Dilloon XL 650

[jwisecarver]

Any one have a Dillon 650?  I currently Have a Redding T-7 and an RCBS Rockchucker and am seriously considering the Dillon 650. I would like some input good bad or indifferent.

[Hairtrigger]

Save yourself some money and buy a Hornady LNL AP.
Caliber changes are  cheeper and the powder measure is much better.
The complete machine is simpler and has about 1/3 less parts. All in all it is a simpler less complicated machine with the same lifetime warranty

[Japlmg]

I own and use a Dillon 650, and I have mixed feelings about it.
It is expensive when compaired to other equipment on the market, but you do get what you pay for.
The 650 is tricky to set up to get it to work 100%; the primer feed system sure could use some improvement, as I have more trouble with that than any thing else.
On the plus side, when you get it all adjusted just right, it runs very well.
I only load pistol ammo on my Dillon, but my son just bought all the stuff needed to load 223, so that will be a first for me.
In my opinion, all progressive reloading machines except for maybe the Dillion 1050, just assemble ammo.
They do not clean out the primer pocket, they do not trim the case or deburr it
They do not weight each powder charge, they do not measure overall assembled cartridge length.
Again in my opinion, if you want high precision reloaded ammo, a single stage press is the only way to go.
But if you are just looking for lots of reliable plinking and blasting ammo, you can not beat any good progressive reloading machine.
Gregg

[Questor]

I use a Dillon 550 and probably would not be shooting rapid fire without it. Reloading would be too much hassle. What do you want to reload with it? The 650 might be right for you, but then again it may not be.

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive got a 550 and 5 square deals and love them all. Ive done alot of loading on my buddys 650s and 1050s and there great presses too. If i had to recomend one to someone who has to ask, id say go with a 550. Its a much simpler operatating press and eaiser to change calibers on and doesnt give up much speed to a 650 unless you have a case feeder. I wouldnt own a 650 without a case feeder as there awkard to use without it and it makes caliber changeovers alot more expensive. to me a 650 is a good machine (probably the best progressive press) if your going to leave it set up in one caliber or at least in two simular ones like a 44 mag and 45 colt. But if you go from a large pistol case to a small one like from a 44 mag to a 38 speical you have to not only change shell plates and die sets but have to change the primer feed from large to small and the case feeder parts from larget to small. Your going to have to do the same with a lock and load hornady so to me its a wash there. I like sqare deals for handgun ammo. I can load just as fast on one of the without a case feeder as you can on a 650 with a casefeeder due the the much shorter stroke of the square deal. But like the 650 they about need to be bought caliber specific and left that way. thats why I have 5 of them. My buddy does the same with 650s Hes got 4 640s and a 1050 that he leaves set in a certain caliiber and uses his 550 like i do for odd ball stuff and rifle loading. He just bought a lock and load too to do 500 linebaughs progessively because a 650 cant be set up for them. He and i have both used lock and loads quite a bit and find them a good press but a tad more awkward to use. For 90 percent of all the loading an average guy does a 550 is the way to go. Its easy to swap calibers on. Cheaper then a 650 to buy conversions for. It doesn rifle and handgun, use your standard dies that you allready have, and know can be set up with a case feeder if you really think you need one. Once a guy gets used to one you can crank out lots of ammo on them. They tend to be the most reliable of the progressives because there a manual index press which means less complicated parts and also allows you to more easily use it as a single stage press if you want to. the primer feed system it uses is also more user freindly then any other progressive press. Theres my opinion. Me in my dream loading room id have 650s with case feeders or better yet 1050s all set up in calibers i use so no swapping would be nessisary but then i dont have 10,000 dollars to dump on loading presses right now and probably never will. My set up with square deals backed up with the 550 does me just fine and i probably load more then any 5 people on this forum does in a year. If i had to go back to one progressive press to live with the rest of my life it would be a 550 without a case feeder. To be honest i could probably live with just that.

[myronman3]

lloyd x2.   i have a square deal, 550, and had a 650.  sold the 650 to my brother cause he wanted it and needed it,  i do miss that machine.  if i had to chose one, and only one, it would be the 550.  glad i dont have to have only one.

[Questor]

After reading Lloyd and Myronmans' comments I feel fortunate to have started with the 550. The 550 was at the time "THE" progressive press for bullseye shooters because of adequate output, cost, and high quality. It was recommended by far over all other progressive machines for the purpose, even by people who owned several more expensive progressives.

I don't regret it one bit. It's been a great press. Contrary to what some prefer, I prefer manual indexing. I also own an auto indexing press for comparison. I figure that since I have to get in there and insert a bullet and a case anyway, taking a peek at the powder charge and indexing the machine isn't much of a burden in terms of time. It also makes for a simpler mechanism.

[Catfish]

I, personally prefer the 550. The 650 would be great if you were loading alot of 1 or 2 different rounds, but I load for 3 different .17 cal. rounds, 7 different .22 cal rounds and a pile of others. The cost to set up the 650 for each different round is alot higher and I usually only load a few 100`s rounds at a time.

[myronman3]

if price were not an issue,  i would go with the 650. 

like said though,  sometimes manuel indexing is a good thing.   one person above said....

They do not clean out the primer pocket, they do not trim the case or deburr it
They do not weight each powder charge, they do not measure overall assembled cartridge length.
Again in my opinion, if you want high precision reloaded ammo, a single stage press is the only way to go.
But if you are just looking for lots of reliable plinking and blasting ammo, you can not beat any good progressive reloading machine.

 
very untrue.  you CAN skip those steps if you choose,  but one can also opt to do each and every bit of that with the absolute same level of precision as a single stage; it just takes a little longer but still faster than a single stage press.  this is the advantage the 550 has over the 650.

[hedgehorn]

I can't speak for the 650 but I recently bought a 550 and found easy to set up and change calibers and I like indexing it myself. Dillon's customer service is first class as well. I have heard allot of good things about the 650 and the LnL AP as well. If you want an auto index press I think that if money is no object I would go for the 650. Myself I enjoy reloading and if it takes me a little longer I dont mind. 

[jwisecarver]

Well I went and ordered the 650, no looking back now. can't wait for it to come in. Will have to rearrange my reloading area a little.

[myronman3]

keep us posted!!    you will NEVER regret it; and that i promise.

[Waldog]

For other readers doing research on the Red vs. Blue vs. Lee before buying, read this:  http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillonLeeHornadyComparison.pdf

[Catfish]

Enjoyed reading the comparison Waldog. It seem very objective and unbiased. I have been Blue for years though and can`t afford to change now. I`ve been loading on a 550 Dillon since the late 1970`s. Dillon was the only dance in town at the time. I have a friend that got one of the earlier Hornady`s and the powder measure they had then dumped a powder charge every time unless you disconnected the linkage bar, he put a Dillon powder measure on it. I also cannot see how the Hornady can load more accurate ammo. I have shot alot of 5 groups around .250 moa over the years. The best being a .176. I have also checked alot of different load and never found a single round with any run out. In fact I have never been able to get more accurate ammo useing my arbor press and Wilson dies. Hornady makes some real good equipment and I`ve use alot of it over the years and never had any real trouble with any of it, although their Apex shot shell press could get under your skin.

[jwisecarver]

Git to do some reloading on the 650 today and you guys were right I sure don't think I regret it. I loaded 500 rounds in a little over an hour. The finished product looks great. I have to admit though it takes a little to get the first set up done but then look out. One other thing I learned real quick is that you have to make sure that you take the handle all the way up or you will crumple a case real fast. But overall WOW!!

[myronman3]

 

I have to admit though it takes a little to get the first set up done but then look out.

yes, it does.  but it is worth the time, aint it?     glad you like it,  but i knew you would!

[jwisecarver]

I like it more than I imagined
Gotta get more brass quick.

[BOGA]

jwisecarver,
Congratulations. You wont regret it. I bought mine 7 years ago and still running. The company tech support is also excellent and if something breaks, call them and parts is on the way after the call. No need to send them the broken part.
What caliber do you reload?