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Posted: 8/10/2012 11:24:24 AM EDT
| I'm thinking of upgrading after using a 550 for 10+ years. I know the pros, but what about the 650 do you find negative? Any tweeks needed? I'm finding it hard to decide whether I should sell my 550 to fund it. Decisions decisions. |
I wrote the Tips and Tricks post referenced above and started out with a 550B which I used for 4½years and 70,000+ rounds before I upgraded to my 650 with casefeeder some 90,000+ rds ago. My only regret was waiting so long to get the 650 and casefeeder because the casefeeder makes processing rifle brass a snap. In fact, the main impetus of getting the 650 was because I was sick and tired of handling .223 brass so much. I also recommend a Dillon trimmer so that during your case prep cycle on your rifle calibers, you don't have to touch a single case to deprime, resize, and trim it.  I'd recommend that you consider another primer system to make swap outs a breeze and be sure to review my Tips and Tricks post before you buy as it will save you money and in truth, my toolholder is in a better position than Dillon's because they didn't have room for it on the side because of their fixed bullet bin. You'll use the allen wrenches and a set of open end box are good to have close too. If you incorporate most of those tips you have a great setup that's a pleasure to use because the 650 with the casefeeder is really a great machine. As to the 650's complexity over the 550B. You will find a bit of a learning curve, however, a Dillon is a Dillon and the logic of the presses is the same even though the priming systems are completely different. I strongly recommend that you get all the extras with the machine because they make operating it a real pleasure and if you can sail through the process instead of fighting it, you'll be happy from day one. I took all those parts off of my 550B setup that I could use on my 650 (Aluminum Roller Handle, Caliber Specific Die Sets, Powder Measures, Powder Dies, etc.) and then sold my 550B and related extras (toolheads, caliber change kits, etc.) that were specific to the 550B to help fund my 650 setup. If you have any specific questions, drop me an IM and I'll try to help. |
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Pretty sure I'm on record regarding XL650 and expectations I had of machine based on user experiences in this forum.
I was really dissapointed, but then my expectations are high. XL650 as Brian Enos explains is a pistol press. I'll load some blaster grade .223 with it. Case feeder is what makes the 650 a 650. Add Dillon trimmer and then you've really got something. I'll always have a 650 around to load practice ammo. My biggest gripe with 650 is floating shell plate. I fixed most of the slop, 550 without mods is tighter. My suggestion is keep your 550 & add a 650 for pistol and blaster grade .223. |
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I have both a 550 and a 650. The 550 has sat gathering dust since I picked up the 650 a little less than a year ago.
Be prepared for a little sticker shock when you go to order 650 caliber conversions. Like all things Dillon they hold their resale value very well so you probably won't be able to pick up used ones cheap. The first couple of times you swap calibers it'll take a few minutes longer to setup the press than what you're used to on the 550, but it's really not that much more time (particularly if you don't have to swap between large/small primers) once you've done it two or three times. Also, download this caliber conversion chart from Brian Enos's website to find how which parts from the caliber conversion kits you plan to purchase allow you to load other calibers. For instance, a .308 caliber conversion will supply most of the parts you need for reloading both 30-06 or 45 ACP. Similarly, a .223 caliber conversion kit requires only one part from Dillon (an AK powder drop part number 13015) to allow you to load 300 Blackout/Whisper. The auto-indexing is a double edged sword. It's AWESOME when everything is working well, but can be a pain in the butt when a kink develops. Especially when you're first learning on the machine, if you're not paying attention you can rotate around a piece of brass with no primer/powder while troubleshooting an issue. I recommend an RCBS Lock Out Die to ensure you physically can't rotate a piece of brass with no powder into the bullet seating station and create a squib load. The Dillon low powder sensor is also not a bad way to go, but I prefer the RCBS die. Even with those precautions, I always visually confirm there is powder inside the case prior to placing a bullet on it to be seated. In any event after you've ran the machine for a bit you'll learn how to very quickly clear the malfunction and get back into loading (which doesn't happen very often), but it can be frustrating the first couple of times. Like any other precision machine they like to be ran well lubricated and free of dirt/grit. I keep an air compressor and vacumn next to the press to blow out crud/powder that tends to slowly accumulate. I also have an oil can on the bench that I use every couple of hundred rounds on the ram/arm linkage. I'll also occasionaly place a light film of Tetra Grease on parts of the press that have moving plastic on plastic contact. Make sure you spring for a casefeeder. It puts an initial smackdown on your wallet, but you're missing out on the point of moving up to a 650 without it. The first time you use one at full speed it'll put a grin on your face and you'll forget how much you spent on the casefeeder. I deprime my rifle brass with a toolhead setup with just a Lee Universal Decapping Die in it prior to sending them to be wet tumbled. It's awe inspiring moving up from a non auto-indexing press how fast I can plow through a bucket of brass.  Similarly, with a Dillon 1200B Case Trimmer being fed by a casefeeder you can process brass WAY faster than doing it by hand.
Also, make sure you get the bullet tray. Anything you can do to increase economy of motion translates to more efficient/faster reloading. I also like the aluminum reloading handle, but that's a nicety that you can grab later. If you're doing any kind of volume reloading, do it and don't look back. 
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| In regards to the powder check. Once you have the assembly, do you just need to buy a die and rod for each caliber? About $25 per caliber. From what I can tell, it's all the little things that add up big. The vast majority of my shooting is .40 and .223, maybe I'll just start with that. |
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I had spent over $1200.00 inside a month from original price of press and that's without powder check, powder alarm, strong mount, fancy handle or tool kit.
Took less than 2 weeks and decision was made for case feeder with three plates. Mine's set for 9mm, 38 super comp, 45acp and .223. All Dillon dies, including .223 are carbide. Have three tool heads, trim die and RT1200. Bought powder dies for every caliber, no extra powder measures. You can have the price of Super1050 in a hurry and still not have a 1050. |
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I sent the order last night. I decided against the powder check for now. Got the roller handle, bullet tray, strong mount, casefeeder, a couple extra toolheads, small pistol and small rifle casefeed plates for now. Caliber conversions for .40 and .223. Now I just need to decide where I want it. Right next to the 550, other end of the bench, on the other bench......decisions, decisions......
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Finally got it. It's so much faster than my 550. I have found the primer operation a little frustrating a few times. I'm playing around with the Hornady bullet feeder die and I'm on the fence as to whether this is going to be faster or not. The casefeeder is freakin' awesome. I sized an akrobin full of .223 brass and I was shocked at how fast I cruised through it!
Edit- I mounted the press exactly the same distance away from the edge of the bench as my 550. I didn't even give a second thought to cranking the handle and checking the clearance. As you can see, I had to cut away some benchtop to get the clearance!! lol 
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Quoted:
Finally got it. It's so much faster than my 550. I have found the primer operation a little frustrating a few times. I'm playing around with the Hornady bullet feeder die and I'm on the fence as to whether this is going to be faster or not. The casefeeder is freakin' awesome. I sized an akrobin full of .223 brass and I was shocked at how fast I cruised through it! Edit- I mounted the press exactly the same distance away from the edge of the bench as my 550. I didn't even give a second thought to cranking the handle and checking the clearance. As you can see, I had to cut away some benchtop to get the clearance!! lol http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/assaulter4449/IMAG0906_zps40049a8d.jpg http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/assaulter4449/IMAG0908_zps6c02a6a5.jpg 
congratulations LOVE my 650 |
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Hey guys-I posted up a couple of months ago about wanting to go progressive from my single stage rockchucker. I have definitely decided to go blue, but I am on the fence on whether to go 550 or 650. I've priced everything out for both and I can definitely afford everything now for the 550, but for the 650 I might have to buy some of it now and some of it later. I thought I remember seeing a thread on here last year about the annual dillon price increase at the new year, but I never got a chance to go in and read more about it. I was wondering how much truth there is to this as and if it is true how much of an increase does dillon put on the stuff in the new year. I was thinking about making my purchase in October and it would really help me decide.
To OP-Sorry-Didn't mean to thread jack. 
Thanks, Mav |
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Quoted: Yes, they do bump up prices every year or almost every year.Hey guys-I posted up a couple of months ago about wanting to go progressive from my single stage rockchucker. I have definitely decided to go blue, but I am on the fence on whether to go 550 or 650. I've priced everything out for both and I can definitely afford everything now for the 550, but for the 650 I might have to buy some of it now and some of it later. I thought I remember seeing a thread on here last year about the annual dillon price increase at the new year, but I never got a chance to go in and read more about it. I was wondering how much truth there is to this as and if it is true how much of an increase does dillon put on the stuff in the new year. I was thinking about making my purchase in October and it would really help me decide. To OP-Sorry-Didn't mean to thread jack. Thanks, Mav 2-4% IIRC every January.
If you are loading 1-2 calibers, 650, hands down. Or if you plan on loading .223 because only the 650 lets you use the casefeeder for rifle calibers. If you want to load 4+ calibers, consider the 550, because conversions etc add up quickly with the 650. At the end of the day, the casefeeder is what really, really sets the 650 apart, although the extra station and auto indexing are sweet. |
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Quoted:
Hey guys-I posted up a couple of months ago about wanting to go progressive from my single stage rockchucker. I have definitely decided to go blue, but I am on the fence on whether to go 550 or 650. I've priced everything out for both and I can definitely afford everything now for the 550, but for the 650 I might have to buy some of it now and some of it later. I thought I remember seeing a thread on here last year about the annual dillon price increase at the new year, but I never got a chance to go in and read more about it. I was wondering how much truth there is to this as and if it is true how much of an increase does dillon put on the stuff in the new year. I was thinking about making my purchase in October and it would really help me decide. To OP-Sorry-Didn't mean to thread jack.
Thanks, Mav Buy once cry once. 650 all the way. |
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Quoted:
Add a small, inexpensive single stage for odd jobs, like pulling bullets and your set for life. Congrats. dc. This. I was fortunate that another board member was in a bartering mood so he ended up with another rifle and I his 650 w/ case feeder. It is for .223 as i like my 550 for pistol and now getting ready to add a 450 for a fixed .357 loader. I have an rcbs laying around that will be for pulling bullets. Reloading, another worthwhile addiction |
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