Red gone Blue

[seancass]

I don't know how i feel about this. I'll make it quick: I bought a Dillon. XL650. It's blue. It's 'replacing' a Lee Loadmaster that has a good 20-30,000 rounds thru it. That press will become a dedicated 38 special machine. For at least 10k rounds, I thought I had the world's only reliable Loadmaster, but it slowly started to fail me. It would crush more primers, things started getting loose and wobbly. It just started to be a chore to make ammo, Constantly fidgeting with stuff, tightening, loosening. This week, a coworker offered up a Dillon and I took it.

First impression? Everything just works. Things have a tight fit, but they fit, on their own, without fidgeting. So far, I like it, but I quickly ran out of bullets. Also, the case feeder is so much quieter than they seem in videos.

Hopefully it shows in pictures, but the thing is HUGE. 
Yup, that's a messy bench. I'm working on it.
It's also a small bench. I know I'm  messy so the less space I have, the more organized I have to be. 
I need a new camera(phone.)

[Fowler]

A wise man said you won’t buy any Lee products that you won’t have to replace in short order wasting the money you spent on it. Dillon and RCBS are always money well spent in my experience,

[taffin]

LEE RELOADING DIES. UNIVERSAL EXPANDING DIES, FACTORY CRIMP DIES ARE ALL EXCELLENT.

[contender]

I have 4 Dillons,, and love them,, including my 2 650's. You will love the Dillon,,, and you will understand why they are more expensive,, but worth it in the long run. But I do NOT discount any good products from any company. And as noted,, Lee does make some good stuff too! (As do other companies out there.)

[45MAN]

Feb 29, 2020 19:00:05 GMT -5 taffin said:

LEE RELOADING DIES. UNIVERSAL EXPANDING DIES, FACTORY CRIMP DIES ARE ALL EXCELLENT.

DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LEE LOADING MACHINES BUT AGREE WITH SENOR TAFFIN's COMMENTS QUOTED ABOVE.

[lobo]

Maybe I got lucky, but my first and only progressive press is a Lee Load Master or Pro 1000 (don't remember). I bought it in 1997. It is in .45 acp and has been rebuilt by Lee at three times. Still use it and still love it. All my handgun caliber dies are also Lee. I had a Dillon Square Deal when I loaded .40 S&W, but it got sold with the last .40 S&W pistol. The Dillon was a great machine no doubt, and would probably be my choice for my next progressive when or if I get one.

[bula]

I did manage to break a Lee press last year, it was bought in '83. Many of you load way more than I do. I bought another.

[x101airborne]

I have been running a Dillon 650 since '05. Anyone takes my Dillon and I will hunt them and make sure they are awake when I find them.
Two days ago I got in a conversion and die set for 45 Colt.

[AxeHandle]

Running Dillon here... SDBs, 550s and 1050. Started loading with RCBS press in '74. Picked up my first Dillon in the early 80s and never looked back.

[seancass]

Loaded about 300 rounds tonight. Had one smashed primer. Don't know why. The rest of it was very smooth and nice. I like the powder check and the case feeder. With 9mm, the powder check is about pointless, but I like it anyway.
How many rounds do most people do before they find some other way to load primer tubes? I always thought this system was dumb and now here i am using it.

I will admit that I am still looking forward to making ammo. I get excited at work thinking about making ammo when i get home. Hopefully that excitement sticks around for a while!

[contender]

I use the Dillon auto primer tube fillers. I have 2 of them,, one for large primers & one for small primers. Neat machines.

I have powder check systems on most of my Dillon 650 conversion sets. While it may seem pointless,, when that buzzer goes off,, you know to stop & check things. So far,, in about 19-20 years of Dillon use,, it's only buzzed a few times. But it was worth it every time.