Don't drink the BLUE koolaid...Dillon.

Wow.:rolleyes: He really found big "problems" with the Dillon.

Most annonyingly, the Dillon powder measure attaches to each toolhead with two finely-threaded allen-head screws which must be screwed all the way out (perhaps an inch) and then all the back in when moving it from one toolhead to another. This is further complicated by the fact that the screws are difficult to reach due to their placement on the measure, and hence time-consuming and frustrating to manipulate.
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:rolleyes: ooooh, two screws......

To adjust the charge thrown by the measure, you have to rotate a small hex nut at the end of the measure's "powder bar". There is no indication of the current charge, so when changing loads or powder types one is forced to go through a lengthy session of dialing in the powder measure.
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Any powder measures out there let you get away without using a scale while adjusting a powder measure? Moving powder back and forth to the scale wastes so much time.....*TIP* Buy a nutdriver.

The Dillon powder measure debacle is exacerbated by the irksome "failsafe" rod which resets the powder measure on the downstroke of each handle pull. This rod makes changing toolheads difficult, (yep, takes hours to remove the clip:rolleyes: )and also relies on a small wingnut to properly reset the measure. After time, this wingnut can develop a tendency to rotate on the rod during a loading session, :)bsFlag: I've never seen a loose wingnut yet and if by chance it did get loose, Dillon would replace it)potentially to the point where the powder measure doesn't cycle completely (resulting in squib loads). (<<<<fear mongering)
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The 550 has no provision for loading blackpowder cartridges.
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This is important because million's of peoiple reload black powder on a progressive.....


First, the new LnL priming system has fewer moving parts than the 550's and its parts are less subject to wear (witness the plastic feeder lips on the 550 primer tubes)
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After 16 years and umpteen-zillion rounds, I've replaced exactly 1 plastic feeder lips. Maybe I set up the priming system properly off the get go?

Finally, changing from small to large primers (or vice versa) on the LnL is significantly faster than the 550 (if the LnL primer tube is empty, if not it's only slightly faster).
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:rolleyes:

Well I see the author was able to point out many important issues with the Dillon.:rolleyes:
 
Lol

There is no such thing as a "loyal" customer.

The minute you dont treat a customer well, they walk out of the door. Customers are loyal if they are treated right.

I sold my 550 to my friend and when he had a problem, called up Dillon direct.

They asked him to send the press back and back comes an almost new 550 press.

If they said "we dont cover your press as you are the 5th owner and the press is at least 10 years old", my friend would have understood that, but to have Dillon replace a 10 year press impressed even me !

Besides, I havent receive any mail from them since my last purchase from them .

I also believe that a man deserves to enjoy the 'fruits of his labor'. What he does with his profit has nothing to do with my decision to buy a press that comes with excellent customer service. I think the question to ask is , How does he make money if he keeps replacing his presses ? The answer is... they are good presses, he stands behind them with a real no BS warranty. That, in today's world, is a rare find.

Everyone can have an opinion but to have a 'cult following' would mean they are doing something right.

Dont drink the blue pill, you might become a convert ... to blue.
 
I haven't tried *any* progressive presses, but I picked the Dillon 650 because of the warranty, the higher resale value, and because it didn't seem all that much more expensive than the LnL (to start with only one caliber). Hornady's "United States only" Get Loaded promotion didn't impress me much either.
 
well, i've been reloading for over 30 years, started off with an rcbs, then got a lee turret, then a few 1000's a dillon, and then a lee loadmaster- they each have their advantages and drawbacks- i got the dillon because the lee's don't have enough capacity to do rifle rounds- i don't have the rcbs anymore- it was a single stage and too slow- but i consider the dillon 550 too easy to double charge to use it for pistol rounds and it doesn't have a case feeder or auto-index
 
More Dillon envey....... When I bought my Dillon 550 over 15 years ago there was no other choice, it has served me well and has loaded tens of thousands of rounds without a problem. It has paid for itself many times over and I have never regretted buying it. The LnL is the only other choice now and it looks good too and I would consider it if I was buying a progressive press today.

i consider the dillon 550 too easy to double charge
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You shouldn't drink alcohol when you are reloading.;) :rolleyes:
 
I have a square deal and everytime I have phoned Dillon I have been treated with courtersy and patence! They are great in my estimation!
 
joe-nwt said:
Any powder measures out there let you get away without using a scale while adjusting a powder measure?
[...]
This is important because million's of peoiple reload black powder on a progressive.....
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Yes, the Hornady LNL AP (or any other micrometer-adjustable throw). I have calibrated my pistol measure with all my powders. With HS-6, it's within .1 of a grain on the first try for a new load (using the formula setting= desiredCharge*0.562645982-0.169893252, with a confidence interval of .999995). I still double-check with a scale, but I usually get it right on the first time, saving lots of time on a new load and dialing-in an existing one immediately.

Lack of a repeatable adjustment on the Dillon powder system is a legitimate complaint for multi-calibre shooters or people that change loads/powders from time to time.

You're right about the black powder and some other things in the writeup. Overall, as I mentioned, the guy's writeup lacks credibilty due to language and his choice of nits to pick. Even though I agree with his choice of press.
 
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Recently, I took the plunge and got a 650. Something I got right away that I'd suggest to anyone with a dillon press is the micrometer powder adjuster from uniquetek. What was it, fifty bucks US? Well worth it. Perhaps I just lucked out (or perhaps I read the instructions ;) ), but that thing is bang on for me.

I really don't care what other people use. If you have a lnl, good for you, I'm sure it works just fine. I'll stick with mine, which also works just fine.
 
"The 550 has no provision for loading blackpowder cartridges."

That's hilarious, The day I set up my 550 to load black powder is the day that I start talking like a pirate, monkeys fly out of my a** and zombies take over the world.

As for the powder charge measurement. I never remove the powder measure, I get off of my wallet and buy another quick change head. If the guy is really upset about the two screws, just grind off the notch so the die will spin inside the clamp without loosening it right off.
 
WithoutWarning said:
I am not taking stabs here by any means but,
if this seems to be a problem, don't reload.
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another kemo sabee heard from- you seem to miss the fact i've been reloading for over 30 years, and stuff happens , like someone phoning when you're in the middle of a session- if you have a press that auto- indexes , the chances of a no powder/double charge are reduced to practically nil, with the 550, unless you're using a powder that can't double charge due to grain size , it is possible- i've never done it, just pointing out the possibilites- the rest of the stations , it wouldn't matter if you did the same operation twice
 
t-star said:
another kemo sabee heard from- you seem to miss the fact i've been reloading for over 30 years, and stuff happens , like someone phoning when you're in the middle of a session- if you have a press that auto- indexes , the chances of a no powder/double charge are reduced to practically nil, with the 550, unless you're using a powder that can't double charge due to grain size , it is possible- i've never done it, just pointing out the possibilites- the rest of the stations , it wouldn't matter if you did the same operation twice
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Yes I know, what you say is tru.
But after the phone call, one notices that a bullet is, already seated,
the next step in order is, not pulling the handle.
Anyway, I'm no here to argue with fellow CGN'ers, but your comment
grabed my attention.
 
Without Warning

If you think you can't double charge using auto indexing presses then you will certainly double charge a load with one in time. Folks have been using 550 preses to reload pistol ammo for years. If you are the type that doesn't pay attention to what they are doing then you are right a 550 is not the press to be reloading on but then again no press is.

Take Care

Bob
 
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