Dillon Press

[STORMIN29]

I am thinking about buying Dillons Square Deal press. I am looking for input regarding ease of set up and operation. As I am new to reloading I am looking for opinions of a medium load for my like new condition Model 29 .
I thought about a 210 grain Silvertip at about 1,000 fps from a 4" barrel. Any suggestions on powder and charge for this load. Looking at Unique and Universal Clays powders. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mitch1911]

You will not be disappointed with the SDB, but may I suggest making the extra investment in the 550B. I went through the same decision process a year ago, and went with the 550B. It is a much larger press, has more space under the toolhead, allows loading of rifle rounds, uses standard die sets and is easier to convert calibers on. I started out just loading .45, but now I can do anything with the simple change of a toolhead (dies), shellplate and powder.
The Dillons are very easy to setup and come with good instructions. You can download the manual from their website prior to purchase. As the SDB does have auto-indexing, it may be a little faster at the beginning, but after a few sessions at the 550B, I don't even think about moving the shellplate during the process.
You will never regret the purchase of a Dillon reloader, so pick up a good reloading manual and enjoy it.

 

[SDC]

If ALL you plan on reloading is .44 Mag, then go with the SDB; if there's a chance you'll want to expand into other calibres, there's no reason not to go with a 550B. I know people who use both, and they're uniformly pleased with both machines.

 

[Zak Smith]

I've loaded about 15,000 rounds on my two SDB's so far. The setup is relatively straight forward and if you take it slow, it's not hard to figure out even for a person new to reloading. You can always call Dillon and ask them about anything - they have excellent support and a unmatched warrantee, or post here.

The SDB can load approximately 300-500 rounds per hour, depending on your economy of motion and how many primer tubes you have pre-loaded. When I'm using good brass (basically anything without crimped primer pockets) and the machine is in good shape, it is very reliable. I tore down, cleaned, and rebuilt my .45 SDB in about an hour and a half, never having done it before, when it started getting finicky once. Of course, I was at least its second owner and it had over 60,000 rounds through it by then.

The auto-indexing feature of the SDB and 650 is a must-have, in my opinion. It eliminates the possibility double-charging the case, and there's less for the human operator to screw up.

To increase load rate to the range of 800-1000 per hour, get the XL650 and the automatic case-feeder. Then you leave your right-hand on the roller-handle and just place bullets on charged cases with your left hand.

If you want to load a few hundred pistol-caliber rounds per week, the SDB is a great choice. If you want to load more than that, or load rifle rounds, I suggest the 650.

-z

 

[larryw]

Echoing what others have said about SDB vs. 550B. However, I've found that people will eventually load for about every gun they have.

Make sure to pick up a couple loading/data manuals as well. Lyman, Speer and Hornady are my favorites.

Also look at load data published on powder and bullet web sites. Hogdon's H110 is a standard powder for magnum handguns, as is Winchester 296. And a search on this forum will give you lots of other opinions.

But until you get the hang of things, you may want to consider downloading into "Special" velocities. Magnum loads can be finicky with regards to crimp, charge, etc.

Enjoy!

 

[Zak Smith]

For 44MAG, I like the following loads/powders:

For low-power, I use Unique or (better) Titegroup. Somewhere in the range of 7-9gr.
For full-power, H110 is the standard powder. #2400 is also a good choice.

For target ammo, I suggest using copper-plated lead bullets, like those from West Coast. The gun will stay cleaner and lead won't get everywhere. They are a little more expensive than hard-cast lead, but much cheaper than jacketed.

-z

 

[clown714]

i've been really impressed with dillon's stuff

started out w\SD in 38\357
now do 9mm,44mag and 45acp

only real detractor is the propietary(sp)dies,
and the lack of doing any rifle calibers

did add a xl650 and a lee single stage to take
care of the rifles

been using 2400 in my 44mag loads

YMMV

clown

 

[Tony Z]

I have reloaded well over 20,000 rounds through my SDB, .380, 9MM, 38/357 45Acp, and it has been very reliable and easy to use. In fact I prefer it over my 550-B. If you ever do have a problem or question the Dillon staff will treat you right.


Tony Z

 

[SASS#23149]

What I really like about my 550 b is the ability to add a separate crimping die.I prefer to crimp and seat in 2 operations.......saves shaving brass,or lead and lube,and gumming up the dies.Not a necessity,but a niceity.
I like the extra 'handroom' of the bigger press too.Plus I now load for six calibers and 2 of 'em are rifle.
Be safe when ya load,and WEAR EYE PROTECTION at lest........ear protection reccomended too.

ps my fav. book is the Lyman.Tons of info in 'em

 

[Mike Kerr]

I agree with Mitch1911. The Dillon 550 is a wonderful press set up. I have had mine for about a year and a half and it is great. It has plenty of room for your hands to move about and the manual index is nothing because your hand is right there, "where it needs to be anyway" as you seat a bullet. It is very versatile and relatively easy to make your caliber changes.
Dillon lists a higher loading rate per hour for the 550 than the SDB because of the "ease of use issue".

If you will only load one caliber the SDB is a good deal, but the dies are proprietary and the caliber changes more expensive than with the 550. If you will load two calibers the SDB may still be a good deal but anything more than that in terms of caliber changes IMO calls for a 550, or even a 650 if you prefer.

I used 2 Lee loadmaster's (plenty of room) and a Pro 1000 (talk about cramped hand room) to load 60K+ pistol rounds in the 3 years before I bought the 550. I used a Lee Turret for most rifle rounds (4-5K+). The 550 solves the issues all by itself. If you shoot in competition and need several hundred to a thousand rounds in a short time period the extra hand room can be a valid issue. If I had only known how much I would reload before getting fully involved in the process, I could have saved time and money. Hindsight is 20-20, but I wish someone would have told me in the beginning what has been posted in this thread. Not everyone agrees but that is what discussion is all about. Good luck- use industry published loads only- and enjoy the ride.

Regards,

 

[Lloyd Smale]

youll find the 550 is cheaper in the long run if your going to load other calibers because you can use the dies you allready have and it will do rifle calibers where the sd wont.

 

[444]

This has all been covered, but I own two 550B machines and I am getting away from using Dillon dies. The fact that I couldn't do this with a SD would be a big factor for me. Not to mention that when I first got my 550, I didn't even own Dillon dies and that would have been a bigger up-front expense.
Personally I have burned myself too many times by buying something that suits my present needs or desires and telling myself that I will never want to do anything else. An example would be: I only want to load handgun ammo and will NEVER want to load for a rifle. I actually almost never load rifle ammo on my progressive presses. I do have a complete set-up for .223 but have only used it a couple times. But, I like the idea that I CAN do that if I want to and am not limited by my equipment.

Dillon is a great company to do business with. They will answer any questions you might have and seem to be willing to take as much time as required to solve your problems.

 

[45auto]

I have the SDB and can recommend them since they are easy and fast.

If you tell Dillion what bullet you are using, it will come "set up" to shoot that load, except for the powder weight.

You do have to put them together, but it's easy.

I view the SDB as a good machine to load moderate amounts of ammo quickly for someone that doesn't enjoy reloading. Leave it set up, sit down and load. Need small and large pistol primer reloads...buy two machines.

It's good advice to look at the 550/650 also, depending on what speed you want.

The good news, if you choose the wrong one for you, the Dillions have a high resale and sell quickly from I see. This will be one of the easier "buys" you make in the "shooting sports".

Good luck.

 

[LAH]

My first Dillon was a SDB. No complaints. It won't do it all but I never asked it to.

I bought a used 4" M-29 and bought the press to load for it. For 8 years I left the press set up for the L-429421 and 20 grs. of 2400. The load did 1201 fps from my sixgun.

Buy the press. It comes with simple to follow directions. Set it up for one load and spend your time shooting instead of trying ever load to come down the pike.

The sixgun and cartridge you have choosen is one of the best day in day out combos money can buy. Mine served me well and I've shot no sixgun as well since I sold it.

 

[R-Tex12]

Here's another vote for the 550B. I began loading only 9mm, but added four other calibers as my interests expanded. Lots of versatility and easy changeovers are big advantages of having the 550B

R-Tex12