Dillon Questions . .update did the deed today

[fredj338]

My take, the SDB is an ok machine, but NO faster than the 550 & not nearly as versatile. As you note, when adding just one add'l caliber, using say Lee dies for both, the 550 is the same cost as SDB. For that you get a larger window to work in, more leverage & potential for expansion. Add a 3rd caliber, now the 550 is actually cheaper. So if you are pinching pennies, the 550 will ultimately be cheaper. Both machines can produce 400-500rds per hour. Forget any rifle & some handgun like 357sig. Yeah I know, I said I would never go there either but now load 223 & 357sig on my 550.

 

[dla]

You could also use the extra hole on the 550 for a Lock-out die. That would help to verify your powder drop.

What extra hole? Maybe you were thinking of the 650?

 

[novalty]

What extra hole? Maybe you were thinking of the 650?

The extra die slot if you seat and crimp in 1 step.

 

[redlevel]

I ordered a SDB set up for .38 special, a primer flip tray, a spare parts kit, and a 4-pack of small primer pickup tubes. It all came to a shade over $460, shipped.

I figure to load 7000-10,000 rounds of .38 special and a couple thousand rounds of .357 magnum before I think about needing another caliber setup.

Got a bunch of hoarded components to turn into loaded ammo in the next year or so.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

As a SD-B owner for around 30 years I loaded tens of thousands of rounds on it and it served me well. Now that I shoot a lot more I stepped up to a Dillon 650 a couple of years ago and it's a way better press. I never had any major issues with my SD-B, but the 650 is much more stable, 3 times faster and produces better ammo.

If you are looking to shoot a few thousand rounds a year the SD-B will do the job, but if you shoot a lot and in multiple calibers and are looking to maximize your time, effort and efficiency, go with the 650. The 650 I have is set up with the auto case feeder which works great - one less thing to do and really speeds things up.

By the way.......... the new Dillon standard dies for the 550, 650 and 1050 are superb and the quick pull disconnect makes cleaning a breeze with no re-adjustments necessary.

HOW does the 650 produce BETTER ammo that the SQ-D? With that line of thinking wouldn't the 1050 produce better ammo than the 650?

 

[RussellD]

If you need any help getting set up give me a holler. I travel to Georgia frequently to visit family.

I hope you ordered the smart mount. It does make a difference in the ease of seating primers. using one shot aerosol case lube will make you loading a lot smoother and more consistent.

Good loading a shooting

 

[novalty]

Congrats! I'm sure that SDB will serve you well, a relative of mine has been using one for close to 30 years now. Be sure to post some pictures when you get it all set up.

 

[tedburns3]

Thanks for all the replies. Just the kind of information I was looking for.

I'm still leaning toward the SDB. Here's why.

I'm not a competitive shooter, nor a really high volume shooter otherwise.
Maybe 4-5000 rounds per year, or a little more. The thing is, I like to keep
a lot of ammo on hand. I have accumulated a lot of components; powder,
primers, cast bullets, and brass over the last 15-20 years. I am subject
to consuming a thousand rounds of .38 special in a month if I have it on hand.

I have very little plinking/target .38 special on hand now. Mostly defense ammo.
I probably would load five thousand rounds of .38 special before I even thought
about setting up to load anything else. I have several thousand rounds of .45 ACP
factory ammo on hand, and maybe 2000 rounds of .45 Colt. Maybe in a year
I would think about getting a conversion kit for .45 Colt.
For the first year, my main concern would be converting a bunch of that .38 sp brass,
Bullseye powder, and small pistol primers into loaded ammo.

I figure I can get into the SDB with the few options I would want for $425
or a tad more. In another year, if I am still around and want to, I could spring for
a .45 Colt conversion for around another $100. The 550 would probably
run at least $100 more with options. Yep, I am tight. Can't heppit. Grew up
having to pinch pennies.

Space is a concern, and the SDB appears to be a little more compact.
There is a certain appeal to ordering the machine in .38special, bolting it
to the table, setting the powder dump, making minor tweaks to the dies,
and churning out rounds almost immediately.

Haven't really decided yet.

I used to own a SDB and thought it was great it you load for pistol and don't plan on rifle calibers. The only downside that I recall was changing out pistol calibers took a while.

Unfortunately, I no longer reload-used to enjoy it as much as shooting, but my living conditions preclude doing it. Moreover, I really don't know if nowadays the savings in reloading are all that great. But since you will continue to reload the SDB comes highly recommended by me. I never did a long tally of how many I could load in a full hour but timing myself over a two minute period would result in up to 10 rounds per minute, or average of 600 in an hour. Cut it down to 5 per minute and one is at 300 rounds in an hour.

 

[novalty]

Moreover, I really don't know if nowadays the savings in reloading are all that great.

Seriously?! $45 for 100 rounds of 45acp WWB, and $28 for 100 rounds of 9mm WWB.

45acp
Primer: $.03
Powder: $.02
Plated bullet: $.13
Total: $.18 versus $.45

9mm
Primer: $.03
Powder: $.02
Plated Bullet: $.09
Total: $.14 versus $.28

Rifle rounds are an even higher cost savings.

 

[derek45auto]

I like the 550B better than the square deal.

the 550B can do rifle, and uses standard dies, you can use redding LEE, ect dies

years ago, I upgraded to the XL650, but I kept my 550B

I like it that much.

the 650 is for large batches of IPSC and .223

the 550B is for smaller batches, stuff like 6.8mmSPC, 44mag.

DILLON is great stuff.

 

[dla]

I ordered a SDB set up for .38 special, a primer flip tray, a spare parts kit, and a 4-pack of small primer pickup tubes. It all came to a shade over $460, shipped.

I figure to load 7000-10,000 rounds of .38 special and a couple thousand rounds of .357 magnum before I think about needing another caliber setup.

Got a bunch of hoarded components to turn into loaded ammo in the next year or so.

I use an SDB for 45acp, 9mm and 44 mag. I find that I usually do 1000 round batches at one sitting nowadays. Funny, but when I used to shoot a lot, I would do 400 round batches once a week. I much prefer to shoot than reload, so I really like the SDB for getting the reloading done. The only time my SDB gives me grief is when I try to use it in 50*f temps - the little primer release plastic thingy (technical term) doesn't want to flex correctly when cold and will sometimes double a primer.

I reload my rifles on a Lee Classic Turret as I don't shoot enough to warrant a progressive (maybe 100 rounds a year at most).

 

[redlevel]

The Big Brown Truck of Happiness just dropped my reloader off at my back door!

 

[PALADIN85020]

Just a word to the wise. The 550 can load more calibers than any other Dillon press, from .32 ACP up to .338 Lapua and nearly anything in between. Both the SD and the 650 are limited in what they can handle. You also have full control over indexing; you control all aspects of the loading process and yet can get a really respectable number of reloads per hour. Setting it up is quicker and less complex than for the 650. Dillon dies are the greatest for its progressives (more flare on the base of the die and some other unique features), but any standard dies will work. That makes this press ideal for wildcat cartridges. You never know what cartridges you might want to reload in the future. As always, Dillon's excellent customer service folks can help you with any compatibility issues.

John

 

[dla]

You also have full control over indexing

That is true. And that is why people create double-charges on 550's.

Machines don't have "senior moments", so I prefer an auto-indexing progressive. And the 650 is a 5 station press, so you can use powder-check dies if really cautious.

 

[824tsv]

The Big Brown Truck of Happiness just dropped my reloader off at my back door!

Let the loading begin! You won't be disappointed with your SDB.