Dillon loading presses pros and cons

[AveragEd]

Speed has never been a goal when I switched to progressive loaders. I enjoy the time I spend reloading and still load my rifle ammunition on an RCBS RC IV. For me, it was comfort - I have arthritis as well as two non-repairable torn rotator cuffs and the continual rotations of my shoulders when loading hundreds of rounds of handgun ammo at a sitting was painful. The Dillon 650 gets the job done with far fewer rotations of the handle which is very easy to cycle especially when you consider how many things you are doing with each rotation.

This will sound crazy but I bought Dillon mainly because I couldn't find RCBS or Redding dies for my .38 Super anywhere. I called my media contact at RCBS and learned that dies for that cartridge were not on the production schedule for at least the next three months. I went to Dillon's website to order dies and got to thinking about how nice it would be to assemble my handgun loads the same way I load my shotshells - on a progressive. The seed was planted.

I called RCBS back about buying their progressive (I'm sort of loyal to the "green" brands) but was told the current one was out of production because a new one was forthcoming. Not wanting to be a test mule (went through that with the RCBS Grand shotshell loader), I called Dillon. $1,800 later, I was the proud owner of a 650, five complete tool heads, dies, caliber conversion kits, spare parts kit, tool set with holder and roller handle. The only thing I regret buying is the handle.

Here's a plus with regard to their dies. Get a case stuck (I somehow did even with carbide dies) and you simply pull a pin, separate the die into its two halves and remove the case!

Yeah, I drank the blue kool-aid. But I really enjoy using my 650, especially since it happens without discomfort.

Ed

 

[BB57]

I've been reloading since the late 70's still have and use the rock chucker.
Over the years i've picked up and use a Lee pro 1000 Dillon 550 and Hornady AP.
As has been said keep them clean.
When I start to think about how many rounds an hour I can reload it's time to stop and recheck everything make sure everything is clean.
And I weigh every powder charge, never had a bad reload and hope to keep it that way.
Reloading is a relaxing hobby that I enjoy.

I started reloading in 1977, but with an RCBS Junior. I also still have that press but use it very rarely. I also have a Lee hand press that I'll use to load .45-70 black powder loads.

Over the years I've heard people say the Dillon presses are not good for precision hand loads. However, I've found my 550B will load sub MOA ammunition in both .22 Hornet and .308 Win with just a few tweaks:

1. I use Dillon's 3/4" powder measure adapter to install my Redding BR-3 powder measure when loading precision ammunition. I may hand weigh the powder depending on the powder and the load. The Dillon easily accommodates that by letting you remove a pin from the shell plate and weigh the powder on either the powder or seating station.

2. I use a clamp kit for the tool heads. (Actually, I have installed clamp kits on most of my tool heads, even for pistol ammo, particularly as I also use 9mm in a PCC and .38 and .357 magnum in rifles - all of the above will shoot 2.0 to 2.5 MOA at 100 yards, and clamp kits are cheap.)

3. I use a floating tool head to ensure precise alignment of the sizer and seating dies.

----

The 550B is progressive, but as a non indexed press, you have the option of using it in:

A) progressive mode, with 4 cartridges on the plate; or

B) turret press mode, with 1 cartridge on the plate running through all 4 stages before another case is placed on the shell plate; or

C) single stage press mode, running each cartridge through one operation before moving to the next operation. You can also get a third party kit that quickly sets it up as a traditional press with a single shell holder in the center of the ram and a tool head holding a single die.

Consequently, the RCBS Junior is mostly enjoying its well earned retirement.

The Junior was a great press to learn on, and except for full length case forming operations on rifle sized cartridges, it never came up short. But I did out grow it.

People often fail to think outside the box and are prone to saying that learning on a progressive is a bad idea - and if they are talking about a fully indexed progressive press, they are correct. However given the flexibility of the 550 and the ability to use it in other ways it can easily be used as a learning and teaching tool for a new reloader like any single stage press - with the difference that the new hand loader will never outgrow it.

 

[BE Mike]

Now if Dillon and the Hornady AP came out at the same time, it would be like Coke and Pepsi.

IMHO, if Dillon had never produced progressive presses, Hornady would never have produced one either. Hornady just saw an opportunity to compete for a share of the marketplace which Dillon created. I've never used a Hornady, but have looked at them and after a lot of changes over the years, they seem to have a good machine. If Star had never been invented, Dillon would have retired as a pilot.

 

[Gamecock]

Blue vs red? I say GREEN!

I had one complaint about my 550B. The factory instructions for assembly and use were awful. Thank God for youtube.

 

[6string]

Here's another thought I have about Dillon. Their 1050, 650, and 550 have been in production for over 20 years. In that time, I haven't noticed any changes or redesigns to cheapen these products. And, they're still 100% made in the USA!
How many things can you really say that about today?
All too often, manufacturers ruin their own fine products by compromising in one or more areas....discontinued for the "new & improved" model, production outsourced to "bring you the (supposedly) best product for the lowest price", etc.
And, we rightly complain: "if only they left well enough alone, I'd be happy to pay more..."
Wouldn't it be great if S&W still made the Triple Lock, and made it to the same quality and beauty as the original? Think about what the price would have to be! And, I bet a lot of people would pay it, too!
Sure, Dillon's stuff isn't cheap. But, put into context, they're still a great value.

Jim

(PS: Yes, I know they outsource the electronics and textiles.)

 

[Rule3]

All this talk about the "best" Dillon and no one mentions the Dillon M134D the fastest Dillon of them all!

3,000 rounds per minute!

All these reloading presses are made from scraps made from the M134D and is a by product for Dillon.

https://dillonaero.com/product/standard-m134d/

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLEGE7k9FD4[/ame]

 

[kgpcr]

Personally I would never by a Dillon. They are a great press but so way way over priced. My Hornady LNL is a lot better value in my mind. When I want to change calibers all I have to do is swap shell plate and dies 3-4 minutes max!! AND I don't have to buy new this and new powder measures and so forth. Just a great press to consider. Look at the features for the same money. Blue is only a color

 

[fredj338]

If your true goal is to load only 300 an hour any of the Dillon presses can handle that.

Now I clean and maintain my doc's 1050, 2each 650, and a 550 and they all can easily do 300 in an hour.

Now as far as pros and cons. The Dillon folks are going to give every pro they can think of, but very few cons. They have to justify their cost some how.

If you really want to find the cons go to WWW.dillonprecision.com and at the bottom of the page there is "form". Click on that. But before you do keep practicing the phrase "Holy **** on a cracker".

Now, I just loaded 100 each of 9mm, .45, .223, and 308.
9mm took me 4:30
.45 took me 4:40
.223 took me 3:55
308 took me 4.55
Now I reload on 4 each Hornady Ammo Plants. Now, do they have any cons? HELL YEA! But They all can be fixed.

I have not seen any 100% Dillon be able to keep up with my 100% Hornady.

False comparison. Since you are using a bullet & case feeder. Add any, even a hornady, bullet feeder to a 650, 650 wins. Been there done that.

 

[shutmal]

I use a LNL and have for years. All by friends (bullseye shooters) seem to prefer Dillon, but for me, the LNL has some advantages. First, the Hornady powder measure is more versatile than the "Lee" ripoff that comes on the Dillon. Second, I have 13 or 14 shellplates for the press, and 14 conversion kits for Dillon cost more than I paid for my Hornady press. If one or two calibers were all I was ever going to load, I might have bought the Dillon.

 

[old&slow]

I'm looking to upgrade my loading process. Currently using a Lee Classic 1000 which I love with the exception of the primer loading. Just not fast enough. Been considering a Dillon 650. But open minded. Would like a press to give around 300 rounds per hour which the Dillon should handle easily. Any reviews or suggestions of other brands?

,,, Aren't you glad you asked ??

Good luck on deciding ,,

 

[Gamecock]

GREEN! Pick GREEN!

 

[fredj338]

Personally I would never by a Dillon. They are a great press but so way way over priced. My Hornady LNL is a lot better value in my mind. When I want to change calibers all I have to do is swap shell plate and dies 3-4 minutes max!! AND I don't have to buy new this and new powder measures and so forth. Just a great press to consider. Look at the features for the same money. Blue is only a color

Again, equip the same, the 650 is $75 more. Caliber swaps are just as fast on a 650, yes you pay a tiny bit more for tool head vs the lnl bushings, but the bushings are a pita, they do come loose, why hornady makes shims for them. Extea powder measures are optional, Not mandatory.

 

[Carrier]

Again, equip the same, the 650 is $75 more. Caliber swaps are just as fast on a 650, yes you pay a tiny bit more for tool head vs the lnl bushings, but the bushings are a pita, they do come loose, why hornady makes shims for them. Extea powder measures are optional, Not mandatory.

Can't speak for anyone else but the only bushing that came anywhere close to being loose on my LNL was the one for the powder measure which the Hornady shim took care of. Makes sense when you think about it as there is a lot of weight and torque on it. None of the others come loose and most certainly not a pita for me.

 

[fredj338]

Can't speak for anyone else but the only bushing that came anywhere close to being loose on my LNL was the one for the powder measure which the Hornady shim took care of. Makes sense when you think about it as there is a lot of weight and torque on it. None of the others come loose and most certainly not a pita for me.

Well if one can come loose the others can & do, hence the Hornady shim fix. Thx for confirming there is a problem. I had one loosen on the sizing die, sheared the locking lugs off. Yes, PITA. I like solid mounted dies, I have no use for the bushing systems popular with Hornady & Lee, ss press or progressive. Bushings offer nothing over conventional lock rings. They are not faster by much to swap out & have that come loose issue. Compared to a tool head swap, like 10sec max???

 

[Carrier]

Well if one can come loose the others can & do, hence the Hornady shim fix. Thx for confirming there is a problem. I had one loosen on the sizing die, sheared the locking lugs off. Yes, PITA. I like solid mounted dies, I have no use for the bushing systems popular with Hornady & Lee, ss press or progressive. Bushings offer nothing over conventional lock rings. They are not faster by much to swap out & have that come loose issue. Compared to a tool head swap, like 10sec max???

You're very welcome though I would like to see a picture of the locking lugs sheared off.

 

[DRAINSMITH]

Again, equip the same, the 650 is $75 more. Caliber swaps are just as fast on a 650, yes you pay a tiny bit more for tool head vs the lnl bushings, but the bushings are a pita, they do come loose, why hornady makes shims for them. Extea powder measures are optional, Not mandatory.

You knock the press, you knock the case feeder, and now you knock bushings. Now Hornady came out with a fix and it doesn't cost you one red cent. And that is a problem?

When is Dillon coming out with a bullet feeder?

 

[fredj338]

You knock the press, you knock the case feeder, and now you knock bushings. Now Hornady came out with a fix and it doesn't cost you one red cent. And that is a problem?

When is Dillon coming out with a bullet feeder?

Hornady's fix is a *******g shim. How about, oh, design the bushings so the tolerances match up with the tool heads?????? Yes an issue when trying to match 5 holes. Yes a single tool head is superior to 5 bushings. No I am not really knocking the LNL. I have stated if I never wanted a case feeder, then I would consider it. I have loaded on one, I have measured all the critical dims with my machinist buddy on his press. So I have pretty good exp with both, the 650 is a better tool IMO. I just hate hearing the BS about being cheaper, it isn't all that cheaper, $75 all in, not worth the price for a slightly inferior priming & case feeder & more flex in the press than I like.
Why are you so hung up on the bullet feeder thing? I can put any bullet feeder I want on the 650, Hornady, RCBS or MBF. Since the MBF is slightly superior to the Hornady & RCBS, it would be my choice, but I am not that lazy, don't really need to spend the $300-$400 to up my speed over 700rds/hr & complicate my press even further. My buddy has run all three on his LNL & his 650, the MBF runs the best on either press. I just don't care for them. If I was running dedicated 1050 for every caliber, then sure why not, I am not having to get everything retuned when switching calibers.
A LNL by itself is a simpler press to use hand feeding everything, why I would consider it over a 650 w/o case feeder, & said this many times. The priming system alone on the 650 though is worth the extra $$ but then you really need to run it with a case feeder to be efficient. Stopping to put cases in the tube sucks up a lot of start & stop time.

 

[fredj338]

You're very welcome though I would like to see a picture of the locking lugs sheared off.

My buddy sent the bushing back to Hornady for inspection, his press I was loading on. You only have to google this stuff, I am not making it up. Bushing suck when you have to use quite a bit of force, like large rifle cases. So any misalignment is gonna play havoc with them. It was a solution to a non existent problem IMO, swapping dies out. Conventional lock rings are fine & once adjusted, never come loose & only takes hand torque to secure them in any press & remove them.

 

[78bagger]

I got the 550 because the Dillon shop is an afternoon drive from here, past some great gun shops. I didn't know anyone who loaded so I was going to have to figure it out. The Dillon was really straight forward and the 550, being more manual, made it easier to keep track of stuff . And talking to guys in the shop, it looks like they will replace anything anytime free!

 

[Carrier]

My buddy sent the bushing back to Hornady for inspection, his press I was loading on. You only have to google this stuff, I am not making it up. Bushing suck when you have to use quite a bit of force, like large rifle cases. So any misalignment is gonna play havoc with them. It was a solution to a non existent problem IMO, swapping dies out. Conventional lock rings are fine & once adjusted, never come loose & only takes hand torque to secure them in any press & remove them.

Well what I know about bushing issues is Hornady had a batch of defective press bushings several years ago that would break the tips off. Mostly in stations one and three. Anyone who had this issue and contacted Hornady myself included got new press bushings.
Its mechanical and one can do the "should have could have would have" but it happened and Hornady fixed it. Other than that issue I have had no other issues with the bushings. As far as using the shim for the powder measure I never really did but saw that Hornady had shims for it so had them send them.
Those that have Dillon say its the best. Ok sure though all the reloading oem's have good and bad for their price.
I load on a 650 as well as my LNL.
I like things about my friends 650 and he likes things about my LNL. I don't like things about his 650 and he don't like things about my LNL.
Life is just too short for me to worry about this stuff.