Baltimoreed11754
Member
$300.00 used to buy a lot of primers. I have 2 Dillon 550s but I’ll just chicken peck them.
How many here use a Dillon primer auto-loader?
- Thread starter m657
- Start date
Been using Dillon's since My first green 350. Then 450's and 550's. Since around 1980. Still use a RCBS primer flipper and several tubes. Never in that big of a hurry.
Top O' Texas
Member
I have 1 also and what makes it nice it does both small and large primers. The Double Alpha only does small @ $200.
Jeff423
US Veteran
I had two Dillons, one each for large and small. I didn't trust them due to inverted primers, got rid of both and went back to "hand loading". After reading all the positive comments it was probably operator error.
I also had 2 of them…..one set up for small and one for large primers. They do not work. Got rid of them. To be clear, I am a Dillon guy and have 2 1050’s, a 750 and a 550 but their primers filler machines are no good!
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Hairtrigger
Member
Using old method of a flip tray and pickup tube 100 primers takes a few seconds more than a minute, Not sure how fast the electric ones are but for me reloading is not about speed
Oil Field Trash
Member
Update on Double Alpha under $100 - Unboxed, added 9v battery and loaded the tray. Press the button, about 10 seconds later the tube is filled.
Pros - It's faster than hand pickup method.
Tray is large so you can even get Federals crappy package on there
Cons - If using Dillon pickup tubes, you have to remove the yellow tip to
insert into the unit. I had to buff the outside of the tube(s) for
correct fit into unit.
You end up putting the yellow tip back on to keep the primers from
spilling out when laid horizontal. I like to load 5-10 tubes when I'm
running the 550 for large batch which to me is 500+.
Overall, I'm pleased with it, did have one small pistol primer flip over as it started down the tube as it was loading. I saw it happen, so stopped and emptied the tube back into the tray and tried again. Worked the second try.
Small primers seem to be more prone to this than large ones.
Time saving ? Yes, but minimal in the overall scheme of things.
It's a new thingybob for my bench to go with all the others stuff acquired after 34 years of reloading
Pros - It's faster than hand pickup method.
Tray is large so you can even get Federals crappy package on there
Cons - If using Dillon pickup tubes, you have to remove the yellow tip to
insert into the unit. I had to buff the outside of the tube(s) for
correct fit into unit.
You end up putting the yellow tip back on to keep the primers from
spilling out when laid horizontal. I like to load 5-10 tubes when I'm
running the 550 for large batch which to me is 500+.
Overall, I'm pleased with it, did have one small pistol primer flip over as it started down the tube as it was loading. I saw it happen, so stopped and emptied the tube back into the tray and tried again. Worked the second try.
Small primers seem to be more prone to this than large ones.
Time saving ? Yes, but minimal in the overall scheme of things.
It's a new thingybob for my bench to go with all the others stuff acquired after 34 years of reloading
gwpercle
Member
Been using the blue stuff for + 50 years ... Bair (Bear) & Pacific
The Bair primer loader works like an old Louisiana Voo-Doo Woman's Black Magic Spell . Cost was $16.95 and Bair was Blue long before Dillon was even born !
Bair ... the original Blue Press ... Bair also made the Pacific Super Deluxe blue presses . To tell the difference you have to look at the press , a cast block letter P = Pacific ... if the block letter is a B ... it is a Bair press , both painted ... Blue !
Gary
The Bair primer loader works like an old Louisiana Voo-Doo Woman's Black Magic Spell . Cost was $16.95 and Bair was Blue long before Dillon was even born !
Bair ... the original Blue Press ... Bair also made the Pacific Super Deluxe blue presses . To tell the difference you have to look at the press , a cast block letter P = Pacific ... if the block letter is a B ... it is a Bair press , both painted ... Blue !
Gary
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T. McIntyre
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2004
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It depends on how much ammo you load and how valuable your time is. I use the Dillon Primer auto loader, but then again, I load daily, so it saves a considerable amount of time.
Yes, they do need a little adjustment, and like many tools in loading they need to be maintained and cleaned.
If a guy is only loading 750-1000 rounds every month, it may not be worth it. For someone who loads/shoots 20K rounds a year or more, then I would say it is definitely worth the cost.
Yes, they do need a little adjustment, and like many tools in loading they need to be maintained and cleaned.
If a guy is only loading 750-1000 rounds every month, it may not be worth it. For someone who loads/shoots 20K rounds a year or more, then I would say it is definitely worth the cost.
Oil Field Trash
Member
Just finished 3,800 9mm using the Double Alpha Academy unit. No problems, figured out how to hold my mouth (and the unit) just right! I'm still using the Dillon flip tray on small runs, but the DAA is my go to for volumetric sittings. It's worth more than the selling price for sure !!
Arkfarmer
Member
Plus 1, load 5 tubes at a time and it just takes a minute, there's a short learning curve but I love mine... John
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