Took the dive - Presses- Done done it!!

IAMACLONE_2

Need to start reloading 556, $500k for 5.56mm is nuts..
Burn around 10-15k of 223 & 5k of 45acp a year.

Main thing is producing a repeatable very good quality round.
No room for error or squibs in machineguns.

Think I want a progressive turret setup.
Need to punch out at least 200rds a hour to make it worth while.

I want the "best" that is resonable and ez to operate.

Do I need a 4 hole,5, or 7 die set up?

Whats wrong witht buying say 3 cheaper presses each with a single purpose die set up vs the progressive turret.

Also feel that a good powder dispensor & electronic scales would be a bonus.

Hit me with your collective recommnedations.
I got the hots, and thats bad, got get one ASAP

Where you at Heff??
Thanks
Walte

shootlow

Dillon 550 or 650 and dont look back

Tailgunner1954

Note that I'm a dyed in the wool single stage guy myself, but for that volume, go Mid-grade or better Dillon (650 and up).

BHAVIN

Dillon. I have had a 550B for years and run at least 400 rounds an hour. It is capable of up around 600 but I like to take a litle more time and make sure of my quality. I have used the 550, 650 and 1050 machines. Being able to use the case feeder option and having auto indexing is a nice feature on the 650 and 1050's for cranking out loads of ammo. I have loaded over 50,000 223 rounds as well as countless various pistol rounds on my 550 and have never had an issue. A fair amount of my 223, 9mm and 45 acp goes through full auto guns too. If parts wear out you call Dillon, no questions they just send new parts at no charge. You can't beat a Dillon.

CapnMidnight

+1 on the Dillon, like was already said, " buy one and never look back".
For what it's worth.
W.D.

Odawgp

Sportsman warehouse has DL550 marked well below what dillion wants for them on there website. like $350 out the door

dcloco

Purchased a 550B 4 months ago. 650 rounds per hour is easy.

Ball powder is/will be your friend!

Pinhead

I am a single stage press man but if I was going to load the volumn you talk about, it would be the Dillon 1050 or the 650XL. Both fine machines but the 1050 should load up to 700 rounds an hour without too much trouble. I have a 550(set up to load .45acp) but it would be too slow for your needs. Check the Dillon out on their we site before you buy, I think you will be impressed.

Highball

Dillon shoots machine guns...LOTS of machine gun round a year.

They reload with their machines...

The 650 will do..the new 1050's will crank out more ammo then even YOU can shoot..and will also reload longer rifle rounds.

MIKE WISKEY

as above... dillion blue, talk to them. lifetime warranty (no b.s.), don't make a difference who bought it. if they made it they'll fix it free.

Jagsport

Opinions are everywhere...here is mine.

1st) 3 cheap sgl stage loaders is not good otions - you have buy 3 sets of dies vs. one on a progressive loader.

You usually acquires numerous accessories that make the job easier, faster, or more precise. Among these are case trimmers, deburring tools, case neck brushes, case gauges, cleaning tumblers etc....
In a 3 sgl stage process these become your bottlenecks (all have to go through these operations) possibly and again you only have two hands...right.

Hornady,RCBS and the more expensive Dillions are all good choices in progressive loaders - go used on E-bay .
I would stay away from LEE hardware.
Good Luck.

rsnyder55

I have a Hornady progressive and Dillon 650 and both have served well, but the Dillon support may serve your needs better. If you have never reloaded before, you may want to get with someone who does before getting into the bulk reloading arena.

jonk

Progressive presses is one of the few areas where I don't support Lee. Yes, they work. No they don't work as well as others. Dillons are fabulous; I have also heard good things about RCBS, Lyman, and Hornady.

shootlow

so what have you decided to get[;)]

SCorvers

Minimum Dillon 550.

Nwcid

I can not bad mouth Dillon and I am sure they are nice, but I dont own one. I do own a RCBS 2000. There are several thinks I like about this press like the fact I can set up my die plates for each round I am loading. To change I pull the plate and put a new one in for the new caliber set my powder charge and then load. Of course I do check the rounds to make sure everything is adjusted. This whole thing takes a few mins.

For pistol you can just crank out ammo, but on rifle I do it in steps still.

Tumble brass
Stage 1, Lube die
Stage 2, Size and deprime
Trim brass, and any other prep needed
Tumble brass
Prime using hand primer or press, I usually hand prime while watching TV
Stage 3, Powder
Stage 4, Seat
Stage 5, Crimp

I do still keep a single stage press around for Swaging crimped primers, removing stuck cases [B)], it happens, or other little odds and ends. My progressive makes great rifle loads for my guns. If I had a target rifle that I wanted to make real good ammo for I would buy some inexpensive single stage presses and leave them set up for that round and not touch them. You would need 2 press per cal, one to size and one to seat/crimp. You would need to have stand alone power measures of some sort but over all this would be way cheeper then shooting factory ammo and could improve your groups.

Here is a pic of my current set up about half way put together but not used in my new house yet.

CC-CENTERFIRE6075

550B dillon has served me well for years. If you plan on trimming the cases the 550 is a little easier because it is a manual index. The 650 is auto index and is a little more difficult to work with. Dillon's warranty and customer service are second to none, very helpful and no BS.

e8gm

I shot for three years on a four man rifle team that loaded all of it's rounds on my Dillon 550b. It has had literally thousands of rifle and pistols rounds put through it and I've only had to use their customer service twice in over 15 years of use. Go Blue and you'll never regret it.

IAMACLONE_2

Did it last night.
Dillon 650XL
Case feeder
Digi/Dispense scale
Powered auto case trimmer
MilSpec primer removal cutter included
And a bunch of other stuff.
2 powder sensors
fancy powder dumper
3 extra heads
223,308,45acp,357sig dies
Expected to arrive by Thursday.

Told Mama this morning, not totally happy, oh well...
[:p][:p][:p][:p]

dcloco

Buy a Dillon manual swager...it is THE primer pocket swager to use. Cutting is ok, but time consuming and messy.

Good luck...and report back.

BHAVIN

You are going to Love that 650. Get ready to be rolling (pun intended) in the ammo. Here are a couple of my thoughts on things that you have listed that you have bought. Swaging is much better than reaming in my opinion. The Dillon super swager is the way to go. I also think the low powder sensor is a waste of money except on the 1050. The powder measure is right in front of you on the 550 & 650. I am of the thought that if you can't tell your getting low on powder you shouldn't be reloading anyway. The case feeder is sweet. I hope you bought Dillon dies? The bevel on the dies makes it alot easier to load without catching the edge of a case in the sizer. Enjoy.

Highball

Right choice !!

Take the time to get completely knowledgeable about the press...and don't be shy about picking up the phone and USING that vaunted Dillon customer service.
Happy rolling !!

GUNFUNCO

You won't be disappointed and you will save lots of money in the long run if you shoot the same amount.

I need to get in my loading room for a few hours and boost my ammo count.

The nice thing about a Dillon is you can wait till you are almost out and then go and crank out a pile of ammo in a few hours.