Drank the blue coolaid!

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Astroangler

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Christmas came early for me and man am I having fun. Got my dillon and even with the learning curve was able to do in 25 min what took me about 1.25-1.5hrs. I can see a shortage of supplies in the near future at this rate. Just not having to touch the brass 5x with my single stage makes me thrilled!
 
You got a case feeder too?! Awesome! 650, no case feeder, but loving it just the same! Been looking at case feeders and bullet feeders I don't really need either, but it would make it even bette!
 
I had been using, and still do use, a Hornady LnL. Wanted a case feeder but was told at the time that the Hornady case feeder was not up to snuff. So I went with the complete Blue unit. You'll be very happy I'm sure. Get extra primer pickup tubes!
 
Just took my first sip, not bad!

I ordered the 650, the brass attachment for autofeeding, 9mm, couple of large and small primer tubes, gonna do .45 eventually. (that is both 9mm and .45)

Got all this for $855 from Dillon, I assume this does not include dies. IF not, who has the best dies for this machine, i.e. can I use my Lee Classic dies for my .45acp eventually? or do I need another trip to the Blue koolaid well for oem dies?

thanks
 
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You can use any dies with the right thread. I like the Dillon sizing die with the spring ejector. I had issues with primers sticking on my LnL, which locks up the shell plate. I switched to Dillon and never had an issue again. Dillon's dues can be disassembled and cleaned without losing your settings.
 
I prefer Dillon's dies in my 650. This also allows me to easily use my "old" dies for load development using different powder and bullets, making up special runs of cartridges, etc. I also found that Dillon dies fit the tool head better, IMO.
 
Sauer1911;

As was stated, you can use any die that has the correct thread. But Dillon dies have the mouth radius'd to ease rounds in that may be slightly mis-aligned due to the inevitable clearances needed with a progressive press. At one time I also believe that Dillon had their dies made by Redding. I don't know if this is still the case & whether or not Dillon is making their own now, or may have farmed it out to somebody else. But, I'm happy with all the Dillon die sets I do have. And I've had some of 'em since long before the Clinton's ever inflicted themselves on people outside of Arkansas.

900F
 
Congrats on the new press.
Just about everyone loves their new press, heck, that's why they bought it.

Now the key is, do you still love it after you've found the idiosyncrasies.

I have a 550 & like it very much.
If I ever look for a new press, I'll probably go with a 650, just cuz of the extra station.
But I've got so much invested in the 550, that I doubt that'll ever happen.
(10 calibers)
 
Hondo 60 said:
Congrats on the new press.
Just about everyone loves their new press, heck, that's why they bought it.

Now the key is, do you still love it after you've found the idiosyncrasies.

I have a 550 & like it very much.
If I ever look for a new press, I'll probably go with a 650, just cuz of the extra station.
But I've got so much invested in the 550, that I doubt that'll ever happen.
(10 calibers)
Click to expand...
I love it at the moment. I've heard of the powder spilling and the solution to it. Haven't heard of any other issues generally talked about though. Any that I should be aware of?
 
I have 650 too, love it. Bought case feeder after 2 loading sessions, NO bullet feeder and don't think I need it now, I can run pretty fast as is. I had roller handle from beginning so no comment if it is better or not, I like it.

2 things I did:
1. Installed needle bearing under shellplate bolt. No jerking and I have very little spillage even when I load 9mm with Unique. Not sure how different it is from original since I bought bearing before press came in and had it installed from beginning.

2. Live primer catch bottle. Search on eBay, this thing is super-important to me, I searched for it because I had problem, not because I read about it somewhere on forum. Basically, while you setup and adjust you will have primers on this "sky ramp". They may jump. I don't like live primers on a floor.

Spent primer tube/catch probably important but I don't really care about 1 or 2 primers jumping out, I more worry about live ones.
 
yes, yes, yes, I can identify with all of you! I added 9mm dies to my order, and it seems I was truly happy with my Lee Classic loader for my .45acp.

But once I saw that after 5 pulls you were getting a bullet per pull, it made the Lee Classic loader seem archaic! I mean 4 pulls to make one bullet?!?!?!? I dont think so! Now I must wait for the delivery of my Blue Idol machine! hehehehehehe

enjoy and take the time to be safe!
 
I love it at the moment. I've heard of the powder spilling and the solution to it. Haven't heard of any other issues generally talked about though. Any that I should be aware of?
Click to expand...

Just the cost.
As I said, I reload 10 calibers.
So that's 10 tool heads & 10 powder dies.
Although no matter which color press you buy, there's costs associated with extras like toolheads or whatever that mfg calls 'em.
 
Congratulations.

I have drank the blue Kool-aid also. I got a 550 at the first of the year. Loading .223, .44 Mag, .44 Spc so far. 9mm coming next.

I had some priming issues, but I think I have sorted them out with help from THR and Dillon. It was a huge learning curve for me, and I did switch powders on some loads to allow for better metering.
 
Fella's;

Yeah, primers, and particularly the switching from one to the other, is kind of a PIA with my 550. To the point that upon occasion I've contemplated getting another 550 in order to have one set up for each size. And I still may do that.

900F
 
I don't have a problem changing primer size, takes about 10 minutes and gives me a chance to do a good cleaning and lubing of the primer bar and plate with some silicone spray. I do tend to make sure I have enough of one size loaded before changing as I load only one caliber that uses LPP.
 
If you purchase a complete primer unit it will take about 20 seconds to change primer sizes on a 650. Just 2 screws and the punch.

I drank the Blue Kool Aid about 20 years ago and never looked back.
 
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I love my 650XL with Case Feeder. I bought it to replace a Hornady LnL AP (with case feeder) because I thought the Dillon was a bit more solid.

I'm not a Dillon snob though. I have a little bit of everything on my bench. I still use the Hornady LnL AP powder measure and powder dies with my Dillon tool heads.
 
I got a dillon 650 for a birthday gift in July from my wonderful wife. She had a friend help her buy it set up to load 38 special. Since then I have ordered all the the required accessories/tools, die sets for 9mm,45 acp, and 380s, also ordered all the brass, bullets, primers and powder. All the reloading manual I could find, ultrasonics and vibration case cleaners and two chronograph (do you know what a 9mm does to a chronograph when the bullet is 7 inches low) :-( . I know the UPS drivers name and also the names of his grand kids. Needless to say I am having a ball. The only problem I have is coming up with a better line for my wife when the UPS driver stops than"honest honey that is the last thing I need for my reloading". Can anyone recommend a better line?
 
Colonel Jack;

You need to find a chronometer that doesn't have the expensive bits downrange. Oehler fits the bill, gives you two chrono's in one, has lots of timing options, and is expensive only once.

"Honey, I'm just doing what I can to keep the economy going!"

900F
 
Make sure that at least once every two months the UPS truck shows up for her and not you. :)
 
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