progerssive reloading

[sgms18]

I know this aint a whisper specific question but Im ready to step up to a progressive reloader and Im wondering what to get. I know everyone thinks Dillon is the cats ass but are they really worth the money? I will be mainly loading .223, 9mm and .45acp. Any sugestions/words of wisdom?? Thanks guys.

[Hoser]

The Dillons *are* worth it.

I load precision 300 Whisper ammo on my 550 using a Prometheus powder measure. I load all my other 300 ammo on my 1050.

Heck, I even load ammo for my 338 Lapua on my 550.

When you get a set up for loading 223, get the Dillon carbide dies. Awesome dies for feeding an AR-15 or an M-16.

[sgms18]

Can i use the Lee dies I already have with a Dillon?

[srm109]

I use an old Dillon 450 and love it! The 450 is the predecessor to the 550, so it's basically the same press as the 550. I have not used any of the other manufacturers presses, so I can't give you an opinion about any others. What I can tell you is that the Dillon is rock solid and has a very positive feel to it. It has a very definite "top" and "bottom" to the stroke, which makes loading easier. All of Dillon's products are fantastic, and the folks at Dillon are great to deal with.

I would agree that the Dillon products are worth it!

Yes you can use your Lee dies.

[Notar]

I started loading on a green Press, it was a single stage and it lasted 1 day. I traded what I thought to be an upgrade to a Hornady Projector press, I pulled all my hair out. I bought a 550, and I was in HEAVEN, it just worked and was pretty fast. I still have that press(almost 20 years old), and have been through a couple of 650's. Now it's just the old 550, and 1050's, and I'm a happy camper.

[robrob]

Great topic, I'm in the process of picking up an M16 lower and will need a progressive press to feed it. Anyone want to comment on which Dillon I should get? I'm leaning toward the XL650 and carbide 5.56 dies.

[Notar]

M16?

you don't need a reloading press, you need a contact from Black hill to buy their 2nds(which really doesn't look like 2nds).

:)

The 1050 will also take out the primer crimp, and is slightly faster. I have less primer trouble on my 1050's, and I sold all my 650's due to priming.

IIRC Brian Enos sells a setup 1050 for $1500 Shipped, a like setup 650 is around $1000. No brainier in my book, 1050, nice machine for M16 lovers or a high volume IPSC guy. I load for a 223 bolt gun on a 1050, and it shoot GREAT, the AR's don't argue either.

[Hoser]

Cry once and get the 1050. You wont regret it.

They come with a casefeeder and dies. All set up to load. Just add powder primers and go.

If you run across a GI case, it swages out the primer crimp.

[Fastshooter03]

We've been using a couple of 650s for over a decade and I don't see a need to get anything bigger.
We've also had to work out a couple alignment/ejection bugs with some custom parts so if you can afford it you might want to consider a 1050 for less hassles.

Nick

[robrob]

Alright, I'll suck it up and go with the 1050. Thanks for the help.

[N310toN170]

On a much less consumptive scale I'd highly recommend a Dillon 550B and their Super Swager, otherwise if you can cost justify the recovery of a 1050 go that route. Either way the consensus agrees...you can't go wrong buying Dillon.

[robrob]

I was all set to order a Dillon 1050 and went to Brian Enos website to make the purchase. I started to read about "which Dillon" is right and after calling and talking to Brian I decided to go with the RL-550B because of all the calibers I reload.

I was surprised how much work it was mounting, assembling and adjusting it before the first round "clinked" into the cartridge tray (man that's a satisfying sound). I have only reloaded using a single stage press so the 550B is a big step up.

The service and delivery time from Brian was excellent and I'm now cranking out mass quantities of M16 ammo.

[Hoser]

The service and delivery time from Brian was excellent and I'm now cranking out mass quantities of M16 ammo.

Brian is a good man. I have known him for many years. Cant say enough good things about him.