you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press - Page 2 - The Firearms Forum

LDBennett · 03-08-2012, 06:10 AM

Brisk44:

You are right I did overlook the LEE progressive users. But the only things I have read here about the Lee progressives is they are problematical. Still, I should not have overlooked them. I can attest to the problems as I too at one time (pre-Dillon) owned one it was a POS, broke every time I used it, and was so fiddlely as to make reloading a chore rather than fun, like the Dillon does.

So there is the third class of progressive reloading press!

Just to set things straight, I don't dislike things LEE based here-say but based on personal experience. I have bought most of the LEE innovative stuff (unless it was stupid). The common theme (mostly), as I have said many times before, is that they were innovative in design but poor materials choices made them unreliable and not durable. That is not opinion but fact based on my personal experience. Add to that the arrogance of LEE senior in his reloading manual (he thinks he is God's gift to the reloading industry and only he understands how to make reloading equipment) and I developed a dislike of most anything LEE.

There, are you happy to have re-opened the LEE controversy?

LDBennett

cpttango30 · 03-08-2012, 06:28 AM

I have an OLD RCBS Reloader Special single stage and a Dillon 550B. The only thing I didn't like about the 650 is the auto index can sometimes go a little too fast and and spill powder in shorter pistol cartridges.

I think the Hornady has a better auto index. It does half on the way up and half on the way down.

BobMcG · 03-10-2012, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbcooper

besides the turret or tool head that holds the dies, how easy is the shell plate to swap out for calber changes?

Quick and easy as you've had explained to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbcooper

also, can you mount them directly to the bench or is that strong mount a good idea?

Not insinuating the strong mount is a bad idea, it's just not (always) necessary. I neither need nor use one and my 550 works 100% fine while bolted directly to the bench.

Go ahead, drink some blue kool-aid. You'll love it.

LDBennett · 03-11-2012, 07:10 AM

The strong mount is not necessary. The best way is to mount it to a strong bench top and tie the bench to the wall behind the bench.

LDBennett

ransom63 · 03-17-2012, 10:23 PM

And here's my Dillon offering- I've had mine for over 10 years now with multiple thousands of rounds run through it- .45, 40 S&W, 9mm, 9 mak., 38 & 357. I went with the roller handle because it gives a smoother action to the pull. Also bought the mount. I press my bullets while standing & it adds a bit of movement to ME while i'm reloading. My wife comments that I look like I'm dancing once I had all my movements synchronized! The ONLY problems I've ever had with it was learning to keep the primer feeder clean. This area of the process gets grimey from used brass. I keep a hand vac. close by to keep it moving smoothly & take it apart occasionally to wipe it down with spray gun cleaner. I've never regretted the investment I made & I've enjoyed the "2nd half of shooting" as much as going to the range....AND money saved.

BlackEagle · 03-18-2012, 03:52 PM

Very nice setup.

And a warm welcome to the forum.

dbcooper · 12-29-2012, 09:20 PM

well, back in March of this year, I started this thread to ask about upgrading my reloading equipment and getting my first Dillon

it has been a long, busy year, buying a small ranch and working our guts out all summer and fall.
I just ended up with a nice bonus from work this year and decided it was now or never so I bought a XL 650 and it came in today!!

I am stoked about this big time.

I didn't buy the DVD since I figured there were lots of videos on youtube about setting these up

In addition to the press, I bought the strong mount, the aluminum roller handle, bullet tray, spare primer tubes and the spare parts kit

This stuff aint cheap but I figure it is way worth it.

any set up tips?

gdmoody · 12-29-2012, 09:44 PM

Take your time and read the little booklet that came with it. I don't have a 650 but I am sure my comments will also fit it. I believe that Dillon's website has a lot of videos on it, too. Congratulations on your purchase.

X Ring · 12-30-2012, 01:00 AM

Congratulations, the XL650 is an awesome press, I’ve had one for 18 years. Take your time setting it up, I remember I was eager to get it producing ammo.

cutter · 12-30-2012, 09:07 AM

I have had the XL650 for 2 years now, and once you get it set up and learn how it works you will love it! I can and do spend hours reloading and having fun (not cussing and frustrated). It was one of the best investments I have made in the firearms part of my life.
Go slow at first and you will have fun!!!

dbcooper · 01-06-2013, 07:30 PM

I have it almost ready to go, just a few last checks to do.
I have the dies and the power charge ready.

The powder drop is amazingly simple and accurate.
I wanted to run 23 gr of XBR, I changed to the large bar and made some adjustments until I hit 23.1

I then took 3 more charges.. 23.1..23.1.. and 23.2

I never got that out of Lee disk system. I should get my case gage in tomorrow and I want to check my first few for headspace before I get into a long run

so far.. so good. I really like my Dillon

time2shoot · 01-06-2013, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ransom63

And here's my Dillon offering- I've had mine for over 10 years now with multiple thousands of rounds run through it- .45, 40 S&W, 9mm, 9 mak., 38 & 357. I went with the roller handle because it gives a smoother action to the pull. Also bought the mount. I press my bullets while standing & it adds a bit of movement to ME while i'm reloading. My wife comments that I look like I'm dancing once I had all my movements synchronized! The ONLY problems I've ever had with it was learning to keep the primer feeder clean. This area of the process gets grimey from used brass. I keep a hand vac. close by to keep it moving smoothly & take it apart occasionally to wipe it down with spray gun cleaner. I've never regretted the investment I made & I've enjoyed the "2nd half of shooting" as much as going to the range....AND money saved.

I have that same Green tool box. It was my Dads.
I have never seen another till now. way cool
does yours have the felt linning also?

gunboat · 01-06-2013, 08:39 PM

After reading all these posts, I feel like a inner city disadvantaged victim -
I still use my old Herters model 3 press.

03-08-2012, 06:10 AM	#26
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,714	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press Brisk44: You are right I did overlook the LEE progressive users. But the only things I have read here about the Lee progressives is they are problematical. Still, I should not have overlooked them. I can attest to the problems as I too at one time (pre-Dillon) owned one it was a POS, broke every time I used it, and was so fiddlely as to make reloading a chore rather than fun, like the Dillon does. So there is the third class of progressive reloading press! Just to set things straight, I don't dislike things LEE based here-say but based on personal experience. I have bought most of the LEE innovative stuff (unless it was stupid). The common theme (mostly), as I have said many times before, is that they were innovative in design but poor materials choices made them unreliable and not durable. That is not opinion but fact based on my personal experience. Add to that the arrogance of LEE senior in his reloading manual (he thinks he is God's gift to the reloading industry and only he understands how to make reloading equipment) and I developed a dislike of most anything LEE. There, are you happy to have re-opened the LEE controversy? LDBennett

03-08-2012, 06:28 AM	#27
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press I have an OLD RCBS Reloader Special single stage and a Dillon 550B. The only thing I didn't like about the 650 is the auto index can sometimes go a little too fast and and spill powder in shorter pistol cartridges. I think the Hornady has a better auto index. It does half on the way up and half on the way down.

03-11-2012, 07:10 AM	#29
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,714	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press The strong mount is not necessary. The best way is to mount it to a strong bench top and tie the bench to the wall behind the bench. LDBennett

03-17-2012, 10:23 PM	#30
ransom63 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 24	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press And here's my Dillon offering- I've had mine for over 10 years now with multiple thousands of rounds run through it- .45, 40 S&W, 9mm, 9 mak., 38 & 357. I went with the roller handle because it gives a smoother action to the pull. Also bought the mount. I press my bullets while standing & it adds a bit of movement to ME while i'm reloading. My wife comments that I look like I'm dancing once I had all my movements synchronized! The ONLY problems I've ever had with it was learning to keep the primer feeder clean. This area of the process gets grimey from used brass. I keep a hand vac. close by to keep it moving smoothly & take it apart occasionally to wipe it down with spray gun cleaner. I've never regretted the investment I made & I've enjoyed the "2nd half of shooting" as much as going to the range....AND money saved. Attached Images

03-18-2012, 03:52 PM	#31
BlackEagle Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,168	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press Very nice setup. And a warm welcome to the forum.

12-29-2012, 09:20 PM	#32
dbcooper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Contributor Posts: 674	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press well, back in March of this year, I started this thread to ask about upgrading my reloading equipment and getting my first Dillon it has been a long, busy year, buying a small ranch and working our guts out all summer and fall. I just ended up with a nice bonus from work this year and decided it was now or never so I bought a XL 650 and it came in today!! I am stoked about this big time. I didn't buy the DVD since I figured there were lots of videos on youtube about setting these up In addition to the press, I bought the strong mount, the aluminum roller handle, bullet tray, spare primer tubes and the spare parts kit This stuff aint cheap but I figure it is way worth it. any set up tips?

12-29-2012, 09:44 PM	#33
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,334	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press Take your time and read the little booklet that came with it. I don't have a 650 but I am sure my comments will also fit it. I believe that Dillon's website has a lot of videos on it, too. Congratulations on your purchase. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

12-30-2012, 01:00 AM	#34
X Ring V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 188	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press Congratulations, the XL650 is an awesome press, I’ve had one for 18 years. Take your time setting it up, I remember I was eager to get it producing ammo. __________________ Load More = Shoot More http://s1096.photobucket.com/albums/g327/Wynn3/

12-30-2012, 09:07 AM	#35
cutter Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 630	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press I have had the XL650 for 2 years now, and once you get it set up and learn how it works you will love it! I can and do spend hours reloading and having fun (not cussing and frustrated). It was one of the best investments I have made in the firearms part of my life. Go slow at first and you will have fun!!!

01-06-2013, 07:30 PM	#36
dbcooper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Contributor Posts: 674	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press I have it almost ready to go, just a few last checks to do. I have the dies and the power charge ready. The powder drop is amazingly simple and accurate. I wanted to run 23 gr of XBR, I changed to the large bar and made some adjustments until I hit 23.1 I then took 3 more charges.. 23.1..23.1.. and 23.2 I never got that out of Lee disk system. I should get my case gage in tomorrow and I want to check my first few for headspace before I get into a long run so far.. so good. I really like my Dillon

01-06-2013, 08:39 PM	#38
gunboat V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Josie Posts: 95	Re: you guys talk me into buying my first Dillon Press After reading all these posts, I feel like a inner city disadvantaged victim - I still use my old Herters model 3 press.