trying to decide between the 550 and 650
Quote from Reloader on May 26, 2008, 11:54 amHi everyone,
I am a complete newbie when it comes to reloading. I have been trying to do my research and asking a lot of questions etc. I plan on getting into relaoding as both a hobby and to support my shooting. I am about to get a reloading press and I cant decide between the 550 and 650. Its only about a $150 difference between setups for the 3 calibers I plan on reloading at first. I shoot about 500-750 rounds a month (depending on funds LOL) split between 9mm, 40 and 45acp.
I am leaning more towards the 650 mainly because of the powder check, even though I had a friend also suggest the case feed is nice also. I kinda want to get one setup and not be disapointed later or wish I had gotten this or that, or need to upgrade to another press.
In your experience, are the extra features of the 650 worthwhile and worht the extra money int eh setup and conversion kits?
Thanks
S.M.
Hi everyone,
I am a complete newbie when it comes to reloading. I have been trying to do my research and asking a lot of questions etc. I plan on getting into relaoding as both a hobby and to support my shooting. I am about to get a reloading press and I cant decide between the 550 and 650. Its only about a $150 difference between setups for the 3 calibers I plan on reloading at first. I shoot about 500-750 rounds a month (depending on funds LOL) split between 9mm, 40 and 45acp.
I am leaning more towards the 650 mainly because of the powder check, even though I had a friend also suggest the case feed is nice also. I kinda want to get one setup and not be disapointed later or wish I had gotten this or that, or need to upgrade to another press.
In your experience, are the extra features of the 650 worthwhile and worht the extra money int eh setup and conversion kits?
Thanks
S.M.
Quote from Reloader on May 26, 2008, 10:06 pmSomething for you to consider. I have been reloading with a Dillion 550b since 1989. Its the greatest machine in the world, Simple - Easy Setup not complex and works within tolerance. 6 months ago I upgraded to a 650. I love the machine, its fast, accurate and runs in tolerance. But It's complex. After changing calibers 6 times since December, I still have to walk thru the book to insure that I change everything that needs to be changed. The 550b - I can do it in my sleep. (with out the book). Now you may say you have had almost 20 years with that machine, and I'll say after my third caliber change, I didn't need the book any more.
Auto indexing is probably the next issue. When things are going good on the 650, things move really fast. But when things go bad - they go bad really fast in a lot of places. Here is and example. Reloading shot brass. A primer is sticking out a tad from the pocket, on the 550 when you insert the brass, you will feel this and stop and examine what the problem is. On the 650, the cartridge insertion will fail, but due to auto indexing and auto case feeding, you will end up with 2 (Yes two cartridges in the insertion station). You have to stop now. But what do you do - previous rounds have auto indexed forward. The key is you have to stop and think what has just happened and make the necessary corrections. On the 550 basically nothing bad has happened other than that you need a new piece of brass, and you will handle the problem with the extended primer later.
I don't want to scare you but the 550 is great to learn reloading on. Once you become really good at it, You will buy a 650. Oh by the way, you won't lose very much money on a used sale - These presses hold their value.
Hope this helps.
Something for you to consider. I have been reloading with a Dillion 550b since 1989. Its the greatest machine in the world, Simple - Easy Setup not complex and works within tolerance. 6 months ago I upgraded to a 650. I love the machine, its fast, accurate and runs in tolerance. But It's complex. After changing calibers 6 times since December, I still have to walk thru the book to insure that I change everything that needs to be changed. The 550b - I can do it in my sleep. (with out the book). Now you may say you have had almost 20 years with that machine, and I'll say after my third caliber change, I didn't need the book any more.
Auto indexing is probably the next issue. When things are going good on the 650, things move really fast. But when things go bad - they go bad really fast in a lot of places. Here is and example. Reloading shot brass. A primer is sticking out a tad from the pocket, on the 550 when you insert the brass, you will feel this and stop and examine what the problem is. On the 650, the cartridge insertion will fail, but due to auto indexing and auto case feeding, you will end up with 2 (Yes two cartridges in the insertion station). You have to stop now. But what do you do - previous rounds have auto indexed forward. The key is you have to stop and think what has just happened and make the necessary corrections. On the 550 basically nothing bad has happened other than that you need a new piece of brass, and you will handle the problem with the extended primer later.
I don't want to scare you but the 550 is great to learn reloading on. Once you become really good at it, You will buy a 650. Oh by the way, you won't lose very much money on a used sale - These presses hold their value.
Hope this helps.
Quote from Reloader on May 27, 2008, 6:51 pmI shoot at last count eighteen calibers on my XL650, thirteen that I leave set up on Die Plates. Changing out a caliber takes me about fifteen minutes, recalibrate the powder measure about another ten or so to get it really close, making sure to readjust the camming pin for station one depth, Station two for the indexing finger, and then some finicky stuff with each caliber, it is not that bad.
Yep if you have a primer that hangs up you stop and deal with it, right then in all the stations. Either one is as good as gold, and this year I decided I didn't want t single station press anything.
I shoot .30-06, .308 Remington, 8MM Mauser( kinda have to build that set yourself), 6.8 mm Remington SPC, .303 Savage, .303 British, .30-30 Win, .270 Win, .243 Win, .257 Roberts .223 Remington, .222 Remington and do it all on my Dillon. I have a buddy that purchased a .45-70 so will learn that one shortly.
I load .380 (need the dillon dies), 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP .44 mag, .45 LC. When you get the hang of this machine it is the only way to go. All my friends like coming over and reloading just due to the speed of things.
I built a carrier for the shell trays so they stack so the XL 650 is pretty self contained. Feeder is a must! Shell tray makes life easier, but not required.
Wife claims this machine is my midlife crisis, but I told her the Barrett fifty is...Jeffer
I shoot at last count eighteen calibers on my XL650, thirteen that I leave set up on Die Plates. Changing out a caliber takes me about fifteen minutes, recalibrate the powder measure about another ten or so to get it really close, making sure to readjust the camming pin for station one depth, Station two for the indexing finger, and then some finicky stuff with each caliber, it is not that bad.
Yep if you have a primer that hangs up you stop and deal with it, right then in all the stations. Either one is as good as gold, and this year I decided I didn't want t single station press anything.
I shoot .30-06, .308 Remington, 8MM Mauser( kinda have to build that set yourself), 6.8 mm Remington SPC, .303 Savage, .303 British, .30-30 Win, .270 Win, .243 Win, .257 Roberts .223 Remington, .222 Remington and do it all on my Dillon. I have a buddy that purchased a .45-70 so will learn that one shortly.
I load .380 (need the dillon dies), 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP .44 mag, .45 LC. When you get the hang of this machine it is the only way to go. All my friends like coming over and reloading just due to the speed of things.
I built a carrier for the shell trays so they stack so the XL 650 is pretty self contained. Feeder is a must! Shell tray makes life easier, but not required.
Wife claims this machine is my midlife crisis, but I told her the Barrett fifty is...
Jeffer
Quote from Reloader on September 27, 2008, 12:01 amI had a similar dilemma 2 years ago. Went with the 650, for all the reasons already stated...Brian Enos' website has extensive discussion of the Dillon presses & their merits: --gj
I had a similar dilemma 2 years ago. Went with the 650, for all the reasons already stated...Brian Enos' website has extensive discussion of the Dillon presses & their merits: --gj