Looking for tune up tips to speed up my Dillon 650

[MartyK2500]

I have a Dillon 650, and don’t really enjoy the experience right now.
For pistol since there is little custom tailoring involved around the ammo, once set i just try to crank the most out ASAP.

Had my 650 for 5+ years, in its early days it was in 40SW, for two years now it’s been in 9mm.
Ever since it’s in 9mm, i get between 15-20% of casings that catch on the resizing die edge.

Dillon have suggested changing my dies for dillon die brand, which has helped cutting down stoppges to 5-10%.
It’s still too much, as it cuts in the reload rythm and is unpleasant.

Any other hints to make my 650 run more smoothly under higher speeds?

 

[silverfoxdj]

There are a few add ons I would say the bearing option underneath the case carrier will smooth out the 9mm shells so they don't drop powder..is one..

 

[MartyK2500]

I had a hit factor bearing roller between my bolt and shellplate,
While it made my shellplate indexing smoother, it made my resizing hiccups at station #1 worst.

I do have ab RF100 for filling primer tubes, and will order a Mr Bullet feeder, but feel as long as i can’t smooth out press action i won’t benefit as much as i should.

 

[4n2t0]

1) Unstable bench?

2) Adjust the camming pin.

3) Make sure all stations are occupied when tightening the dies.

4) Does the shellplate index freely? Tightening the shellplate bolt too much can slow down the shellplates rotation.

 

[silverfoxdj]

I had a hit factor bearing roller between my bolt and shellplate,
While it made my shellplate indexing smoother, it made my resizing hiccups at station #1 worst.

I do have ab RF100 for filling primer tubes, and will order a Mr Bullet feeder, but feel as long as i can’t smooth out press action i won’t benefit as much as i should.

I wouldn't waste my money on a feeder

 

[adamg]

Weird, I've never had my 650 jam on the case mouth hitting the resize/decap 9mm die. I'm using the Dillon carbide 9mm die set. When I'm resizing 223, sometimes those do catch on the resize die, but never 9mm. Are you sure your case feeder's black slider is pushing the case all the way into the turret piece (black metal piece that rotates, holds cases at the rim)?

 

[dogzilla]

You may need to move the plastic ram that pushes the shell into place to increase the pressure. I have to do this now and then. That said, I have more trouble with 9mm than any other caliber. I think they should have a separate feeder tube for 9 and 38 because they often stack cockeyed and jam in the swing arm. I have the mini bullet feeder and love it. with 3 canisters you can pump them out. But it takes up a station. I also use a powder checker which also takes up a station. This means you need to use a seat/crimp die instead of 2 separate dies. This actually works well for me because I already had the dies and I just bought the Dillon sizing die on it's own. The Dillon die has a nice big radius to help guide the shell into the die. I was getting jam ups on all my calibers using a standard sizer

 

[GreenBob]

I had a hit factor bearing roller between my bolt and shellplate,
While it made my shellplate indexing smoother, it made my resizing hiccups at station #1 worst.

I do have ab RF100 for filling primer tubes, and will order a Mr Bullet feeder, but feel as long as i can’t smooth out press action i won’t benefit as much as i should.

I did this years ago and helped with the smoothness and it really cut down on any powder spilling.

I wouldn't waste my money on a feeder

I usually agree 109% with SF but not this time. Having a bullet feeder will GREATLY speed up your loading.

I'm actually very surprised you don't have it already. With all the gucci gear you have

 

[RePete]

Look on Enos forum, there is plethora of info on improvements for the 650.

 

[tigrr]

The 650 needs to be solid or you get spilled powder and moved brass. Only issue with 9mm is the occasional upside down brass. Best day reloading was 1200 45 acp through the press in 1 hour. Couldn't move my arm the next day.
Read the manual on where your suppose to lube. And how often.

 

[MartyK2500]

4Nt20
1) Unstable bench? Very solid

2) Adjust the camming pin. Already adjusted

3) Make sure all stations are occupied when tightening the dies. Will re-try this, as when I installed FLS die it was the first one to be installed

4) Does the shellplate index freely? Tightening the shellplate bolt too much can slow down the shellplates rotation. Shellplate is free and smooth (doesn't powder spill)

Dogzilla, the plastic part that slide the casings in (they call it slide cam on diagrams) is adjusted to push casings to their fullest.

Greenbob, I know i'm late to the party with this bullet feeder right?
Got the 650 a few years ago with an RF100 primer tube filler, then neglected to pay for anything pistol reloading equipment since then.
Time to update the pistol side of the shop as the rifle side is putting it to shame


Repete : For my specific problem, just found a few insides on the ENOS forums.
People, just like me, are having problems with 9mm casings, as in 40-45 etc... the wider cases are more forgiving.
The problem is also specific to the first station, as in casing catching on rim of resize die.

Here are solutions that we're posted there so far on ENOS, and will give them a try, as this is getting annoying.

1. Changing sizing die for Dillon (already have)
2. Clean the face of slide cam, as casings can stick to it and as it slides backs it brings back casing with it a few thous
3. Mark index point of bottom shellplate (ie 1-2-3-4-5), and try to determine if hiccup always happen at the same spot on the shellplate (as is when #3 slot in the shellplate reaches resizer I get a hiccup), may be a shellplate defect and it would ''seem'' Dillon got a few of these.
4. They also mention loosing sizing die, cycle a casing in it with it loose, and readjust the die with a casing in it, seems like it can help give it a slight angle that may be the problem (this solution was not mentioned much and I take it with a grain of salt)

Right now this issue is my biggest issue preventing me from going faster, much more than a bullet feeder, bullet feeder is more about being comfortable than anything else.
If anyone else got this issue and corrected it please feel free to post your solution to it even if it's already been posted.

 

[ShootMeStraight]

I've been curious about getting a Dillon so I can load 9mm/45 ACP quicker . Right now I'm using a Lee Classic Turret. I just have one concern since with my Turret I visually inspect the power charge level on every round before I seat a bullet. Is this something users of the Dillon do or do you 100% trust the press for this?

 

[MartyK2500]

Mind you i do not have a bullet feeder yet,
But i currently have a press mounted light, and visually inspect 100% of my casings before seating a bullet.

 

[dogzilla]

I've been curious about getting a Dillon so I can load 9mm/45 ACP quicker . Right now I'm using a Lee Classic Turret. I just have one concern since with my Turret I visually inspect the power charge level on every round before I seat a bullet. Is this something users of the Dillon do or do you 100% trust the press for this?

You can get a powder check unit for the dillon. Once it's set a beeper goes off if there's no powder or if there's a double charge. I reload sitting, so it's one of the must haves as far as I'm concerned.

 

[tomo333]

I wouldn't waste my money on a feeder

Have you ever used one?
Best money I spent after buying the press.

 

[fingers284]

There are two reasons for cases not being placed C/L under the sizer die that I have encountered with my 650 after setting the case pusher at the first set-up close to 15 yrs. ago. One is "not all brass is created equal or uniform" and I have on very limited occasion encountered one that the rim will be very tight in the shell plate, the second is more common but still only once in a blue moon, A kernel of powder or spent primer crud sometimes gets caught in the rim pocket on the shell plate.

 

[RePete]

I wouldn't waste my money on a feeder

Granted I run a 1050, but the KISS Bulletfeeder (fore runner to the MrBulletFeeder) and is the best upgrade I have made.

 

[silverfoxdj]

Have you ever used one?
Best money I spent after buying the press.

I don't need to go that fast and better spend the money else where , but no it's not a matter of use but need in my case.

 

[jedmax]

You can get a powder check unit for the dillon. Once it's set a beeper goes off if there's no powder or if there's a double charge. I reload sitting, so it's one of the must haves as far as I'm concerned.

I reload standing and can visually inspect. I have an Inline Fab LED setup and can visually see/check the powder to ensure there's powder and it's not a double charge. Built my bench for my height (5'8") to accommodate the 650 with strong mount.

 

[RePete]

I can see in the charged cases because I picked up an endoscope with wifi from Amazon and use my cell phone. Just have to finish making the mount for the camera and pick up a clamp for the phone.