I'm in the market for a progressive mainly to be used for 45 ACP in high volume. Price is, of course, a major consideration but I'll spend what I need to to get a quality and trouble free outfit. Any advice as to brands and models would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

I have (2) Dillon 550's. Dillon products are well made & you can't beat their warranty/customer service. Their Square Deal is a less expensive way to go, but I would get the 550.

[ 04-14-2003, 23:07: Message edited by: fredj338 ]

snowcat,
see link below. Dillon Products For Less. the lowest prices for Dillon products i have found so far and they are Free shipping to lower 48 states. HTH
Rick

http://www.dillonsales.com/page/page/158149.htm

I'd go with a Dillon also. I've got a 650 and as far as I'm concerned its the best thing since canned beer.

Check out Star Loaders. They are very popular with Bullseye Pistol shooters. They are made by a company that also makes irrigation equipment. They are in CA.

Another vote for Dillon. The 550 has better ergonomics, but if all you want to load is pistol stuff, the Square Deal is the way to go (just as fast as the 550).

H. C.

Love my Dillon 550.

Dillon 550, I have several head/powder measure set-ups and load 38/357, 9mm/38super, and 45acp. I used to load 7BR on it as well.

I have a Dillon 300, two Dillon Square deals, 1 Dillon 450 and 1 Dillon 650. I cannot imagin a man made product that is less trouble or has a better warranty.
Jim

[ 04-15-2003, 15:59: Message edited by: arkypete ]

Jeez-How common is it to get such consistant responses from a bunch of rifle cranks? Dillon it is--I don't see doing much rifle reloading on the progressive so I'll look into both models. I really do appreciate the assistance.

It's easy to use like a single stage too, that's why I go the 550B, it does all my rifles up to my 416wby too. No hastle screwing dies in and out or wobbly heads on turret styles anymore. I couldn't be more pleased with mine, my dad loves his too. Buy the vidio, it will be nice to have the first time, but after that you won't need it. It does give you some peace of mind knowing you set it all up and adjusted it right.

With the dillon 550 is it possible to use all your existing dies? I have seen in the past when looking at certain progressive presses (can't remember which ones now) that you had to buy a special set of dies for each caliber.

Red

I just returned a Dillon 550. Mine was a piece of junk. Lucky the refuned my money. I called with several problems and all they did was quote the owners manual. Heck, I can read. Had problems with the powder measure not being accurate and had lots of problems with the belling station.
Hope you have better luck than I did.

Yes you can use your rcbs, redding, etc. dies. Dillons pistol dies are set up for progressive presses though, w/ nicely beveled bases. Some of the older RCBS dies are "chambers" are square cut w/ no bevel & it slows you down a bit.
I don't use mine for rifle stuff but many shooters do. I have never had a problem that Dillon didn't fix for promptly for free. If you aren't happy w/ it like JJ, just send it back.

I have both a 550 and a 650. I bought the 650 first. I found that changing the primer mechanism from one size to another was sort of a pain. It really took about 15 minutes, but I did not want to fool with it.
I bought a 550 off eBay, and chose the 550 only on the basis of cost. It is smaller, and that also helps since I have both on my bench.

Of the two I prefer the 650 for loading one cartridge or I might say one primer size. I do not have the auto case feeder, nor do I need it. I like the auto indexing feature.

The 550 is easier to use in many ways. The lack of auto indexing makes the 550 some easier to use and set up when changing loads, or if you forget to place a bullet in the case mouth when you are interrupted. The primer mechanism is easier to change also, compared to the 650.

Personally, I would not consider any progressive press except the Dillon. I have been pleased with all the dealings I have had with them, and the presses have been everything I hoped for.

For rifles, however, I prefer a single stage press.

Jerry

I use a Dillon 550 for handgun (.45ACP only), and a Forster Bonanza (single-stage) for bottleneck cartidges.

If you look at the top 20% of competitors who shoot straight-walled pistol rouds, you'll see that about 9 out of 10 use a Dillon.

Rick.

How many pistol rounds per hour can you guys reload with the 550 or 650?

No matter what I do I just cant seem to wear out or break my 550 Dillon. I have a friend that turns as red as his machine when he is using it and all I can say is I told you so. Boon

I've had my Dillon 550B for about 10 years. Never had a single problem.

I have a dillon 550b and a rcbs piggyback III which is basically a rcbs pro 2000. I has the same priming system, powder system, shell plates and die plate as the pro 2000. After using both for awhile now, I would get a rcbs pro 2000. The powder system is superior to dillons. Even more so if you get a micro meter screw for it. Dillons is accurate, but the uniflow is VERY accurate. And MUCH easier to change the settings. Sometimes cases hang up on the expander/powder funnel when using starline brass in .45 colt and .45 acp with the Dillon. This can't happen with the rcbs. The priming system on the rcbs is simple and easy. All that is required to change from large to small primers is to change the primer seating plug. Only takes a few seconds. To change this on a 550b takes little while. Changing the die plate is also easier with the rcbs.. you just tighten it down and go..no adjusting. With the rcbs, you place the empty case on the left side, the bullet on the left side and the completed round ejects on the left side of the press. It just works better and faster this way. I'm not trying to put down the Dillon. I use mine all the time and like it. The rcbs pro 2000 is just more simple and straight forward with much less gadgetry to deal with. I think if you could use both side by side you would agree.

JCCD
The new Starline cases do hang up in the powder station. I am not sure why the expander tube should hang up but it does.

I haven't looked at the RCBS. If it is faster to change priming mechanisms that would be an advantage, assuming the whole system works as smoothly as the Dillon.
The powder measure is not simple to adjust on the Dillon, it is trial and error and there is not scale to be able to go back to, but it is accurate in my experience when it gets adjusted.

Your post makes it clear that one should also look at the RCBS.

Jerry

Jerry

JerryM
I have read to tumble new starline brass and polish the expander with fine steel wool. This does seem to help somewhat with that problem.
Again, I didn't intend to sound negative about Dillon. My 550b is nice. The powder measure is accurate like you said, but it can be a pain to adjust the powder bar. Sometimes it will bind right where you need it to be. This along with the primer setup is really my main gripes with it.

Snowcat:

Sent you PM.

I've used a 650 with case feeder since '95 and like any other mechanical device it occasionally doesn't do something its supposed to. The other side of the coin is that it does its job so well the rest of the time that in all fairness, I can't complain.

New brass of any make has always been stiff and a little sticky on my powder tube/mouth expander. You can use spray on case lube like I do. I've never had a misfire from the use of that stuff. Its just a little messy. All subsequent loadings of the same brass don't stick.

The only difficulty I've had is that sometimes a case won't drop into station one. If you're paying attention and listening to the machine as you operate it, you will catch this and its a very minor annoyance. When I first started and didn't know what to listen for it used to piss me off. The machine makes rhythmic sounds, though, and once you get used to what is "normal" it works like a dream.

Using my RCBS .44 Magnum dies, I was at first able to crush cases on a regular basis. Dillon dies are designed for higher speed operation and don't have this problem. You can grab and align the case in station one with your thumb and forefinger but this kind of defeats the purpose of having a progressive machine. A friend beveled the FL size die for me and now it works well. I just didn't want to have to buy dies in calibers for which I already owned them.

Of all the powder measures I've owned, the Dillon is by far the most accurate with the powder I use the most. That would be 231.

The only thing I modified was the ammo catcher. I built the press mounting surface up off the bench so that the station 5 chute can emtpy into a .50 cal. ammo can. I can still hang the little blue tray there but it fills so fast.

Once, just out of curiosity I set up the machine and components to load 100 rounds of 9mm. Without undue hurry or "racing" the machine I completed the task in 6 minutes and 53 seconds simply by using deliberate movements. Anyone have a guess as to how long that would take with a single stage or even a turret press? I used to spend hours in the garage making ammo and not have much to show for it, comparatively.

Given all the rounds these machines have loaded (used a friend's at first, then got my own in '97) for me without a hint of trouble, the few times when something hung up or didn't work perfectly just don't matter.

Paul

Dillon says not to tumble your brass more than an hour, I seem to recall. I think the problem is that brass that is too clean does stick. I have never had it happen to fired cases no matter how long I tumbled.

I did buy some new Starline 45 brass and it did stick. I now expand new brass on a single stage press.

It isn't clear to me why the Dillon tube should stick and other brands not.

Jerry

New brass sticking to the expander tube is caused by tiny burrs on the case mouth left by the process to cut the case to length. You can de-burr the case mouth before you load the brass, or put up with it the first time, it'll disappear after a bullet is loaded & fired out of the case.

HEY SNOWCAT:

I HAVE TWO RCBS PROGRESSIVES AT GOOD PRICES LISTED FOR SALE UNDER "CLASSIFIEDS".