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Thread: Dillon xl650 kinda sucks...

  1. #21
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by lightman View Post
    I don't have a 650 but I've been very happy with my 550. The 650 that I used was a nice tight precise machine.
    Lightman,
    The 550 is no slouch and one of the best. I used to have two 1050’s and still kept the 550. It is perfect for smaller runs and for someone who wishes to use a progressive to load a lot of different calibers as the conversion kits are less expensive.

    I sold one of the 1050’s as well as a 650 and a Star when I downsized and picked up another 550.

    There are two downsides to the 550. One is that in order to add a powder check it is necessary to seat and crimp in one die...that is how the old Star operated. The second is that it does not autoindex. I believe autoindexing adds to the safety of operation as it makes double charging less likely when running something like .38, .357, 44 Mag .45 LC etc. The Star had a safety cam to prevent double charging. Having said all that, I still replaced three “better/faster” presses with a 550 when my needs changed.

    If you ever upgrade, keep the 550. You will not regret it.
    Don Verna


  2. #22
    Boolit Master
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    I’m in my 3rd year with this Dillon 650, the no BS warranty hasn’t worked yet, cause I can’t get this thing to break. Haven’t mistreated it at all, kept it lubed, clean,just keeps running. That really sucks cause i like to fix things, have tons of tools left over from working for 40+years and don’t get to use on this thing. Ran .223 for first year, then 9MM for rest of time, haven’t had to go to large primer system yet think that is where I can have a little more fun. Keep an old RCBS single stage for testing,as for the Dillon just feed powder, primers, and boolits and crank out ammo.

  3. #23
    Boolit Master

    Baja_Traveler's Avatar
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    Well, to be honest my 650 did suck when the whole danged primer tube detonated and blew up sending the low primer follower impaled into the ceiling with shrapnel of charred primers. Thankfully the outer containment tube did its job, so no other damage to the press - and Dillon replaced everything back to new. Never did figure out what actually caused it. Ended up selling that press to my Boss when the big ammo shortage hit as I don't really do high production runs and my 550B does just fine (and I needed the cash for a Shilo Sharps rifle I really wanted). He's been using it for years now with no issues.
    Took a hammer and a punch to extract the primer tube, but here is the end result:
    Click image for larger version. 

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  4. #24
    Boolit Buddy Big Tom's Avatar
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    I like the one that is already painted in red to alert you that something bad may happen and also wakes you up once in a while when a primer goes bang. Plus the added safety feature of having primers installed sideways or completely missing makes these presses machines that finally produce SAFE AMMO. They are a great seller in California!
    NRA Certified Instructor Pistol
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  5. #25
    Boolit Buddy dogdoc's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Drew P View Post
    I like fiddling. And I’m not rich. So, that’s not the press for me. Glad you like it. Save me the click bait though.
    I have learned the hard way : buy once cry once. The Dillons just plain work. No bs

  6. #26
    Boolit Man


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    My kids, all in their 30's, have enjoyed both loading on my 650 and shooting up the ammo it has produced. They also gift me tool heads with stands and powder measures or caliber change over kits for birthdays or Christmas. When I commented on them being pricey, the response was," They're an investment." Shrewd or what? Someday this will be theirs. Dave

  7. #27
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by JRPVT View Post
    My kids, all in their 30's, have enjoyed both loading on my 650 and shooting up the ammo it has produced. They also gift me tool heads with stands and powder measures or caliber change over kits for birthdays or Christmas. When I commented on them being pricey, the response was," They're an investment." Shrewd or what? Someday this will be theirs. Dave
    You raised smart ones!
    Don Verna


  8. #28
    Boolit Buddy anothernewb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JRPVT View Post
    My kids, all in their 30's, have enjoyed both loading on my 650 and shooting up the ammo it has produced. They also gift me tool heads with stands and powder measures or caliber change over kits for birthdays or Christmas. When I commented on them being pricey, the response was," They're an investment." Shrewd or what? Someday this will be theirs. Dave
    well played.

  9. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Tom View Post
    I like the one that is already painted in red to alert you that something bad may happen and also wakes you up once in a while when a primer goes bang. Plus the added safety feature of having primers installed sideways or completely missing makes these presses machines that finally produce SAFE AMMO. They are a great seller in California!
    Never produced anything good from something that was painted red. Also, 45+ years of reloading and never had a primer go bang when reloading.

  10. #30
    Boolit Master 1bluehorse's Avatar
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    You guys should all get in a big circle...

  11. #31
    Boolit Master Drew P's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 1bluehorse View Post
    You guys should all get in a big circle...
    And then what? Oh ya, brag about the blue hue that our reload rooms give off?
    You know what else comes in blue? KOOLADE
    Last edited by Drew P; 02-15-2018 at 12:40 AM.

  12. #32
    Boolit Master lead chucker's Avatar
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    I like my 650. I have replaced a few springs in it. Keep it cleaned and lubed and works great. Just got a 45 acp conversion kit for it. Been loading a lot of 9mm to feed my hungry Keltec sub 2000. Its sits proudly next to my Rock chucker.
    Dont pee down my back and tell me its raining.

  13. #33
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    Some people don't seem to understand that if you buy quality you seem to buy only once and that product lasts. Sure, you can buy something painted red and if used properly and gingerly it might last a few years before its potmetal frame cracks and breaks. I learned a quick lesson when I was growing up watching my father purchase something. He would purchase the cheapest and then be unsatisfied and after a few years it would break and maybe he would purchase the item he actually wanted in the first place. The result was of course more money spent.

    My suggestion is you purchase a product that is blue in color has a no BS warranty and will last thru your lifetime and the person you will it to after your death. Dillon presses are **** because they work and they have a decent warranty.

  14. #34
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    Lee does make decent jeans

  15. #35
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    I learned the hard way by purchasing a hand primer setup years ago that broke and broke and broke. Then it was the dies I tried that were poorly made and then the press tht I tried that belonged to a friend. This was enough to point me in another direction and away from Lee.

    I'll pass on the Jeans too.

  16. #36
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    hands down the best upgrade from a single stage press that was ever designed. If I had to get rid of every press in the loading room and could only keep one my choice would hands down be a 550.
    Quote Originally Posted by lightman View Post
    I don't have a 650 but I've been very happy with my 550. The 650 that I used was a nice tight precise machine.

  17. #37
    Boolit Buddy jessdigs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Tom View Post
    I like the one that is already painted in red to alert you that something bad may happen and also wakes you up once in a while when a primer goes bang. Plus the added safety feature of having primers installed sideways or completely missing makes these presses machines that finally produce SAFE AMMO. They are a great seller in California!
    Everyone I know here in poor California that reloads use either 550/650 Dillon's, or rcbs which is made locally.
    I had never loaded anything before getting my 550 (gift from father in law.) I learned how to reload from the DVD that came with the press and was able to do it just fine. Love the machine. I have Bought a lot of accessories to go along with it, and a lot of Caliber conversion kits. One of my favorite is the custom toolhead holder from Kinetic arc metalworks. They make them for 650 also
    https://www.etsy.com/listing/5015486...op_home_feat_1

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

  18. #38
    Boolit Buddy jessdigs's Avatar
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    Not to mention that Dillon makes one of the coolest guns ever. The Dillon aero (M134D)
    https://youtu.be/v4gT0oE18ls

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

  19. #39
    Boolit Buddy engineer401's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 6bg6ga View Post
    Some people don't seem to understand that if you buy quality you seem to buy only once and that product lasts. Sure, you can buy something painted red and if used properly and gingerly it might last a few years before its potmetal frame cracks and breaks. I learned a quick lesson when I was growing up watching my father purchase something. He would purchase the cheapest and then be unsatisfied and after a few years it would break and maybe he would purchase the item he actually wanted in the first place. The result was of course more money spent.

    My suggestion is you purchase a product that is blue in color has a no BS warranty and will last thru your lifetime and the person you will it to after your death. Dillon presses are **** because they work and they have a decent warranty.
    My red press is a Forster Co-Ax. I had a Lee Classic Cast once but it didn't capture the primers well. Neither did the Rock Chucker press or any other press I owned. Yep. I learned the hard way. I have a 550 with a case feeder on it. It will not let me size two cases at once so it reduces the double charge issues. The only draw back is the feeder won't feed some case like 380 or rifle cases. I load rifle on the Co-Ax and I am getting rid of my 380 stuff in an effort to simplify. I've had other Lee products and don't like them much. I really liked the old hand primer with the round trays. The newer ones not so much. Lee tripped at the finish line. I'm not fond of the finish or the "O" rings on the dies. I tend to stick with CH with some RCBS dies and don't look back.

  20. #40
    Boolit Master 1bluehorse's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Drew P View Post
    And then what? Oh ya, brag about the blue hue that our reload rooms give off?
    You know what else comes in blue? KOOLADE

    Had one, sold it. Nothing at all wrong with it. It was a good press I just didn't like using one hand for cases and one for bullets. My bench is pretty much Green with the exception of one red press. A forster Co Ax. It's also a good press.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check