Question for owners of Dillon XL650 w/Strong Mount

[buttman]

Hi folks. I am all but decided on buying an XL650 as my first (and hopefully last) reloading system. I toyed with the idea of a 550 for a while, but I've ultimately decided to just go bigger and get the 650 because once I have been loading for a while, I'm sure the automated indexing and case feeder will be things I will desire and I'm also really attracted to the available die station to install the powder check die.

Anyway, my question is for those of you using this same press with the Dillon strong mount base. It appears to me that even with the strong mount, a full pull of the lever still requires you to be able to pull it further down than the base on which the strong mount is attached. If this is correct, is there anyone here who is able to tell me the maximum distance away from the edge of the bench at which I can bolt the strong mount and still be able to give the lever a full pull without hitting the bench?

Space limitations are a major pitfall at my current residence and so I am going to need to build a custom-made bench and really need to optimize the size as much as possible, so this will help me determine my work surface depth.

Thanks

 

[Thorvald]

I just checked mine and there is only about 2cm of gap, if that. It really wants to be mounted right to the edge of the table.

Don't forget to leave room for the case feeder above, it's massive but damn handy. And saying that, leave room above the case feeder to fill it and fix it should you jam the shell plate.

Cheers
Tim

 

[buttman]

I just checked mine and there is only about 2cm of gap, if that. It really wants to be mounted right to the edge of the table.

Don't forget to leave room for the case feeder above, it's massive but damn handy. And saying that, leave room above the case feeder to fill it and fix it should you jam the shell plate.

Cheers
Tim

Ah, thanks for the feedback, Tim. I was hoping to get more space than that, but it's not too big a deal. I'm probably not going to have a top on the bench at all, that way I won't have height problems with a case feeder, though my intention is to buy the 650 initially without the case feeder and then add that option in the future someday. I only shoot once a week at most, twice on a good weekend, so my weekly loading needs are really only in the 100-200 rounds range right now, and since I'll be brand new at reloading, I am going to take my time as I get started and be a bit more hands on with everything. Once I get more comfortable and start shooting more (I want to get into IPSC style shooting), then I'll probably pop on a case feeder to do faster batch reloading.

Since I'm custom building a bench, I might even just cancel the strong mount idea and instead cut a recess into the surface of the bench so that I can mount the press further back from the rest of the bench.

 

[buttman]

Another question, if I may. How much clearance behind the strong mount is really necessary for day to day operation? Specifically, once the case feeder module was installed, how close could you reasonably put the back of the strong mount to a backing wall such that there's enough room to load cases and it doesn't contact the wall?

 

[mechanik]

Since I'm custom building a bench, I might even just cancel the strong mount idea and instead cut a recess into the surface of the bench so that I can mount the press further back from the rest of the bench.

If you want to get the bullet tray or the tool holder then you'll need the strong mount to mount these on (or you'll have to cook something up yourself).

The bullet tray is definitely recommended for ergonomic reasons, unless you're going whole hog and getting a bullet feeder right of the bat (unlikely).