Dillon 750 pre-purchase questions

[amheck]

Hi all, I am a fairly new reloader, only have a couple years loading handgun ammo on a Lee Turret press in single stage mode. I'd like to move to a progressive setup and have decided on the Dillon 750. Can you check my list below and see if there's anything I'm missing?

Also I'm only familiar with the Lee 4 die sets which include an expander die. The Dillon sets don't seem to have this. Is it unnecessary or do one of their 3 dies perform this function?

* Dillon 750 with case feeder in 9mm
* Dillon 9mm die set
* Dillon bullet tray
* Double Alpha Magnetic Powder check die
* Inline Fab Mount and bullet tray adapter
* CNC Aluminum toolhead

Later on:

* 38 Special caliber conversion kit
* Dillon 38 special die set
* CNC Aluminum toolhead
* Large pistol case feeder plate

And more later on:

* 223 caliber conversion kit
* Dillon 223 die set
* CNC Aluminum toolhead
* Small rifle case feeder plate

 

[dwh]

If you have any questions just reach out to the great folks at Dillon. They’ll have you set up in no time. Three die sets perform the same functions as the 4 die sets.

 

[OKFC05]

On my Dillon, the powder station does the case expanding. Directions for setting case expansion are in the instructions.
I have found the Dillon dies to be the best match for the Dillon progressive presses, but if you already have dies of another brand, they can usually be made to work OK on the presses that use standard size dies (NOT on the SDB).
I also bought a Dillon brass primer flipper for loading primers into the primer loading tubes and a set of tools for adjusting the loader.

 

[tominboise]

As mentioned, you can use your lee dies and save some money, if you want. Or leave them set up in your turret press and have the best of both worlds.

I would add the Dillon wrench set and an LED light if available.

 

[muddocktor]

Instead of Dillon's Strong Mount, I would suggest going with Inline Fabrication's Quick Change Mount System if you are space limited on your reloading bench to mount multiple presses. I have one myself that I use with my old RL-450, my Redding turret and my RCBS bench mount priming system. You just buy a different plate to mount the various presses on and swap them over as needed. And their Bin Barriers are a must have in my opinion, as they keep loaded cartridges from falling out of the cutaway in the bin as they get full. And the Dillon bullet tray mounts on my Inline Fab baseplate with my RL-450 too.

As for the Lee dies on a 750, I can't say how they will work. But my Lee dies work just fine on my 450.

 

[Will2]

I've used a 650 for 5+ years, just my thoughts... I don't know what a double alpha magnetic powder check die is or the inline fab mount and bullet tray adapter, so can't comment on those.

I load sitting down, so do not use a strong mount, and don't need a bullet tray.

The roller handle is really nice, worth the price. You need a primer flip tray, there are less expensive brands, but the Dillon is excellent. Additional primer pick up tubes are important for me, I keep 10 loaded and do not need to stop loading to fill up tubes during loading.

I purchased the small parts kit, kinda expensive at $35, but this allows you to continue loading when a small part breaks. Replacement parts probably take a week or so, this was pre-COVID. I have had 3 small parts break during my 35,000+ 650 usage.

As was stated above, the powder station expands the case, so the Dillon 3 die set really provides 4 dies.

I purchased the maintenance kit, I haven't needed it. The Dillon powder check station is great !

Just my thoughts... Will

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have aa Dillon 450 I upgraded to a 550b. Get the spare parts kit! If you break or loose a part at 2AM You can still get the ammo for tomorrow's match done in time! (Yes, I honestly did a dumb thing like that!) Then order the part at your leisure. MAKE SURE YOU ORDER THE REPLACEMENT, or you know what will happen!

The sizing/decapping die is always station one. No brand of dies warrantees decapping pins, so get spares for your parts kits (I keep 7 different pins in stock and every now and then find out there is another style I don't own!) 9mm is the worst offender, because a Berdan primed case ALWAYS sneaks into a batch of brass. 45 is second worst. But I load 119 different cartridges, and break decapping pins frequently, sometimes I never find out why!

Add a toothbrush, tiny paint (or Flux) brush and 3 or 4" tweezers to your at hand tools. They will be needed at some point! Opinions very on the best lighting, but all agree that you NEED good bright, white, lights. Many like some sort of spot light on the shell plate area!

Most important advise I can give any reloader: NO RADIO, NO TV OR MOVIES, NO COVESATIONS, NO SPORTS, in other words no distractions in the reloading room! My wife knows to wait until a bathroom break (every 1000 rounds), then she and the world can bother me, but when I start up again everything has to wait until the next break! Music you can work to is fine.

Ivan

 

[Geronimo Jim]

GO WITH DILLON DIES. They have a number of special features
which will make loading easier on a progressive press. How do I
know? Had 5 or 6 Dillon presses plus a bunch of others. Loading
for 45 years. Have loaded thousands of rounds on Dillons as I have
been a competitive shooter all this time. Everyone gets advice....only
the wise profit from it.

 

[fredj338]

You dont really need the cnc tool head, waste of $$ imo. Just turn the tool head over & center punch 2 holes each rail, file to fit snug as you like.

 

[jcelect]

Powder die

You mentioned tool heads but no powder dies! Each tool head requires a powder die, bought separately, this allows setting the depth for proper belling when the powder thru die, included in the caliber change kit, is inserted before the powder dump measure is installed!

Here's my set up with a 550. Note many tools heads w/dies & powder dies! Two powder measurers, no need to change small and large powder bars. Notice the absents of a case feed! I feel unless you are loading large quantities, 500+ rounds, of the same caliber each reloading session it is an expense that is not needed. However, multiple primers tubes is a must!
jcelect

 

[fredj338]

You mentioned tool heads but no powder dies! Each tool head requires a powder die, bought separately, this allows setting the depth for proper belling when the powder thru die, included in the caliber change kit, is inserted before the powder dump measure is installed!

Here's my set up with a 550. Note many tools heads w/dies & powder dies! Two powder measurers, no need to change small and large powder bars. Notice the absents of a case feed! I feel unless you are loading large quantities, 500+ rounds, of the same caliber each reloading session it is an expense that is not needed. However, multiple primers tubes is a must!
jcelect

With a 550, correct a case feeder is an unnecessary complication. For a 650/750, imo a must. The 550 is designed for manual case feed, a 750 is not. So you load the tube with cases, slow. I run both a 550 & 650. Without a case feeder, the 650 isnt really much faster than a 550.

 

[mckenney99]

Other than a powder dispenser for each tool head, the best money I've spent recently for my Dillon 550 was the KMS Squared LED light set up. It makes a tremendous difference eliminating shadows in the press area from overhead lighting and you can really see whats going on at each die station. They make a lighting setup for the 650/750.
After using my RCBS dies for years in my 550, I slowly bought and changed over to Dillon's pistol dies and have not regretted it one bit. I still use my old RCBS Rock Chucker and not having to remove my dies from the tool heads to do a small run on the Rock Chucker is worth every penny.

 

[H Richard]

Unless you have the need for loading in excess of 1000 rounds, frequently, a Dillon 550 will usually be the easiest set up and easily fill the need.

When I was shooting in competition USPSA and Bullseye I could casually load 500 rounds during the week and be ready for weekends. On weeks I didn't shoot, or only shot bullseye I was rounds ahead. I would build up to a few 1000's ahead and skip weeks. Then in the winter I'd catch up on all the odd ball calibers I loaded.

 

[Skeet 028]

As stated...extra powder tubes. With my 750 I didn't feel I needed a bullet tray and don't have one for the Super 1050 either. A strong mount of whatever flavor. I use a Frankfort Arsenal primer tube filler even though I have a Dillon...saves a bunch of time filling tubes. Case feeder for certain. I too have found the Dillon runs better with Dillon dies even though I have used others. Nice thing about the Dillon is you can run it single case to get it set up. Another thing you will really need is more components. Said tongue in cheek but it is true. I got the first 1050 and figured since I had at least 2000 cases I would be a day or two getting them done....2 1/2 hours later all done. And the 750 is almost as fast as the 1050

 

[chief38]

The Roller handle is a must! It will save your palm! I'd also suggest the Allen Keys and rack that bolts onto the machine. I've got a zillion Allen Keys but this set has all you will need for the 750 and they will always be right on the machine.

Dillon's Carbide dies are excellent and have a quick release that allows for cleaning with no readjusting.

 

[Old&Retired]

Hi all, I am a fairly new reloader, only have a couple years loading handgun ammo on a Lee Turret press in single stage mode.

Also I'm only familiar with the Lee 4 die sets which include an expander die. The Dillon sets don't seem to have this. Is it unnecessary or do one of their 3 dies perform this function?

The 4th die in the Lee deluxe set is the Factory Crimp Die, not an expander. The expander is part of the 2nd die in the set, the Powder Thru/Expander Die. You don't actually need the fourth die as die #3 is the bullet seat/crimp die. I use the four die sets as the FCD will not overcrimp on taper crimped rounds (9mm/.45 ACP/etc.)

 

[amheck]

thanks for all of the thoughts everyone.

I have been doing some more reading. Is this the correct die position in the following situations?

Are these the most common scenarios?

Normal operation with the Dillon 3 die set:

1. Size and deprime
2. Flare and powder drop
3. Skip
4. Bullet seat
5. Crimp

If you want a powder check, then it becomes:

1. Size and deprime
2. Flare and powder drop
3. Powder check die
4. Bullet seat
5. Crimp

And if you want powder check and bullet feeder:

1. Size and deprime
2. Flare and powder drop
3. Powder check
4. Bullet feeder
5. Bullet seat/crimp combo die (purchase separately)

And if you wanted the feeder without the powder check:

1. Size and deprime
2. Flare and powder drop
3. Bullet feeder
4. Bullet seat
5. Crimp

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You may have noticed that batch sizes of 500 are a normal minimum. Personally I prefer to own enough brass to do batches of 3000 or more. I never owned that much brass for many calibers, but the ones I shoot often (45 ACP, 46 Colt & 38 Special) I have in the neighborhood of 7000 case, that allows batches of 5000. All this is an encouragement to buy more brass!

It is very easy for us to recommend spending lots of your money, BUT, If you can buy it now, you won't have to pay inflated prices later! When I bought my 450/550b in 1984 by the end of 1985 I bought every shell plate except 3 (45AR, 8mm Label & 348 Win) Last year I decided to buy the shell plate for 357Sig/10mm/40S&W (it didn't exist then). It cost over 3 times as much as I paid for the others!

Ivan

 

[jag22]

I've watched several videos on the 750 and found it a little intimidating. I load around 8000 rounds a year and that was getting a little old on my single stage Forster so I bought the Dillon Square Deal for 9mm. That covers about 80% of what I shoot. Still use then Forster for 45, 38, and a few others. Do you really need all the capabilities the 750 offers? Seems like you drive a nice Mustang and decided you want to go a little faster so you want to buy a Nascar cup car. How much do reload in a year? Just seems like the 750 is for a serious, serious high volume competition shooter or a small size commercial reloader. JMO

 

[jcelect]

To the OP

There is a definite "line in the sand" in all the post above! It is a question that requires an answer from the OP, and anyone else that is looking to move up to a progressive press, before a purchase! How many rounds am I going to load in one session? Some load thousands and others load hundreds! My set up,pictured above, is satisfactory for hundreds, and less, in one session and changing calibers often!
IMHO jcelect