DILLON---550 OR 650

[williamlayton]

This may (probably) have been breached before--I want to approach it from another angle.
Since all I know is a single stage Hornady LNL and I am THINKING about a progressive, the Dillon is the first that comes to my mind--reputation, I guess.
What are the major differences you boys have experienced between the two above--or what were the major considerations that swung you to the choice you made (not cost).
Now--I am not objectionable too anyone who wants to voice opinion about another--as if I could stop you from doing so anyway --but, other than cost, lets keep it to functions--not cost.
If it was cost--but not cost--just what functions did you determine were better or at least not worth paying for in your choice.
Blessings

 

[lmcgust]

If you plan to have a case feeder and a 5th station to put a powder checker, go with the 650. You can add a case feeder to a 550, but it's not as "natural" as a 650.

I went with a 550 for a specific issue (not cost): I reload a lot of 9mm and with this particular cartridge, if you go too happily on the 650's handle, the powder gets swished around in the small Luger case as the shell plate finds its spot on the index ball. This can cause a bit of powder spillage. This is just me, some people may disagree.

 

[Skip Sackett]

The XL650 is the cat's meow for large, long, production loads, period.

The Hornady LNL AP is another press that is of the same quality, from all I hear, and production rates are the same. I do not have one, I have 3 Square Deal Bs, 2 XL650s, and a RL450B, but I hear that the red one is pretty good too.

If I were you, and you need to thank God everyday that you aren't, I would ONLY go with a progressive that auto-indexed. True, the RL550B is the "workhorse" of the Dillon line BUT, not having to advance the shell plate is a HUGE plus in two ways. Production rates AND safety. What happens if you forget to do an advance? Right, double charge. What happens if you advance one space too far? Right, no charge.

With an XL650, and auto advance, guess what you don't have to worry about? Yep, either one of those things happening BECAUSE of you!

Knowing people like I do, that would be the best answer for buying the XL650.

p.s. Get the case feeder too. It is well worth it.

 

[m657]

I've been reloading for over 30 years.

I've only ever had Dillon progressive:

1st the 450 which was almost immediately upgraded to the 550. Used that for over 20 years, sold it for more that it cost new, to help fund the 650, now in use over 10 years.

My favored points of 650 over 550:
1) auto index
2) case feeder (now moot point)
3) powder check station
4) extra 5th station IF a separate crimp die is desired apart from the seating die. Sometimes this is very helpful.

Tie this with the impeccable factory backing.

If our government worked as good as Dillon we'd have no complex unsolved issues.

 

[Nine Smiths]

I went with the RL550B because I wanted manual indexing. I like the production rate capability....but choose to load a little slower and take my time. I visually check each powder charge and monitor all the stages closely. I still get 300 rounds an hour, and caliber change overs are pretty easy and quick.

 

[Reloader]

The original 450 is and has worked for me in that I am happy and see no reason for ME to change..Just my opinion.

 

[MKT]

I went with the 650 after 30 years of single stage on a Rock Chucker. Loading 9mm, I did experience the powder splash as the charged cases moved into the next position. A quick search on the Dillon site revealed the fix. The fix, as offered by Dillion was to shorten the detent ball sping a 1/2 coil at a time until the powder stopped splashing. Took one coil for me and now the cases advance smoothly withy no splashing of the powder. I run slow, about 6 or 7 handle cycles per minute, even at that rate the ammo piles up quickly.

 

[FloridaFlier]

I own the 550, my buddy owns the 650. Seems to me if you want to make a lot of one caliber, get the 650. If you're in a hurry, the 650 is the better choice as well.

The 550 is still pretty fast, and is also easier to change to another caliber quickly. I tend to want to look over my cases a lot, and am not in that much of a hurry. Add the case feeder later if you need to increase volume.

Reloading is a hobby for me, and I am less of a hurry. If I shot a ton, as in compete in lots of tournaments, and just want cheap ammo in as little time as possible, it's the 650. If you want an ammo botique, go with the 550.

Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[andyo5]

The 650 indexes automatially, while the 550 has to be indexed manually.
I own the 550. I'd prefer to index manually because handloading often requires it.
Of course, the 500 is also less expensive.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I just went through a big research phase on the 550 vs. the 650. I liked the 550 over the 650 for the price, the ease of set up and caliber change, and the simple use when loading. I liked the 650 over the 550 for the extra station to add a powder check type die,and the auto indexing. But every time I looked at the 650's parts to change caliber, what all has to be done, and the massive cost of the whole project I kept seeing more and more references to the Hornady Lock n Load AP. I even gave some serious thought to the Dillon 1050 and after a couple of days reading up and watching a few videos... I just slapped the LnL on order. Dillon has a huge following due to their customer service and if you like the machine's function then you will join team blue for sure. But I just didn't care for the 550's four stations and manual indexing, and the 650's over all cost just made my eyes roll into the back of my head. If cost were no object I may have gone with the 650 though. And to be fair to RCBS, I just didn't like the AP strips for the primer function. I'm sure it works and adds a modicum of safety, but it just looks like way too big a PITA to have to load up all the strips and if it isn't set just right it eats them and chews them. Ultimatereloader.com has some great videos of the various systems. I chose to drink the red kool aid.

 

[Aticus]

The XL650 is the cat's meow for large, long, production loads, period.

The Hornady LNL AP is another press that is of the same quality, from all I hear, and production rates are the same. I do not have one, I have 3 Square Deal Bs, 2 XL650s, and a RL450B, but I hear that the red one is pretty good too.

If I were you, and you need to thank God everyday that you aren't, I would ONLY go with a progressive that auto-indexed. True, the RL550B is the "workhorse" of the Dillon line BUT, not having to advance the shell plate is a HUGE plus in two ways. Production rates AND safety. What happens if you forget to do an advance? Right, double charge. What happens if you advance one space too far? Right, no charge.

With an XL650, and auto advance, guess what you don't have to worry about? Yep, either one of those things happening BECAUSE of you!

Knowing people like I do, that would be the best answer for buying the XL650.

p.s. Get the case feeder too. It is well worth it.

Re. the 650: what happens if the case doesn't feed? Right, brand new primer on the floor. Cost of caliber conversion? $65 to $70. Great press but only for very high volumn loaders.

The calibers I load if I get a double charge I either see it or the powder spills. If you can't take the time to make sure everything is correct you shouldn't be reloading.

To answer your question I use a 550 and can do 50 rounds in 10 min. or less and they are all fine. In 7 years Ive only loaded one case dry and two doubles. Missed the dry case but caught both doubles. In 23 years before that there were too many dry cases to remember on a single stage ( didn't pay enough attention).

Pecos

 

[matsu]

I owen a 550B but would buy a XL 650 they 650 was not available then early 80's

 

[Beerjman]

I used both , the 550 and the 650 .
Because of the auto indexing on the 650 I prefer the 550 !
Gives me more control over whats going on .
Besides that , I have the 550 ever since it first came out and was set up with way too many caliber conversion kits to make a transition to the 650 .
When all the preparation is done like primer tube and powder measure filled , to reload 50 rds. cal .45 on the Dillon 550 takes me 4.5 to 5 min.
How much faster do I need to go ?

 

[fredj338]

If you load a lot of one or two caliber, especially of the same primer, then a 650 w/ case feeder is a great machine. If yo uload 6-8 diff calibers & less than 1000rds or so of each w/ maybe a couple high volumn rounds, then the 550 is a better fit IMO. The LNL could be placed in the middle of those two. If you ever want a case feeder, then a LNL or 650 is the best way to go.
The 550 will easily do 450rds/ hr & the only way to get a double or squib is just flat not pay attention to what you are doing. The manual indexing has nothing to do with the speed, the rate on the 550 is the same as the LNL w/o case feeders. The speed comes from a case feeder & not having to handle the brass. Any of those three will keep you shooting w/ minimal bench time. FWIW, I load on a 550 & 650 & have loaded quite a bit on the LNL.

 

[GSWEAR]

I will have to agree with about everyone else.
If you are going to load smaller batches of several claibers the 550 would be the way to go.
If you are going to load larger amouts at a time the 650 may work better for you.
I have both and currently have the 650 set up for 45acp since my main competition gun is my 625 and I load several other calibers on my 550. Even with the 650 set up for my 45 match load if I do test loads i 45acp I'll use the 550.

Greg

 

[Skip Sackett]

If you can't take the time to make sure everything is correct you shouldn't be reloading.


In 23 years before that there were too many dry cases to remember on a single stage ( didn't pay enough attention).

Pecos

So, as you have so aptly stated, you should not have even been reloading in the first place!

Listen, making a mistake doesn't make you bad, it makes you human, and, last I checked, we were all still pretty much that way! For the most part!

It is SUPER easy to make an advancing mistake on an RL550. Too far or a backup and you have a real problem, friend. It is as simple as that.

In order to do that on an auto advance machine, you have to really try hard, real hard. Can it be done, SURE.

As for the caliber changes, you have $XXX dollars of expendable money for your hobby. You are going to spend it on something. I choose to spend it on caliber changes. A lot of mine use the same parts and you can buy all of the components individually. I use the same powder measure for all of them and that keeps the price down too.

How about this for a similar statement to yours: If you cannot afford to save money reloading, you shouldn't be a reloader!

Makes about as much sense!

 

[blujax01]

Re. the 650: what happens if the case doesn't feed? Right, brand new primer on the floor.

Never had a case "not feed". Been quite a few times I didn't pay attention and ran the feeding tube out of cases. Then guess what? Right, Brand new primer safely caught in the primer overflow tray.

If you don't like the machine, that's okay - but there's no reason to make stuff up.

 

[Skip Sackett]

When you get "low", and since we are paying so close of attention to every detail we will see it, just remove one 1/4"x20 Allen head bolt and index the primers by hand.


This is how I end up a run of cases. When I know there are only a few cases left, I take the primer advance cam off of the machine and make the little lever work by hand. No primers on the floor and Blu is right, they only fall on the floor if the catch tray is already full.

 

[Moonman]

Anyone who might suffer from A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) needs to ABSOLUTELY STAY AWAY FROM RELOADING. They can purchase commercially loaded ammunition with the money they saved in hospital bills, firearm and residence damages.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Poster child for A.D.D. here!

Anyone who might suffer from A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) needs to ABSOLUTELY STAY AWAY FROM RELOADING. They can purchase commercially loaded ammunition with the money they saved in hospital bills, firearm and residence damages.

I think that had this disorder been diagnosed or know about when I was a kid, I think I would have been the national spokesman for it!

It can be managed enough to become a productive citizen!