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Posted: 10/16/2013 5:52:38 AM EDT
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I am looking to buy a progressive reloader..possibly the Dillon Rl550B.I have heard from some people that the powder throw on then Dillon will not throw consistent charges of Bullseye which I use for pistol loads. Anyone who can comment on this .......Please chime in.
Also ...Is the Dillon better than the Hornady? Mike |
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Dillon v hornady.....google it, read,research, review, repeat. You will have to make your own decision on what you think is best for you. Both are quality progressive loaders.
Different powder throwers have problems with different powders. Ball usually measures the best. Stick is usually the worst. If there was one that was ultimately the best, it would be all over the Internet. I have an RCBS powder measure for a single stage and. I get +\- 0.2 grains with reloader 15 which is a stick powder. My shooting is more of a MOA changer than 0.2 grains difference. I just shot a .741" group at 100 yards with a Savage Axis off a bipod if that counts. Just read more and post less and you'll get an answer you want. Check out YouTube ultimate reloader, search here it's been covered, and talk to people you shoot with what they have and why. |
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A Dillon PM measures ball powders exact and flake (Bullseye) + or - .1 gr. This assumes you adjusted your PM correctly, not just started measureing throws without settling the powder in the hopper. Also all stations must be in use. (same with any brand of PM) They do have problems with extruded powder. Never used the Hornady. I have no plans to trade my Dillons for another brand. |
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Quoted:
These are the replies I desired.. In the Dillon magazine there is a difference of ~$300 for the RL 550 B and the fully loaded one. Would the recomendations be to buy the loaded version? Mike You are just going to wish you had them once you get going, so you may as well order those upgrades all at once. They are nice to have. |
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I bought the Dillon RL550B in February '13 and immediately starting using Bullseye for reloading 9mm, .380 & .45 ACP. I've been very satisfied with both the Dillon machine and Bullseye powder. My charges are almost always dead on after I set them, even when switching toolheads between calibers. If the powder setting is off, it usually only varies by 0.1 grain which is acceptable to me. A little tweak by me, and I'm back to my chosen powder throw. EZ peazy.
I'd highly recommend the Dillon system to anyone starting out in reloading. I have a friend who's been reloading for years recommend that I start out with a single stage to 'learn' how to reload. Then, after I'd mastered the basics, he said I could worry about getting a progressive machine. FWIW, he loads on an RCBS Rockchucker Supreme. Well, after he came over and saw my Dillon setup, he is in the process of buying a Dillon machine for himself. He was amazed at how fast I could turn out both pistol and rifle ammunition vs his RCBS setup. I started reloading with a Dillon 550 and would tell anyone who's interested in jumping into reloading to strongly consider a progressive machine vs a single stage machine. My RCBS buddy can't load more than a few rounds per hour with his setup due to having to constantly change out dies when switching from one operation to another. OTOH, I can easily load 350+ rounds per hour with repeatable and consistent results without breaking a sweat. There's nothing his setup can do that my 550 can't do, only I can do it A LOT faster. I'm by no means an expert reloader, but after having put together 9mm, .380, .45 ACP & LC, .38 spl, along with .223 & .308 rounds I can vouch for the high quality and ease of use of the Dillon system. I don't regret purchasing a 550 at all. I only wish I'd bought it 10 years ago when I started shooting and saved all my brass along the way! ETA: I bought the RL550B along with the extra goodies listed in the catalog and have no regrets. The add-ons & goodies really add to the ease of use of the machine and make life easier when reloading. Call Dillon's 800 number and talk with one of the sales reps about the machine and they will answer all your questions & make informed recommendations on what to buy and what you can skip to save money. I saved probably $200+ by doing this as the sales rep corrected me on a couple of items I thought I HAD to have, only to find out that I really could do without them. |
| I love my Dillon presses and really love my RL550B. I wish I would have bought it as my first press instead of my SDB press. I have no problems at all with any of the powders I have run through it. Winchester 231 & 748, Accurate #2, #7, & 2460, and Hogdon HP38, 322, & 335. Set the charge right and you are good to go. I typically check my charge every 10 - 20 rounds and it is always dead on. Get it and you won't regret it for sure. As far as the extras go I recommend the strong mount, cartridge case bin with bracket, toolholder with wrenches (they are nicer then the set that comes with the press), one inch wrench, and spare parts kit. The other extras are cool but not needed as much I don't think. |
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Quoted: These are the replies I desired.. In the Dillon magazine there is a difference of ~$300 for the RL 550 B and the fully loaded one. Would the recomendations be to buy the loaded version? Mike Read the specs and see which press fits your needs. At the Dillon web site it's called "what press is right for you". The 650 will be harder to learn on, but faster loading when you get it setup/figured out. I went with the 550 and if I ever upgrade it will be to a 1050. Good luck with your choice.
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I've loaded many thousands of rounds of pistol ammo using Bullseye on my 550, it works fine with Bullseye. The only powders it has problems with are some of the extruded powders, the powder measure can be a little balky with those, but most powder measures do the same, its a powder problem, not a powder measure problem. |
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Cant go wrong with Dillon, My roommate and I both run XL 650's and our other room mate runs the Hornady lnl ...... From what iv seen his hornady press has a lot more going on, more to set up, changing calibers can be tedious on the hornady (could just be him, but I doubt it , hes been loading for years) , personally my Dillon was up and loading 30 mins out of the box, very consistent throws of WST / Power Pistol / 231 +/- .02
Like others have said , search and look this question is brought up every few weeks, you will have the Dillon guys and hornady guys. |
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Quoted: for a beginner.. 550 or 650? im looking at only buying one press so i want the right one.. There are enough youtube videos out to help with setting up the 650 and any problems you might happen across. And Dillon tech support is tier one.
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Quoted:
Some guy rubber banded a vibrating dildo to his powder measure. I think this was to uniformly excite the powder grains.  Guilty.  
it's a tiny little AA powdered thing in Dillon Blue. 
I found it helps extruded powders meter much more consistently. Also completely eliminated powder bridging issues. Never had any issues with ball powders, so I don't use it with the ball powders or flake powders for that matter.... But it does seem to help extruded powders to flow properly. |
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The 550 is a great press. But if you want to maximize output with less time and effort- look at the Dillon 650. The 650 has 4 advantages -
550 650 A - 4 die stations 5 die stations B - Manual index Auto index C - No case inserting hardware Case inserting hardware D - Casefeed limited brass sizes Feeds all common brass A - If you do not want the powder check or the separate seat/crimp, a 4 station press will do. The Dillon powder measure is very reliable, but I like the insurance of the powder check. Seating and crimping seperately is recommended for cast lead bullets. See below die setup for more info. B- Auto index helps ensure no double charges, and is one less thing you have to do- every round. C- Case insertion hardware. The 650 is about $120 more that a 550 but the case insertion hardware is provided on a 650. If you buy a casefeed (hopper) system later, the 550 unit cost about $50 dollars MORE- so the final cost premium of a 650 is only about $70. The 650 case insertion hardware has a tube you can put about 20 45 acp or 10 223 casings in. You can use CPVC pipe preloaded with brass to make quick refills. This lets you get by until you buy a casefeeder system. D - The casefeeder on a 550 will NOT handle larger rifle stuff - 308, etc. like a 650 will. Operating sequence of a 550 is insert brass and bullet, pull handle, index. Operating sequence of a 650 is: insert bullet, pull handle. Every time you eliminate a step in reloading, you eliminate a possibilty of human error. It is hard to mix up when you only have 2 vs. 4 steps. Die setup - I used 650's and prepped brass in 1 pass and load in another. For the pistol LOADING toolheads I had: Station 1 decap die( ensures clear primer holes) Station 2 Powder die Station 3 Powder check die Station 4 Bullet seat die Station 5 Crimp die |
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Quoted: I am looking to buy a progressive reloader..possibly the Dillon Rl550B.I have heard from some people that the powder throw on then Dillon will not throw consistent charges of Bullseye which I use for pistol loads. Anyone who can comment on this .......Please chime in. Also ...Is the Dillon better than the Hornady? Mike It depends on who you ask. Some of us who have been reloading for awhile bought Dillon presses back before Hornady offered their progressive press. So I have no experiance with them. I like the Dillon presses I have. Many folks here have the Hornady LNL and they seem to like them. So do your reasearch and make your choice. |
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Quoted:
It depends on who you ask. Some of us who have been reloading for awhile bought Dillon presses back before Hornady offered their progressive press. So I have no experiance with them. I like the Dillon presses I have. Many folks here have the Hornady LNL and they seem to like them. So do your reasearch and make your choice. I am a Dillon user, but had a chance to play with a LNL for a few hundred rounds of loading at a buddies. Well made press, seemed slightly over complicated from my observations... it works fine though. From how caliber changes were explained, it seems like it could be done quickly once you got the hang of it. All in all, it seems like a very good option along side the Dillon and RCBS progressives. I'll stick with Dillon though, it's what I know (and have invested in... )
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I've had numerous progressives. The Dillon 650 is the best for me. The Hornady takes longer to convert and requires more tinkering. The Dillon is much faster to convert. If the press will only convert rarely, the Hornady is fine.
Dillon presses meter Bullseye very well. I've never seen a press that didn't meter it well. |
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