A little of everything. I'm hoping to start shooting IDPA and then also for hunting with a wide variety of calibers.Best for what purpose?
I'm looking for the best press below 1000 bucks. Is dillion the best one? I want a progressive press. I have a rock chucker but I'm looking to upgrade.
I was looking at the xl650. I wish it did 338 Lapua.You will never regret buying a Dillon. A 550 at a minimum and if you can swing it, get the 650 with the case feeder.
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I was looking at the xl650. I wish it did 338 Lapua.
You are correct.I don’t know for sure but my guess is you would be hard pressed to find any progressive press that would do that caliber.
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This is what I read time and time again when searching for my first progressive.You will never regret buying a Dillon. A 550 at a minimum and if you can swing it, get the 650 with the case feeder.
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This is what I read time and time again when searching for my first progressive.
I ended up with a SDB because my focus was 9mm, I wanted auto indexing, and I got a smoking deal on it. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it.
Wow am I the only one that is gonna say something about a Hornady LnL AP.
That’s all I use for my 9mm stuff.
Midway or midsouth is running a sale on them. Grab one for under 400. Shell plate will run another 30ish. Can add a case and bullet feeder down the road.
I have had mine for about 4 years and loaded about 5-6k 9mm without issue.
If your set on a Dillion and gonna load a lot, get a 650. Auto indexing is a great thing. I went with a Hornady LnL AP since it is equivalent to the 650 just cheaper. But Dillion’s warranty is hard to beat.
Nothing against the Hornady (no experience with it).
On SDB vs 550 vs 650 read the brianenos page. Auto index makes very little speed difference unless you have a case feeder. I have a 550 and 650 and it is true. The learning curve on the 650 is a little higher. Doable, but more complex especially for new reloader and auto index is kind of a pain for new reloaders and especially for load development.
I started on a 550. To me the 650 is a better choice for a) churning out thousands of the same load (case feeder!), or b) you really need the 5th station. Otherwise the 550 is more versatile, a little simpler, and cheaper. Currently my 650 is dedicated to a single 9mm load for the STI. The 550 has toolheads for loading 6 calibers and prepping 2 calibers. I also have a Lee single stage for utility duty (depriming, pulling, really odd runs like 30-30 for my brother).
All three Dillons have their advocates for sure and all three are good presses.
Sold on a free beer hand.Dillon 650 with case and bullet feeder.
Beer in one hand, handle in the other
That's a scary thought.I thought that I would convert from the SDB to the LnL (with case feeder and bullet feeder) for 9mm, but I ended up leaving the SDB setup for my favorite 9mm load and use the LnL for .45acp. Going to start using it for 223 “soon” which will be the first time I’ve had to install the small primer assembly. Use the Forster CoAx for 45/70 and load development in general.
There is no best press, so consider your pending acquisition as an enhancement to your collection of presses rather than a replacement.
That's a scary thought.
Whatever you do, don’t look at the Inline Fabrication website, or those threads about other people’s amazing reloading benches (or rooms!).
I just went to inline fabrications websites. I see some things that will look good in the man cave.If it makes you feel any better, at least they don’t multiply as fast as guns do. Now, dies, powders, bullet variations, those do. And all the accessories and tweaks for presses. But not presses.
Whatever you do, don’t look at the Inline Fabrication website, or those threads about other people’s amazing reloading benches (or rooms!).
Just put down the mouse and go load some more ammo.
..... Just know that the powder bar charge dispensing system is not very accurate or repeatable.
Ball powder is very consistent from the dillon powder measure, flake powder isnt quite as consistent, but plenty good enough unless you were making max charge rounds. I have never tried stick powder through it.I guess that depends on the powder, I tend to use ball powders, W231, 2400, and the like; and they have always thrown very accurately and repeatably.
Ive run every powder u can run in an AR thru my 650 with their charge bar, Redding BR dropper and Lee Auto drum. Measure every powder drop and then tell me its accurate and repeatable. Those 3 devices will vary anywhere from 0.1grn (which is totally acceptable to me if any one of them would consistently do that) to 1.5grns over. I'll load blasting/plinking ammo for 223/556 on the 650 by dropping but match ammo gets weighed.