DILLON 300

[Beaver]

I have the chance to buy a Dillon 300, primer tubes x 5, powder measure, primer pusher gizmo, for $350. In excellent condition. Owner is local legend who will set it up for me. Too much money, not bad, pass????? What is the consensus? Thanks for the free advice.

 

[pop-gunner]

What is a Dillon 300?

 

[WR Moore]

First thing, realize that there are NO available parts for this press. You should call Dillon customer service to confirm this (if there are some, PM me, I need to stock up). The primer feed mechanism and case belling/powder drop retention for this press is different from all current Dillon products. If any part breaks, you're SOL. Unless you can manage to adapt a current production primer feed/seating system. I had to machine my own replacement retainer for the belling adjustment/powder drop.

 

[BE Mike]

Scratching my head...could you mean a Dillon RL550B? OK, I remember seeing a Dillon 300 many years ago. I've owned or have owned the Dillon RL450, RL550B, and XL650. I'd pass on this press and try to find a used RL550B for about the same money.

 

[Happyguy]

That was my first Dillon press. I think you would be happier with a 550. At one time a had 1 1050, 2 650s and a 550 going now all I use are 2 550s, so that I don't have to change primer size. David

 

[novalty]

He might be happier with a 550B, but he certainly ain't going to get one for $350--unless he stumbles on one for sale by someone who doesn't know what they got. Square Deal B, would be more in the price he stated.

 

[cfplinker]

The 300 was the predecessor to the 450. It uses the same shell holders as the 450 and 550s do. It is slower than the 550 because you have to charge each case manually. The powder measure is similar to the one on the 550 except that you operate the powder slide by hand. I don't remember if the primer feed is automatic or manual but I think that it was also manual. The toolhead is fixed so you will have to change dies by hand. I kept mine until they came out with the 550B and sold it to a fellow at work that was just getting started in reloading. Of course that gave me a good start on buying the 550B.

Does the seller have the shell holders that you will need? Ask if he has had to replace any parts on it or if any are worn enough that they might need replacing in the next few years. Then see what spare parts he will be including.

 

[BE Mike]

He might be happier with a 550B, but he certainly ain't going to get one for $350--unless he stumbles on one for sale by someone who doesn't know what they got. Square Deal B, would be more in the price he stated.

I know that many Dillon owners might think that their presses are worth their weight in gold, but new RL550B's are $430.00. A used one retaining 80% of its value would be worth under $350.00. I would think that there might be some folks out there who bought their presses many years ago and were getting out of reloading who would part with their basic press for under $350.00. Now if the press came with a lot of extras, like dies, extra conversion kits, etc., of course the price would go up.

 

[smokinwoody]

I have the chance to buy a Dillon 300, primer tubes x 5, powder measure, primer pusher gizmo, for $350. In excellent condition. Owner is local legend who will set it up for me. Too much money, not bad, pass????? What is the consensus? Thanks for the free advice.

PASS...get a 550B...B happy...

 

[novalty]

I know that many Dillon owners might think that their presses are worth their weight in gold, but new RL550B's are $430.00. A used one retaining 80% of its value would be worth under $350.00. I would think that there might be some folks out there who bought their presses many years ago and were getting out of reloading who would part with their basic press for under $350.00. Now if the press came with a lot of extras, like dies, extra conversion kits, etc., of course the price would go up.

They are worth their weight in gold, if you go by current eBay auctions.

 

[AzShooter]

Pass and buy a Square Deal or a 550. So many improvements have been made to make reloading easier. I had a 300 and traded it in for a 450. I later made a trade up to a 550B and now have the 550 for my large primer duties and a 650 for my .38 Special ammo.

 

[fredj338]

I would pass. I recenlty sold my early 550, upgraded to 550B, to a buddy w/ lots more goodies for $300. A Dillon $300 probably sold for less than $200 back in the day. My 550 only cost me $270 new from Dillon 20yrs ago.

 

[BE Mike]

They are worth their weight in gold, if you go by current eBay auctions.

You know what they say about a fool and his money...there are a lot of things that have outrageous prices on flea-bay.

 

[dillonhelp]

The RL300 was replaced in 1980 by the RL450. It did not have a lifetime warranty. The shellplates, locator pins and powder funnels from the current RL550B do function on the RL300. No other parts are available for them. $350 seems a bit high, as the newer machines are under warranty (except missing parts) and are more automated than the RL300. Fewer than 1000 were made.

 

[minconrevo]

Don't walk but RUN from the 300. I bought one new the first year it came out. I was so pleased to replace it with a 550B a few years later.

Some parts on a 300 will probably never break. The primer system is another story.

The primer feed mechanism for a 300 is super finicky. it is very easy to do double or no powder charges when the primer feed is acting up; I know that first hand.

Dillon supported the 300 for as long as it could. I remember being in Phoenix in about 1984 for the IPSC Nationals. Dillon came to the range, with a demo and parts table. They helped me out with a few parts for my always-breaking 300. They were getting short on parts for it even then.

The 450 was light years better than the 300. The 550B was and is another significant safety and functionality forward step.