first time reloader

[Meroh]

Umm.. no!!!! Stop spreading misinformation. You have obviously never used / seen a dillon.

I had two single stage presses when I started out: never went a year before upgrading to a progressive & that was almost 30 years ago now....

Dillon machines use the typical 7/8 thread which means dies from any manufacturer will work in their machine. Many precision shooters have proven time and again (including David Tubb 20+ time world / international etc etc champion, developer of the OCW etc etc ) that precision rifle rounds are done on a dillon progressive. The 550 can do from the smallest pistol up to 338LM and do it very accurately (all my rifle reloads shoot sub moa out to 1580M; a testament to the capabilities of a dillon progressive). FYI my Dillon is over 28 yo and still rocking out.

The options / convenience/ speed & product support a dillon machine has is unparalleled. Pretty much everyone who shoots any amount of ammo / has multiple calibres to reload always ends up with a progressive anyway; buy once cry once. If you only shoot a few hundred rounds a season, reload for only one or two calibres and are hell bent on a single stage then go for the rockchucker.

If I had to do it all again I would just buy the Dillon from the start and be done with it!

Not very fond of Dillon presses, expensive if you want to add other calibres, got to use Dillon dies... Like to have different options... Have been using RCBS progressives for 20+ years, great products, great warranty...

There must be a lot of us misinformed, or Dillon has changed their designs?

[Boomer686]

There must be a lot of us misinformed, or Dillon has changed their designs?

I bought my Dillon USED in 1991 (originally bought new in '87 by the original owner) and those same tool heads have Redding, RCBS & Dillon dies as well as a Hornady bullet puller in them.

Not sure where the BS about proprietary dies comes from: I have never even heard that mentioned before until you posted it!

*If* it ever was only compatible with their own dies it was more than 36 years ago as the 550 was introduced in 1984!

[marco594]

I’m another huge Dillon fan. I had you same question when I started. Which press? Well I’ll tell ya right now. GO Dillon. Buy once not twice. I’d would say if you can afford it go Dillon 650, well worth the money. You can still take it slow at first using this press. If you can’t afford that go Dillon 550. I started on the 550(great press) and now have a 650 and single stage. Drink the blue cool aid, people love em for a reason.

[Pocisk]

Not sure where the BS about proprietary dies comes from: I have never even heard that mentioned before until you posted it!

I suspect it's from the Square Deal line, which does use specialized dies.

[Beater]

Dillon 550 is a great press

[ballisticmystic]

I started out with a Dillon xl650 and have no regrets. I hear a lot of people say to start out with a single-stage press and learn the basics. That's not bad advice at all and you'll likely save some money on that initial press/setup. However, you can still learn just as much by starting with a progressive press. Reloading is a process, and you'll need to understand it regardless of your press. Granted, a single-stage press will slow that process down and give you more time to consider the steps involved. Would I personally load 9mm on a single stage press? No... But that is only because I value my time more than the cost of 9mm ammo. hahaha.

For loading pistol and small rifle rounds, the progressive is great. Sure, there are a lot of things to monitor as you cycle through the process, but reloading ammunition requires your full attention anyway. Regardless of what press and equipment you go with, start out slow. Read up on what you are doing and why it is done that way. Start a reloading journal and document everything. This way you will have information to look back on when things either work or do not work. It may sound silly, but you will learn quickly if you write down your process. Plus as you learn more about the loads that your guns like, you'll be about to reference everything.

As far as brands are concerned. Don't get caught up in the hype. You can load quality rounds on a Lee and you do the same on a Dillon regardless of the cost of the press. It wasn't until I started loading for long-distance shooting that I started to concern myself with finer details. Much of which can be addressed with additional tools and fine-tuning of your setup. Perhaps in some cases, it may require you to swap out certain components for ones of higher quality. It all depends on how far down the rabbit hole you wan to go.

Anyway, good luck!

[Boomer686]

I suspect it's from the Square Deal line, which does use specialized dies.

Can't speak to the square Deal line but I specified a Dillon 550 and was met with "pistol only" and "must use Dillon dies".

[slim123]

Finally, someone who has used one! I am considering one of these for my third progressive. What are other features on this press that you would consider improvements over the pro-1000?

It just seems that this one is a better built press, It has a bar that pops thru the plate at each stage to firmly hold the plate in station...as opposed to the p1000 just using a gear. Its a bit smaller profile on the bench space....and the breech lock system make for quick easy die changes...

price for the base set was amazing, but keep in mind you need to get shellplates ...as it comes barebones....order some shellplates, and a bunch of breech lock nuts for your other calibers...and your golden

I have just started using it, bought it awhile ago...but just set it up recently due to more time at home..lol

but i am very happy with it

[Pocisk]

Can't speak to the square Deal line but I specified a Dillon 550 and was met with "pistol only" and "must use Dillon dies".

Yeah, just responding to where the BS about proprietary dies comes from. That's likely where the confusion is coming from.