Time for a GUN topic the Dillon 650 report

bpost

Long ago I worked in a little gun store in Aurora Ill. I loaded ammo on the Dillon 1000. I know one order I did was for 60,000 .223's. I would guess I put out somewhere around 400,000 rounds while working there. Of course money was scarce so I took powder and primers out as wages. I shot a LOT in those days.

I got the new Dillon 650 up and running with 45ACP being the first to be loaded. It is an extremely well designed machine. Operationally is is very similar to the old 1000's. The defects of the 1000 have been corrected, the powder will not dump with out a case present and the primer feed ferris wheel is a great idea, dumping missed primers into a cup to be recovered and used.

Set up is easy, a few bolts and a solid place to mount it is all that is needed. I am working on some 308's now to see how the rifle side of the equation goes.

This is NOT a press for a weekend shooter needing 100 rounds or so. It is a production press and setting it up properly takes time, time that is wasted on anything less than 250 or so rounds IMO. I ruined 7- 45 ACP cases before I found the locator pin stuck in the belling/powder funnel. I do recommend getting the aftermarket knobs sold for powder adjustments, it makes life a lot easier.

Cost, if you only load a caliber or two it is not too bad. Conversion kits cost over 80 bucks and tool heads are not cheap either. You can figure about 100 bucks per caliber for the tool head and conversion kit. Some conversion kits will load more than one caliber. I bought a tool head and powder measure die for each tool head. It keeps critical adjustments like belling locked in.

The low primer alarm is awesome so is getting the roller handle ($60) rather than the ball handle.

I still do not recommend this press for a beginner. There is a lot going on every stroke up and down and only experience can teach the feel of what is NOT going right. If a beginner was trained hands on with the machine it would be OK but to just start out reloading and deal with multiple operations simultaneously might be too much.

Laredo Lefty

I have a 650 and a 900 my wife bought me for Xmas years ago. On the 650 I load .223, .308, 9mm, .45, and 45-70. I love that machine. It has the case feeder which makes things easy.

After I got it my wife got me upgrades like a strong mount, roller handle, and tool holder. Dillon has been very helpful if something broke or I had a question. There guys are very knowledgeable about what part might be causing what problem.

mogley98

My reloader is Geeorgia Arms [:D][:D]

1911a1-fan

i started on a 550, i heard the same story as a beginner, you can run 1 round at a time if need be , the learning curve from a single stage to a progressive is very short, i would rather spend my time shooting than reloading


i went to the roller handle right off the bat, i also added the case feed, well over 100,000 through it and it looks brand new

M1A762

Once you start producing ammo with your 650, don' forget to grease the case feeder cam and the primer cam. Both need grease every 1000 rounds. Keep the ram lube with motor oil also.

I have a 550 and 650. I like to load cast bullets on the 550, but the 650 rocks for loading 5.56 and plated 9mm![:)]

If you really want to go to town get a bullet feeder for your 650.[:)]

1911a1-fan

quote:Originally posted by forgemonkey


Bruce, thanks for the report ,,,,,,,,,,,


However, I had unmitigated hell with my new 550B,,,,,,,,,,,I tried everything I could including new parts and many emails/phone calls trying to get the primers to seat correctly. At best they were almost flush or several thousandths proud of the case.

I finally found a combination of extra parts that work so-so but have to keep a close eye on the priming process.

I'm not planning on any more 'Blue' in the future,,,,,,,,,





try pushing up/forward on your handle [:D]




what parts did you replace, sounds like an index sprocket or primer cup adjustment issue


the primer slide assembly should measure 1.215" to
1.220"

perry shooter

OK BRUCE & FORGE MONKEY I read and agree with both of you on just about every thing when it comes to shooting working on firearms
However when you talk about reloading in large quantity You both are sailing a wooden row boat instead of a CRIST CRAFT inboard Yacht. The Dillon products are good BUT does not come close to a Star RELOADER with auto case feed and indexer installed . The first one I bought was used by a POLICE DEPT back in the day when they loaded their own Practice ammo my unit had over 750,000 rounds loaded in 38 special I bought a 45acp shell plate Carbide dies with taper crimp die and later a auto case loader & indexer I have loaded over 350,000 rounds of 45acp with only 2 Broken decapping pins both had a 22lr case stuck inside the 45acp case I really wish I could ship one of my units for you to try but It needs to b3 taken apart to ship and the set up to match the correct primer feed seating depth powder charge etc I have used every Dillon model made and other than service support and replacement parts the Star is hands down a better by a land slide piece of equipment