Dillion Square Deal B.45 ACP What do you think?

[CNubel]

I've been reloading shotgun shells for years but I'd like to start reloading for my .45. I checked out the Dillion 650 and it is way too expensive for me right now. I think I can swing the Dillion Square Deal B without going bankrupt. What I'd like to know is, have any of you used it? If so, what do you think of it?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Smokey Joe]

Dillon SDB

The SDB is fine if--and this is a big IF--You never will get another loading machine and want to switch over your dies, and if you never will be loading a rifle round.

The SDB takes its own special dies that aren't compatible with any other press, even other Dillons. And It only does pistol sized rounds.

For what it is supposed to do, it is a fine machine, and the standard wisdom is that Dillon's customer service can't be beat.

If you can swing just a FEW more $$, the Dillon 550 has neither of the above problems. (It uses standard reloading dies, and is compatible with rifle rounds.) So that is the machine I'd go with, were I buying a Dillon.

 

[1911user]

I think you could probably get a used 550B press for the same money (unless you found a really good deal on the SDB). The 550 is much more versatile AND it has much more room to work. The SDB is cramped for people with larger hands, but they do load ammo quite nicely. A 550 loads about the same speed as an SDB and uses normal size dies (which you may already have). Take a look at the pictures on the dillon website closely to really see a size comparison. The 550 has room to load 30-06 easily. The SDB is pistol only and requires dillon dies unique to the SDB. Dillon does make good dies though.

 

[rick_reno]

I had three Sq Deals - good presses. I upgraded to 650's, I found the crimp die supplied with the Sq Deal on my 45 press wouldn't crimp to factory standards and got tired of running the loaded rounds thru my Rockchucker with the Lee carbide crimp die - on the 650 there it's just another stage. I never thought the primer feed mechanism on the Sq Deals was great - I often hand primed cases just to avoid the hassle of it jamming.
Occassionly parts would break on the Sq Deals - the only time it presented a problem was then the frame broke and I had to send the whole thing back to Dillon for a replacement. I nver found the breakage to be excessive, these presses got a lot of use. After 15 years of using Sq Deals I think I had enough parts here to build a new press. Dillon was always VERY good about sending parts out, they are really a great company to deal with. Look around, you can find these presses at substantial savings if you're willing to go with a used one.

 

[Bronson7]

CNubel, get the 550 if you can. I started the same as you. I bought the SDB to load 45ACP, had it for a week, and sent it back to Dillon for the 550. Best thing I ever did.
Bronson7

 

[Shootcraps]

Check out Lee. They make some great stuff that's very affordable. www.leeprecision.com.

 

[CB900F]

CNubel;

Check out Lee, very carefully. IMHO they make stuff, that's very affordable.

900F

 

[45auto]

550 is a better press IMHO.

I've had a fair amount of parts breakage on my SDB and I question it's long term durability. It's true that Dillon has great service, but breaking a lot of parts and bad reloads, due to the primer problems(seating) get's old real quick...free parts/rebuilds or not!

 

[ulflyer]

Some years ago my first press was a Lee Progressive loader that I spent more time trying to get it to work than I did working it. Got no help or support from the company. Got a SqD in 38 Spec as that was all I shot at the time. Worked wonderflully, flawlessly, all the time. Later wanted to load additional calibres so I upgraded to a 550 and it too is great. I could have done just as well to have got another SqD as I only load 38's and 45's. I think you do get a bit more precision out of the 550. Shop around, you may find a good buy on a used one and Dillon will warranty it no matter who owned it.

 

[GrandmasterB]

I only load pistol calibers. The Square Deal B has served me quite well. I load .45 ACP, .40S&W, .357 mag, .38 Special, .38 SuperComp and 9mm on mine. I think it is a fine press and I recommend it.

I especially like that it is auto-indexing. I know the 550 is a larger and more versatile press, but I have witnessed too many squib/double loads that were done on the 550 because the shell plate was/wasn't indexed manually at the right time.

 

[GW]

I agree with Grandmaster
I originally loaded 40 S&W and 45 ACP only and had SDB's for both,
1000's of rounds with no problems at all
The only reason I sold them was due to my limited space and I had decided to start reloading for rifle
Went to a 550, didn't like the manual indexing so I sold it and went with the 650, but selling those SDB's off was forced on me by space limitations only. Otherwise, they would still be set up
And yes Dillon customer service is phenomenal
I had a Lee progressive and it was disastrous The primer feed was terrible and the case feed jammed constantly
Unless they have made massive improvements on those progressives over the last few years, I'd say pass with the reminder
You get what you pay for

 

[SASS#23149]

scroll down and check the 'for sale' ads

there is a 550b there,ifi'ts not gone,and it sounds like a very good price.Just ebay the changover kits/dies that you don't need.they will sell quickly.
Great machine,I love mine!!

 

[CNubel]

Many thanks to all who posted. You gotta love the internet. Where else can you ask a question and get such good answers. I think a 550 is in my future.

(EDIT)---> UPDATE: I just bit the bullet and bought one. I'm sure my life will never be the same.

Thanks Again
Chris

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I've been using the SD for years. It's exceptional. Will load any straight wall pistol caliber with ease and precision. I've had a few parts go bad and called Dillon and they shipped the parts immediately.

Plus, it's auto indexing. That cuts down on possibility of double powder charges.

Plus, the built in powder dispenser is amazingly precise.

Needless to say (o.k., then, why say it?) I love mine.

 

[Carlos]

Get the 550.

I've loaded many rounds for 38/357 on the SD but like the 550 much better. You won't be stuck having to buy proprietary dies. With the 550, anything goes. Also, SD doesn't allow rifle rounds. Another thing I don't like about the SD is auto indexing.

I'm much more comfortable using the 550B.

Good Luck.

 

[LAH]

You asked: What I'd like to know is, have any of you used it? If so, what do you think of it?


I use one and find no fault with it. It is what it is. A very simple machine. Purchased it new 1992 along with a 4 inch M-29 (used). 8 years later the S&W was sold, in need of rebuilding. The Dillon had only 2 parts replaced. The index pawl was worn and wouldn't advance the shellplate enough. The handle broke from years of constant use. Both were replaced FOC.

It's not a 550 or 650 or 1050. It is what it is........a value for the dollar.

 

[caz223]

The 550 is superior, no doubt about it.

 

[Sam]

I currently have 6 presses in use, 2 of them are SDB's. 1 set up full time for .45ACP the other I load a bit of everything with. I like them.
I do not care for the 550 because I do not care for manual indexing.
If I want a rifle progressive I'd get the 650 but right now I prefer to do rifle 1 at a time.
For the amount of pistol that I do and the value for the money, I am keeping both SDB's.

Sam

 

[ranger7]

I used a Lee Turret Press for several years for .38 Spc and .45 ACP. I decided to get a second press so I could keep a press set up for each caliber.

I decided to get a Dillon SD-B set up for .45 ACP. It came about 2 weeks ago. I thought the setup instructions could have been a little better but I got it turning out good rounds in a few hours.

I'm not using the priming systems on either press. On the Lee I primed manually using a Lee hand primer. I have several thousand cleaned and primed cases saved up. When I run out of those I'll start using the Dillon to prime also.

I was hoping the Dillon would be quite a bit faster than the Lee, but there hasn't been a big improvement so far. Maybe when my expertise with the Dillon improves and I start using it for the primer functions, I'll appreciate it more.

Alan

 

[SASS#23149]

Ranger7

that dillon should run circles around ANY turret press.I think the fact that your are fighting the routine by having those primed cases on hand is throwing a curve ball at ya.Once you start using the machine as-intended,you will see hundreds of rounds per hour from it.easy.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I love square deals. I own 5 of them and a 550. The square deals will run circles around a 550 when it comes to cranking out piles of ammo. Only problem with them is its a little time consuming to swap calibers thats why i have 5. A 650 is in the works right now. But if i had only two calibers to load for id take two square deals over a 650 anyday. Left set up in the caliber your loading for there faster to load on then a 650 you have to swap calibers back and forth on. 550s are great presses but agonizingly slow compared to a sd or 650 and like was said they can be dangerous presses in the hands of a begining loader. Its way to easy to double charge on them if your not paying attention. Ill allways have a 550 on the bench there real nice to load rifles on and for stuff your loading slower like handgun ammo that requires case lube.

 

[LAH]

Friend Lloyd said: The square deals will run circles around a 550 when it comes to cranking out piles of ammo.

I agree.

 

[1911user]

How much faster than 500 rounds per hour can you reload on a SDB? Reloading shouldn't be a race, but this is the first I've heard about an SDB loading faster than a 550.

 

[HankB]

I have an SDB and use it to load .38/.357, .44 Mag, and (mostly) .45 ACP. I believe for straight-walled pistol cases, if you don't change loads and cartridges frequently, the SDB is superior to the 550 because it indexes automatically. The 550 is more versatile and will do rifle, but if I were buying a press today, I'd skip the 550 and go right to the 650. (I bought my SDB before the 650 was introduced.)

I'm not Speedy Gonzalez when it comes to reloading, but the SDB will COMFORTABLY let me load a box of 50 in about six minutes. The machine will cycle faster - quite a bit faster, actually - but I like to think about what I'm doing and keep an eye on things. In my hands, this is better than I'd do on a 550. (A buddy has one, and yes, I've tried it.)

 

[LAH]

The only speed advantage for me is the auto index. With either the SDB or 550, it's case with one hand and bullet with the other. With the 550 it's index but that step is not needed with the Square Deal. BTW I've never been able to load 500 per hour with either.