Progressive Press?
- Thread starter brucev
- Start date
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.
OP
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.
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
Member
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.
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
Member
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
Member
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.
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
Member
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.
