Square Deal vs 550

[kingdarb]

Hey folks. Question for people who have used the above Dillon products. I am looking to get a progressive machine and will be reloading 9mm and 45acp. Would I be better served with a square deal with a quick change set so I can do both rounds, or a 550 with dies for each type of round?

I'm new to reloading, btw (if that isn't already apparent heh).

 

[ckid]

I have used both over the years, and to me it is a tough decision, I am using a 550 presently.

The SDB is a nice compact machine that auto indexes, which makes a double charge next to impossible. The only downside to it in my opinion is that you MUST use Dillon die sets with it and it will not reload rifle.

The 550 takes standard dies so you can use Hornady, Lee, RCBS etc dies in it and it will load rifle cartridges. It does not auto index so if you forget to manually rotate the shell plate and stroke the handle you will have a double charge.

With my 550, I can accomplish a caliber change including changing primer size in about 5 minutes.

My father has a pair of SDB's and one is set up for small pistol primers the other for large, this greatly speeds up caliber changes as all you have to do is swap die heads and shell plates.

Having said all this if I saw a good deal on a used SDB or 2, I would probably scoop them up and use them exclusively for my handgun cals.

Steve

 

[kingdarb]

Thanks Steve. As the SDB seems a little more idiot proof I might look into one of those.

 

[tjhaile]

I would choose the 550 because it's more versatile if you ever want to load anything else. Also, the smaller size might make it less ergonomic to operate. Automatic indexing gives you no real advantage in speed unless you are using a case feeder.

 

[ckid]

TJ, you are correct about the auto-index not being much of an advantage if you don't have a case feeder. I look at it more as a safety feature to reduce/eliminate the chance of a double charge..... Having said that I have 2 large coffee cans full of spent primers from my 550 and never double charged even though the posibility is there.

 

[beltfed]

save a bit more cash and go with a 650

 

[kingdarb]

Is the square deal pretty small in size and hard to use? I'm 6'2" with big mitts. Do they both work fairly well?

 

[Biggunners]

550B new at my work place ...!

 

[44Bore]

I have used SDB and 450's. I don't load large quantitiies of a single rifle caliber so for me the SDB works well. I only shoot 9mm now so have one set up for it. when I shot 44 mag and .45 acp I had one set up for each.

Regards, Jim