Has anyone sent a Dillon press for refurb service recently?

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IMtheNRA

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Dillon's new site doesn't have any information about the press refurbishing service and they have not yet answered my email.

While I wait, has anyone here sent in a press lately? If so, how long did it take and what did it cost you? I have a 650 that I recently purchased used and I'd like to send it in to get renewed.
 
they have a really good warranty, I would not mess with it unless something is broken
 
I sent a 1983 SDB into them that I got from a friend recently. Their service is $79.95 to clean, lube, and check it out. You need to contact them and ask for a RMA #. I sent it in, cost me $50.00 to ship FedX I believe. Once they received it, a week later, they sent me a new SDB @ no charge at all, not even the $79.95.
Can't beat Dillon's NO BS Policy!

Go to their web site and scroll to the bottom, click on warranty/ service. It takes them a little while to email back to you but they will, be patient! It's worth the wait.
 
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Their systems were down earlier this week, so going through the website/email might result in delays. I had no issues getting in touch with them by phone though.
 
I sent in a used hard and out up wet SDB two months ago and called and got the RMA #. Costed me shipping and that was it. They just sent a new one back to me with a note saying, “be nicer to this one”! LOL

I can’t fault Dillon for anything. Their customer service is top notch, to match their prices. When they say it is completely covered, they mean it!
 
LeftyRed said:
I sent in a used hard and out up wet SDB two months ago and called and got the RMA #. Costed me shipping and that was it. They just sent a new one back to me with a note saying, “be nicer to this one”! LOL

I can’t fault Dillon for anything. Their customer service is top notch, to match their prices. When they say it is completely covered, they mean it!
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WOW! can’t wait till my SDB is 30 years old and rusted shut!!!

and one thing… SDB is hOW old of a design ? and still run circles around other pistol progressive press! BOMB
 
Mark_Mark said:
WOW! can’t wait till my SDB is 30 years old and rusted shut!!!

and one thing… SDB is hOW old of a design ? and still run circles around other pistol progressive press! BOMB
Click to expand...

I agree! I’m about to sell off my 750xl and get two more SDBs, for my most two reloaded calibers. I have a Redding T7 and Lyman AA8 that I use for mostly my big bore calibers and rifles. I just don’t want to mess with case feeders and such. To much for my little brain to keep up with. Plus, majority of the places I reload at outside doesn’t have electricity hookups. I have a 26” US General rolling cabinet with a wooden top secured on top as my rolling reloading cart. Simple and sturdy. Anyways, I’m very happy with SDBs and wish I never wondered away from them. Will get back to them and stay with them.

The said press that I sent in was sold to me by a family member that got the SDB in the 80s. I got it in 2001, and reloaded 9mm, 38, and 45ACP on it until three years ago. The plaudits innards finally gave way and the cast AL was cracking.
 
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LeftyRed said:
I agree! I’m about to sell off my 750xl and get two more SDBs, for my most two reloaded calibers. I have a Redding T7 and Lyman AA8 that I use for mostly my big bore calibers and rifles. I just don’t want to mess with case feeders and such. To much for my little brain to keep up with. Plus, majority of the places I reload at outside doesn’t have electricity hookups. I have a 26” US General rolling cabinet with a wooden top secured on top as my rolling reloading cart. Simple and sturdy. Anyways, I’m very happy with SDBs and wish I never wondered away from them. Will get back to them and stay with them.

The said press that I sent in was sold to me by a family member that got the SDB in the early 80s. I got it in 2001, and reloaded 9mm, 38, and 45ACP on it until three years ago. The plaudits innards finally gave way and the cast AL was cracking.
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Between me and you…. Lee Pro 4000 is kinda cheap feeling. it takes so much tinkering to get it to work. I should have listened to you guys about getting a Dillion 650. :(
 
Mark_Mark said:
Yeah! yeah! yeah!

I’m going to make it work some HOW! btw… Lee FCD don’t work on the Pro4000! HOW??
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Can't speak to the 4000, but some presses you gotta put the lock nut underneath the toolhead.
 
EricBu said:
Can't speak to the 4000, but some presses you gotta put the lock nut underneath the toolhead.
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Now I thing about it! If I had a mill, I could chop off about 0.25” off the bottom of the FCD and that should get the crimp claws to engage
 
Mark_Mark said:
Between me and you…. Lee Pro 4000 is kinda cheap feeling. it takes so much tinkering to get it to work. I should have listened to you guys about getting a Dillion 650. :(
Click to expand...

Yeah, I’m not impressed with the 4000. I had a bare bones Auto Breech Lock Pro I helped a younger guy set up and I was ok. He was able to sell it during the crazy period from the virus of unknown origins for double of what we bought it for and got a,………..used SDB! LOL, $60 in shipping later to Dillon and he has a wonderful little machine for his 45ACP rounds.

I’m down on the 750xl, but I just won’t use it to its fullest. I see it as a load 1k-2k a weekend two or three times a year press. I don’t shoot nearly that with my weakened hands, switching to 22lr trainers, and laser/dry fire practice. So 1-2k of one caliber might get me through to next year. New the SDB is a little machine that allows me to sit down and load 100-200 rounds up and then cover it back up and go shoot. I just like that.
 
LeftyRed said:
Yeah, I’m not impressed with the 4000. I had a bare bones Auto Breech Lock Pro I helped a younger guy set up and I was ok. He was able to sell it during the crazy period from the virus of unknown origins for double of what we bought it for and got a,………..used SDB! LOL, $60 in shipping later to Dillon and he has a wonderful little machine for his 45ACP rounds.

I’m down on the 750xl, but I just won’t use it to its fullest. I see it as a load 1k-2k a weekend two or three times a year press. I don’t shoot nearly that with my weakened hands, switching to 22lr trainers, and laser/dry fire practice. So 1-2k of one caliber might get me through to next year. New the SDB is a little machine that allows me to sit down and load 100-200 rounds up and then cover it back up and go shoot. I just like that.
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I like the SDB, my setup is for .45 ACP. I paid $389 for my SDB new. I have a conversation kit for a .357 too
 
Big Wes said:
I sent a 1983 SDB into them that I got from a friend recently…..
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I don’t think it was available yet in 1983.
I bought a square deal when the add debuted I the monthly catalog so I got one of the first ones. It was 1980s but probably more like 1986/7?
I loaded approx 30k .45acp on it before it was breaking down more frequently. One of my calls to Dillon the CS tech noticed my early purchase date and and failure history and asked about the usage volume.
He asked if they could have it for their engineers to look over. They sent a call tag and rebuilt it and returned it like new 8 days later.
 
I was shooting an IDPA match in AZ and one of my squadmates was an engineer at Dillon. He is the one who told me that the designed expected service life of the SDB was 65k rounds. The 450 was introduced after the 1000 as the answer to a cry for a more affordable progressive press. The SDB answered the call for one that would self-advance. It was designed as a "gateway" press...that's why it wasn't design to ever accommodate a case feed or a bullet feed...for the budget challenged.

He also told me that if I knew anyone who was looking to have their 650 refurbished that they should do it pretty soon as the guy who did that was going to retire. The retiring guy would go out of his way to insure that the press worked perfectly when it left his bench. Apparently some of the newer guys would stop at "good enough, we can always fix it if something else acts up"...YMMV
 
9mm - THANK YOU! It was worth shlepping through the dismal signal to noise ratio of this thread to read that. Any idea of the guy's name or initials that I could mention in the work order?
 
Kingcreek said:
I don’t think it was available yet in 1983.
I bought a square deal when the add debuted I the monthly catalog so I got one of the first ones. It was 1980s but probably more like 1986/7?
I loaded approx 30k .45acp on it before it was breaking down more frequently. One of my calls to Dillon the CS tech noticed my early purchase date and and failure history and asked about the usage volume.
He asked if they could have it for their engineers to look over. They sent a call tag and rebuilt it and returned it like new 8 days later.
Click to expand...

I guess I was close but...."NO Cigar! "
 
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