the worn parts, including a .45 ACP shellplate that I screwed up. They've got a customer for life in me.

Quote from WayneM

Dillon is the standard by which I judge any other warranty and customer service...and not just in the shooting sports!

Click to expand...

+1 ....RCBS is also a great company

Cary /LL