should a new reloader consider a Dillon Square Deal??

[gordon21]

Here's why I ask:

Availability of powder, bullets & primers. I will load only 9mm and will get my initial supply (200 rounds) of brass from buying factory ammo.

Complexity of press assembly, adjustments and operation. The exploded parts diagrams and owners manual sure do mention a LOT of adjustable parts. As a newbie, setting all those adjustments up might be daunting.

The press is $380 before any extras. I will also have to buy all other reloading supplies such as manuals, scales, etc. I assume I will not get into this for less than $550 before cost of bullets, primers and powder. I hate to think about spending $550 total and then not being able to find supplies to reload. I then go back to spending $13-15 per box for factory ammo and have $550 just sitting there. And it's not all that easy finding the factory 9mm either.

Dillon's factory video shows a fully assembled unit that works so SIMPLE. But I realize there was a lot of work getting it assembled and adjusted.

So please make comments on whether I am getting in over my head with this model or should start with a basic one function O or C press where I measure my own powder for each round and have to manually prime each round.

 

[epj]

The biggest drawback to the SD is that it uses proprietary Dillon dies, which are expensive. If you only plan to load one or two calibers, maybe not a big deal. Dillon's manuals are excellent and you can get someone on the phone to help you if necessary.

 

[Wheeler57]

agree with epj
The only thing you might want to consider is that if you someday decide to go to a 550/650 I am pretty sure none of your dies will fit and you will have to start over. Dillon now has a 550 basic loader for $260 you might also consider.
You will probably not be unhappy with the square deal. looks like a nice unit. I have a 550 but also considered the square deal.

 

[Twoboxer]

I think Brian Enos sums it up pretty well:

"The Square Deal provides an economical means of loading medium volumes of pistol ammo. If you only plan to load pistol ammo, don't have much cash to spend, and don't need to crank out huge volumes in the shortest time possible, the Square Deal may be for you.

Drawbacks:

1. The factory included dies only fit the SqDeal: you cannot use them in any other machine, nor can you use any other manufacturer's dies in the Square Deal.
2. The machine's physical size is a tad on the small side. For some, its compact size makes it more difficult to operate and maintain than Dillon's other machines.
3. Auto-indexing complicates the machine without offering any speed increase. (For more details see the 550 below.)
4. It loads pistol cartridges only. It cannot load any rifle cartridges!

The only time I ever recommend a SqDeal (over the 550) is if you have loaded on a friend's SqDeal and liked it."

Recommend you read more of his Which Dillon? and let your needs and budget decide.

 

[Warren Sear]

In my opinion, you need a single stage press first and above all. It may be slower, but it will get the job done right.

 

[Rule3]

Are you only going to reload 9mm from now till the end of time?

Do you plan on reloading other calibers now or EVER??

How much ammo do you need per week or month?

As you mentioned, do you have the money to buy the press and all the other extras that are essential, like a scale, manuals, manuals, manuals, components, calipers, mistake hammer etc etc.?

Answers to these will help you decide.

 

[JohnGault14]

I agree with all the above. I own a Dillon 550 but that is after YEARS of reloading with other presses. If you are just starting out I would recommend getting a "kit" from another manufacturer. It will have everything you'll need to get started. Press, scales, trimmer, primer pocket cleaner, plus all the other goodies. I started with a Lee then went to RCBS and I'm currently using my Dillon. Just my opinion.

 

[Warren Sear]

I started 30 + years ago with an RCBS Rockchucker single stage press. Years later I got a Dillon progressive, but I still use the single stage far more than the progressive.

As other mentioned, get a scale, powder measure, and the other necessities too.

 

[max]

Since I already had dies and wanted to load 223 also, I got the 550 and have no regrets at all.

 

[OKFC05]

I started with a Lee turret (which I still have) before going to Big Blue. I have started several new loaders on the Dillon SDB. Several on a Lee Turret.
Unless you want to load mostly rifle, or shoot pistol very little, I do not recommended starting with a single-stage press. The Lee turret operates either as a single stage, or with the turret rotating, so it can do either.

I recommend you find someone with a Lee turret and try it. Then find a SDB and try it. For someone who is already into competition and shooting a lot, the Dillon 550 is a better choice.

The only press I won't mentor someone starting is the Lee Progressive, which requires a LOT of patience and mechanical smarts to keep working and repeatedly readjusting. Once was enough for that experience.

As to making mistakes, that is a function of the nut behind the wheel, not the machine, as long as the machine will hold adjustments. A Dillon 650 is just as easy to operate correctly as any other, and it can go a lot faster.

By the way, once-fired brass can be bought economically online obviating the need to shoot factory brass first. 200 pieces is a piddly brass supply if you shoot much at all.

 

[scooter123]

I have to agree with Warren, you really should consider starting out with a single stage press. Add to that the Square Deals press specific dies and you are looking at more press than you need right now that only allows the use of one brand of dies.

BTW, I've looked into getting a progressive press and after looking into it decided I cannot afford enough components to make a progressive press a worthwhile purchase. Right now my component budget runs to about 300 rounds per week and it's rather easy to produce that kind of volume on a single stage press.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Newbe press advice is frequently discussed here (and many other forums). Search and you'll find volumes.
That said, Here is my 2 cents?

I had a square deal and found it troublesome. I sold it off and bought the Lee Classic Turret for 1/2 of what the SD cost. Set up is 2 x simpler and 10x faster. I and have never been happier. For somebody in your situation, I feel a turret gives you more control /insight into the reloading process than a full progressive but also gives you more speed than a single stage.

 

[gordon21]

Thanks for the replies so far. The Lee turret is way cheaper. if I understand it right, you could de-prime 200 cases in a row, THEN, resize 200, THEN charge all 200 cases, etc You would rotate the turret one position only after every 200 repetitive motions.

I said 200 figuring that would easily cover a range session with my wife and me or a guest. Then go home with most of my 200 empties, reload over the next 2 weeks and hit the range again.

In the video, the Dillon seemed so easy but after reading the owners manual on setting it up I got nervous. the idea of doing 200 identical motions, then doing 200 of the next step is looking better and better. time.

 

[x10x10]

Dillon Yes

I have owned a Lee 1000, a Square Deal B, and I still have a dillon 550 and 2 dillon 650,

Lee, junk don't need to go into it.

SDB great press, great entry into progressive, Reliable, quality ammo, Proprietary Die's Not a big deal, Dillon dies are great, I would still have it if my Volume had not increased,

Dillon 550, Great Press, but I think a better rifle (what I use for),

Dillon 650, OOOHH What a press, I changed my idea of what volume reloading is, Creates great ammo, Smooth, The one downside is that Primer change over and caliber change over is more involved. And Caliber Changes are costly. But I'm coming up on 30 years of reloading and I've learned that Buying quality up front Pays for itself

 

[epj]

I know it's more money, but take a hard look at the Dillon 550B.

 

[murph11011680680]

As others have posted, there are a lot of options on what setup to start with. You should consider the square deal, the 550, and some of the kits mentioned. Or the hornady ammo plant that I use and think is better than the Dillon (relax blue lovers, I can have my opinion too, no hate mail please ).

With that said, you are not talking about reloading 10K plus a year so I do not think that a starting reloader would want to spend the money on a nice progressive at first. Remember, you have hundreds of dollars of accessories that you are going to pick up in addition to the press. I think that you should be looking at a single stage press kit. It has what you need to start besides the dies and whatever convenience accessories that you decide to add to it. Then, if you decide that you would like to move up to a progressive then do so.

Another thing to think about is reloading items, if taken care of, do not drop much in value. So if you decide to move up, you can always sell your single stage and get most of the money back if you decide you don't want it as a backup.

 

[fredj338]

IMO, no on the SDB. I had to consider this 26-27yrs ago, went with the 550 instead. The idea of dedicated dies put me off as well as limited to certain pistol. Sure, you say now you are only going to load 9mm or whatever, but 10yrs from now, maybe it's 357sg or 223, then you are off buying another press. So buy something that you can expand into other shooting ares with easily. Even at twice the price, it's saving money in the long run if you don't have to by twice.

 

[shield]

I started with a a Dillon SDB about a year ago as my first press, and have been very happy with it. I started out with 9mm, and recently added .45 ACP.

I like it's compact design, it fits well into my small work space. I recommend buying the Dillon setup video with it, makes it so much easier to setup than just using the manual. It takes you through setup step by step.

Finding components can be a challenge, but doable. You have to constantly monitor the online sellers, and jump on them when available.

 

[2152hq]

I have a Square Deal (not even the 'B').
I got it back when I was shooting Bullseye and using 38special.
It did what I expected of it,,that being cranking out a considerable amount of quality ammo in a reasonable amount of time.
Never had any problems w/it that I remember.

I wasn't concerned with loading 5000 rds a session, just enough to keep me in ammo for practice and matches w/o being a slave to the reloading bench,,something the single stage press was doing to me.

If you don't really need the volume,,and for a beginning reloader ,,I suggest a single stage press anyway.
You can actually learn to reload with a single stage instead of simply learning how to tweak the progressive to keep it running.
You'll always have use for a good single stage press as long as you reload.

I now use a couple of single stage presses to turn out all my metalic cartridge reloads as I simply don't need the volume in any one caliber like I once did. I do load 12ga on a progressive as I shoot a lot of that.

I still have the SD press. Maybe I'll drag it out and set it up again and run some 38's just to use up the brass and bullets I have.

 

[jmmitc06]

So here is my opinion. I got into the reloading scene about 9 months ago with the plan of reloading a handful of calibers (2, maybe 3 tops) but here I am reloading 10 calibers. I am very glad I do not have the square deal for this very reason. Had I bought that system, I would have many sets of dies that cannot be used on any other system. The entry cost to reloading is relatively high, a few hundred dollars, the way I see it if you EVER plan on getting a different press you will wind up repaying a substantial portion of the entry cost when you switch due to the square deal's unique dies.

I currently have a Lee handpress and I am thinking of getting a real press here soon. When I switch I am effectively only out the cost of the handpress (if I were to never use it again, which is unlikely) as everything else can be used with the new system. On that note, I would look at the Lee Handpress as I think it would suite your situation quite well. If you are planning on reloading only a few hundred 9mm, you can knock that out it in maybe 1.5x to 2x more time than the dillon press (maybe an hour and half tops though) but you will have spent less money and have dies that are transferable to other presses in the future. Also, it's nice to have flexibility in what manufacturer you can get dies or other equipment from. I have a mix of RCBS and Lee products and each has advantages and disadvantages ( e.g. I like RCBS dies as a whole more than lee, but like the factory crimp dies from lee | lee dies for exotic calibers are much cheaper than RCBS) but with the dillon product you are stuck with dillon dies.

I know right now it may seem like you won't reload other calibers, i thought so too, but reloading allows me to shoot so much more than I did for the same dollar amount and I thought if I reload one caliber, why not do all of them?