Dillon square deal vs 550b

[JamieC]

I've been reloading for a little while, starting to realize I'd like to load faster, spend more time doing other things. I have a Lee turret at present, load for 9mm, 38 spl, 45acp, 223. What exactly is the difference between the Square Deal and the 550B? I've studied them a bit on the Dillon site, would like to hear from you who actually load with them. Also, what is the REAL price, set up and ready to go?

 

[Bud0505]

The SD requires proprietary dies. The dies you currently use will not work in a SD. they will work in the 550B. You can't load rifle rounds on a SD , you can on the 550B. I would check Brian Enos' website for prices. I'm sure others will chime in shortly on benefits of each press.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Can't load rifle on the SDB, so you'd still have to load .223 on your turret. Special dies for the SDB. SDB auto-indexes, but the 550 does not. Dillon does not offer a casefeeder for the SDB. You can get a casefeeder for the 550.

I have a 550 and love it. It's not as fast as a 650 and probably not as fast as a SDB, either, but it is fine for me. I think where the SDB shines is if you just get one for each pistol cartridge you shoot, or at least the ones you shoot in large quantities, and just leave it setup for that cartridge.

 

[MaterDei]

Is there a reason you are only considering Dillons? Great presses, for sure, but no better than a lot of other presses which might also fit your needs.

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I have a SDB. I use it for 9mm and .45LC. When you purchase one, it does come set up ready to reload for one caliber. You will have to buy separate caliber reloading dies for each caliber you want. I also purchased separate tool heads and powder measure for each caliber, it is easy and fast to change.

The SDB dies are proprietary so you can only use their dies. But it is designed specifically for handgun caliber reloading only. Once set up you can reload at a very good pace. It is auto indexing. You do have to place the brass and bullet for each round but that's it.

I have a separate Lee Classic that I use for my Rifle reloading. There are a few options available as addons for the SDB. Check out Inline Fabrication and the Dillon site. I ordered mine directly from Dillon.

LeftyTSGC

 

[jmorris]

I have had two SD's for more than 30 years now and they are good little machines. That said, they are not what you would want a 550 would be your press, the SD can't load any rifle rounds.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a couple Dillon SDBs and a Dillon BL550 (stripped down version of the RL550).

I like the SDBs for loading shorter cases like 45 ACP, 9x19 or 380 ACP where I can se the powder level in the case. Not so much loading 38 Special on the SDB where I cannot verify the powder level.

I'm moving loading of 38 Special to another press that I have where I can verify the powder level.

The 550 will load about anything using standard dies. I bought it to load a couple specific cartridges. While I prefer auto index of a progressive press, I have found the manual index on the 550 is not a hinderance once you get it as part of the operating routine.

 

[lauderdale]

Leftys got it depends on the $ you want to spend. Im setting up a J.R. carbine in .45 and getting ready to do load work ups w/my reddind t-7 and that's another cost/set of dies. After I find a load I want to pump out then it the sdb. Don't think you would want the pistol mod. Dill. ? But the other fellas know there dillion models better then I do. Having a T-7 I would up scale w/my dies and another dill. Mod. w/some mods. From inline fab. to. If I could afford/you no.

 

[JamieC]

I'm not set on Dillon, might even stay with Lee, open to whatever works. I don't need to load rifle, the majority of my loading is pistol. My Lee turret will work just fine for 223. I was thinking that a progressive would be the way to go, free up more time.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

If you can live without the ability to load rifle rounds on it and you don't mind the funky SDB dies, then I don't see any reason not to save some money and get the SDB. It is a fine machine and Dillon firmly stands behind their products.

 

[X-Ring]

The SDB is a small progressive and somewhat confined. If you are a big guy with big fingers it might be a factor to consider.

 

[MaterDei]

Jamie, the only reason I ask about other brands is because since you already have a Lee press with the dies, shell holders, etc. you can repurpose all of these on the 550b or, for less than the cost of even an SDB setup you can get something like a Hornady LnL which will allow you to load both rifle and pistol. To me, the SDB just doesn't seem to make sense for you. Go with the 550b or another brand if you want to save some coin.

The great news in the reloading arena is that all of the major brands have amazing customer service.

Personally I own RCBS equipment so my using the Hornady as an example is not due to any bias on my part. I look at Dillon like I look at HK. Great tools, but pricey. Next to impossible to find anything better but something just as good can be had for less.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[JamieC]

How much faster is a Dillon 550b than a Lee turret? How many more rounds an hour on average? I'm sort of surprised it's not an auto indexing press...maybe I need to watch some videos.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

I don't know how many rounds/hr is possible on the Lee turret, but 500 rds/hr is easy on a 550

 

[jmorris]

How much faster is a Dillon 550b than a Lee turret? How many more rounds an hour on average? I'm sort of surprised it's not an auto indexing press...maybe I need to watch some videos.

To start with with a 550 or any other progressive press you will have one completed round with each stroke, once the shell plate is full. With a turret you have to stroke the handle every time you want each case to go through another operation.

So let's say you have a 550 with a size/deprime die in station 1, powder charge in #2, bullet seat in #3 and crimp in #4.

Starting from an empty shell plate, the first stroke sizes/deprimes a case (primer seat on down stroke). Then index and insert another case and the next stroke sizes/deprimes the new case and charges/expands/bells the first case. Then index and add a case, you do all of the above and seat a bullet, continue again and one empty case in and one loaded round out.

On a turret press you would have 4 times the strokes for the same amount of ammunition loaded. Many also do each operation in steps with turrets so there is a lot more case handling into and out of the shell holder as well.

Both work but if faster is your goal progressives are the way to go. Best I have done on any progressive was 100 rounds in 2.5 minutes. Have done 100 rounds under 4 minutes on a few, including a modified Lee progressive. On my SD's 9:30/100 is a comfortable speed, my 550 is a little slower and never thought about time using my turret or single stage presses.

 

[roc1]

I have both use Square Deal for 45acp only great machine just runs no problems. The 550 will load anything rifle or pistol little concerned at first about manual index was using Hornady LocknLoad AP press. Good machine but too many quirks always fiddling with it to make it run. Dillon is great you never notice manual index easy to adapt to actually like it better if you have a screw up can backup no problem. I also like fact you can run it like turret press put my old RCBS Powder measure on it use it for 243 one at time kinda a inverted turret shellplate moves instead of dies. I use RCBS RockChucker and Chargemaster for precision loads on rifle because each step is separate and most precise. 550 works great for precise loads on 222 223 anything ball powder. I like Chargemaster for extruded powder lot more precise than any measure can be.

 

[scythefwd]

SD uses proprietary dies, auto indexes, does pistol caliber only. You're putting brass and projectiles in by hand, it has a small window.

550 uses standard dies, manually indexes, does rifle and pistol. You're still putting in brass and projectiles in by hand, but the window is larger.

Both have meh primer handling (spent), but the SD is easy to upgrade to something much better. Still haven't figured out what I want to do with my 550's system.

I found I was faster with the SD, but not ridiculously faster. I could do a hair over 400 rpm with the SD, and I'm in the 350 range for the 550.

 

[jmorris]

but not ridiculously faster. I could do a hair over 400 rpm with the SD

400 rpm would be ludicrous speed.

 

[Jim Watson]

The SDB has low leverage, priming .45 ACP takes a strong push on the handle. If I didn't load anything but 9mm, I would prefer the SDB, I have no problems getting cases and bullets in.

The 550 is better but not a whole lot better, so one year instead of a new gun, I bought a 1050 and leave the 550 set for small primers. Heck I think I have combinations now where I can even load the same powder charge for 9mm and .38 Special.

 

[Valkman]

Dillon is great you never notice manual index easy to adapt to actually like it better if you have a screw up can backup no problem.

Exactly - I don't want auto indexing and that's why I have 2 550's. Terrific machines, bought back when Dillon was really the only game in town. You won't go wrong with either one you buy.

 

[jmorris]

takes a strong push on the handle.

Not real sure how I started doing it but do it subconsciously anyway, with the ball in my hand I wrap my index and middle finger around the primer tube blast shield and squeeze the primers in place, on the SD.

 

[Toprudder]

How much faster is a Dillon 550b than a Lee turret? How many more rounds an hour on average? I'm sort of surprised it's not an auto indexing press...maybe I need to watch some videos.

I've got both of those, so I will add my experience to the discussion.

I don't like to run full throttle when I load, I prefer to move at my own speed. Having said that, I generally do about 150/hour on the LCT when using the auto-index and press mounted powder measure and primer system. I could easily do 200 if I wanted to.

I do about 450-500/hour on the 550. That is counting stopping every 100 rounds to pick primers and load the primer tube. Adding a case feeder would speed things up. Please note that, while the 550 will do rifle calibers, the optional case feeder for the 550 will only do pistol calibers.

Once you get into the rhythm, the lack of auto-indexing is not a problem IMHO. I will say that I always stand while using the 550, as I have it mounted using the Dillon strong-mount (which elevates it) and I like to look down into EVERY case to inspect the powder drop before I place a bullet.

I use the LCT for decapping ALL the brass that I process, since I wet-tumble. I have a collet bullet puller I use with it as needed.

I use the LCT for my revolver and rifle rounds, since I shoot less of those and I can pay a little more attention to each round. I use the 550 for all my semi-auto handgun ammo.

Hope this helps, and good luck!