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Quote from Reloader on September 18, 2011, 11:32 pmI am looking at the XL650 press. I need a faster way to reload than the single stage press I have been using. My wife & I reload for 380, 9mm, 40 and 45 acp as well as a few rifle cartridges. Before I purchase I have a couple of questions... Do I need to purchase a caliber conversion kit for each caliber or can I just purchase the toolhead and shell plate? I need the fast way to change calibers without spending more money than needed. Also what all do I need to purchase to get loading. I have all the dies. I have been seating and crimping in two steps as it is easier and It seems to give better results. Will the other Dillon presses do this?
Any and all help from these press users would be great!!
I am looking at the XL650 press. I need a faster way to reload than the single stage press I have been using. My wife & I reload for 380, 9mm, 40 and 45 acp as well as a few rifle cartridges. Before I purchase I have a couple of questions... Do I need to purchase a caliber conversion kit for each caliber or can I just purchase the toolhead and shell plate? I need the fast way to change calibers without spending more money than needed. Also what all do I need to purchase to get loading. I have all the dies. I have been seating and crimping in two steps as it is easier and It seems to give better results. Will the other Dillon presses do this?
Any and all help from these press users would be great!!
Quote from Reloader on September 19, 2011, 2:45 pmyou will indeed need a separate caliber conversion kit for each of the calibers you list. All Dillon loaders are set up for separate seating and crimping. If you want to leave your dies set up and adjusted, order additional toolheads and powder dies for each subsequent caliber.
It sounds like you are already reloading, so you should already have the basics; powder scale, loading manual, calipers, primer flip tray and case lube.
you will indeed need a separate caliber conversion kit for each of the calibers you list. All Dillon loaders are set up for separate seating and crimping. If you want to leave your dies set up and adjusted, order additional toolheads and powder dies for each subsequent caliber.
It sounds like you are already reloading, so you should already have the basics; powder scale, loading manual, calipers, primer flip tray and case lube.
Quote from Reloader on September 21, 2011, 10:56 pmOwned my 650 for nearly a year. I loaded on a friends 550 15 years ago and was impressed with the machine. I load 38/357, 9MM L & 9MM Federal (rimmed-38 shell plate), 44 mag, 45 ACP, Colt and 454 Casull. Cranked out about 6000 rounds or so without too much fuss.
I heartily recommend the 650, once you get the hang of its loosely coupled setup you can crank out several hundred rounds an hour easily--you can do 400-600 as advertised but I am never in that much of a hurry. I think the video that is available is a big help to get started with. The machine works so well that it tells you immediately if something is amiss and you disregard the warning signs at your peril (e.g., hard crank, odd noises, primer issues, etc.).
I recommend you get the excel spreadsheet available on line that tells you what you need from a pieces and parts perspective to reload. So buy the conversion kits for your mainline weapons and use the charts to buy the pieces and parts you need to fill in the others (many 44 and 45 pieces are common, as are 38, 9mm, 40 cal). You can accomplish the same thing by going through the 650 manual but the spreadsheet is free and easy to use.
Good luck! MC
Owned my 650 for nearly a year. I loaded on a friends 550 15 years ago and was impressed with the machine. I load 38/357, 9MM L & 9MM Federal (rimmed-38 shell plate), 44 mag, 45 ACP, Colt and 454 Casull. Cranked out about 6000 rounds or so without too much fuss.
I heartily recommend the 650, once you get the hang of its loosely coupled setup you can crank out several hundred rounds an hour easily--you can do 400-600 as advertised but I am never in that much of a hurry. I think the video that is available is a big help to get started with. The machine works so well that it tells you immediately if something is amiss and you disregard the warning signs at your peril (e.g., hard crank, odd noises, primer issues, etc.).
I recommend you get the excel spreadsheet available on line that tells you what you need from a pieces and parts perspective to reload. So buy the conversion kits for your mainline weapons and use the charts to buy the pieces and parts you need to fill in the others (many 44 and 45 pieces are common, as are 38, 9mm, 40 cal). You can accomplish the same thing by going through the 650 manual but the spreadsheet is free and easy to use.
Good luck! MC