I know a lot of you probably own one. I'm thinking about picking one up and just thought i'd get some opinions...

Thanks,
Ryan

I have owned both the Square Deal B and the 550B. If I were to just be reloading 1 or 2 straightwall pistol calibers the Square Deal is great. But if you intend to expand into other calibers take a serious look at the 550B. Not that much more money, but much more versatile.
It has been awhile, but I seem to remember also that the Square Deal uses a special size die set, so you have to buy them from Dillon. Dillon is one of the absolute best companies I have dealt with. Whichever you get, I am sure you will be happy.

I've contemplated the Square Deal just for my 2 pistol calibers, but the special die deal stopped me, at least temporarily. I wondered though, couldn't a guy just turn down standard, say RCBS, dies to fit? Or is there more problem than that?

The square deal b is an excellent loader. I have three of them. If you are only going to load handgun ammo I don't think you can make a better decision. I like having at least two-one setup for large primers and one for small. It's not a big deal to change primer setups but does take less time if you don't have too. Dies are specific to this loader as I don't think you could refit other dies to work. At least not at a reasonable cost.

Not doubting you, M16, but why don't you think that standard dies could be altered? It appears that all they would require is to be turned down, but that is based on pictures, having not had the special dies in hand. I may be missing something.

I guess it would be possible. But like a lot of things I wonder if it would be feasable. The square deal b dies are quite different than regular dies. Are you familiar with what they look like? I am at my office now but when I get home this afternoon I can take a picture of a set. Even with the dies you will still need a toolhead, powder die, powder funnel, locator pins, and shellplate. So I don't think you would save a lot of money by altering an existing die over purchasing a conversion kit from Dillon.

Oh, I know all that other stuff has to be acquired, but I just can't see purchasing new sets of dies if I already have them--if all that needs to be done is turn them down. That's only going to take about 30 minutes per set. There well may be more to it, though. That's what I'd like to find out.

Now that I am looking at a set of dies I would say it is not possible to convert existing dies. Here is a picture of a set of .38 Super dies.

Hmmmm. Looking at them, I would say it appears rather simple--turn down and thread--if I can see everything in the picture. What a guy would need is a set to get measurements from. By the way, thanks a lot! What are the 3 black things to the lower right?

I have a 550 and a square deal, both are great loaders, I shoot Lots of 357 mags and the square deal is set up for it. I load everything else on the 550 and my trusty old rockchucker.
You can't lose with either.

regards,
graycg

Square deal B is a great little press.
No advantage to be gained by changing dies ( even if it were easy ) , The Dillon dies are fine, and included in the price anyway.
Turns out good ammo.
The warranty is second to none ( NO BS )even if you are the second owner, or third.
And try as you might, it would be damn near impossible to doublecharge a case with the SDB, I would say impossible, but some rocket scientist type might prove me wrong.
Let's just say it would be really difficult for us " normal " types.

Travis F.

If all you are going to reload is pistol, then its hard to beat the SDB. It comes with a set of dies and auto-indexes. I have untold thousands of rounds though mine, I shoot IDPA and IPSC.
For rifle I use a Rockchucker.

The three black things to the right of the picture are the inserts that go into the top of the press before you install the toolhead. One is the carbide size die. One is the die that guides the round for the bullet seater. And the other one is the crimp die. One set of dies comes with the loader. Conversions are about $68 each.

I bought the orginal Square Deal, it was $135 shipped in 1987. I have dies in 9mm, 357, and 45 acp, it works great.

I own one in 9mm Luger that was given to me. It works fine but is not as smooth as my RCBS piggyback 2 conversion unit. I don't trust any tube type priming system (no matter if it has a shield or not) so I only feed mine hand primed cases. I think changing calibers is both expensive and a bother. Customer service is good but no better than I have received from RCBS.

If you have ever used Dillon dies, you will want to chuck those RCBS dies. The Dillon dies are superior in every way. They use a seperate seater and crimper, the bells on the sizer are larger: they are just better in every way. I have a 550 with 5 different calibers all set up. If you are only going to do pistol, then the square deal is a great way to go. I would rather use a turret press for rifle than my 550, but I don't load for an AR or Mini-14 either.

Aaron

Shootshell you are one funny guy. The RCBS piggyback is an excellent fishing weight. Smoother than a square deal b stop my sides are starting to hurt. RCBS is a great company to business with just like Dillon but the piggyback is a joke. Or I should say at least mine was.

As others have said "you won't be disapointed with a SDB". I have a SDB in 45acp. A 550B for .223 and a Bonanza Co-Ax for everything else. I originally got the 550B for loading .45acp. It was fine, but has nothing on the SDB if you are loading for a pistol. You can pick up a SDB used on occasion, for a bargain. I got mine with caliber conversions for .40, .38/357, 9MM and .45acp plus a Dillon scale at the local range. Sold everything but the machine and .45 set ending up with the setup and $15 cash :^). Would like to do that deal again!

M16: I will stand by my assertion that the Piggyback 2 (not the original Piggyback) is smoother in operation than a Dillon Square Deal. I have them side by side in my garage. As I mentioned before; I prime my cases off the press and feed only primed brass into both my Dillon and RCBS presses.

I'll take you word for the piggyback 2. I had the original piggyback and never could get it to work. Either was RCBS of Dillon both have customer service that can't be beat.