Thank you. I'm interested in a Dillon 650, but it will depend what I can get it for. The 550b is definitely a step down, but time is on my side and despite it being slower, it seems to save quite a bit of money at the start.
Newbie here: Reload 9mm or Factory Buy
- Thread starter DarcyM
- Start date
Thank you. I'm interested in a Dillon 650, but it will depend what I can get it for. The 550b is definitely a step down, but time is on my side and despite it being slower, it seems to save quite a bit of money at the start.
I have a turret press, an old Lyman built in, and bought new in the mid 70's; been at it a long time, and I can push close to 175 through it in an hour. Yes, I think I would like a progressive press, but I can load more ammo than I shoot. Guess I don't need one.
With a turret press with a good priming system, and some quite time for your self, you will have hours and hours of both relaxation and shooting fun! With the turret press I have room for 6 dies; right now I have two three die set; .40 and 9mm in the turret, I also reload .45 and I shoot all three a lot, and just switch one set for the other. I use the basic lee carbide 3 die pistol sets, and they work great. I will also be loading some .223 ground hog loads this weekend with an old set of RCBS dies. BTW, I'm not retired, and work full time.
Life is good.
With a turret press with a good priming system, and some quite time for your self, you will have hours and hours of both relaxation and shooting fun! With the turret press I have room for 6 dies; right now I have two three die set; .40 and 9mm in the turret, I also reload .45 and I shoot all three a lot, and just switch one set for the other. I use the basic lee carbide 3 die pistol sets, and they work great. I will also be loading some .223 ground hog loads this weekend with an old set of RCBS dies. BTW, I'm not retired, and work full time.
Life is good.
I went in with a buddy of mine on the Dillon 650. Between the 2 of us we calculated a pay back on the investment at 38,000 rounds with 9mm only. We also load .40,.45, .223, .357, .44, and .308 with it.
We shot like crazy for the first 2 years and easily made the press pay for it's self. We still shoot 10,000-15,000 rounds of 9mm each year and are loading for 17 cents/round on average. After the initial rush we started to shoot more rifle and bought a single stage press for more precision. The 650 will make .308 rounds as good as the single stage but starts to fall off on the bigger rounds. We don't use the powder drop and weigh each load and have a good set of dies. We are currently shooting 8,000 rounds of .308 a year and the pay back is much more obvious.
We shot like crazy for the first 2 years and easily made the press pay for it's self. We still shoot 10,000-15,000 rounds of 9mm each year and are loading for 17 cents/round on average. After the initial rush we started to shoot more rifle and bought a single stage press for more precision. The 650 will make .308 rounds as good as the single stage but starts to fall off on the bigger rounds. We don't use the powder drop and weigh each load and have a good set of dies. We are currently shooting 8,000 rounds of .308 a year and the pay back is much more obvious.
So, do you think using the 650 for 7.62x.39 rifle will be an issue? That's the only other rifle I use currently for target shooting, and when not shooting surplus I would consider reloading that in the future. Otherwise, if something else was added in future, perhaps .223 would be the only rifle round of it.
I started with a 550 myself
Regret selling it i should of kept it
Again in my opinion, 550 is one of the good progressive presses, that 1. Supports the most caliber 2. Takes the less time to switch between calibers 3.that conversions for different calibers is more affordable (within the dillon lineup) and 4. That is the safest progressive press for a new guy, since it doesn’t auto-indexes, so as a new reloader you can take your time to see what’s going on when theres a malfunction or whatever
2018 is a big year for me, with many cool new guns making the market, i won’t get to half of what i want to buy.
In 2019 i am getting a 550 in my gun room for sure.
Currently own and run
Dillon 650 for volume 9mm/40SW
Lee cast single stage for precision long range 308 and future 6.5 caliber of some sort
And future 550 would serve casual low volume calibers, as in semi auto pre-prepped brass .223, 357 magnum, 45 auto or any other caliber i wish to casually plink with
If you are at the range once to twice a week, these presses pay for themselves pretty quickly.
As of right now, my 2017 volume was, and 2018 volume will ressemble it a lot : 15-16K 9mm, 1200 .308
In 308 my equipment will self pay for itself quickly at savings of over 1.50$ per shot for match ammo.
In 9mm, it can take 2-3 years pay off the dillon stuff (also own a dillon auto primer tube filler), but custom catering ammo to specific guns for power or profile, is something i value very much
Fyi, in the years of my 550, with propper accessories (which are also 650 compatible if ever you upgrade later), i would crank very close to 550x 9mm rounds per hour on a good day. I am one of the voters for dillon, and one of those that love the 550.
I've just found a nearly new Dillon 650XL with 9mm kit for $700. Is this a good price for a used unit? It is ready to go to produce 9mm, but no other extras that I am aware of. Someone is selling a 550c for the same price, set up for the 9mm. I'm not sure why the price is the same, and they both have less than 2000 rounds through them since purchase. Thanks!!
I would say look at included accessories.
Some accessories work for both presses, some are unique to one another.
Some accessories which aren't included in base press.
Roller handle
Bullet Tray
elevated Strong mount
Case feeder
If you are going to reload only 9mm, 650 is the choice.
550 is great in multi caliber
Yep, get the 650 for 700$.
Thanks!
Thank you. I've never reloaded before so a list of what I REALLY need vs NICE to have is helpful. I can accumulate the nice to have stuff over time. I ended up not getting the 650 because it had sold by the time I had heard back from the gentleman (sold within a couple hours and I'd just seen the ad). Next time! I don't mind accumulating the parts while I'm waiting for a press to come along. Anything in particular I should buy? What company dies or conversion kits? I was planning to get all Dillon, but if other companies are good, I will look for those used components as well.
Thank you. I've never reloaded before so a list of what I REALLY need vs NICE to have is helpful. I can accumulate the nice to have stuff over time. I ended up not getting the 650 because it had sold by the time I had heard back from the gentleman (sold within a couple hours and I'd just seen the ad). Next time! I don't mind accumulating the parts while I'm waiting for a press to come along. Anything in particular I should buy? What company dies or conversion kits? I was planning to get all Dillon, but if other companies are good, I will look for those used components as well.
There is nothing wrong with the 550B either at $700. Just a slightly smaller and lighter press. Mine has served me well for the past 20 years and I have loaded a lot of rounds through the thing, 9MM, 38spl, 40 cal 45acp, 46Colt, 44 Mag, 30-06, .303, .308, 30-30, 7.62X39, 38S&W, 41 Long Colt and some others that don;t come to mind.
Take Care
Bob
Take Care
Bob
I have a 9mm M&P and was not going to reload, but I was given the dies, powder, primers, and bullets for Christmas, and my friend has the RCBS press etc. Reloading doesn't save you much on 9mm and your time ,well, back yard mechanics playing on their racecars don't count their hours either. I do enjoy reloading and find it very interesting.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There are some very good deals on good quality factory 9mm ammo. Shooters must remember that factory ammo is designed to work in all 9mm pistols.
One issue that has not been mentioned is the reloaders opportunity to craft custom loads for plinking, plates, pins, or other low velocity loads for target. Some competitions don't require a power factor like Cowboy action or PPC.
Reloading your own, and by further extension, making your own bullets, creates enormous opportunities for variety.
One issue that has not been mentioned is the reloaders opportunity to craft custom loads for plinking, plates, pins, or other low velocity loads for target. Some competitions don't require a power factor like Cowboy action or PPC.
Reloading your own, and by further extension, making your own bullets, creates enormous opportunities for variety.
You still need to accumulate brass. Buy a couple of cases of factory loads first, and then decide if you want to spend the money on re loading stuff. For just one caliber, I wouldn't bother, but for larger calibers, it's the only way to go.
- Location
- West Quebec
That's the bottom line if just starting out this would be the preferred way to go IMHO
When I did the math on whether i wanted to reload or not, it hinged greatly on how much I figured i was going to be shooting. What tipped it in the direction of reloading was going halfsies with a buddy on the press/equipment. It took payback for my SDB from about 4k rounds (at an all in reloaded cost of just under 11 cents) to half that - and for me, shooting IDPA and practicing not enough, made it pretty much a no brainer. Networking has helped me find a group buy for components & another guy as a source for projectiles which has helped with the costing immensely.
My time, ah, you know, its all part of shooting if you ask me. I dont mind sorting & inspecting brass with one eye on the TV & actually running the press, is kinda a zen like thing for me. Its nice to be able to shut my brain off for a while and focus on something like that.
The interesting spinoff, having the press & having it basically paid back now, my buddy's picked up a 45LC and is going to get a toolhead & dies to load that. I'm planning on branching to a 45 semi, which, i would have never done without already having a press...
My time, ah, you know, its all part of shooting if you ask me. I dont mind sorting & inspecting brass with one eye on the TV & actually running the press, is kinda a zen like thing for me. Its nice to be able to shut my brain off for a while and focus on something like that.
The interesting spinoff, having the press & having it basically paid back now, my buddy's picked up a 45LC and is going to get a toolhead & dies to load that. I'm planning on branching to a 45 semi, which, i would have never done without already having a press...
Lexthedestroyer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford, BC
This good advice, I've had a Lee turret press for 8 years, and minus some hiccups, it's been good to me. Last night after confirming my die heights and setting up my powder measure, I cranked out 150 9mm in about 40 minutes. A couple of flipped primers on the safety prime, and a spent primer kicking out the primer arm, but otherwise smooth sailing.
