I’m considering picking up a progressive press. The main use would be for PRS style shooting, 260 or 6CM or similar. If I’m keeping an eye out for a press, is there one that is decently better for this application or will any work well? Thanks for the input.
Dillon 550 vs 650 vs 750
- Thread starter mercracing
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They're discontinuing the 650, 750 takes its place. I'd go 750 if you ever have designs for using a case feeder and bullet feeder.
If you're going to hand load cases and bullets then 550 works fine.
Have you reloaded before? I'd recommend you start with a single stage before graduating to progressive.
If you're going to hand load cases and bullets then 550 works fine.
Have you reloaded before? I'd recommend you start with a single stage before graduating to progressive.
Thanks for the info. I didn’t know they were discontinuing the 650. I have/do reload. I’ve gotten away from a lot of it due to how long it seemed to take me to load Ammo for one match. I’ve been thinking of ways to speed up the process and a progressive is high on that list.
Yea, I’ve heard that from a lot of people, but it sounds like once you have them running well they work great.
I'm not sure of all the changes on the 750, but the primer system is different and the press is taller. Same tool heads and shell plates as the 650.
I've been using a Dillon 650 for the last twenty years. It worked perfectly the first time I set it up and has worked without a hitch since. I have tool heads set up for a few cartridges which is quite convenient.
A few notes. The powder thrower doesn't throw coarse stick powders that well, so don't expect 0.1 gr accuracy with stick powders. No powder thrower I know of will. On the other hand you can get a powder funnel die and use a Chargemaster or similar to get accurate powder throws. There are those who say the stock tool heads leave a little runout with rifle cartridges but there are aftermarket tool heads (Whidden?) that are supposed to be better. I've never tried one.
Finally Dillon's No BS guarantee, they aren't kidding. One guy had his house burn down and Dillon replaced his press free of charge.
Is it good enough for PRS? Well, some highpower shooters reload on a Dillon so I suppose so.
A few notes. The powder thrower doesn't throw coarse stick powders that well, so don't expect 0.1 gr accuracy with stick powders. No powder thrower I know of will. On the other hand you can get a powder funnel die and use a Chargemaster or similar to get accurate powder throws. There are those who say the stock tool heads leave a little runout with rifle cartridges but there are aftermarket tool heads (Whidden?) that are supposed to be better. I've never tried one.
Finally Dillon's No BS guarantee, they aren't kidding. One guy had his house burn down and Dillon replaced his press free of charge.
Is it good enough for PRS? Well, some highpower shooters reload on a Dillon so I suppose so.
As an IPSC shooter in the 90s I loaded MANY thousands of rounds of pistol calibers (.45 ACP, .40 S&W and 9mm) on a 550. It was an unkillable beast....dead reliable.
If I was in the market for a new Dillon today I wouldn't hesitate to look at the 750. The 550 is really simple/reliable but manually indexing the shellplate adds an extra step and the casefeeder is pistol only so you'll have to manually feed each case.
For my match-grade ammo I currently reload on a turret-press with the indexing mechanism removed (works like a single-stage really). If I'm going to load 100 rounds I just size/deprime all my cases at once. Powder charges are thrown with a manual measure / weighed and then I rotate the die-head to seat bullets. Its slow but i'm able to really pay attention to each step.
I never had an issue with my reloads on the 550 but if you got in a groove and were reloading fast it would be "possible" to overlook a powder charge that didn't drop or something.
And as a reminder to always pay attention I have a .308 round on my desk that I reloaded with a perfectly weighed powder charge and fresh 175 SMK....and a spent primer...
If I was in the market for a new Dillon today I wouldn't hesitate to look at the 750. The 550 is really simple/reliable but manually indexing the shellplate adds an extra step and the casefeeder is pistol only so you'll have to manually feed each case.
For my match-grade ammo I currently reload on a turret-press with the indexing mechanism removed (works like a single-stage really). If I'm going to load 100 rounds I just size/deprime all my cases at once. Powder charges are thrown with a manual measure / weighed and then I rotate the die-head to seat bullets. Its slow but i'm able to really pay attention to each step.
I never had an issue with my reloads on the 550 but if you got in a groove and were reloading fast it would be "possible" to overlook a powder charge that didn't drop or something.
And as a reminder to always pay attention I have a .308 round on my desk that I reloaded with a perfectly weighed powder charge and fresh 175 SMK....and a spent primer...
650 or 750.
Try and find a super cheap 650 since they are outdated and obsolete.
I can load 800 rounds and hour if I crank in the 650.
Try and find a super cheap 650 since they are outdated and obsolete.
I can load 800 rounds and hour if I crank in the 650.
I love my 650... I'm going to pick up another one hopefully when some guy gets divorced or when guys start upgrading to the 750 .
Not that there's anything wrong with 650's. It's just that Dillon was kind enough to obsolete them for no apparent (good) reason.
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For my precision loads, I use a 550C with Whidden floating tool heads in combination with a FX-120i scale and Autotrickler/Autothrow. Fast system. I use a Dillon 650 for other cartridges I reload.
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