Dillon's Claims on load rates

[danski]

I have before me one of Dillon's The Blue Press.

On the page for the Square Deal 'B' it says loading rate is 400 to 500 rounds an hour.

For the 550B the claim is 500 to 600 rounds an hour.

I've owned a 550B for 5 years and never came close to the claim. My 550B is a basic one, no case loader, no powder check. My 550B looks just like the one featured in the picture. I've loaded .45 Colt and .38 Special.

Has anyone on this forum with Square Deals or 550Bs come close to those loading rates?

 

[Amici]

I have TWO 550's. If I could run them simultaneously, I MIGHT achieve the advertised rate of production. Even with primer tubes already loaded.

I have no idea how those numbers are achieved, other than use of:

Case feeders AND

bullet feeders; OR

Heavy drugs.

 

[TSQUARED]

I opt for accuracy and lack of problems rather than speed with my Dillon 550. Every case is examined prior to resizing, powder fill is examined in every case before going to bullet seasting and then I box in 50 round boxes and reload my 3 primer tubes. I still manage to trun out 300+ per hour without any bloopers. I am sure that if you have 6 or 7 primer tubes all filled and ready to go and want to go for a speed record the 500-600 per hour for the 550 seems reasonable.

 

[Shuz]

I've been using a Square Deal B in .44mag for over 25 years and I love it. However, I think ol' Mike has done some "creative writing" by advertising 400-500 rounds per hour! The fastest I've reached for loading only 50 rounds is 8 minutes, and that's with one of my grandsons placing the mt case in station one, so I can keep my hand on the press arm. That would approximate 375 rounds per hour, but not the time required to fill primer tubes etc. Oh well, I'm willing to forgive mike on this one as I've had excellent tech support and repairs done to my machine, all at no cost! If I do all the operations myself, I can still easily load 50 rounds in 10 minutes and that's fast enuf for me!

 

[walnutred]

At best I can hit 300 rds an hour but typical production is usually between 200 and 250. Which is fine, it's not supposed to be like work, it's a hobby. I'm using an old 450 but it has the primer and powder upgrades so shoudl be similar to a 550.

A friend has the case feeder on his 550 and so far seems to think it does not help that much.

 

[NFrameFred]

Guess I'm the exception, here. Loading pistol rounds on my 550's ( no bullet or case feeders) I have regularly gotten 500 rounds an hour and more. The trick is, to have several primer collection tubes loaded up, a large pan of bullets strategically placed on the left and a large pan of clean brass on the right.

With an assistant one time to keep the powder measure topped off and the primer tubes loaded we loaded over 900 45 ACP's in an hour, just to see what could be done. That was solid cranking the handle and all you could do. Not practical or wise to load at that pace most of the time, but it can be done.

I seem to remember Dillon setting up an experiment like that years ago for publicity with Robbie Latham loading over a thousand rounds in an hour with two people helping him keep the measure and tubes topped off.

 

[411fan]

While I'm not in a hurry and make the occasion check of powder weight and OAL my average is about 350 per hour. I'm sure if I didn't make the checks of powder and length and just pounded them I might be able to hit the 500 round per hour level but I'd rather enjoy the reloading and take my time.

 

[Roadranger]

I can load 100 rounds of 40's or 45's injust under 10 minutes, which would make 600 an hour. I have 10 primer tubes, big containers of brass, and a big container of TiteGroup. With that said, I usually load 200 or so, and take a break for iced tea or Coke. Certainly the 550 is capable of 600 an hour. Bob!!

 

[Amici]

I doubt anyone loading more than 300 rph is working alone OR checking the powder drop at regular intervals.

So long as the powder measure is kept properly topped up, though, I haven't found too many variations in the load. It helps to use powders that meter well; Vihta Vuori, WST, etc.

 

[NFrameFred]

Originally posted by Amici:
I doubt anyone loading more than 300 rph is working alone OR checking the powder drop at regular intervals.

So long as the powder measure is kept properly topped up, though, I haven't found too many variations in the load. It helps to use powders that meter well; Vihta Vuori, WST, etc.

I work alone and achieve the 500rph figure regularly. And though it's become rote I do spot check and hand weigh the powder charges on about 3% of the rounds. I do this with ball powders and over 25 years of loading experience that has shown me which powders I can do this with and which ones I can't. My experience with my personal equipment demonstrates that once properly adjust and tightened, I have been able to count on the results. Loaded and fired over 33,000 rounds of just 45 ACP one season and never had a misfire, overcharge or undercharge. However, that same season I did have occasion as a Range Safety Officer to DQ a revolver shooter who locked his 44 mag up with a squib ( his loads were usually "hot" ) and his were loaded on a single stage press.

I never use extruded powders in the progressives, I don't even play a radio or sip a drink while I'm at the loading station. I learned from the get-go that progressive machines are very unforgiving of interruptions and any stoppage and re-start requires a complete check of each station on the machine and a mental "re-boot".

My opinion is re-loading shells is not for the "casually engaged" or partially attentive. Such folks also drive and operate machinery, as well, but their performance or lack of should not taken to be indicative of mine . I know folks whom the old joke about walking and chewing gum applies.

Like Harry said, a man's got to know his limitations.

 

[oliver507]

I never tried to push past 250-300 per hour, not in it just for the speed. Also, I check the powder weight every 10 rounds and the finshed product every 20.

 

[max]

On my 550, I can do 100 rounds in well under an hour, but the time and or speed is not that important to me.

 

[Skip Sackett]

If I have the primer tubes loaded up before hand I can get over 500 rph on my Square Deal Bs. I have a case feeder though...................................................................................................................................................

The wifey!

All joking aside, we have worked together on several batches and we really got the rounds out. She would set the case and I would set the bullet and there was only once or twice that I caught her fingers! We call her stubby now!

I forgot, it was all joking aside!


The numbers happened for sure, that's not a joke. No need to go that fast on that kind of machine though. I have an XL650 now that I can do over 600 rph any day of the week. If I need a bunch of ammo in a hurry and my darling is too busy, I just fire it up and off I go!

 

[Paul5388]

Like Harry said, a man's got to know his limitations.

Harry Truman said that???

 

[fredj338]

Originally posted by Amici:
I doubt anyone loading more than 300 rph is working alone OR checking the powder drop at regular intervals.

So long as the powder measure is kept properly topped up, though, I haven't found too many variations in the load. It helps to use powders that meter well; Vihta Vuori, WST, etc.

Actually, 300rds/hr is pretty comfortable pace. The Dillon numbers are more easily achieved w/ short pistol rounds, less friction & effort. It's not a big deal for me to load 400rds an hour of 9mm or 45acp or 40 on my 550B. I rarely load for more than that, so I don't know how sustainable that is. I have done short runs of 100 in 12min. & that is w/ clean brass & primers ready to go, visually checking every powder drop. I occasionally weight check the powder drops, but there really isn't anything to get out of adjustment. As long as you start off w/ your powder settled in, keep it half full & go. Even w/ Unique I get no more than 0.1gr variation in charge wt.

 

[dennis40x]

I have a RL550B and two SDB units and confess that I'm not in to the rate of production wars. That is to say I'm not operating like a whirlwind. Production rates are what they are. I think too much is made of how fast I can do it at blinding speed. On the other hand I may not be as coordinated as others also. I load a reasonable amount with in a specified period of time and since I'm retired there is no sense of urgency on my part.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Now, if you can do 300rds. of .38 Special and then switch to .32 WCF and load another 200-300rds. of it, all in an hour, I'll be impressed.

It's the caliber change where my lil' Hornady shines- if you have an extra powder measure set up and dies already preset in extra collets, change the plate, and go on. About three minutes for a change, if everything is set, I'd gather.

 

[Amici]

Originally posted by Andy Griffith:
Now, if you can do 300rds. of .38 Special and then switch to .32 WCF and load another 200-300rds. of it, all in an hour, I'll be impressed.

It's the caliber change where my lil' Hornady shines- if you have an extra powder measure set up and dies already preset in extra collets, change the plate, and go on. About three minutes for a change, if everything is set, I'd gather.

And how is that different from the Dillon? Pull the two locating pins and remove the toolhead; switch plates, insert new toolhead; replace locating pins.

This presumes one has a complete toolhead and not swapping dies, of course.

 

[NFrameFred]

Originally posted by Amici:

Originally posted by Andy Griffith:
Now, if you can do 300rds. of .38 Special and then switch to .32 WCF and load another 200-300rds. of it, all in an hour, I'll be impressed.

It's the caliber change where my lil' Hornady shines- if you have an extra powder measure set up and dies already preset in extra collets, change the plate, and go on. About three minutes for a change, if everything is set, I'd gather.

And how is that different from the Dillon? Pull the two locating pins and remove the toolhead; switch plates, insert new toolhead; replace locating pins.

This presumes one has a complete toolhead and not swapping dies, of course.

Isn't the .32WCF a rifle round with a large primer ? changing out the priming system does slow down the process. That's why I added a second 550 to the bench and keep one setup for small primers and one setup for large. Shell plates and tool heads change out in just a minute.

Then, there's re-adjusting the powder measure unless you have multiple charge bars and have them pre-set for standard loads. Those things do drag down the changeover times.

 

[epj]

As an experiment, I have timed myself and have found that I can load 9-10 rounds per minute on my 550B. This of course translates to 540-600 RPH. Can I sustain this pace for an hour? I doubt it. However, I can easily load about 350 per hour which is fast enough for my purposes. Actually, I seldom load for more than a few minutes at a time, but it doesn't take too many minutes to fill the loaded cartridge tray up.

 

[H Richard]

I've had my 550 for 25 years, and I have gotten up to the 500 per hr. speed, but usually work in the 300+ per hr. Heck, I'm retired now and don't need to be in all that much of a hurry.

 

[R A Miller]

Production Rates on a 650

I load on a Dillon 650 with the case feeder. I use WST for my most common loads in .45acp and .40 S&W. I always have the brass prepped and the primer tubes filled for the number of rounds I plan on loading that session prior to starting. As noted earlier WST meters well and consistently so I no longer make intermediate checks of the powder charge.

Dillon claims a one hour production rate of 800 rounds with a 650 equipped with the case feeder. I usually produce 500-600 rounds per hour. I like to visually check that everything is as it should be before each pull of the handle. I also like to case gauge and check for OAL periodically during the loading process. This production rate is misleading as I spend an hour or so in preparation prior to starting to load.

Once I tried to go as fast as possible and I got close to the 800 rounds per hour production rate. Not much fun and I wouldn't recommend it.

Rick

 

[NFrameFred]

FWIW I think everybody is making too big of a deal of the whole thing. It's the possible rate for advertising purposes - sure, you could load that many rph, but most of us won't because it would promote sloppy mistakes.

Some of us that load for high volume and like to pull the trigger more than the handle tend to set up for volume, know our machines well, and sit down once in a blue moon and crank out a bunch of rounds. Normally, I'm probably in the 300 rph range, but given the topic of the post, the point was is Dillon's advertising claim false ? Hey, it's ADVERTISING . . . and I was taught not to believe everything I hear from somebody trying to sell me something. Truth-in-advertising laws have made folks clean up their act from making most outrageous claims ( not counting Billy Mays, 'the mouth' ) but maximum speed and performance isn't usually indicative of routine speed and performance. And since a lot of us want to find out for ourselves we've pushed it to see if it's possible. Doesn't mean we make a practice of it. I responded because some seemed to state that "it couldn't be done". Well, it can.

It's like advertising about the car that will do 0 to 60 in 2 seconds - it might do it, but anyone with any sense surely won't make it a practice to do so.

 

[gbrady]

My wife does the pistol cart. on a 550 and a 650, she runs between 500 and 600 on each as long as the primer tube are kept full. She does a powder check each time she adds primers. I load .223's on a old 1000 and can turn out 900 to 1100 per hr. if everything is in place when I start.

 

[campfire]

I have the Dillon Square Deal and I can comfortably produce 200 to 250 quality rounds of 357 per hour but no way could I pump out 400 to 500.
I have developed a good rhythm which allows me to work at what I consider a safe and steady pace.
I would rather be making quality bullets in preference to producing them in large volume at high speed and being nervously doubtful about the result.
Anyway, speed isn't what reloading is all about, it's supposed to be a relaxing and pleasurable experience with no stress.
My two cents.
Campfire

 

[Skip Sackett]

I have the Dillon Square Deal and I can comfortably produce 200 to 250 quality rounds of 357 per hour but no way could I pump out 400 to 500.
I have developed a good rhythm which allows me to work at what I consider a safe and steady pace.
I would rather be making quality bullets in preference to producing them in large volume at high speed and being nervously doubtful about the result.
Anyway, speed isn't what reloading is all about, it's supposed to be a relaxing and pleasurable experience with no stress.
My two cents.
Campfire

Hey Camp, not to rain on your parade but there are other reasons to reload than shooting flame throwers from a 357mag.

Some of us that shoot competition NEED to have the ability to crank out the rounds. They aren't at the top of the data and are going to either knock down pins or plates or punch holes in paper, some of which don't even have a bullseye!

While you feel "quality" ammo cannot be produced in a "fast" manner I respectfully disagree. With the correct components and equipment it is quite attainable to get both. I might even throw in safely as well.

Inattention to details is what will get you. Depending on the individual, some may be able to maintain that while going faster than some!

 

[campfire]

Smithcrazy
It was by no means my intention to suggest that quality rounds can not be produced in a "fast manner" and after reading my post again I don't think I said that.
I was only saying that I feel comfortable doing the amount of rounds that I can produce at, what for me is, a safe and steady pace.
I am sorry if you have interpreted my post any differently.
Campfire

 

[dennis40x]

Each of us must have our comfort level in regards to rate of production. Methodology differs example beings reloaders and hand loaders. With some individuals it's a labor of love and with others it's a necessary drudgery. As for quality that's sort off like beauty it's all in the eyes of the beholder. All things are dependent on your usage. Stalin I believe is credited with "Quantity as a quality all of its own" or at least words to that effect.

With some as long as it goes bang and hits the paper that's quality with others it's a little more involved to the extreme of pointless in certain aspects. You're your own customer. If you're satisfied with the end product then that's all that is required.

I shoot competitively but each year I shoot less and less. At least for me it's not as important as it was at one time. That said no way in ---- would I go back to a single stage press for pistol reloading. I like a progressive that is reloading equipment but I now load at a more leisurely rate of production than others have indicated.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I would rather be making quality bullets in preference to producing them in large volume at high speed and being nervously doubtful about the result.

I'm not going to split hairs but rather seems to me mutally exclusive in the phraseology you use. I understand your point. You don't want to rush through things just to get more ammo. You want quality, agreed.

There has to be a balance for those of use that shoot a bunch or I would use Lee dippers and a scale for each and every load. To me that would just be silly.

Making your equipment work as designed doesn't seem abnomal to me nor should it be unexpected. If a piece of equipment is designed to produce x number of rounds per x time and you produce that volume at that rate, what is the problem? If you produce those rounds in more time that would seem to be just fine too. As long as you have that amount of time available.

No need to apologize, I wasn't aggravated at you. Hope you weren't at me either!

 

[Ancient1]

Loading Rates

Have been loading for 44 yrs. From Lee to 650 to HydroMec. Most progressive loader stated rates can be met but usually only with one loading & one setting up,ie keeping hoppers,tubes filled,removing loads,etc. One person can do it but not usually for a prolonged time or repeatedly. You need feed devices & large hoppers & no distractions. Everything has to be set up just so. Now,is it fair to count all this extra set-up time.