6bg6ga
08-15-2017, 07:21 AM
I finally got the 650 to feel like it should when loading with no more jerking and slinging power out of the cases. It was one of those thoughts that had me thinking about a 550 when I purchased the press. Things I like about the 550 are the ability to index the machine when I want to instead of the machine doing it and the lower cost die holders. The biggest thing about the 550 that turned me off was the primer setup. Its just like the small square deal press and I had my share of primer problems with it probably 90% of the time until Dillon sent me all new stuff for it.
Sure, you can make some scrap with the 650 and end up with 20 or so partially loaded cases in various stages. It teaches one to be alert and on guard when loading unlike the 550 which could allow one to go to sleep with the hum drum of this is where I put the cartridge in and then cycle the press and then index the press and well if I forget to put a bullet in its no big deal.
The 650 allows one to either opt for a bullet collator or add a bullet dropper, to add a case collator, to install a powder cop to monitor powder in the case.
Until the recent add ons I had begun to think I had made a mistake with the 650 because I got tired of cleaning the shell plate of the spilled powder and mess. Now, it smooth machine with the addition of the thrust bearing and washers and the advance plate being replace with one with a roller bearing. The addition of the rod with the roller on the bottom was a complete waste of money in my opinion as it didn't seem to help with the case dropping action. It made it no smoother but simply looks more engineered with the roller bearing.
If they had made the 550 with the 650 primer setup I probably would have chose that model over the 650. These are just my thoughts associated with the Dillon 550 and 650 presses that I have had the experience running and setting up.
Sure, you can make some scrap with the 650 and end up with 20 or so partially loaded cases in various stages. It teaches one to be alert and on guard when loading unlike the 550 which could allow one to go to sleep with the hum drum of this is where I put the cartridge in and then cycle the press and then index the press and well if I forget to put a bullet in its no big deal.
The 650 allows one to either opt for a bullet collator or add a bullet dropper, to add a case collator, to install a powder cop to monitor powder in the case.
Until the recent add ons I had begun to think I had made a mistake with the 650 because I got tired of cleaning the shell plate of the spilled powder and mess. Now, it smooth machine with the addition of the thrust bearing and washers and the advance plate being replace with one with a roller bearing. The addition of the rod with the roller on the bottom was a complete waste of money in my opinion as it didn't seem to help with the case dropping action. It made it no smoother but simply looks more engineered with the roller bearing.
If they had made the 550 with the 650 primer setup I probably would have chose that model over the 650. These are just my thoughts associated with the Dillon 550 and 650 presses that I have had the experience running and setting up.