Sqaure Deal Strong Mounts?

[The Rabbi]

I have bought a used Sq Deal B. Never having had one before I am still a little bewildered at the mess of springs, bolts, screws etc etc that came with it. Not sure exactly what to do with the whole business.

The pics all show the thing set up with strong mounts. The mounts are about $55. How necessary are they?

 

[Jim Watson]

That is the problem with buying secondhand, the instructions aren't always included. Call Dillon and ask for the book.

The purpose of the strong mount is to raise the press by six or eight inches. So whether you need one depends on the height of your bench and whether you would rather load sitting or standing or on a tall seat.

 

[The Rabbi]

I can download the manual off their web site, so that isnt an issue. Actually without the mounts would work better because I sit at the press. I am using an old wood desk as a table. What is the best way to attach it?

 

[Zak Smith]

If you stand at the bench to reload, the SM helps with height.

Something they don't mention, but that I think is critical: the SM allows complete disassembly of the press (eg, for cleaning) without removing it from the bench or the mounts.

When you need to load another 500 rounds for a big match coming up in two days and your press starts acting up, this is invaluable.

-z

 

[theCZ]

I don't have the Strong Mount, and my SDB works fine for me, and is at the right level for me to use it. I bought mine off ebay and got some replacement parts for it, but I figured it out fairly quickly since I had been loading on a single stage for my pistol previously, and I knew how the dies should be.

 

[Black Snowman]

Mount it as firmly as you can. I like bolts all the way through dense wood with large washers on the far side. For extra rigidity on my next bench project I'm replacing the washers with angle iron running to the back of the bench and bolted there as well to reinforce the bench to remove as much flex and movement from the equation as possible.

 

[strambo]

I got the mount for my SDB a few years ago. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, it also dramatically increases the "footprint" of the machine making it more stable.

 

[45auto]

You guys got me convinced...I'm going to buy a SM for mine.

The SDB does need to be clean, IMO, to work properly and it's a pain to disassemble if you mount it securely to a bench, at least the way I have it attached.

 

[Zak Smith]

On the plus side, my first time ever taking one completely apart, I had it totally clean, back together, and running in less than an hour.

-z

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Yo, Rabbi.

Congrats on your purchase. I started with a Lee kit where you hammer the case, scoop the powder, and basically take all day to load a box of ammo.

Then I went to a Lyman Turret. Better, but still time consuming.

Then I had a chance to buy a used Square Deal but tried to haggle the guy down another $25. Meanwhile he sold it to somebody else.

Then broke down and bought a new Square Deal from Dillon. This thing is great. And if anything ever, and I mean ever, goes wrong, even though yours is used, Dillon will honor the warranty as if you bought it new.

 

[RON in PA]

The strong mount made my SD work better. Also I believe that Dillon recommends that you reload standing.

 

[RUT]

Standing, sitting... a matter of personal choice. I do think the strong mount is well worth the money, and have them on both by Square D and 550.

 

[bdhawk]

strong mount

i, too have a strong mount on my square deal and my 550. believe it or not, it is less tiring 'cause you have better leverage standing. i also feel it gives you a better perspective to peek into each and every brass to make dern sure you have powder in it. folks should go with what works best for them.