Dillon 550 case feeder?

[racenutz]

Anyone heard anything about the case feeder that was shown at this year's SHOT show? Here's a pic of it

This is the only place I've been able to find any mention of it http://www.gunblast.com/SHOT_2005_3.htm

 

[Sheldon]

Seems those with the 550 presses who want a 650, should sell their 550s on Ebay and just buy a 650. You get an extra station for the powder check and the auto index then as well. Granted I can understand from a marketing standpoint of trying to produce a product for something that a LOT of people already have.

 

[milanuk]

Look over on Brian Enos's forums in the Reloading/Dillon Equipment section. Plenty o' folk watching this one w/ eagle eyes

I'd been hearing that they wanted to get it out by Christmas 2005, but when I ordered my RL550B I asked what the status was and the guy said he didn't see how they would manage to get it out that soon.

Speculation abounds as to why they would bring out a case feeder, possibly even w/ auto-indexing as an option, for the 550. Some feel it would hurt sales of the 650... unless a long-rumored bullet feeder has materialized for that machine as well. Others think that maybe Dillon is finally getting around to updating things a little in light of the Hornady L-n-L AP. Others think they are just after those folk who have a 550 and their loading has evolved to the point where they'd really like the convenience of the 650, but don't want to pony up the cash for the more expensive press and accessories, more expensive caliber conversions, etc. Give them an incremental upgrade path and they may bite on it hook line and sinker.

YMMV,

Monte

 

[Sheldon]

I saw a bullet feeder for the 650 on the Brian Enos site at one time. It was expensive though, like $600-$800 or something like that. I can see someone wanting 1050 production like numbers out of a 650, since there is the lifetime warranty on the 650, but not on the 1050......but there are still advantages to the 1050 the 650 does not have, like the primer pocket swage.

 

[dmftoy1]

I think there are alot of people who would consider one depending on the cost. I looked into updating my 550 to a 650 one time, and by the time you figure calibur conversions and toolheads into the conversion it's fairly expensive. (even assuming the E-bay prices you'd get selling it off UNBELIEVABLE)

If they had a good quality casefeeder for the 550 for say $200 I'd take a hard look at it . . . .

 

[Sheldon]

The casefeeder by itself is almost $200, so I'm guessing it will be higher than that. I wonder if it will be anything like the Phelps unit?? That unit had a manual advance shellplate.

 

[halvey]

Hmmm.

I was looking at sellin my 550 to get a 650, but now, I'm not so sure.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I've loaded many thousands of rounds of pistol ammo on my 550, and never felt the need for a case feeder. Then I got an SL900 (shotshell reloader) that came with an auto case feeder. Wow. I can crank out shotshells much faster than pistol rounds, and with less motion. All I need to do is place a wad in the wad holder and pull the handle. Granted, part of the savings is from the auto indexing, but the auto hull feed works great.

I'm saving my money now for a 650 with case feeder.

 

[Rockstar]

Who's the guy with a family of aboriginals living on his face? I know I've seen him on TV before.

 

[BluesBear]

That would be Jeff with Gunblast. He is a very nice and knowledgable person.

 

[oct_97]

Another thread indicated that the case feeder would be about $250.00. At $350.00 for a new 550B that makes it about $150.00 more than a $650.00???

 

[BluesBear]

Yes but the case feeder is going to raise the cost of the 650B also.


Although, personally, I can't see the point of adding an automatic case feed to a manual advance press.

 

[caz223]

So you can crank the handle with your right, and index and bullet feed with your left.
It's still way cheaper than buying a 650+case feeder +goodies like powder check and 10 conversion kits, and 10 quick change kits.
I still don't know if it's worth it to me.
I'm a 'hands on' guy, that's prolly the biggest reason.