Dillon RL1100 & Super 1050

[atraf24]

Newbie looking for some direction. Considering the >20 week backorder - I really need to order the right items the first round.


Intended setup: RL1100, setup with a bullet feeder and powder check, and I was going to order the Dillon carbides. Dedicated heads set for 9, 45, 223 - each with their own drop and powder check, and I want to load all with the bullet feeder and powder check.


My question is on the dies and if the dillon carbide 3 die set is what I need - or if I need a different final seat/crimp (or totally different dies period).


Station 1 - Case load
Station 2 - Decap
Station 3 - Expander
Station 4 - Priming
Station 5 - Powder
Station 6 - Powder check
Station 7 - Bullet feeder
Station 8 - Seat & crimp have to be the same die in the final station / 8 correct?


Will the dillon carbide 3 die set in each of the calibers I am doing work in this manner?
Do I need a different die set


THANKS!!!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Newbie looking for some direction. Considering the >20 week backorder - I really need to order the right items the first round.


Intended setup: RL1100, setup with a bullet feeder and powder check, and I was going to order the Dillon carbides. Dedicated heads set for 9, 45, 223 - each with their own drop and powder check, and I want to load all with the bullet feeder and powder check.


My question is on the dies and if the dillon carbide 3 die set is what I need - or if I need a different final seat/crimp (or totally different dies period).


Station 1 - Case load
Station 2 - Decap
Station 3 - Expander
Station 4 - Priming
Station 5 - Powder
Station 6 - Powder check
Station 7 - Bullet feeder
Station 8 - Seat & crimp have to be the same die in the final station / 8 correct?


Will the dillon carbide 3 die set in each of the calibers I am doing work in this manner?
Do I need a different die set


THANKS!!!

WoW! that’s your 1st Press!

I feel poor now

 

[Mark_Mark]

Also, do yourself a huge favor! Get Lee Factory Crimp Dies!

 

[atraf24]

WoW! that’s your 1st Press!

I feel poor now

Have a DR company, we are in Texas working the water damages from their freeze. From 2/22 through 3/12 (18 days) I clocked 304 hrs. This is my present to myself...lol.

 

[atraf24]

Also, do yourself a huge favor! Get Lee Factory Crimp Dies!

And this is what I am after! Is it a set, or just 1 die I want to replace from Dillons carbide set? Will that crimp die seat and crimp?

Again - I'm brand new. I have only once dialed in a Dillon 650 and ran a 1000.

 

[gifbohane]

If I were in your shoes I would simply buy the Dillon dies. They are all that you need.

Since price is not an object due to your windfall I would purchase the best. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jmorris]

Unless you plan on only using SPP 45 ACP brass, you are going to wish you had two of them.

If your budget is good for only one, you are going to need this, and some extra time. They are not like swapping sizes on a 550. They are so fun to swap they don’t even come with both sizes.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/rl1100-large-primer-system-conversion-primer_8_116_26850.html

For the bullet feeder, I’d try to find a used GSI that gives you the bullet feeder that can retain the powder check die and is a CNC machined tool head too. A bare tool head alone from Dillon is over $200, so you can factor that in as well.

For just a toolhead, caliber conversion and primer conversion you are over $500. Now is the time to do the math, not after you place the order.

 

[atraf24]

Also, do yourself a huge favor! Get Lee Factory Crimp Dies!

https://leeprecision.com/3-die-set-9mm-luger-carb.html

Unless you plan on only using SPP 45 ACP brass, you are going to wish you had two of them.

If your budget is good for only one, you are going to need this, and some extra time. They are not like swapping sizes on a 550. They are so fun to swap they don’t even come with both sizes.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/rl1100-large-primer-system-conversion-primer_8_116_26850.html

For the bullet feeder, I’d try to find a used GSI that gives you the bullet feeder that can retain the powder check die and is a CNC machined tool head too. A bare tool head alone from Dillon is over $200, so you can factor that in as well.

For just a toolhead, caliber conversion and primer conversion you are over $500. Now is the time to do the math, not after you place the order.

I may eventually get a second, I have roughly 50,000 once fired brass (all my rounds). The plan is to dial in 1 caliber & test until I get what I want, and load as many as I can get consumables for between now and getting the press. Change over (heads & L to S primer) and do the same for the next caliber, dial in, test, make a large run.

I see a CP2000 in my life before a second press.

 

[Mark_Mark]

https://leeprecision.com/3-die-set-9mm-luger-carb.html



I may eventually get a second, I have roughly 50,000 once fired brass (all my rounds). The plan is to dial in 1 caliber & test until I get what I want, and load as many as I can get consumables for between now and getting the press. Change over (heads & L to S primer) and do the same for the next caliber, dial in, test, make a large run.

I see a CP2000 in my life before a second press.

The Lee FCD just crimps, that it. It just works very good and hard to mess it up. Buy like 5 of them if your doing that volume. They are only $13 each

 

[Roblee1675]

I use RCBS seat/crimp die in the last station. If you use the Dillon dies you would need to seat and crimp in two stations

 

[Mark_Mark]

Get yourself some nice tools too. Like Starret Calibers, a micrometer, nice high end powder scale, case trimmer.... then put aside like $1,000 for more stuff you will need down the road.

 

[Mark_Mark]

and don’t forget a Chrono! LabRadar makes a nice one, hard to shoot it too

 

[taliv]

My advice is similar to jmorris. I have three 1050s and I started out with one like you are thinking. Changing primers is a pain. It was worth going to two dedicated setups.

if you enjoy reloading and futzing with stuff then do whatever. But if reloading is just a cost effective means to shoot more then get a press for small primers and a press for large primers.

if you are going to use bullet feeders I’d say one caliber for each press and don’t try to swap them.

also on the 1050 I seat and then crimp in separate stations. I don’t like trying to do both in the same die.

and if you’re going to do 223 figure out trimming

 

[jmorris]

I may eventually get a second, I have roughly 50,000 once fired brass (all my rounds). The plan is to dial in 1 caliber & test until I get what I want, and load as many as I can get consumables for between now and getting the press. Change over (heads & L to S primer) and do the same for the next caliber, dial in, test, make a large run.

I see a CP2000 in my life before a second press.

If you are going to switch, I’d load all SP stuff first then LP. If not your going to have to mess with the primer system more than necessary. If you go 9mm to 45 to .223, you will double your work vs 9mm to 223 to 45.

IMO you would be better off with a 650, I guess 750 now, unless you find a used 650. A CP2000 would be pointless if your loading on an 1100/1050.

For example you could load 45 on the 750, then convert everything except the priming system to .223, and size and trim your cases on that, then swage and load them on the 1100. An extra tool head for the 650/750 is $35 vs the over $200 for the 1100/1050 these days.

If all I had to load with was one press, I couldn’t wrap my mind around buying one that all it could do was prep though. Maybe if I was just selling prepped brass?

 

[taliv]

Realistically the calculus for reloading has changed too. You may have 50k pieces of brass but if you don’t have 50k primers to go with them and they’re going for 25 cents apiece you may need to rethink. I bought mine when they were 1.4 cents each. And rumor has it there won’t be any more for 2 years.

will you be able to load enough to justify the press?

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

Not to talk anyone out of what they want, but you REALLY need to be honest with yourself and TRULY look at how much you shoot before you purchase. Years back I loaded for 4 people in the same calibers you mentioned…started on a 650 and after a month or so thought VERY, VERY hard about getting a 1050, until I ran one. While it’s a great press (actually but are) I didn’t see nor did I get any “extra” out of the 1050 other than additional money/cost over the 650. I can load the same amount on either as the limiting factors are the amount of powder they hold (which is the same) and case feed capacity, which are the same. With the “complete” 650/750 you‘re at approx. $1400 the 1050/1100 is $2100…that is A LOT of components…granted not in today’s market, but a lot of other stuff. Also 650 can be found used for under 800 complete as people are jumping onto the 750 for some reason. In the end it’s not my money nor my decision, but as mentioned you need to be honest with yourself about want you want and what you need…believe me the 650/750 will do 99% the 1050/1100 will do…cheaper.

 

[jmorris]

While it’s a great press (actually but are) I didn’t see nor did I get any “extra” out of the 1050 other than additional money/cost over the 650.

I have several of both, the 650 has the most trouble free primer feed system out of all progressives I have tried (Lee, Hornady, RCBS & Dillon) but the swage station on the 1050’s is a huge bonus and not just on crimped cases but brass that lots of people sort out but has “tight” primer pockets like S&B, for example.

Two of my 1050’s are automated and the fact that everything happens on the down stroke makes this easier as everything, that requires precision, happens on the down stroke, including priming (depth is set with an Allen wrench). In other words you can’t have a high primer unless you also have a bullet not fully seated, case not crimped, etc.

They have also afforded me the room to do things that can’t be done on other presses, like cull SPP 45 ACP brass while I am loading vs having to sort by hand and deal with malfunctions caused by ones I missed with the old mark 1 eyeball and make it to the priming station.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

But to say your presses are "factory" is the understatement of the year. I enjoy watching the stuff you have done to your presses...makes me wish I still worked in manufacturing and had access to the machinery to make mine work the same…

 

[Bush Pilot]

WoW! that’s your 1st Press!

I feel poor now

Wait until he starts looking for components to keep it fed.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Wait until he starts looking for components to keep it fed.

It’s not hard to find if you have time. they had A green box of 9mm Dies at Cabelas yesterday. $50

I thought about getting it as a back up. But left it for the next guy

I believe as a community we can help each other out! And, there will always be someone rich than you are.

 

[taliv]

dies are not components. components are powder primers and bullets, which are nigh impossible to find unless you're willing to pay 10x last year's prices.

 

[Mark_Mark]

dies are not components. components are powder primers and bullets, which are nigh impossible to find unless you're willing to pay 10x last year's prices.

My Sportsman has primers coming in on Wednesdays regularly, you just have to figure out the time they roll out the ammo cart

my other local has 8# of reddot just sitting there for weeks

I can also get primers shipped to me if I run out. My brothers best bud has a gun shop and holds primers.

my point is, make friends and don’t be too greedy

 

[lordpaxman]

Intended setup: RL1100, setup with a bullet feeder and powder check, and I was going to order the Dillon carbides. Dedicated heads set for 9, 45, 223 - each with their own drop and powder check, and I want to load all with the bullet feeder and powder check.

Nice!!!!!!! Just do it!!!!!!
Sounds like money is not an issue so go for it. I know a lot of people try to talk someone out of a higher priced press, but honestly if they were allowed to go in to the Dillon store, and order as many presses and caliber conversions they wanted, free, they may have a different answer.
I found the RL 1100 is a keeper, I got mine late last year. I don’t do bullet drop, quite frankly if I was going to try to talk you out of anything, it’d be that. The more automated operations you have, the more you’ll need to fiddle fart around with them. I like to monitor and eyeball every round to make sure there’s powder in there and I do run a Dillon powder check. I find the speed is just fine, and I’m placing a bullet as fast as I can - not worried to try to get to 1000 rounds an hour. I got the expensive bullet tray so the motion is short. I use a FA to fill a primer tube at 100 rounds, just to take a little break, and then back at it again. The single pull of the handle, and having the primers seated to a consistent depth, rather than the push-pull and guess at depth is nice. The swage station in #3 works well for crimped cases as I run mixed HS and you wouldn’t believe how many 9’s are crimped.
The Dillon pistol dies are a separate seat and crimp die, as the expand is either in the swage station (#3) and/or your powder through expander. I bought the DAA PTX for the powder drop as its an M style expander and I load a lot of coated bullets. It helps prevent shaving and also helps straight seating.
If you need a seat-crimp die, there are many out there. I have the Lee FCD and if you’re loading jacketed isn’t a bad option, but if you’re loading coated or plated you may be swaging bullets depending on how it’s set up. There are a lot of seat-crimp dies, make sure you get taper or roll depending on what you want. For your calibers I use taper.
The Dillon dies are nice in that you don’t have to remove them from the tool head to clean them, that’s helpful. And the .223 has a built in stuck case remover so if you stick one you can leave everything set up. I think you can buy them as sets as well as separately. You may want to have two heads for .223 - one for processing brass setup with the 1500 trimmer, and a second one setup for stuffing cases.
As mentioned by others, conversion to another caliber is expensive on the RL 1100. That’s why I can justify buying a whole new RL1100 setup for .45 (Large primer) and then have twins. Let us know how yours work out. Good luck.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

Curious why the 1050 and 1100 don't have the same lifetime warranty that the XL650 and XL550 have?
Is it because of the level of complexity with the 2 big presses?

 

[Bush Pilot]

Curious why the 1050 and 1100 don't have the same lifetime warranty that the XL650 and XL550 have?
Is it because of the level of complexity with the 2 big presses?

Because the larger presses are used in many commercial operations and load billions and billions of rounds (more or less)