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Posted: 5/28/2018 10:31:54 AM EDT
[#1]
I love my SDB! My plan is to eventually get one for each of my high volume pistol calibers.
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Posted: 5/28/2018 10:54:09 AM EDT
[#2]
Yes.
While you say you don’t plan on loading more calibers, the SDB will change out calibers easily. I have set ups for 7.62x25, 41M, 38/357, 9mm & 45acp. The SDB can put out very good quality ammo. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:02:33 AM EDT
[#3]
I have 3 SDB's, I really like them set up in a caliber. Currently mine are set up in 9mm, 357, and 45 ACP.
They come with a great manual that will help you get it running easily. One word of caution, if you ever think you may load rifle rounds, get a 550 that will do both rifle and pistol. Myself, I bought a 550 for rifle rounds. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:14:49 AM EDT
[#4]
I really liked the size and functionality of the SD when I saw it on display at Dillon two weeks ago.
They appeared to sell quick change conversations for other calibers. Why do folks buy one for each caliber? Is the conversion difficult? I like my 550’s for running low volume stuff (prefer 1050s). Do SD’s have a case feeder option? |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:22:51 AM EDT
[#5]
I really enjoy my SDB. Great pistol press.
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:27:29 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I really liked the size and functionality of the SD when I saw it on display at Dillon two weeks ago. They appeared to sell quick change conversations for other calibers. Why do folks buy one for each caliber? Is the conversion difficult? I like my 550’s for running low volume stuff (prefer 1050s). Do SD’s have a case feeder option? I don’t have the room/budget for that, so I just swap them out. I have no knowledge of a case feeder option for the SDB. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:28:13 AM EDT
[#7]
I have been very pleased with my SDB. I started reloading 357 mags, then got a 9mm conversion kit with spare powder hopper and tool head stand. Keeps everything pretty organized on the bench. I also recommend getting the cover for it if your reloading bench is set up in a garage like mine to keep saw dust and other crap of it.
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:28:38 AM EDT
[#8]
I'm thinking along the same lines, of adding SDB's for three or four handgun cartridges. Then I look at the LEE classic turret press ...
I have a bad procrastination fault when it comes to spending on expensive things, but I seldom have regrets. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:42:47 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm thinking along the same lines, of adding a SDB's for three or four handgun cartridges. Then I look at the LEE classic turret press ... I have a bad procrastination fault when it comes to spending on expensive things, but I seldom have regrets. I have a rock chucker for pulling bullets and loading my 6.5C rounds. I also process my 223 on the rock chucker. The Lee is great for my blasting loads. I have been shooting about 3 times a week for over 35 years, so reloading has saved me a few dollars.... |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 12:31:02 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm thinking along the same lines, of adding SDB's for three or four handgun cartridges. Then I look at the LEE classic turret press ... I have a bad procrastination fault when it comes to spending on expensive things, but I seldom have regrets. Buying several turrets at $10-$11 a piece allows you to leave certain die sets installed and prepared to go. This press also allows for rotating indexing when more speed for volume is desired. I will never poo-poo the better progressive presses. They are the ultimate for cranking out high numbers. I have more time now in my life situation, and the turret was a good choice to eliminate as much handling drudgery and fatigue while still being able to keep an eye on quality results. Everything's somewhat of a compromise. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 2:20:46 PM EDT
[#11]
Get a 550. You need special dies for the square deal. The 550 will load rifle ammo too. I use mine to crank out m1 garand food.
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Posted: 5/28/2018 5:10:01 PM EDT
[#12]
Love mine. Bought a second one off fleabay and saved at least a c note vs new.
You can also find used die set ups here on the ee or the flea. No contest between t Lee imho. No contest between the SDB and the Lee (have both). You also can't beat the Dillon warranty and service. BGF. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 6:36:06 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Get a 550. You need special dies for the square deal. The 550 will load rifle ammo too. I use mine to crank out m1 garand food. with the 550, you can use your existing LEE, Hornady, Redding, etc dies ...and it does rifle . |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 6:42:58 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
+1 with the 550, you can use your existing LEE, Hornady, Redding, etc dies ...and it does rifle . Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Get a 550. You need special dies for the square deal. The 550 will load rifle ammo too. I use mine to crank out m1 garand food. with the 550, you can use your existing LEE, Hornady, Redding, etc dies ...and it does rifle . If you are getting a smoking deal on a used SDB thats one thing. But if you are buying NIB the 550 just makes more sense. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 7:27:00 PM EDT
[#15]
I miss my SDB and my 550 but of the two I miss the SDB MORE.
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Posted: 5/28/2018 7:48:58 PM EDT
[#16]
I would buy a 550. In the past I have owned a dozen or so different Dillon Products. Square Deal. 550's and 1050's. They are all great machines. These Days I have a 550 for multiple caliber conversions, a 1050 for dedicated 9mm and a few single stage and turret presses for rifle.
The SD is a nice little press. The 550 gives you a lot more flexibility and more working room to clear a jam. YMMV |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 8:54:46 PM EDT
[#17]
Can't really say that I was every a SDB or 550 fan, since for just a little more money, you can have a 650 and it will produce ammo much faster instead. If you want to have a few machine set up and keep them that way, then maybe, but converting over a 650 is close to that amount of time it going to unbolt one machine, bolt in another, and getting it rolling again next.
Granted for match type ammo, I still produce that on a single stage Forster coaxial press, but for kicking out large quantity of ammo quickly, the 650 levering by hand can get the job done. Really, the only reason that I stepped up to a 1050 from my old 650, was that I needed to produce ammo at a faster rate with the limited time I have on hand, which meant a drive in the works, and to run a auto drive, the machine has to has to have a primer pocket swage in the works to start with. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 9:57:53 PM EDT
[#18]
Last time I looked, there was a very small difference in price between an SDB with two calibers of the required, proprietary DIllon dies, and a 550 with Lee Pistol dies. (Use any dies you like, but AFAIC there's no reason to spend more on pistol dies than Lee.)
For those few extra dollars, you can use any dies you want, have a larger working area, and have the option to do some rifle as well. Seems a small price to pay to keep all future options open. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:35:58 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I really liked the size and functionality of the SD when I saw it on display at Dillon two weeks ago. They appeared to sell quick change conversations for other calibers. Why do folks buy one for each caliber? Is the conversion difficult? I like my 550's for running low volume stuff (prefer 1050s). Do SD's have a case feeder option? Then the Dillon Gods smiled on me and I found two wayward SDB's at the funshow in about a 2 year period at the funshow. The first was $75 and was missing a few parts. Called Dillon and told them how I got this press and they send me the missing parts for free. This became my 45 ACP SDB. The second was in poor shape, just the frame and little else. It was $60. I sent it back to Dillon (in a SDB box) with a letter inside (with my customer number) explaining how this SD was acquired, and would they rebuild it and bill me. I got it back with a new PM, priming system, and everything else that was missing. Again no charge. I made a post about this with before and after pics. This was about 2009 or so. So I have been looking for another SDB for 32 Mag, but the hunt has been about 6-7 years now. |
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Posted: 5/28/2018 11:40:16 PM EDT
[#20]
Today, getting started and tried out the Fiocchi SP primers I got on sale. 
Loaded at batch of 500, 9mm today about 2/3 finished here. |
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Posted: 5/29/2018 7:31:06 AM EDT
[#21]
Not to hijack my own thread, but I have a question . . . Since the machine does everything from deprime to crimp without the case ever being handled, when do you do primer pocket maintenance, trim cases, etc?
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Posted: 5/29/2018 8:18:48 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Not to hijack my own thread, but I have a question . . . Since the machine does everything from deprime to crimp without the case ever being handled, when do you do primer pocket maintenance, trim cases, etc? 
It's called learning and asking for more info. Notice my sparkling clean cases? See Pic. I decap cases and wet tumble/dry the cases before loading. Straight sided auto pistol cases like 9mm don't need or ever get trimmed. They come slightly under max length and don't grow. If you dry tumble then primer pockets don't get cleaned, you can still load them just fine. Many folks never clean primer pockets, I'm just not one of those folks. Now bottleneck cases like 223, have to fully prepped (decapped/crimp removed, trimmed, deburred) before loading. |
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Posted: 5/31/2018 9:58:47 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm thinking along the same lines, of adding SDB's for three or four handgun cartridges. Then I look at the LEE classic turret press ... I have a bad procrastination fault when it comes to spending on expensive things, but I seldom have regrets. I’m actually working on a 3D printed case feeder but it’s a little slow going with other hobbies getting in the way. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 2:00:22 PM EDT
[#24]
I started out with a rcbs rc in 83 purchased piggyback next for it..
I was not impressed with it at all.. Issue was sizing always seemed to be an issue with it. I purchase a square deal in 38/357 next.. It worked great set up for a single bullet and cranked out ammo pretty fast.. With reloading 380, 9mm, .40, 10mm, 38/357, 44 mag, 45acp and 45lc. it was not worth purchasing separate square deals. The price of kits to convert of the time wasn't really that much less than purchasing another unit and another unit wasn't cost effective enough for me. I ended up purchasing 550b in early 90's.. I had dies for all my calibers due to the rcb rc. So it was a natural fit. I dumped the rcbs piggy back and square deal for almost as much as i paid for it. The only thing ill add now would be another 550 to make one a large and another small primers so i dont have to change out the parts. I loaded thousands of thousands around on both the 550 and rcbs rc.. I dont need anything that is bigger than the 550 machine. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 2:52:53 PM EDT
[#25]
Is there separate seating and crimping stations with a SD or do you have to seat and crimp in the same station?
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Posted: 6/1/2018 2:58:52 PM EDT
[#26]
Station 3 seat, station 4 crimp.
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Posted: 6/1/2018 3:11:07 PM EDT
[#27]
Dillon has a very nice video on their site that shows the SDB operation. LEE also has a video demonstrating the CT press.
I've used the LEE press a little at another member's house. What I see in the video that I didn't pick up first hand was the degree of concentration required with the CT press due to the rotating tool head. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 3:26:53 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Station 3 seat, station 4 crimp. |
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Posted: 6/1/2018 3:54:55 PM EDT
[#29]
My idea is if you have dies already? Then get the 550C. Don't look back!
If you don't have dies then the SDB is more attractive. |
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Posted: 6/2/2018 4:21:26 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have 3 SDB's, I really like them set up in a caliber. Currently mine are set up in 9mm, 357, and 45 ACP. They come with a great manual that will help you get it running easily. One word of caution, if you ever think you may load rifle rounds, get a 550 that will do both rifle and pistol. Myself, I bought a 550 for rifle rounds. |
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Posted: 6/2/2018 10:50:22 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My idea is if you have dies already? Then get the 550C. Don't look back! If you don't have dies then the SDB is more attractive. |
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Posted: 6/2/2018 11:01:43 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: So, I could use my RCBS dies in the 550? Can I use my Lee Factory Crimp die in the die stage? |
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Posted: 6/3/2018 12:09:37 PM EDT
[#33]
I've been using my SDB for about 23 years. I've lost count of the tens of thousands of rounds I've loaded. 380 ACP, 38 spl, .357, .45 SW, .45 ACP. Conversions take maybe five minutes, seven minutes when I have to change the primer system. I had one major problem when the frame broke. Dillon replaced the frame and rebuilt it at the same time. No charge.
I recently added an XL650 to the stable for rifles. |
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Posted: 6/3/2018 12:19:02 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: So, I could use my RCBS dies in the 550? Can I use my Lee Factory Crimp die in the die stage? I'd really recommend the 550 over the SDB: It uses normal dies, can do rifles, and you can get a case feeder for it. (My next upgrade for it, in fact). (550 is not much more than a SDB, at least at a quick glance in the Blue Press by my keyboard) If you are convinced you're going to just do low volume of .38 special, and just want to save some time and efficiency, you may look into a Turret press. I went from Single Stage to Turret, and that went from 50 rounds an hour to about 100-150. Course, the 550 is basically a Super Turret, and I load about 350rds/hr on it. (I am slow and methodical on it though, and no case feeder yet). |
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Posted: 6/3/2018 12:24:21 PM EDT
[#35]
Given the similarity in price and the fact that I already have dies, the hive's recommendation of going with the 550 makes sense. Seems like the only thing I'd give up is the automatic rotation of the SD and perhaps some level of out-of-the-box set up simplicity but I'd gain more future versatility.
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Posted: 6/3/2018 1:54:42 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Given the similarity in price and the fact that I already have dies, the hive's recommendation of going with the 550 makes sense. Seems like the only thing I'd give up is the automatic rotation of the SD and perhaps some level of out-of-the-box set up simplicity but I'd gain more future versatility. I only load rifle on the 550. The 550 is a better choice over the SDB if you only have the budget for 1 press. Thing that is different on the 550, no auto advance. That's a big thing. But if you haven't loaded on a SDB, you won't miss it. So be cautious on the 550 loading pistol rounds, you can double charge the case if you forget to index the press. So it's very important to look into the charged case before sitting a bullet on top of it to be seated. Some folks will only use powders/charges that will over flow the case on a double charge. But that limits you as to powder selection. It's a choice. With rifle rounds, the powder will overflow the case on a double charge. Note, on any Dillon press if you spill powder on the shell plate you will soon have primer feed issues and will have to take the primer assembly apart and clean out the 1 or 2 pieces of powder causing the problem. So try to avoid powder spilling. Good luck. |
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Posted: 6/3/2018 2:23:03 PM EDT
[#37]
another tip for running the 550
If you need to stop for anything, a phone call, family, etc. . . . make your stopping point when the handle is full downward / press fully upward. that way, when you start again, there is no chance to pull twice, and create a double charge |
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Posted: 6/6/2018 7:57:54 PM EDT
[#38]
I know this isn’t tech talk but it looks like a new SDB can be had off of eBay for about $350 with their 20% off coupon code today.
Code is PICKDADSGIFT |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 12:02:29 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I know this isn’t tech talk but it looks like a new SDB can be had off of eBay for about $350 with their 20% off coupon code today. Code is PICKDADSGIFT |
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Posted: 6/7/2018 8:28:54 PM EDT
[#40]
2004 I step into a 650 from a 550.. Mid 2008 I found local SDB for $100 in 9mm,, traded the 9mm kit for a 45acp kit,, as 650 is strictly 9mm duty..
45acp is very minimal load for anymore, so SDB be fine,, though I have average size hands, I find feeding the SDB to be a liitle tight on room.. but it only 45acp,, dont think I have loaded any 45acp in maybe 9yr now,, plenty sitting around |
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Posted: 6/18/2018 11:23:05 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
another tip for running the 550 If you need to stop for anything, a phone call, family, etc. . . . make your stopping point when the handle is full downward / press fully upward. that way, when you start again, there is no chance to pull twice, and create a double charge That kaboom occurred from my getting distracted/poor use of an SDB. If I had been loading on my 650, it wouldn't have happened, because the 650 is a 5-station press and I have a powder check die in position #3. The 650 is also more open, making it much easier to see the powder level before bullet seating. Also, be aware that the opportunities for a double charge are greater than you may think. Most of the "trick" to using a Dillon is learning to stop when some portion of the stroke doesn't "feel right," so you can clear the problem. Stroking more than 1/2 way, backing off, and re-stroking is one way to get a double charge (DAMHIK...) |
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Posted: 6/18/2018 11:32:27 PM EDT
[#42]
By way of wrap-up . . . I bought the Square Deal.
Yeah, I know the 550 is a more versatile machine. I didn't really want or need versatility. I need to load a bunch of .38 specials. I want easy. Minimal set-up. Little fuss or muss. So far, I'm happy. I've loaded 250 rounds so far. The only issues I've had have been failure to seat primers all the way . . . maybe eight or 10 rounds. So far, so good. I'm pretty impressed with this little machine. Yeah, it's a one-trick pony but it seems to do that trick well. |
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Posted: 6/19/2018 12:18:59 AM EDT
[#43]
I bought my Square Deal B in 1992. Loaded thousands of rounds and whenever something breaks they still send me parts for free. I have bought caliber exchange kits and used them over the years. Good choice.
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Posted: 6/19/2018 7:10:28 AM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
By way of wrap-up . . . I bought the Square Deal. Yeah, I know the 550 is a more versatile machine. I didn't really want or need versatility. I need to load a bunch of .38 specials. I want easy. Minimal set-up. Little fuss or muss. So far, I'm happy. I've loaded 250 rounds so far. The only issues I've had have been failure to seat primers all the way . . . maybe eight or 10 rounds. So far, so good. I'm pretty impressed with this little machine. Yeah, it's a one-trick pony but it seems to do that trick well. |
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