Need advice, Dillon 550 or 650?

[typetwelve]

Man, I've done so much reading on this, my head hurts. I've boiled it down to the two units, but for the life of me, I just cannot decide on which one to get. Let me give you my personal "shooting facts" to see what you all think.

-At the moment, I only plan on reloading .38 spcl, 44 spcl/mag. I may reload 9mm one day, but not any time soon given the cost of factory loads. I do not plan on reloading any rifle loads at all on either of these presses. If I ever do reload rifle, I plan on doing singe stage as I want to do small batch, precision rounds only.

-At the moment, I'll probably shoot through 1000 38 spcl and maybe 500 44 spcl this season. I plan on running cast bullets for both rounds.

-I am mechanically inclined so I'm confident I can run either machine with enough time.

-I am 100% new to reloading and have no outside help in this. I will say that I am very detail oriented, cautions and take a "plan 4 times, execute once" approach.

Here's my thoughts, first off, I'm going to have to experiment for a while. This means doing some steps over and over to get it down. The manual indexing of the 550 may come in really handy here. Second, while I may get into mass bulk loading one day, it won't be anytime soon. By the time I get there, I may just get a 650 to go along side the 550. I've read that a tooling swap is easier on the 550 vs the 650, any thoughts on this would be helpful.


I've priced the 650 and the 550 with everything I'd want (everything needed to do 38 and 44 right off the bat). I'm looking at $1250 for the 550 (no auto case loader, which I do not think is necessary with a 550). The 650, with the auto case loader is $1650, around $1400 without.

So...what do you guys think? Is the 550 fine for me? Is the 650 a better fit? If the 650 is the suggestion, is the case feeder a necessity?

 

[jejb]

With that small of a volume of reloads, it's hard to recommend either. It will take you a LONG time to pay for itself.

Having said that, I love to reload. So I'd do it anyway, since your mechanically oriented, as am I. I bet you'd like it too. And even if it takes a lot of years to get ROI, it's still a good investment. And you may well shoot more when you get into it.

I've never owned a non-progressive press. I started out with MEC shot shell reloaders 30+ years ago. I used to shoot 10K rounds a year at trap. There is a bit of a learning curve, but given you are comfortable with mechanical things, it's not a big deal. IMO, the extra $400 is well worth it, for both the progressive press and the shell feeder option. The shell feeder saves so much time. It is THE reason I upgraded from my older RCBS progressive pistol press to my 650, and it was the right decision.

Another nice thing about the 650 is it gives you more options since it has more die stations. I use RCBS dies, so I had 2 open die stations on my 650. I used one for an RCBS powder checker die (makes sure no double charges or no-powder charges get through), and I still have one open if I ever decide I want to do a bullet feeder.

Best of luck getting started. It's a fun hobby.

 

[M29since14]

Easy. Buy the 550. Unless you start shooting a LOT more, the 550 is going to be right up your alley. If you did not claim to be mechanically adept, I’d recommend you buy a single stage press.

When you get started and as you learn your craft, be VERY careful about double charges. If you can rig up a light and mirror so you can check powder lever before you index, that would be a great idea. Don’t be in a hurry. If it takes you 20-minutes to load a box of cartridges, so what? You’ll get much faster as you gain experience. Let me assure you, you will love your 550.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I don't do or like manual indexing so for me the 550 is out. You can the 650 for a lot less than you stated as you don't need all the add ons to start with.

 

[typetwelve]

Easy. Buy the 550. Unless you start shooting a LOT more, the 550 is going to be right up your alley. If you did not claim to be mechanically adept, I’d recommend you buy a single stage press.

When you get started and as you learn your craft, be VERY careful about double charges. If you can rig up a light and mirror so you can check powder lever before you index, that would be a great idea. Don’t be in a hurry. If it takes you 20-minutes to load a box of cartridges, so what? You’ll get much faster as you gain experience. Let me assure you, you will love your 550.

Thank you very much for the advice. I did read about the possibility to double charge on the 550 if you forget to manually index to the next stage. I planned on adding a small LED to illuminate the stations better.

Wanting to start with 38 spcl, by what I've seen, a double charge is easily noted as long as you look, it will fill the shell to a good 75% full.

I'm not one to rush things, never have been. Pure rounds per hour doesn't really interest me, I want consistency and safety in what I'll reload.

I don't do or like manual indexing so for me the 550 is out. You can the 650 for a lot less than you stated as you don't need all the add ons to start with.

Yeah...I messed around with what I wanted and the price I listed is what I'd like to have. Its within my budget, do I'm not fretting about it. That price as listed is the press, upgraded mount, upgraded handle, bullet tray, all dies/conversion kits to handle 38/44, one quick change set, a digital scale. All the stuff I'd like to have right off the bat.

 

[jejb]

Thank you very much for the advice. I did read about the possibility to double charge on the 550 if you forget to manually index to the next stage. I planned on adding a small LED to illuminate the stations better.

Wanting to start with 38 spcl, by what I've seen, a double charge is easily noted as long as you look, it will fill the shell to a good 75% full.

I'm not one to rush things, never have been. Pure rounds per hour doesn't really interest me, I want consistency and safety in what I'll reload.

Sounds like more good reasons to get the progressive. Much harder to throw a double charge with one of those.

I have not looked at the 550's very much, since I'd never get a non-progressive. But I wonder if you used the RCBS dies, if you'd have an open station on one? If so, you could also use the powder checker die from RCBS. I think that would be pretty important, especially on a non-progressive press with a beginning reloader. You can tell yourself you'll look every time, but there can be a lot going on, and it can be hard to catch everything on every round. Nice to have peace of mind on such an important variable, IMO.

 

[LAA]

650 and the case feeder. At least the feeder eventually.

 

[hotshot357]

I started reloading a couple of years ago. My first press was a Dillon S.D.B. I was,at that time, just shooting pistols. Not long afterwards I bought a .30-30 Winchester.I talked with my LGS owner, that's a reloader also, about a 650. He advised me that a 550 would be a better fit for me.The conversion kits are cheaper and the manual index is nice to have if you make a mistake.He was right.I love it. Would I buy a 650? If the price was right, you bet!!! Right now the S.D.B. & the 550 serves my every need!!!

 

[stavey]

650 , or you’ll wish you had . Use the extra station for a Dillon powder check setup which works great.

 

[Charles Appel]

I have both the 650 and the 550. Of the two I prefer the 550. But, at 1500 rounds a year either press would be overkill. I would suggest that a Ponsness Warren P200 would be ideal. 150 rounds per hour can be loaded on tall cases like the 38 special. The press with a scale, two sets of Lee dies, two RCBS shell holders and two powder measures should set you back less than $600. Both sets of dies can be mounted on the press at the same time. To change calibers you need only move the die set you want to the front of the press, then change the shell holder and seating plug.

 

[biggray]

Hi. I have to ask why even consider a Dillon for 1500 rounds a season? You may shoot more as you get into reloading, we all do but really a Dillon would be overkill for 1500 rounds. I'd think a nice single stage would be better. I can load a hundred rounds in a little more than a hour on a single stage. You said that you may load rifle at some time so a single stage would be in you future anyway. I think that it would also help with your basic knowledge in reloading and be way cheaper. I'm sorry but I keep thinking about spending $1600 to load 1500 rounds would take forever to break even. Please remember that loading lead you will need a set of dies that has a good "m" expander die. I hope I gave you something to think about as I shoot with a guy who loads the same hundred 45acp and fifty 357 cases every week and has said more than once "What was I thinking about with buying a Dillon" Thanks and happy shooting/loading Bill

 

[Skeet 028]

Just my opinion. I have 550s 650s and 1050s. If not loading large rifle rounds get a 650...and since it will fit your budget...even better. If you worry about return on investment...just think...it is a non issue. Keep the machines in clean condition and you will not lose money on them over any time. Get the case feeder. Don't need it right away...pretty soon you will. Learn the idiosyncrasies of the machines.....take your time and enjoy yourself. You are right about the 9. Setting up one of my 650s into 38 today..Snowing pretty hard so time to reload them. I have 4 lbs of free powder 4000 primers almost free and some 3000 3 cent plated bullet to load up. Maybe I can put a dent in that 5 gallon bucket of casesout in the loading room. Take your time and Be Safe. You will like that 650...but you would like the 550 too. Eventually you may want a single stage press also...but you can use the 550 as a single stage if you want.

 

[Jeff423]

650 , or you’ll wish you had . Use the extra station for a Dillon powder check setup which works great.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I tried mine without a case feeder for about 30 days and then bought one. Buy once, cry once, get on with reloading.

 

[dannyabear]

For the amount of reloading that you are planning I would get the Lee classic cast iron turret model, you can remove the index rod and operate as a single stage also; case feeders and bullet feeders also available and can probably get all of that cheaper than a dillon

 

[joe44va]

Once you start to reload with a progressive, you will shoot more. I did and I know of several others that did the same thing. I have a 550B and wish I had gotten the 650 in order to have that extra station.

 

[Sevens]

Between the 550 and the 650, the 650 is a better choice. About the only way most would argue that a 550 is a better choice is if you plan to take the same single unit and expand to half dozen or more calibers and you are very used to the 550. If you are starting from scratch, the 650 is the better choice.

However, I think you are far better served by the suggestion in post#14. Lee Classic Turret. And I'm telling you, this doesn't have to be about the money. In fact, go ahead and buy the XL650, and leave it in the box or mount it to the bench and ignore it while you learn the fundamentals of safe, enjoyable, consistent and quality handloads on the Lee Classic Turret. Later, when you move to bottle neck rifle rounds, you'll have the equipment you need, simply add a set of dies. And you'll have a fantastic foundation of building great ammo.

As for double charging a case... batch loading on the Classic Turret will offer checks & balances that not only give you safe loads, but you get piece of mind. Simply put 50 pistol cases in a load block (or 20 if you prefer) and charge each case, then hold the entire block near a bright lamp and inspect. If all the powder levels are the same, you've got 50 good rounds in front of you -- place a bullet over each one.

Using this method you will have 50 cases with the proper amount of powder, none with a squib and none with an overcharge.

If you are like most handloaders (not all handloaders...), you will find that this hobby is MUCH more rewarding than simply having some ammo on hand and at less cost per unit. Rolling your own gives you a whole new perspective on what you are shooting and it gives you a lot of control. It's also a fantastic way of doing "shooting stuff!" without packing up gear and driving out to the range.

 

[rockquarry]

With the amount of ammo you want to load, consider investing in a single stage press. A very good one can be bought for a minimal expenditure. They are simple to operate and the best way to learn the basics of handloading.

Get at least one paper handloading manual. Read it until you understand the process. Far too many handloaders today start with a progressive machine and get a poor, less-than-basic education from Internet forums and YouTube. This is apparent because of the very elementary questions they post on various forums.

It can be and often is overwhelming for a beginner to start with too much machine and it can be quite dangerous. Despite what some may claim, a single stage press is the best prerequisite to using something more sophisticated. Based on the amount of loading you may do, you might find a progressive machine is not needed. Should you decide you need a faster machine after learning the fundamentals, you'll be educated to the point you can make a good decision as far as selecting the right press, rather than relying on what could be information of dubious worth.

 

[mike campbell]

Read post #17 again. Then once more, at least.

 

[smithrjd]

I would also consider a turret style press. Much faster than a single stage and not that expensive. I thought about a Dillion, but I don't load much more than you stated. I also load both rifles and pistol rounds. I bought a Lee classic. The extra heads are cheap, and once the dies are setup you can leave them alone, just change heads for another caliber. It also lets me control all stages of the process, and can easily check each stage. The Dillions are very good however, just expensive.

 

[andyo5]

I got the 550 because I didn't want automatic indexing. Auto indexing would be a problem for me as I often need to weigh each charge, like for match rifle ammo and some pistol ammo using Alliant Unique.