I have rhe oppertunity to buy a dillon 450 progressive press for reloading pistol ammo. Right now I use 3 rock chuckers lined up! I tried to research a 450 as I had never herd of one before. 550 and 650 yes but never a 450.There doesn't appear to be any info on it . I want to reload for 9mm and .38/357 to start then more later. Any comments would be helpfull! Thanks
Ever heard of a dillon 450?
- Thread starter hitch.bd
- Start date
no the 450 is not a square deal. the 450 is the predecessor to the 550. in fact Dillon sells a conversion kit to change the 450 into a 550. see here: http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/co...atid/6/Dillon_RL_450_Upgrade_Frame_Change_Kit
The 450 is a fixed tool head press.. (the tool head is not removable)
It had a manual powdering system
and the series 1 priming system which was derived from the Square deal
it is the predecessor to a 500
The 500 had a removable toolhead and an autopowder system but no failsafe system
it also had the series 1 priming system...
which is the predescessor to the 550
Had a auto power system with a new failsafe system and a few new bolt on's
a 550 550b included a newer fail safe system and a revised auto prime system
Both the 550B and SDB got a new priming system about the same time..
It had a manual powdering system
and the series 1 priming system which was derived from the Square deal
it is the predecessor to a 500
The 500 had a removable toolhead and an autopowder system but no failsafe system
it also had the series 1 priming system...
which is the predescessor to the 550
Had a auto power system with a new failsafe system and a few new bolt on's
a 550 550b included a newer fail safe system and a revised auto prime system
Both the 550B and SDB got a new priming system about the same time..
I have a Dillon 450. It is, as already said, not a Square Deal B. It is a fully manual press; not only do you turn the shell head, you manually charge the primer feed and manually operate the powder measure. However, I have never felt the need to convert my 450, as I don't pretend to do rapid changes between calibres. I set up and load a few thousand at a time.
Thank you for all your input. So would it be worth it to buy it for $300.00? The guy said he bought it to reload .223 but never did. I don't need to do quick change overs. Like Al-Sway, I'll do a few thousand at a time. Are parts to do different cals. available?
thanks again forall who added to this thread
Hitch
thanks again forall who added to this thread
Hitch
I think a new square deal runs around $350 - 400, so no, $300 is not a good deal in my opinion.
The Square Deal requires proprietary dies though, so caution on that.
If you are going to set up for .223 and any number of other calibers, I'd look to the 550 or 650.
If you have deeper pockets and shoot a lot a 1050 might strike your fancy.
The Square Deal requires proprietary dies though, so caution on that.
If you are going to set up for .223 and any number of other calibers, I'd look to the 550 or 650.
If you have deeper pockets and shoot a lot a 1050 might strike your fancy.
I don't have a .223 but I believe that is what it is set up for. All I want to reload is 9mm and .38/.357mag. Maybe later on .45 auto. As tempting as the 1050 could be, the pockets are not that deep!
I am new to reloading pistol, and not farmiluar with proprietary dies. Can you enlighten me please.
I am new to reloading pistol, and not farmiluar with proprietary dies. Can you enlighten me please.
If you wanted to load a single caliber and it included the dies Id say it's not a bad deal... Otherwise keep looking
a new 550 is going to cost you in the $700 range.. a 650 11-1300 and a 1050 1800ish (numbers are off the top of my head)
If you buy a Dillon Square Deal B, you won't be able to use any other dies beside the Dillon dies. I loaded 2000 rounds of 45ACP with this press. There is nothing wrong with it if you plan to load pistol calibers.
The tool head on a square deal is very small Dillon makes their own dies for the press no others will fit.. They are not standard... They cannot be used on any other press and they don't look like any other dies.
It's not really a problem other then it's a captive market.
Some have gone so far as to buy a single square deal press for each caliber they shoot. If you have the bench space, and don't want to #### around changing sm/lg primers and tool heads around this looks like a viable way to do it as well.
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Unless you are convinced that Blue (Dillon) is best, I'd suggest looking at a (Red) Lee Classic Cast Turret then buy the dies and turret for .38/.357 and 9mm. It is not a progressive so it will require four pulls of the handle to make a round, but a set-up for two calibers may not cost much over 300 bucks.
Ckeck out this article:
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews2006/leeturretpress/index.asp
Wow, there are sure a lot of choices out there. I already have my dies for : 9mm
.38/.357
I even have des for a .44 mag but no gun to load for it! So I'm guessing a Square deal is out of the question. I like versitility when and where ever practicle.
I've been reloading for my gazillion rifles for years:.22 Hornet
.30-30
.308
.3006
.303 Brit
I have a few RCBS rock chuckers for that. those are what I am using, lined up, for pistol reloading right now!
I use a MEC 8567 for reloading my 12g shotguns,I started that about a year ago!
That is my long winded way of saying that I am nota "hardcore, one flavor/ color type of guy!
I still don't know what dirrection I am going to take. It sounds like the $300 being asked for (for the 450 dillon) is an ok,but not screaming, deal. If the price can come down a bit maybe.
.38/.357
I even have des for a .44 mag but no gun to load for it! So I'm guessing a Square deal is out of the question. I like versitility when and where ever practicle.
I've been reloading for my gazillion rifles for years:.22 Hornet
.30-30
.308
.3006
.303 Brit
I have a few RCBS rock chuckers for that. those are what I am using, lined up, for pistol reloading right now!
I use a MEC 8567 for reloading my 12g shotguns,I started that about a year ago!
That is my long winded way of saying that I am nota "hardcore, one flavor/ color type of guy!
I still don't know what dirrection I am going to take. It sounds like the $300 being asked for (for the 450 dillon) is an ok,but not screaming, deal. If the price can come down a bit maybe.
This turret press looks interresting, And the price,if you are right sounds very inviting! When you say the setup for two cals. shouldn't be much more than $300 was that with some or all of the things in that article? I'm interrested.
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
Firstly, let me explain how I get my stuff. I seldom buy reloading equipment from my local gunstore because they mark-up a lot, understandable because they need to stay in business. So what I do is I ask a friend to order from MidwayUSA or Cheaperthandirt or the other suppliers, then my friend mails the stuff to me. Or I bring them back when I drive down to Seattle. Comes out cheaper than buying locally. Yes, the Lee Classic Turret with 2 calibers should be less than US$240.00 shipped to my friend in Seattle.
If this procedure is too cumbersome, then just try to haggle the price down on the Dillon 450 since you already have the dies (if they fit) and start reloading pronto.
Thanks Easy, I don't have any friends in the US and haven't traveled across the line since 1992. Not that I can't, Just that I haven't! I take it that the two above mentioned stores do not send across to the great white Canada?!
