going progressive (best source?)

this may sound dumb, but....

I've been looking at video on youtube of the lnl/dillon 650/1050 etc.

Which ones require electricity to operate, or am I just hearing background noise from tumblers?

I want to be able to operate fully manual if necessary.

can you run a 650 with case feed etc. manually?
 
I have a Dillon 650 and purchased some extra die plates for caliber changes, but found change over too involved. Maybe if I did it more often it would be better but that's another story.

I got a RCBS Pro 2000, semi auto progressive( had to manually advance shellplate) and it was ok. I got an extra powder measure and linkages so I could keep one with large and small drums set up. Last week I found they had a conversion kit making it a full progressive and installed one and it works like a dream. I can change calibers, shell plate, powder measure and be up and running in a little over 15 minutes. The APS primer strips work great, although I have a tube primer for it if the need arises.

I had tried one of their ammomaster presses some year back and had problems with the indexing which was accomplished by a twisted hex or octoganol shaped rod in the middle of the shellplate. The new ammomaster full progressive uses a positive cam action,the adaptor bolts to the press frame mounting holes( I did not have to make any adjustments to mine, it worked perfectly as soon as I installed the cam frame parts)
 
Canuck223 said:
Ditto.

I've owned the L'n'L's father, the Projector. It was a great, solid, finicky press that did a great job at the time.

I've used the Dillon 550 and 650. I would buy a 650. Actually, I very nearly did this week. However, the 1050 is the ne plus ultra press every progressive loader should be using.

I sold my first 1050, and regretted it. I just purchased my second.

It does everything the lesser presses do, it just does it better, faster, harder, and with less fuss.

People ##### about the time spent in changing calibers. It is a pain, but this is a machine meant to crank out a few thousand rounds an evening. So you buy more brass and bullets, and load a few months worth, not a few matches worth.

How much is your time worth to you. I know that my free time is limited, and time spent loading is time I don't have to be shooting.
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I think you just sold me on a 1050...you know you suck, right?;):D
 
The ONLY downside to the 1050 is no lifetime warranty, otherwise it is a dream. Like a little ammo factory on you bench. Somebody even makes automation equipment to run hands free.
 
CanAm said:
The ONLY downside to the 1050 is no lifetime warranty, otherwise it is a dream.
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My answer to this often repeated worry is simple. The press is so well built that if you don't manage to break it in the one year warranty period, it's never going to. The bell crank and lever may after a horrible amount of use, fail due to metal fatigue.

As far as I know, the only reason Dillon excludes this press from the regular warranty is the numbers of smaller volume commercial reloaders using them.
 
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I called p&d for prices, left a message. With shipping a large portion of the cost I should probably look in Ontario for a dealer, though.

Anybody else use RCBS?

I'm starting to wonder if I should get 2 presses, one for .45 one for .223
my bank account hates this website
 
twoshots said:
I called p&d for prices, left a message. With shipping a large portion of the cost I should probably look in Ontario for a dealer, though.
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You save the PST if you order out of Province. Shipping may not be much more depending on the distance.

It cost me $58.00 shipping for a Dillon 550B to go from BC to Ontario (in two boxes). No problems, no border worries. Good guy to deal with, who is active in the sport.

Edited to add: With Ontario sales tax at 8%, that would have cost me $59.00 in tax. So it evens things out if you order out of province.
 
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Although reloading still seems like a mystery to me (what with die changes/feeders etc..) I'm pretty well decided on a 650. I'm terrified to price out the cost to set myself up with the different dies/plates so as to make calibre changes easy.
Any idea on what to expect as far as total cost would be for the 650XL, dies/plates for 38/357, .40 & .45? I'm talking kit'n kaboodle here, including tumbler, primer feeder tubes for the different sizes etc. Just trying to prepare my credit card for it's next infarctus :D

And again (alredy sent him a pm), thanks soo much to acrashb for his thread!;)
 
Shelldrake said:
You save the PST if you order out of Province. Shipping may not be much more depending on the distance.

It cost me $58.00 shipping for a Dillon 550B to go from BC to Ontario (in two boxes). No problems, no border worries. Good guy to deal with, who is active in the sport.

Edited to add: With Ontario sales tax at 8%, that would have cost me $59.00 in tax. So it evens things out if you order out of province.
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good point
 
peter2772000 said:
Any idea on what to expect as far as total cost would be for the 650XL, dies/plates for 38/357, .40 & .45? I'm talking kit'n kaboodle here, including tumbler, primer feeder tubes for the different sizes etc. Just trying to prepare my credit card for it's next infarctus :D
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Murray Gardner has pricing on his website, and an example invoice with all the fixings listed.
http://ww w.mdgardner.com/dillon.htm

And, I think the Brian Enos website has the best writeup as to what the various models can and cannot do.
http://ww w.brianenos.com/pages/dillon.html#which
 
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CanAm said:
The ONLY downside to the 1050 is no lifetime warranty, otherwise it is a dream. Like a little ammo factory on you bench. Somebody even makes automation equipment to run hands free.
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Anyone know who makes equipment to run hands free, I have a kiss bullet feeder but would love to go totaly hands free.
 
acrashb said:
You can't go wrong with the Dillon. Or the Hornady. Really, even the Lee is good value, although I stuck with the Hornady for the LNL features.
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I'm using 3 lee progressives, but after using friends dillon I found the dillon to be better built and easier to set up. It's more money though, but well worth it. When I first started reloading (1965) we did all on my RCBS junior and I was shooting 1000 rounds per month, you relaoded all week and blew them off on the weekend :D
 
I just fired off an email to Murray Gardner, asking for a quote. I listed all the pistol calibres I needed to reload for, and explained that I wanted to have the extra heads/primer feed tubes doohickeys??? so as to make calibre changes easy and painless. By my calculations, I'm up to around $1700 plu GST plus shipping. Plus god knows what else I forgot to calculate, plus the actual bullets, primers, media etc....

Damn! I'd better be shooting for awhile to have this thing pay for itself within my lifetime. :slap:
 
650XL Advice Needed

Will take possesion of my new 650-XL this coming weekend (P&D). Comes in .40 S&W. Will also p/u 9mm dies as well.

My questions:

Is it worthwhile to spend the $145 for the Quick Change Kit ?

Should i buy the $80 Powder Check as well ?

Is there any other options I should get ?

Thanks in advance.
 
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