looking at Dillon 9mm Square Deal B
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ChuckS1
US Veteran
I have a SD that I bought back in 1987 and it's still running strong.
Tell Sackett
Member
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I have three. One is set up for small primers one for large and the other is waiting for my son to get interested in reloading and not just shooting! 
They are limited in functionality as you can only load handgun cartridges on them but as stated above, they work!
They are limited in functionality as you can only load handgun cartridges on them but as stated above, they work!
CGM
Member
SDB's are great machines. Have two since 1992 and they have done a lot of reloading......still going strong. If you are only doing pistol reloading, you cant do much better.
handgunner356
Member
The SDB is hard to beat if your only going to load handgun ammo. Had mine since the late 80s', and they have replaced about everything on it including the frame(only part that I had to send in first). Only wish that I had bought another back when they were a $169 so I'd had one small and one large primer setup to speed up change overs. Unless you find someone getting out of reloading or moving up to do rifle they're hard to come by used.
ronnie gore
Member
SQUARE DEAL
THEY ARE GREAT, I HAVE ONE IN 9MM,ONE IN 45ACP,ONE IN 38/357, AND ONE IN 40 S&W, I HAVE HAD THEM FOR MANY YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN A FEW SMALL PART RELACEMENTS THAT DILLION SENDS YOU FOR FREE FOR LIFE, GREAT COMPANY TO DEAL WITH.
THEY ARE GREAT, I HAVE ONE IN 9MM,ONE IN 45ACP,ONE IN 38/357, AND ONE IN 40 S&W, I HAVE HAD THEM FOR MANY YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN A FEW SMALL PART RELACEMENTS THAT DILLION SENDS YOU FOR FREE FOR LIFE, GREAT COMPANY TO DEAL WITH.
Wheelgunner840
Member
I have loaded 10s of thousands of rounds on SDBs in the past. They are sturdy machines that don't have many problems. I ended up with three of them because I wanted one in small primer set up and one in large primer set up. The third one was just a great deal that I ran into several years back, so I bought it. The thing is that it is just a wee bit more of a pain to change out for different calibers, you are limited to using only Dillon dies, and you are limited to pistol cartridges only. I ended up selling all three and buying two used 650s for a great price. I got lucky on that deal.
If I were just starting out, I would seriously consider the 550B instead of the SDB. While you need to manually index it, it can be used with any dies on the market, can load rifle cartridges, and switcing out from one caliber to another takes no time at all. Also, they now have a case feeder that can go on the 550B.
I think that the 650s are just about as good as it gets, but they cost significantly more than a 550B.
No matter what you choose, you cannot go wrong with Dillon. Absolutely hands down the best company that I have ever dealt with, Their no BS warranty means just that.
WG840
If I were just starting out, I would seriously consider the 550B instead of the SDB. While you need to manually index it, it can be used with any dies on the market, can load rifle cartridges, and switcing out from one caliber to another takes no time at all. Also, they now have a case feeder that can go on the 550B.
I think that the 650s are just about as good as it gets, but they cost significantly more than a 550B.
No matter what you choose, you cannot go wrong with Dillon. Absolutely hands down the best company that I have ever dealt with, Their no BS warranty means just that.
WG840
socal s&w
Member
I also have three SDB's, I love em!
Yes, they only load handgun cartridges, yes they have propriatory dies, yes they are 'tight' with space, but they are really well put together and you can put out a lot of rounds in a short amount of time. (Although that's not why I use them.)
They are the entry level machines from a company that is re-knowned for their customer service. I would still use these machines without the service as they work well and have very few issues.
I'm sure that the 550 and 650's are great machines as well.
Yes, they only load handgun cartridges, yes they have propriatory dies, yes they are 'tight' with space, but they are really well put together and you can put out a lot of rounds in a short amount of time. (Although that's not why I use them.)
They are the entry level machines from a company that is re-knowned for their customer service. I would still use these machines without the service as they work well and have very few issues.
I'm sure that the 550 and 650's are great machines as well.
jrplourde
Member
550B
The 550 may be manually indexed but not that much slower. The main advantage to the 550 is the ability to check the primer seating if something does not feel right by simply removing the shell and inspecting it. You can't do that with a full progressive. Further it has the same flexibility as a single stage press. I love mine all to hell.
Bob
The 550 may be manually indexed but not that much slower. The main advantage to the 550 is the ability to check the primer seating if something does not feel right by simply removing the shell and inspecting it. You can't do that with a full progressive. Further it has the same flexibility as a single stage press. I love mine all to hell.
Bob
socal s&w
Member
Hmmmmm.......I check my primers all the time if they don't feel right going in on the SDB.
campfire
Member
I have only been reloading for one year and my experiences are limited to my using my Dillon Square Deal and a mates Lee 1000 Pro.
After a few thousand 357 magnum rounds the Square Deal has worked faultlessly and I have no doubt it is capable of loading thousands of rounds without disappointment.
I have a full spare parts kit for mine in case anything does go wrong and I am sure that anyone could easily install any of these parts to keep their machine in good working order.
Campfire
After a few thousand 357 magnum rounds the Square Deal has worked faultlessly and I have no doubt it is capable of loading thousands of rounds without disappointment.
I have a full spare parts kit for mine in case anything does go wrong and I am sure that anyone could easily install any of these parts to keep their machine in good working order.
Campfire
