Progressive Press?

[dla]

As stated, the SDB uses proprietary dies. So if you go that way you are locked into those Dillon dies for the life of that press.

Many people eventually wind up with multiple (progressive) presses dedicated to a caliber. If that turns out to be your future - or if you want to use dies from another manufacturer - the SDB you buy now could eventually be your (eg) 45ACP press.

If those two outcomes sound appealing, go with the SDB. If not, go with the 550.

Nothing wrong will Dillon dies in the SDB. Nothing at all. And caliber conversions for the SDB are no worse than for the 550/650 - when you add up all the parts.

There are really only two shortcomings with the SDB

1. The amount of room around the shell plate is limited, which can be a problem for guys with banana-fingers lacking dexterity.
2. The amount of press mechanical advantage is limited and resizing a 44 mag case is best done with lube. And you can really feel the different primer types. My point is that you shouldn't hold your breath waiting for a 460 S&W caliber conversion as that is a bit too much (height and force) for the SDB.

 

[fredj338]

I had the same decision to make more than 25yrs ago. I went w/ the fully progressive 550 & never regretted it. The SDB is an ok press, but the lack of rifle reloading & some handgun calibers (357sig, 44/40, etc) just make a it a no go. Auto indexing is over rated, I can easily do 400rds/hr on the 550 in sustained cruising mode. The 550B is dead bang simple & more usre friendly than a 650 or the LNL, yes I have or loaded extensively on all three.

 

[dd45]

FYI Mike Venturino who writes for gun magazines uses two SDBs, one in 9 mm and the other in 45 ACP, to keep his sub-guns running with cast lead bullets. I have one set up for .38 Spl which I have used for 25+ years.

On my 550, again 25 years in use, I use the Dillon PM which continues to shake, rattle, and roll along as it was designed to do to ensure that the powder settles in the reservoir. I have tested it many times and find the +/- powder throws to be well within reason, whether for handgun loads or for rifle loads (I used to shoot high power rifle at 200/300/600 yards) in 7.62 which scored the same as military match ammo issued to shooters in long gone bye days.

That said, there will be devotees of Hornady, RCBS, or Lee progressive presses who use them with great satisfaction.

dd

 

[dla]

I can easily do 400rds/hr on the 550 in sustained cruising mode

Just like a fisherman's story - the fish is always bigger than reality.

 

[71firebird400]

I would avoid the SDB for the simple reason it is somewhat a standalone system with it's proprietary dies. Honestly, you can't go wrong with the 550, 650, or Hornady LNL AP. All three are great presses. I prefer auto indexing, and thus the 650 or LNL. However, others prefer the manual indexing. At the end of the day it's all preference. All three of those presses are high quality with great customer service. I have never owned a 550 but learned on a friends; after that I went to a 650. A couple years ago I tried a LNL AP and ended up selling the 650 and keeping the Hornady. Nothing wrong with the Dillon, just liked the way Hornady did a couple things better (priming system, half-step indexing, powder measure). It's all minor and if someone told me I had to get rid of my Hornady and go back to a 650 that would be perfectly fine.

 

[chief38]

PS:
Even though I now use a Dillon 650 for most reloading applications I do own and still use a RCBS Rock Chucker to load the .38-55 and .45-70 Rifle cartridges. I probably shoot less than 100 rounds a year of each so high production numbers here are a non issue. I like the fact I am able to carefully and methodically monitor these two cartridges because of their high volume of powder, - makes me feel better.

 

[Moonman]

One of the BEST GUN WRITERS in the country who writes for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER

Has a Dillon Square Deal for 9MM and 45ACP on his bench (one for each), so do many others.

It's small but does a very nice job.

As others have said Dillon 550, 650, Square Deal, a Hornady LNL-AP are all VERY FINE PRESSES.

With reloading, your imagination and WALLET are your only constraints.

REMEMBER TO SAVE SOME MONEY FOR COMPONENTS TO FEED WHATEVER CHOICE YOU MAKE.

MOONMAN

 

[AveragEd]

Like Chief38, I use my Dillon XL650 for handgun loading only. My RockChucker Supreme is the only loader I use for rifle ammo as I'm one of those anal types who likes to polish his brass after sizing and trickle every powder drop (I use an RCBS ChargeMaster to make that less tedious) - doing either with a progressive loader is possible but clumsy.

Ed

 

[Wee Hooker]

If you want max speed then the 550 is the way to go.

That said, if you can live with 150-200 rnds/hr, consider a Lee Classic Turret. it's 1/3 the price and caliber changeovers cost $10+dies and take 3 min.
FWIW, I sold my Square deal for the Lee Classic . No regrets.

 

[Moonman]

Wee Hooker,

The 650 out produces the 550,

You want SPEED try a 1050,

or possibly NASCAR!!!!!!!

 

[fredj338]

Just like a fisherman's story - the fish is always bigger than reality.

Maybe for you, easily done on a 550 by a person of avg dexterity. That is one pull of the handle every 9sec! Pretty darn slow.

 

[dla]

Maybe for you, easily done on a 550 by a person of avg dexterity. That is one pull of the handle every 9sec! Pretty darn slow.

Yeah it seems that way until you actually time yourself. Been there, done that a bunch.

Hey, I'm not knocking your claim cause you might just be that fast. But I can guarantee that darn near anyone with a pulse will go faster with the lowly SDB than a 550 - excepting those folks with big useless fingers. About the only time the SDB is slower than a 550 is when loading 44 mag, as the SDB doesn't have the mechanical advantage to resize a 44 mag case fast without some grunting.

Now a 650 with a case feeder is fast.

 

[brucev]

I very much appreciate the thoughtful responses. I simply cannot afford to try all the different presses available and experiment to see which one is the be all to end all progressive reloading.

I've about decided that I will buy a 550. I figure if I buy the shell plates, etc., caliber changes will not be so difficult. I will be shooting a lot of .38'Special/.357 Magnum rounds. I will also very likely shoot a lot of .45 ACP and to a lesser degree, .44 Specials. I'm not sure what all that will cost, but I figure I can buy things a little along. In my area .38 Specials are $21.99/50. From what I've been able to figure in pricing components, I'll be able to load 1,000 rds. for no more than maybe $165 or so, maybe less, so I'll be able to amortize the price of the press within a year.

So... hopefully by December the fun will begin! In the mean time I'll be looking for bullets and some powder. The brass I already have on hand. And, as soon as the order comes in, I'll have SP primers from Midway, so at least I'll be able to shoot .38 Specials. Given the cost of .22 LR ammo, it's really odd to think that one can shoot reloaded .38 Specials for less than the cost of .22 LR ammo. Weird.

 

[Moonman]

brucev,

Have fun, as for the piecemeal of 550 components, go for it.

A JOURNEY begins with the first steps.

The 22 market is very upsetting to many folks and beginning youth shooters.

The manufacturers are on the road to doubling production capacity,

so maybe the future will be brighter.

The 550's dual capacity of handgun and rifle ammo is a good choice.

It will make a lot of ammo, JUST NO DISTRACTIONS,

as DOUBLE CHARGES can happen easier IF YOU DO NOT ROTATE THE SHELLPLATE.

Good Loading.

 

[fredj338]

Yeah it seems that way until you actually time yourself. Been there, done that a bunch.

Hey, I'm not knocking your claim cause you might just be that fast. But I can guarantee that darn near anyone with a pulse will go faster with the lowly SDB than a 550 - excepting those folks with big useless fingers. About the only time the SDB is slower than a 550 is when loading 44 mag, as the SDB doesn't have the mechanical advantage to resize a 44 mag case fast without some grunting.

Now a 650 with a case feeder is fast.

I have timed muself on both the 550 & 650, for one full hour, not 100rds. There is zero advantage in autoindexing as to speed. So if you can run a SDB @ 400rds/hr, I can & have, for 25yrs +, run the 550 that fast. As noted, 9sec per handle pull is old lady slow.
I also run a 650, ran it for 2m w/o a case feeder, it was not any faster than my 550. You either index the shell plate as you place the bullet on the 550 or wait for it to index & place the bullet on any auto indexing press, no speed advantage. With the case feeder, the 650 is stupid fast, 700rds/hr is easily done, one pull every 5sec, even counts refilling the primer feed & tubes. Still pretty sedate, but sustainable for an hour. For a short run of 100, you can go a lot faster.

 

[elfego baca]

The 550B I bought in the late 80's is still going strong.
I now have nearly two dozen calibers I reload for on the Dillon.
In addition to handguns I reload a lot of cast bullets in 30/06 and
6.5 x 55.
I did trade for a Square Deal a few years back for making black powder loads for my 45 Colts.

 

[snowman.45]

I've owned RCBS, Lee and Dillon. I greatly prefer the Dillon 550B. While you have to manually index the shell plate, it doesn't slow the process much and gives you an opportunity to check powder charge or primer seating, if you feel the need. I load 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, .44 Spec./Mag, .45ACP, 5.56/.223, and .308 on the Dillons I own. One is set for small primer loading, and the other for large primer. Makes life a little easier.