Blue68f100
Member
Your volumes PER SESSION are the best indication of the correct machine for you.
Having owned both a 550 and 650, and I'm going to side with Jmorris on this one. Your volumes indicate an XL650 with Case Feeder. I would advise you to load 1000 rounds per session of a single caliber. Then come back the following week and load 1000 rounds of the next caliber. If you take your time, each of these loading sessions will take about 2 hours start to finish.
Things you need to know....
• The 650 has the best and most trouble-free primer feeding in the industry. You'll be so happy with the primer system that you'll quickly realize that hand primer insertion is totally unnecessary. Using the in-press primer insertion will compliment your entire loading process in ways you simply cannot envision now. Once you load on a 650 for a week it will be like a religious epiphany !! You'll be kicking yourself in the hind quarters for not making this move years ago.
• 1000 rounds per session will not tax the machine, but it may stress your back and shoulder. To counter this I highly suggest you purchase the Strong Mount and the Plastic Roller Handle. The Strong Mount greatly increases the strength of your bench mounting. The Roller Handle spreads the force over a larger area of your hand. Both work together to lower the possibility of repetitive motion issues.
• As was said, the 650 is more cumbersome with caliber conversions. That's why you want to finish with one caliber before converting. However, purchasing separate powder measures for each caliber will not save any great time. The largest time saver on the XL650 will be the purchase a second primer feed system for use with 45ACP, OR decide from the start to focus exclusively on 45ACP with small primers so that no primer size conversion is required.
• 40, 9mm, 38Spcl, 38 Super, and 357M all use one sorting disk inside the case feeder. You'll need a second disk with larger openings exclusively for 45ACP. No way around that $39 purchase.
Hope this helps.
Yes, Also has a history of putting the primmer feed tube through the ceiling. This was a problem when they first came out. They still have do not have a fix for it. The problem lies with all the plastic parts Dillon uses. A little wear on the plastic part it binds a little, the uses uses a little more force then thefire works begins. Chain reaction setting off the primers. Dillon also recommend not to use Federal primers for this reason.