Dillon 650 or 550?

28 September 2010, 05:57

Brennanc9093

Dillon 650 or 550?

Im tired of using the rock chucker for reloading hand gun ammunition. so.... what do you guys like best 550 or 650 dillon? I will be loading 45ACP 500-600 a month and soon (with saturdays off...hopefully) begin shooting more uspsa and need 500-700 a week for 40 SW. so whats your opinion. and the easiest to caliber convert? Thanks

28 September 2010, 07:25

Sam

10 years ago, I went with a Lee but wish I had bought the 650. I don't have complaints with the Lee (other than speed) but I bought it becuse I could do 2 calibers for the price of one. The 650 has case feed and powder check options I'd like to have. For the little more that the 650 runs over the 550 I'd get the 650 even if I had to wait for the options.

28 September 2010, 17:53

Lloyd Smale

it about boils down to whether or not you intend to use a case feeder. The 650 is designed right out the box to use a casefeeder and is really hamstrung without one. It definately is faster with case feeder then a 550 but if its going to be your only press a 550 with manual index is nice as you can use it as a single stage press when you need to.

28 September 2010, 21:13

bradhe

I have both (as well as a shiney new 1050 that I am still setting up) Both will produce quality ammunition. The 650 is about twice as fast as the 550 (don't buy it without the casefeeder). Caliber conversion is modestly easier on the 550 but the best bet is to get enough brass that you can load in quantity.

29 September 2010, 01:40

fredj338

quote:
Originally posted by bradhe:
I have both (as well as a shiney new 1050 that I am still setting up) Both will produce quality ammunition. The 650 is about twice as fast as the 550 (don't buy it without the casefeeder). Caliber conversion is modestly easier on the 550 but the best bet is to get enough brass that you can load in quantity.

I also have both. I did buy the 650 w/o case feeder, moneyt is tight. It runs fine w/o one, but certainly is slower. The 550 is the way to go for multiple calibers, I load 11 on it. The 650 is best for one or two. The change over on the 550B is cheaper & easier. So 450/hr on the 550B coasting & 600 on the 650 even w/o the case feeder. Hamsttrung, not teally, just have to refill the case tube every 12 pulls or so.

29 September 2010, 13:22

Andre Mertens

Go with the XL650. Since I bought mine, I have greatly increased my ammo needs. Fast volume production of ammo seems to make one shoot (much) more...

29 September 2010, 14:04

enfieldspares

KISS! Errm not I'm not "that way" but just saying "keep it simple stupid"...

A friend has a commercial shooting range here in UK and has both Dillon 550 and 650 machines. For his commercial use he uses the 550 as the change is quicker.

More importantly he finds that it is just as "handy" for short runs of ammunition when he has an odd half hour spare as when he has two hours spare.

The 650 isn't used much at all in fact but when it is it is run maybe straight through to produce a thousand rounds. And it stays set up in just ONE calibre.

So for what it's worth he seems to favour the 550 which he has three of and about ten "heads" and ALL of which he sticks with the standard manual feed.

Why? Because it gives him a quick visual check on any problems with the cartridge case and he can "elect" to load multiples of fifty rounds all with the same headstamp more easily.

29 September 2010, 22:31

fredj338

quote:
Originally posted by enfieldspares:
KISS! Errm not I'm not "that way" but just saying "keep it simple stupid"...

A friend has a commercial shooting range here in UK and has both Dillon 550 and 650 machines. For his commercial use he uses the 550 as the change is quicker.

More importantly he finds that it is just as "handy" for short runs of ammunition when he has an odd half hour spare as when he has two hours spare.

The 650 isn't used much at all in fact but when it is it is run maybe straight through to produce a thousand rounds. And it stays set up in just ONE calibre.

So for what it's worth he seems to favour the 550 which he has three of and about ten "heads" and ALL of which he sticks with the standard manual feed.

Why? Because it gives him a quick visual check on any problems with the cartridge case and he can "elect" to load multiples of fifty rounds all with the same headstamp more easily.

I have to agree, the 550B is more user friendly & not slow by any measure. If you load a lot of one caliber, the 650 is certainly worth the cost, but if you want one machine to do everything, IMO, owning both, the 550B will serve you better.

30 September 2010, 04:02

enfieldspares

When I told my friend that I had mentioned what he uses he added that if you get a primer that fails to "pop" from a case in the 550 it is a lot easier to deal with than if you have the same in a 650!