Dillon RL 300

[jimkim]

I have recently become the owner of a new-to-me Dillon RL 300. Any troubleshooting tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[GLShooter]

Well lest see. I have THREE of them. I've talked to Dillon about them for years. They have alluded to me that only 300 of them were ever made. I find that hard to believe but if that is so then I own 1% of the total production run. I got my first one in 1981. It was real complicated for a mechanically challenged guy like me so I called Dillon in AZ. It was 1900 in Phoenix and darned if Mike Dillon didn't answer the phone and help me out!!

The press is hell for stout. I have only broken one part on it and that is the little collared insert that the center bolt butts up against. I ended up getting some bushings from Dillon for a RL-1000 handle set up that fit into the hole and got me in business. Dillon does not have anymore of them.

I run Lee Auto Powder Measures on two of the presses as I have set them up for 45 ACP and 38 Special and never change the loading on those. The third one vacillates between 223/6X45 and 9 MM. The regular powder measures do fine on them but , of course, you can't use the safety snatch rod like on the new presses.

Shell plates are the same as the 550 so you are GTG there fore conversions. I have used every type of primer in the press with no issues.

Production rate with the auto measure set up really jumped up from the manual powder system. It runs opposite to the 550 and 650 in the progression of the shell plate as the powder measure station has a raised insert/collar that was set up for station #2, the one on the right. I load around 325 rounds/hour with it.

The biggest complain that some had was that it tends to drop decapped primers on the floor if it misses the cup. I got press #3 because a friend of mine couldn't stand it doing that. It just breaks my heart to run a vacuum cleaner every few months if I'm too lazy to pick up the odd primer on the carpet.

I got into PPC big time in the early 80's. One 21 period I loaded 1000 rounds each evening and shot 1000 each day for practice. 21,000 rounds loaded, zero misfires or failure to chamber in my PPC revolver. Oh, I won my class that year!! LOL I'veloaded untold thousands of rounds of PPC ammo on that one and thousands of 45 ACP on the other.

I think you will like it. It's not as fancy as the new preses but it will do you well for many years.

Greg

[Triggerhappy]

Anyone got a pic of the 300, I've never seen one.

[32ideal]

Found this on THR, had one no problems but traded it for SQ-D over 20yrs ago
32ideal

[GLShooter]

If you look real close there is three of 'em in the middle.


http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj42/GLShooter/RELOADING%20ROOM/ReloadRoom2.jpg

Greg

[UNIQUEDOT]

There was two of them on gunbroker for a while with lots of extras, but the seller took them off the block due to lack of interest.

[jimkim]

My buddy GAVE me this one. He has three left. He bought the extras so he would have spare tool heads. Now I have to scan this one, and make a few heads for him. I keep thinking I might make a head that holds a single die in the middle, and make an adapter to hold a shellholder for the ram. It is mighty danged beefy.

[GLShooter]

Found this on THR, had one no problems but traded it for SQ-D over 20yrs ago
32ideal

Just for kicks, you notice anything wrong in the picture?

Greg

[7of7]

Just for kicks, you notice anything wrong in the picture?

Greg

Now that you mention it,.. the primer, powder, and seat arrangement don't seem right, but I have the 550 and the rotation of the shellplate is clockwise... it may be correct if it is counterclockwise....

[GLShooter]

Now that you mention it,.. the primer, powder, and seat arrangement don't seem right, but I have the 550 and the rotation of the shellplate is clockwise... it may be correct if it is counterclockwise....

The set up is actually correct for the 300. It rotates counter-clockwise in progression of the loading. The fitting of the "star" to the shell plate is a retro fit. If you look at the start you notice the the arms are curved but they are actually curved for a clockwise rotation ala 450/550. I tried it on one of mine and it was not that big an improvement.

I suppose one could reposition the set up on the tool head and load the other way. I might actually play with that as I have a 550 also. The biggest issue would be the area to work with in seating the bullet would get very crowded on the left side of the priming mechanism.

I use the Lee dispenser on two of mine as I can custom cut the charge weights and am basically loading a stock batch of ammo for my matches at one setting and rather than recalibrate the measure like a normal type it was much easier to do i that way. When the Dillon measure became available I put one of those on my rifle designated 300's and it has served me well. It is quite an improvement over having to run the powder drop bar by hand each round.

Greg

[Sakoman]

What do extra tool heads cost?

[GLShooter]

What do extra tool heads cost?

I've never seen extra tool heads for sale. To swap one out you'd have to undo the large bolts on each side and that would be a real pain on this design. These were never designed with that concept as an option like the 550 etc.

The preses have not been made since about 1986 or 87 I believe so anything out there would be a tough one. A guy with time and skill could make one but for the $$'s it would be cost prohibitive to have a custom one made up IMHO.

Greg

[dillonhelp]

Actually, the RL300 was replaced by the RL450 about 1982. I do have exactly one RL300 shellplate bolt that was cut so no bushing is needed, if someone is missing a bushing.

[GLShooter]

Actually, the RL300 was replaced by the RL450 about 1982. I do have exactly one RL300 shellplate bolt that was cut so no bushing is needed, if someone is missing a bushing.

I knew it was the early 80's. Hard to believe that so many of them are still going strong. Heck I still wear the Dillon shirt that Mike gave me at the USPSA Nationals in Phoenix in 1985 when I won the US revolver title.

Greg

[Alvarez Kelly]

I need a Dillon spent primer cup like the ones you can see in post #5 above. Anybody have an extra?

[GLShooter]

I would go crazy and call Dillon. You never know what the back room might hold!! That being a bust you could make one up out of a small tomato sauce can by cutting the slot for the screw hanger.

Greg

[MtGun44]

I bought a 450 in 1982, when they were brand new. Just sold it about 6-7 yrs ago when
I had owned my second 550 for a few years and the 450 wasn't getting as much use.
I had upgraded it to full 550 specs - obviously not the tool holder top, tho.

Bill

[Artful]

My buddy GAVE me this one. He has three left. He bought the extras so he would have spare tool heads. Now I have to scan this one, and make a few heads for him. I keep thinking I might make a head that holds a single die in the middle, and make an adapter to hold a shellholder for the ram. It is mighty danged beefy.

Actually if you made a head that replaced the 300's with one that would hold the 550 toolheads
http://www.dillonprecision.com/uimages/missing_images/13909_20064_550_toolhead_powder_die_m.jpg
- it would be more efficent for you and him, and some of us RL-300 user's would welcome that upgrade and you'd have some orders.

[Alvarez Kelly]

"Actually if you made a head that replaced the 300's with one that would hold the 550 toolheads ..."

THAT is a brilliant idea!

[Alvarez Kelly]

I would go crazy and call Dillon. You never know what the back room might hold!!

Greg

I called 'em. They don't have any of the old style, but said the 550 cup would work. I really like the "look" of the old cup. Anybody have a spare?

[Artful]

"Actually if you made a head that replaced the 300's with one that would hold the 550 toolheads ..."

THAT is a brilliant idea!

Thank you, when Dillon came out with the 550 I called and asked them if they would do it for all the 300 - they didn't want to do it

- said my RL300 belonged in a museum

- made me feel my reloading room had class:drinks:

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess if it were mine id leave it alone and keep it as is for the cool factor.

[Artful]

If you use it, it's function over coolness - it was my first progressive, and I still use it. I'd like to be able to change dies faster - that is one of the things I really like about my Lee turret.

[tallend]

I recently aquired RL 300 Press,SN 1980-set up for 9mm----built like a tank--works ok-------missing the locator buttons------anybody got 3 they dont need?
I called Dillon----"Phone not working"-------
I Emailed them "no reply for over a week"
*********tallend12@aol.com***********
thanks,tallend

[GLShooter]

I recently aquired RL 300 Press,SN 1980-set up for 9mm----built like a tank--works ok-------missing the locator buttons------anybody got 3 they dont need?
I called Dillon----"Phone not working"-------
I Emailed them "no reply for over a week"
*********tallend12@aol.com***********
thanks,tallend

Did you try their regular commercial number? I was in the other day and they answered it. I thing the 800 number is too easy to ignore. At least the same pins work on all the Dillons.

Greg

PS: they only made about 1000 of them according to Mike D's. article on their website. He said they lost about $100 on each one. I own three so I had the original Dillon 900 on my bench.