Question for those with Dillon 650

[32_d3gr33s]

Finally have a little extra cash and I decided its time to sell my turret and get a 650. I'm just not 100% sure what I need for changing calibers. I see that you can get caliber conversion kits for $75ish. Is that dies, toolhesd, and shell plate? I'm just trying to figure out whether to sell my dies I have or not... I reload for .223, 9mm, 45 acp, and 38/357. Just trying to figure out what all I need to order to be able to load all the calibers, each with their own toolhead.

 

[MtnCreek]

Cal conv includes shellplate, buttons, measure drop tube or flare, and the bushing for the case feeder tube.

Does not include dies, toolhead, measure, powder die or case feeder plate.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Ok I would need to buy the caliber conversion kits and a toolhead for each of my calibers, minus the one that comes on the press. And I will need to keep my current dies as well. Should be all I need to order to get started correct? Suggested places to buy from?

 

[MtnCreek]

The press should come set up for one cartridge. I would at least by a toolhead and powder die per cartridge. Also consider getting the case feeder. If you're currently lubing with your fingers or similar, you should consider going to spray lube like Dillon's.

Are your dies Lee?

 

[32_d3gr33s]

I have spray lube and standard lube with a pad. I usually lube and deprime/size then tumble and afterwards clean primer pockets, so brass is prepped when I decide to load. I have mostly rcbs dies and 1 set is lee, along with a lee factory crimp for 223

 

[MtnCreek]

Dillon will tell you Lee dies will not work, but you might get them to work with a thinner lock ring or by putting the lock ring on the underside of the toolhead.

Flatrate box with the seems duct taped makes a good device for lubing with a spray.

I would suggest either keeping the turret or getting a single stage to accompany the 650. I do all my workup and most of my rifle loading on a single stage and couldn't really imagine being without one. That said, you'll love seeing how fast you can fill the cartridge bin on the 650.

 

[1KPerDay]

Check out http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillonfaqs.html

tons of great info there.
I'm going to buy a 550 or 650 sometime soon and will be ordering from Brian Enos.

 

[wlkjr]

I order all my Dillon stuff through Brian Enos and am very happy. I love the 650 and it's my first loader. I get a Caliber Conversion Kit and a Deluxe Quick Change Kit for every caliber. It makes changeovers a snap. Even changing from 9mm to 10mm only takes about 15 min. max and that's taking my time, but if I hurry i could do it in about 8 min. Changing out the primer tube assembly from small to large takes the most time. If you have deep pockets you can get an extra primer assembly and not have to change the primer disk. Pretty simple procedure, even for me.

 

[tallpaul]

wlk, thats not deep pockets.. deep pockets is contemplating the second 650 to have one large and one small pistol system set up....

I am ebaying a bunch of junk and am thinking another dillon press or two.

Not sure if I want one 550 and two 650's or maybe even two 650 and two 550 presses just to avoid the primer change over...

 

[gahunter12]

Brian Enos is the way to go for sure. I have ordered 2 presses, and all the fixin's from Brian. Use your dies, and get a Caliber Conversion for each caliber. I would also get a tool head, and powder die for each also. You DON'T need a powder measure for each, but it sure makes changing out caliber nice. I started with 2 powder measures, and now have them for every caliber I load on my Dillon's.

 

[roval]

regarding brian enos. check out the 650 vs 550 decision making guide. was thinking of getting a 650 but using the logic there decided i'm ok with the 550. i don't load large numbers of 1 caliber at one time and tend to switch calibers after about 300 rounds. also get free shipping above $400 or so.

 

[nix4me]

I also recommend brianenos. I recently bought a 550 from him, great press and great service.

 

[NapalmMan67]

I didn't see an advantage to ordering from BE, so I bought mine direct from Dillon. Delivered in 4 days after placing order.

I probably could have done without the instructional DVD. It was easy to set up and get running per the paper manual. I actually did the caliber conversion as soon as I received, just so I knew what to expect. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

I use Lee dies with no ill effects that I can tell. I did put the lock ring on the bottom side at the decapping station (#1) and that was it. The rest are on top no problem- .45 ACP. I don't know about other calibers as yet.

After initial set up and some minor adjustments, I cranked out just over 600 rounds in and hour. Oh yeah, I like my time saved reloading so I can spend more time exercising my booger hook at the range!


.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Thanks all for the replies! I'm also planning on picking up a lee single stage press, mainly for just resizing my .223, but figured it would come in handy, and i also plan on picking up dies for my 7.62x54r at some point along the line, so those will get loaded on it. Now, just to convince myself not to spend a bunch more on reloading components after i start loading much faster... Thanks again!

 

[gahunter12]

I'm also planning on picking up a lee single stage press, mainly for just resizing my .223,

That will work, but if you just want a SS press for resizing I would save my money, and just buy an extra tool head. I have two tool heads for .223. One has just my Lee FL sizing die, and the other has my powder die, and seating die. With a desinated tool head just for resizing I only have to touch each case once while resizing. I place the case in station #1, and let it ride around to the ammo bin just as if I was loading. Once I fill the ammo bin, I just empty it. It will not hurt the cases to run up through the extra holes in the tool head. I can resize 1k cases in a hour once they are lubed, and ready for resize.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

i guess i hadnt thought about doing it that way. i will still be ordering a SS but probably now even another tool head... way to make me spend more money lol

 

[GT1]

If you have money to dispose of, by all means get tool heads, but if you don't get deluxe changeovers with measures one tool head/measure will work fine for a start(Otherwise you are going to do some fiddling setting up the measure each change). It's why you have lock rings anyway.

Any Lee dies bought in the last decade are likely to be long enough to lock ring from the top. I have 9mm, 45 acp, and .223 and they are all long enough to lock from the top on mine. In fact my Lee Pro Auto-disks work fine on the 650 too(With Lee Powder through expander dies that come in their sets) though the hopper isn't as big, it will still do a bunch of handgun drops.

 

[Rico567]

Two things:

1. The 650 comes with one caliber conversion kit, it does NOT come with dies.

2. Lee dies work perfectly well on the Dillon, are just as good as any dies out there, and are a bargain. If there are insufficient threads, simply use the lock ring on the bottom*.

*Note: I AM a fan of the smaller, thinner Dillon lock rings, much easier to work with.