Dillon caliber change

[dab102999]

I have always admired Dillon from afar. Never had the money to take the plunge. A year ago I sold my Loadmaster with the intention on replaceing with either a horandy or dillon. The other day I was in a local shop and he has a Dillon 650 for $600. I think I am gunna finally take the plunge but what I don't know is how much will it cost me for the change overs. I am not really concerned at this point to add powder measures or tool heads. But if I buy the press for $600 how much more would I expect to spend to be able to load 6 calibers?

I already have RCBS and Lee dies so I plan on useing them.

 

[Welding Rod]

Should depend on which 6 cartridges. For example with RCBS at least, the same shell plate is used for 30-06, 308, 45 acp, and so on.

 

[Ken70]

That's where Dillion makes the serious money; in caliber changes. The basic machine is not that bad, it's when you buy the extras; that's when it adds up. Go to their web page and start pricing out all the stuff you'll need. Then go price a case feeder and extra parts. Remember to add the primer parts. Extra primer pickup tubes, primer reloading tool is nice, rather than hunt and peck.

Even if you don't buy a powder measure for each one, it's still gonna be close to $1500 by the time you get done. That was why I bought a Loadmaster 18 years ago, 650 was going to be about 5 times more money with caliber changes. And I have dies for 12 calibers, the rifle stuff I do on the LCT....$1500 is your $600 plus $900 for the rest....

 

[Bud0505]

This link will help determine what you need to load different calibers: http://gunwiki.net/apps/calconversion/index.asp?machine_3=on&go=Choose+Machines

Also Brian Enos' website has a chart that shows commonality between shell plates, powder funnels, etc.

 

[45_auto]

But if I buy the press for $600 how much more would I expect to spend to be able to load 6 calibers?

An XL650 caliber conversion kit is $80 from Dillon (I believe they were just over $30 when I bought all mine about 20 years ago). If your 6 calibers have no commonality (very unusual) and you have to buy 5 kits (figuring machine came with one) that's $400 more, using your existing dies.

You'll know you're serious about reloading when you get to the point that you have a tool head and powder measure set up for each caliber!

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

I know the 550 is different than the 650 but maybe take a look at it as well.

I just picked a 550 for $389 from Scheels (thanks to bds for link to scheels). Personally I plan on only loading 9mm on the 550.....at least for a pretty long time as that is the only caliber I am interested in loading at such volumes. Also, the 550 caliber change kits cost less.

 

[dab102999]

thank you everyone for your response. Bud that website will help out greatly. I was under the impression of 550 is not a full progressive press. That is why I was looking at possibly a 650. Still up in the air between dillon and horandy but this info will help me a lot.

 

[Hondo 60]

A 650 conversion kit is $77.95 x 6 = $467.70

You'll probably want 6 toolheads & 6 powder dies too.

toolheads $25.95 (must purchase at least 3 for this price)
Powder dies $10.25 (must purchase at least 3 for this price)

Total for all of the above = $684.90.

Maybe it's best to buy 'em 3 at a time.
(that's what I did for my 550 - got 10 toolheads in all)
===============================================
A 550 is a 4 station progressive without auto advance.
Personally, that's why I like it better than those with auto advance.
You can stop in mid-stroke if you made a mistake.
And it takes no time at all to remember to manually advance it.

 

[roval]

"I just picked a 550 for $389 from Scheels (thanks to bds for link to scheels)".
does that 550b from scheels have a caliber conversion kit with it?

 

[rfwobbly]

I know the 550 is different than the 650 but maybe take a look at it as well.

Not only are the caliber changes cheaper for the 550, but you can save some really big bux going in. The basic 650 is about $567, and basic means without a case feeder. However, you can get the stripped BL550 ($260) and use the powder measure off your Lee. That will save you a pile of money.

Then you can slowly build it up to a full-fledged RL550B at you own pace.

 

[Hondo 60]

does that 550b from scheels have a caliber conversion kit with it?

No, caliber conversion is extra.

 

[SuperNaut]

"I just picked a 550 for $389 from Scheels (thanks to bds for link to scheels)".
does that 550b from scheels have a caliber conversion kit with it?

I went down this road just a few weeks ago. The Scheels 550B doesn't come with shell plates or powder funnels. I don't know your calibers so I'll just relate my choices. I got the .45 conversion since it shares shellplates with 30-06 and .308, those are my main rifle calibers. Then after running the thing for a while with .45 to get the hang of it, I went back and picked up the powder dispenser and toolhead kit as well as the 30-30 Win conversion kit so that I got the correct shell plate for 30-30 and the shared powder funnel for the rest of my rifle calibers.

That last part was the most important choice for me since it enabled me to load ALL of my calibers with only two conversion kits.

 

[jmorris]

Remember to add the primer parts.

The only Dillon that ships with just one size primer setup is the 1050. The SD, 550 and 650 come with both large and small complete primer systems, tubes and pickup tubes.

 

[gahunter12]

Go here. --- http://www.brianenos.com/store/home.html. You can place everything you need in a cart, and get your total. Best of all Brian ships free on purchases over $400! The RL550b is not a "Auto Indexing" progressive. It indexes manually. The tool heads are cheaper, the caliber conversions are cheaper also. The press from Brian will come with one caliber included. Also I suggest the Strong Mount for either press. Boy am I glad I ordered the Strong Mounts for my RL550b's. Here's a total for a RL550b with the strong mount, extra primer pickup tubes, 5 extra tool heads, 5 extra powder dies, and 5 other caliber conversions. ** note I just picked 5 other calibers**.