Dillon SQDB and 650

[Macca38]

I load on a Dillon SQDB at the moment and i love the ammo it produces.

I am tossing up splurging the cash for a 650. is it worth it? I only load straight walled pistol cases at the moment, and have no imminent plans to extend into rifle, but I guess its conceivable i could end up fiddling with .357 sig or 38-45 etc

apart from being able to load necked cases...is the speed of loading dramatically faster? I find I get about 300 rnds an hr out of my SQDB.

I'm loading about 10,000 rounds a year minimum (i'd shoot a couple of hundred a week easy...or an absolutely min of 160)

recommendations from those that use dillon gear?

 

[loadedround]

For the amount of cartridges you load, I feel your SDB is fine for your intended use. True, the 650 has more bells and whistles, namely faster operation, auto case feeder, powder check die, and uses regular reloading dies. However the full 650 set up with auto case feeder etc will cost you almost three times the price of your SDB and caliber change over about the same price. If you want to impress your shooting buddies, or load several thousand of the same caliber pistol cartridges, go for the 650. Personally I run two 550B's , one set up for small primers and the other for large primers(changing primer feeds to me is a PIA). I load approx 500-1000 rounds a month and am perfectly happy with my setup.

 

[rfwobbly]

I would think the true cost-of-ownership in a Square Deal is hidden in when you try to sell it. If the press is keeping pace with your reloading needs, and you've already purchased the special dies, then why plunk out the cash?

I don't see that you gain that much for the cash you'll spend.

 

[mallc]

Reply from a Blue Guy

I'll give you two answers. I have a 650XL and 2 LNL-APs. Both are soild machines. Both will decrease your loading time.

A 650 will drop your reloading time to just over an hour a month. Set up costs with feeder and alarms is $800 to $900. 650s are extremely reliable.

A LNL-AP would add auto indexing and drop your loading time to just over three hours a month. The LNL case feeder costs more and the feed system is said to be finicky. You can set-up the LNL-AP without a casefeed for $400 to $450. Take off $150 to $200 for the 1000 free bullets making it $250.

Change-over time and equivalent change-over cost is comparable. Ammunition is comparable.

It's impractical to set-up a 650 for 100 8mm x 57. It's impractical to run 2500 9mm on an LNL-AP in a day.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[indiandave]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I like my SDB. I also shoot about 200 rounds a week. Never had a problem and if I did you have the no BS warrenty.

 

[Macca38]

if only they made a more comfortable handle and a casefeeder for it...that would probably resolve my desire for a speed increase.

 

[atblis]

IMO, it's worth it just for the case feeder. Just to fully justify the purchase, you should start shooting more.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive loaded alot with square deals and 650s and lnls. I can load just as fast on a square deal as i can with a 650 and a case feeder. The differnce in the case feeder is made up in the square deal by the shorter stroke. THe 650 is a tad less finiky and is a bit more trouble free though. Mallc is correct in that the lnl is a fine press but the case feeder is more troublesome then the one dillon uses.