Dillon 1050 new purchase recommendations?

[noylj]

I have three 1050s. No bullet tray, I use the box they come in. I can see the powder in the hopper, so I don't need a sensor for that. I much prefer the RCBS Lock-Out die to Dillon's sensor (smaller and very sensitive) as there is already enough stuff above the tool head. The only thing I have done is buy enough tool heads for all my common cartridges.
The 1050 is very reliable for primer feeding. The only problem some find is that they tighten the primer magazine shield cap too tight and twist the plastic tip on the primer magazine and either stop the feeding of primers or start ejecting primers out of the magazine as they cycle the press. Don't tighten beyond barely snug. Beyond that, I have found on all three (very early 1050, late model 1050, and Super 1050) that the primer system is just drop in and it works. I have never had to fuss with it.
The only other thing I have done was put a .45 Auto case on the primer detector rod, and that was not done for any reason then I just wanted a little more weight bearing down on it.
Beyond that, the press is great as shipped and doesn't require add-ons.
The other thing is the BUY the DVD. If you watch what the technician is doing, you'll see several "tricks" that he isn't even aware he is doing that make things much easier.

 

[Jim Watson]

My luck, the 650 is the only one I have NOT used.
Internet reports, they seem to be the ones most subject to gang fires of the primer magazine, in spite of the zizz wheel mechanism.

Hang in there and you can get a Dillon RL 1100.

 

[jmorris]

I much prefer the RCBS Lock-Out die to Dillon's sensor (smaller and very sensitive)...

I actually like the sensitivity of the Dillon sensor. It has caught things I have missed in the past.

 

[Texas10mm]

My luck, the 650 is the only one I have NOT used.
Internet reports, they seem to be the ones most subject to gang fires of the primer magazine, in spite of the zizz wheel mechanism.

Hang in there and you can get a Dillon RL 1100.

The only way to fire the primers on a 650 is either by automating it or being an idiot.

 

[jmorris]

The only way to fire the primers on a 650 is either by automating it or being an idiot.

When I first was warned about setting off primers seating them, was before the Internet was a thing (the 650 didn’t exist’ and back then I actually crushed them completely flat in a bench vise without them going off) I brushed it off as a unicorn, having proved it couldn’t be done.

In the ‘90’s I started seeing images of it occurring and around ‘06 I was at a friends house getting a machine working for him. He was already frustrated, why I was there, and moved onto another machine.

As I was working on machine “a” I could hear verbal conformation of problems he was having with machine “c”. A “Don’t get frustrated, it will only get worse. I almost have this one ready to go.”, comment went unanswered and a couple bangs and cuss words later he lit off the better part of a tube of primers.

I then had to concede that it was possible, having seen and heard it. I don’t bang and beat stuff around, I do often load as quite fast rates though.

Only thing I walked away with is STOP, if something doesn’t feel right and most certainly STOP if you are starting to get frustrated. Treat reloading like a woman, hoping things get better with more force will only take you down the wrong path.

 

[Jim Watson]

If I screw up loading, I slowly and carefully correct the problem, then go do something else.