Money is here: RCBS Pro 2000, Dillion 550B, Dillion 650

[Eb1]

I have been wanting to buy a new press for a year. I have went thought the turret phase asking questions on the board with great support, but my wife entered a consignment sale so she could get money for our anniversary on 8/3, and she hit the jackpot.
Looks like I can have the pick of any progressive I want. I left out the H.L-N-L because I just do not like the band feature to hold the cases. I also do not like some other traits. Just personal preference.
I did look over the Lee Load Master, and thought, well I have put up with Lee for years, and I had jimmy'd it to work, and it has done well. Maybe the Load master would've saved me some money with a little re-engineering.

But I have the money, so I want a lifetime press that should be a little less hassle free.
First I'd like to thank my brothers here on THR for putting up with my "turret or progressive" and "which turret and why" posts.


So what it comes down to is the Pro 2000:
Cons: I don't really see any other than the powder die is connected to the press. Can you remove this for different loads, or are you stuck re-calibrating with each change of calibers.
Pros: 5 stations, auto index, built like a tank, can load long action rifle cases as well as pistol.

Dillion 550b: The work horse of reliable progressive presses.
Cons: manual (not really a con but could be), pickup primer tubes (seems very tedious,and prone to breake IMO), only a 4 dies setup
Pros: The standard for progressive presses, easy caliber changes, just seems to work, and work well at it's job. I am not sure about it's ability to load long action rifle. Someone please chime in here.

Dillion 650: 5 station press, fullet feeder (not needed at this time for me, and just takes up space. a lot bigger than the pro 2000, still uses the pickup tubes. Cost about the same of as the pro 2000.

On the Dillions how hard is it to dial in the charge? On the pro 2000 can you swap the power drop for a preset powder drop, or do you have to setup that up every time you load a differnt load.


Thank for the advice.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i'd go with the 550. easier to change calibers than the 650. i'd rather deal with primer pick-up tubes than the APS strips on the RCBS press. manual indexing doesn't really slow you down.

the 550 will load all common rifle cartridges.

 

[Eb1]

Just to add some information. The calibers I will be loading are:

.44 Mag
.44 Spc
9mm
.32 H&R Mag
.30-30
.25-06
.303 Brit

If this makes a difference.

So what are anyone's cons on the RCBS Pro 2000. It looks like a really well thought out machine, and seems very spacious.

 

[jmorris]

I have all the Dillons, both the 550 & 650 are good presses. While I will pick the 550 over a turret press for loading several hundred, if I am looking at 1000's I will pick 650's every time. I have two so i don't have to swap primer systems but it's not really that big of a deal as long as your not going to load 100 of this then 100 of that. On the Dillons I keep the charge bars setup (and marked for powder/charge) for everything I load). So empty the measure and one socket head capscrew lets you swap them and your ready to go. Also keep the powder check rods set for each load and swap the "unit" from one tool head to the other (with each PC die set up they send mandrels for 3 different cal).

The RCBS strip would be fine if you always get your primers already in them. I think I have only seen that once but I don't look for them. There is a fellow that really likes them here, even made a case feed for one, he can answer most any question you have about them I bet.

 

[Eb1]

Come on guys. All these opinions throughout the section, but now it's time to buy, and no one has any advice?
It is a lot of money, and want to make the correct selections.

 

[EddieNFL]

550 and 650 here. No experience with the 2000, but own other RCBS equipment. Excellent customer service. I think Dillon followed their lead and Hornady caught on later.

I use a battery powered tool to load primer tubes. Haven't broken one yet, but the oldest one I have won't turn 30 for a couple more years.

 

[Eb1]

I was wondering about the Dillion Trimmer. Makes sense to have a 5th stage so that you an size/primer and then trim before you drop powder and place the bullet.. Wow the options.
I bet I just get the 550b and run it simple. It will be used more for .44 mag, .44 spc and .223 than anything else.
I sure would like to hear from some pro 2000 users. Do the swap the powder drop, or do that re-calibrate it with every different load?

 

[dbarnhart]

If at all possible, visit a few friends who have these presses and get some up close and personal hands-on time.

I think you cannot go wrong with any of the three choices.

I have a Hornady LnL. If I had to replace it and was not allowed to get another Hornady, I'd probably go with the Dillon 650 because it offers the most flexibility of the three.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

The 550 is a bit less expensive than the 650. Caliber changes are also faster and less expensive. I have/had both models and stuck w/ the 550 due to it being more forgiving of mistakes.

 

[cfullgraf]

Auto indexing makes one less thing to worry about. That would rule out the 550 for me.

I hand prime off my progressive in part because I absolutely know that have a primer seated correctly. I do not ever fill a case with powder and bullets with a miss seated.

That said, I do some hand priming with the CCI APS strips. Tey are available preloaded or it takes no more time to fill four of them them (100 primers) as it does to fill a primer tube. You can see the strip index in the press giving you the warm fuzzies that a primer is under the case to be primed.

Personally, I chose the Hornady L-N-L over the Dillon 650 when I bought my progressive press. It is more versatile when adjusting the process to meed my preferred operation.

 

[Kp321]

Have used Dillons, 450 then 550, for 30+ years and would not have anything else. Lifetime guarantee is a plus. Could not go wrong with a 550B. Auto indexing is not a priority for me.

 

[Bud0505]

I've been using a Dillon 550B for 25 years and have never had a problem with it. Also have never had a problem with a primer pick up tube.

 

[joed]

For me hands down it would be Dillon. I'd most likely take the 650 over the 550 too as I started with a 550. The 550 isn't bad but the 650 is just better for what I do.

I have a fried with the 2000, when I asked his opinion he said go with Dillon. He said the RCBS is not hassle free whatever that means.

 

[Nanook]

I went with the 550B also. I have two of them now, one for large primers and one for small primers.

If you pick one of the Dillons, just be advised that the tool heads are different between the 550 and 650. The dies will of course interchange, since any 7/8-14 die will work on most presses.

The tool heads aren't cheap, and they have a tendency to multiply. The conversion kits are different as well, due to the different number of stations each press has. You can't go wrong with either of them, though.

I have no experience with the Pro 2000, but past RCBS buys have proved they make excellent products as well.

I recently added a turret press to the stable, a Redding T7 to use on rifle calibers mostly for bolt guns. The AR gets loaded from the SP Dillon.

My friend says my bench is going to fall over forward from the weight of the presses. LOL

Good luck with your decision, whichever way you go. Both companies have beyond excellent customer service as well.

 

[Chicken321]

I started reloading at the beginning of this year. I had been looking at presses for 2 years before finally buying anything and could find absolutely no complaints toward Dillon. My 550 has been everything I had hoped it would be and then some.

I was concerned about the lack of auto indexing at first but that quickly became a non-issue when I relized that I could easily produce a box of ammo in 10-15 minutes. (Even being a total noob to reloading.) While I have no personal experience with the 650, and only limited time on my 550, the 550 makes more sense to me especially considering the expense and time associated with 650 caliber conversions. One reviewer noted that the only way a 650 makes sense is if you plan to get a case feeder as well.

There are people here that know a lot more about this stuff than I do, so listen to them first; just remember that you can't go wrong with Dillon.

-Zach

 

[Tom488]

Big fan of the Pro2000 here... I load about a dozen calibers with it. It is THE fastest press out there for caliber changes. I know a lot of people that buy two Dillons, one for small primers, one for large, because of the complexity of the primer changeout. On the Pro2K, you remove one primer plunger with a 7/16" wrench, and screw the other size primer plunger back in. Takes about 30 seconds total.

The press is designed with a fixed station #3 (part of the press frame, not the die plate) to hold the powder measure. However, the measure is still removable (it's still a threaded die station - just not on the die plate). For loading rifle, this position works fine. Changing it from one caliber to another is as easy as dumping the old powder, refilling it, dialing the micrometer adjustment to a pre-determined setting (from your previous loading sessions), and fine-tuning the setting with your scale. This usually takes a couple of minutes - less if you record your settings (ie. to throw 5.5 grains of W231, use a setting of 55 on the micrometer), and work in a climate-controlled environment (not much changes in temp/humidity).

For those of us who load pistol, AND use an automatic bullet feeder, we install the powder measure in station #2, and use the RCBS expander inserts for the Uniflow that expand the case and allow it to powder charge - using a powder check/lock-out die in the fixed #3 station. Station #4 is bullet feeding, and station #5 seats/crimps. You could also use this setup without a bullet feeder, seat in station 4, and a separate crimp in #5, if you like to seat/crimp in separate steps.

I also much prefer the APS strips over primer tubes. I can load up a box of primers (1000 primers) into strips in around 15 minutes - and I do this to use up my inventory of regular primers... but I much prefer simply buying the primers pre-loaded in the strips (at a cost of maybe $3 more per 1,000), and not have to mess with primers at all.

All in all, my experience with the Pro2000 has been very good, with few problems, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a progressive press, especially someone looking to load a bunch of different calibers with it.

 

[Eb1]

Thanks for the info on the Pro 2000. It was a close race. My wife and I put together a spreadsheet of pros and cons, what I wanted in a press, and which would give me what I wanted for the cheaper price.

I ended up choosing the Dillion 550b. I will be doing multiple caliber changes, so the 650 seems a little to much for me. I will be loading around 400 .223 rounds per week. I will be loading around 800 .44 magnum and 500 .44 specials per week. 100 .25-06 and 150 .30-30 per week also. Then there will be the occasional 200 lot of .303 British.

The Pro 2000 was a close runner up. I love RCBS tools, but in the end, I have always wanted a dillion, adn I like that it is manual instead of auto index. I will let you all know how it goes in the up coming weeks.
Also I will be getting the Dillion 1200 trimmer.

 

[medalguy]

I bought my first Dillon in 1983 I think it was, a 450, and since then I've used a 550 and 650. I think, based on your cartridge list, I'd recommend the 550. The 650 is good if you want to crimp rifle cases in that last station, but for pistol the 550 should work just fine.

I also prime off the Dillon, because I like the feel of the RCBS Autoprime bench mounted tool. I've worn out two of them, and I'm about ready to toss out the third one and replace it.

As far as the trimmer, it's not needed on the poistol cases in my experience, and offhand I don't think Dillon makes trim dies for .303 British, and I'm sure they're not made for .30-30 and .25-06. So it's hand trimming for all those.

 

[Eb1]

No, but it would make a dent in the thousands of .233 that have. I have trimmers for the other calibers. I have also been loading for a decade now. I am just deciding to move on up to the progressive presses.
these arms are getting tired of pulling the handles 1 time for 1 chore.

 

[Eb1]

Sent from phone.

 

[Hondo 60]

A 550 does everything I need a press to do.
I've been through the Lee single stage, Turret & Pro1000.
If you can afford a Dillon, there's just no comparison.
I've had my 550 for almost 2 years now, & there's no way in heck I'd ever go back.
I'd give up reloading before I went back to a Pro1000.
I'm not bashing Lee, as I think most of their stuff works great (just got too frustrated with their progressive).

If you absolutely have to have a powder cop type die, then the 650 is probably a better option.
For me?
If I went with a 650, it'd cost me almost $1500 with all the bells & whistles that I'd want on it.

 

[jmorris]

I was wondering about the Dillion Trimmer. Makes sense to have a 5th stage so that you an size/primer and then trim before you drop powder and place the bullet.. Wow the options.

No, thats not an option, using the Dillon trimmer requires 2 passes, no matter what press you use it on.

 

[Eb1]

Can you explain about the two passes?

I was thinking of just setting up a die plate that would decap/size and then trim with the 1200 when prepping my .223. Then having another die plate that would drop powder, check with powder cop, seat bullet and crimp since the decap/size and trim have been done already.

Is this thinking incorrect?

But to be honest due to money on the front end, which I have enough for the press and stand, will be to just run it with a 4 die set and get to banging. I do not crimp most of my .25-06 or .223 rounds. So if I wanted to use a powder cop die I could. Correct?

 

[jmorris]

I was thinking of just setting up a die platethatwould decap/size and then trim with the 1200 when prepping my .223. Then having another die plate that would drop powder, check with powder cop, seat bullet and crimp sincethedecap/size and trim have been done already.

That is two passes and yes how you have to do it. From your quote above I thought you were thinking you could size/deprime, trim, powder drop, seat and crimp in a single trip through the machine, and that you can't do.

 

[jmorris]

I was thinking of just setting up a die platethatwould decap/size and then trim with the 1200 when prepping my .223. Then having another die plate that would drop powder, check with powder cop, seat bullet and crimp sincethedecap/size and trim have been done already.

That is correct, two tool heads and two passes through the press. From the above quote I thought you were thinking you could do everything with only one trip through the machine.

The 5 stations of the 650 are
1 size/deprime
2 primer seat/powder drop
3 powder check
4 bullet seat
5 crimp

There are a number of bullet feeders that replace the PC die at 3 so you can still seat and crimp in two different stages, they are made to take the place of the die so they can be used on any press. GSI makes bullet feeder tool heads for the 650 and 1050 that allow you to keep the powder check die AND still seat and crimp in two steps, you can't do that with any other combination of presses/feeders.