Tons of threads about reloading and more info than I'll ever absorb but I got a nice check today and I want to pick up a full progressive press for loading 9mm, .45, .308, and .223.

I'm looking at the Dillon xl650 and Dillon has the Purchasing Guide (http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/8/pkg_id/9) but I have no idea what all the little add-ons do or which ones I could benefit from.

Also considering the RCBS Pro2000 but its not really a close second.

Buy from the Brian Enos web site. Call and talk to him/them.
http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.650.html

Get the 650 with caliber of choice.
Buy the conversion kit for the other three calibers.
Get the roller handle.
Get the strong mount. (See the as it should be upgrade)
Consider getting 3 extra tool heads and 3 tool head stands. Just makes it easier to convert between calibers. Look at the 'delux' kit that has the stand, tool head, and powder hopper.
Buy 4 extra large and small primer tubes.
Get the case feeder. You are going to need all 4 shell plates for your set ups.

1650 for everything except the reloading dies. First photo

Too much money, drop the covers, spare tool head and it drops it to 1275.

Still too much drop the auto case feed and extra plates. $940 2nd Photo

If still too much, spend 550 on the press for the most used caliber. Then add caliber conversions as you have the funds. Probably then add the tool heads. Then the case feed.

Buy from the Brian Enos web site. Call and talk to him/them.
http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.650.html


Thanks. Exactly what I needed. I'll get in touch with him.

I love my 650. If I wasn't reloading on it, I'd be using a 550 and enjoying the easier caliber conversions... but missing the production speed of the progressive.

If I ever sell it, it'll be to replace it with a 1050.

Call Brian and talk to him. One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, knows the Dillon line inside and out, and is the kind of vendor who routinely sells people OUT of things they don't need.

Good advice from Aloha. You can't go wrong with Dillon, you'll find this out the first time you break or lose something.

Good luck.

Al

I'll stick to my Lee Pro 1000. Mine was given to me but could have bought it ready to go for $150+. The Pro 1000 includes a case feeder, primer feeder, powder feeder, and the three dies.

They also offer a Load Master which has five stations and can do larger rifle cartridges also.

Lee Pro 1000 is no Dillon by any means but the other night I loaded 500+ rounds in just an evening. I should have kept track of my time but it wasn't much.

Yes the Lee I'm sure is more finicky than a Dillon but I've loaded 1500+ rounds thru mine and would suggest one. My uncle is sure a believer, he has 4 set up for his most common rounds he shoots and he still has less money in those four than he would in 1 Dillon.

Is this your first press, Flex?

Is this your first press, Flex?

Yep. I figure I'll do it right the first time.

Yep. I figure I'll do it right the first time.

I don't know that a progressive, much less a 650, is a good first press. I would get something and learn the mechanics first, then get a progressive, but that's just my opinion. Dillon stuff kicks butt, though.

I don't know that a progressive, much less a 650, is a good first press. I would get something and learn the mechanics first, then get a progressive, but that's just my opinion. Dillon stuff kicks butt, though.

I agree with you on the learning curve and the mechanics of it.

However, the plan is to put the press at James Firearm and turn out large numbers of loaded rounds quickly. We do a lot of demos with our cans (factory subs are expensive) and both Schmo and I shoot at least 1k rds per month.

It's going to serve my personal purposes as well as those of the business.

I'll have a good mentor who has been reloading for 50 years so hopefully that will offset a some of the learning curve.

I don't know that a progressive, much less a 650, is a good first press. I would get something and learn the mechanics first, then get a progressive, but that's just my opinion. Dillon stuff kicks butt, though.

Bottom line is that there is a lot you need to pay attention to when you first jump into reloading. You can miss a lot on a progressive cuz so much happens at one time. I missed stuff regularly my first 300-500 rounds and I had been using a single stage for a few years already.

There is more stuff you're gunna need to buy too, such as a good scale, case prep tools, data books etc..

If you are good, you can crank out 100 maybe 150 rounds an hour with a single stage.

*edit

I missed the mentor part. Yeah if you have someone there to walk you through then you'll be fine

I don't see dies anywhere on your list, Pete. I'd skip the quick change for the primer setup if you start running out of money. Just takes another minute or so.

I don't see dies anywhere on your list, Pete. I'd skip the quick change for the primer setup if you start running out of money. Just takes another minute or so.


I assumed I needed dies :D

If not the 650, what would you suggest for a "personal" use press for a newb?

I assumed I needed dies :D

What would you suggest for a "personal" use press for a newb?

Can't go wrong with any dies. I've been buying hornady stuff because it just seem to do well for me. I've never been disapointed with any hornady products

Can't go wrong with any dies. I've been buying hornady stuff because it just seem to do well for me. I've never been disapointed with any hornady products

Oops, that question was meant to be regarding a press not dies.

Oops, that question was meant to be regarding a press not dies.

I really like the hornady LNL AP. Never touched a Dillon, but everyone says they're the bee's knees

To date I've done close to 5K rounds through the press. Once you have your dies setup, caliber change takes a couple minutes and no tools. When you buy the bushings buy the biggest pack(10pack I think), cuz its a lot cheaper that way than buying the 3 packs. The powder throw it comes with is super consistent. I'd say +/- .1 or .2 grains depending on powder type.

I did have one problem with the press, but it was more user error than machine. I had spilt a lot of powder all over the press and it all got stuck up in the shellplate and primer feed system. I didn't notice and forced the press to work. Almost broke the primer feeder. Took it all apart and cleaned it up. Works like new

Here is my writeup and review of the LNL AP.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=777070&highlight=

You really should start with a single stage like the RCBS rockchucker. That way, when you move on to a Dillon, you still have apress for turning out high quality match rifle rounds. The Lee Turret or Redding T7 presses are a step up and allow up to go faster but still keep an eye on everything. I'm a Redding dealer, too :D

Dillons really are all they are made out to be. I'll load 1500 rounds tonight in about 90 minutes. For sure though, there is a learning curve and I knew a bit about reloading and had done it for a few years before I jumped into this press.

You really should start with a single stage like the RCBS rockchucker. That way, when you move on to a Dillon, you still have apress for turning out high quality match rifle rounds. The Lee Turret or Redding T7 presses are a step up and allow up to go faster but still keep an eye on everything. I'm a Redding dealer, too :D

Dillons really are all they are made out to be. I'll load 1500 rounds tonight in about 90 minutes. For sure though, there is a learning curve and I knew a bit about reloading and had done it for a few years before I jumped into this press.

Single stage really is where it's at. I make all my hunting ammo on mine. I could make hunting ammo on my LNL AP but cost to setup isn't going to be worth it till I standardize my hunting bullets and target ammo(powder throw on the LNL AP is accurate enough for match grade ammo)

Redding dealer you say??? I might have to hit you up when I get a second single stage.

I started out on an rcbs progressive and moved to a single stage.I dont know why but i just like it better but i dont have to reload a thousand rounds at a time
.

Don't worry about learning to reload on a progressive, especially a Dillon.

Any progressive can be used as a single stage press; once you learn a single step, go on to the next step until you have them all down. Then you can move into making one round through all four steps, then finally to making one round per pull of the handle. Just cause it's a progressive doesn't mean you have to start trying to make 1000's of rounds the first time out.

Take your time, learn what you need to learn, it will come quick.

Good luck.

Al

P.S. And you are doing it right, picking the Dillon and a progressive the first time out.

Can't go wrong with any dies. I've been buying hornady stuff because it just seem to do well for me. I've never been disapointed with any hornady products

After diddling with the alternative neck expansion plugs used by other vendors, I'm REALLY happy with the Hornady elliptical expander...

D.

1650 for everything except the reloading dies.

i don't see dies anywhere on your list, pete. I'd skip the quick change for the primer setup if you start running out of money. Just takes another minute or so.

:d