Hey guys, I'm in the market for one of these two, anyone here have both or have ran both? Just curious really about the pros and cons of both and if the Mark 7 is really worth the extra coin over the Dillon. Oh and I know I'm in for a bit of a wait, im fine with that.. Thanks guys for your input...
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Dillon RL1100 or Mark 7 Apex
- Thread starter ICU22250
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IDK about the newer Apex, but Mark7’s Evolution put the RL1100 to shame IMO. The Evo’s are aluminum works of art. Seeing an Evo on a bench next to a Dillon is just eye opening: on its own a Dillon seems great, next to an Evo it looks like a POS.
Even if you put aside build quality, the Mark7 still lets you do more, in more ways than with the Dillon. The thing with the Dillon is they refer to it and act like it’s a 10 station press, when it’s really in reality a 7 or 8 station press (depending on how you count it up).
While the Mark7 is actually a 10 station press (or at least a 9 station, again, depending on how you count the stations).
I like Dillons and own an XL750, but if I needed more than what a 750 offers, I’d go Mark7 without question.
Even if you put aside build quality, the Mark7 still lets you do more, in more ways than with the Dillon. The thing with the Dillon is they refer to it and act like it’s a 10 station press, when it’s really in reality a 7 or 8 station press (depending on how you count it up).
While the Mark7 is actually a 10 station press (or at least a 9 station, again, depending on how you count the stations).
I like Dillons and own an XL750, but if I needed more than what a 750 offers, I’d go Mark7 without question.
One of my concerns with a Mark 7 is the disk style priming system... I know alot of people had issue with the Dillon 650 disk style priming system.. In reality I probably only need a XL750, im only looking at loading 9mm, 357 mag and maybe 223..
No opinion from me about the Mark 7 reloaders. I haven't seen them or used them at all.
I went with Dillon. For me it's a quick trip across town to get parts when needed. When they have them in stock.
I got 2 1100s, 1 is sitting on a Mark 7 pro auto drive with a bullet feeder. The other is still handle operated, but has a bullet feeder as well.
I went with Dillon. For me it's a quick trip across town to get parts when needed. When they have them in stock.
I got 2 1100s, 1 is sitting on a Mark 7 pro auto drive with a bullet feeder. The other is still handle operated, but has a bullet feeder as well.
Any issues to speak of with your two RL1100's? I'm seriously considering going with the Dillon...
Also do you run the standard tool head or one with an extra stage? If so what aftermarket tool head gets the nod? Thanks
No issues with the 1100s, they run smooth. Keep in mind you can only load up to 2.75 inches in OAL. If you want longer ammo, look at the Super 1050.
I just run the factory Dillon tool heads. So I don't have any opinions on other tool heads. I bought quick change kits for the different calibers I load.
I just run the factory Dillon tool heads. So I don't have any opinions on other tool heads. I bought quick change kits for the different calibers I load.
I have two 110s and one 1050. The 1100 is a better machine with some well thought out changes here and there.
I tried an aftermarket toolhead a while back. It didnt do anything the Dillon didnt.
One day Mark 7 will send me the autodrive I ordered in Feb with a quoted 2 week wait.
I tried an aftermarket toolhead a while back. It didnt do anything the Dillon didnt.
One day Mark 7 will send me the autodrive I ordered in Feb with a quoted 2 week wait.
I picked up an RL1100 last year and if I had to do it over again I'd probably go with the Evo or now the Apex just to get the powder check along with the bullet feeder and separate seating and crimping.
That's the thing... the RL1100 over a XL750 doesn't really get you a whole lot more really, you really only get a couple more stations to work with and a couple more features that are nice to have (like on-press swage, and the ability to dial in priming better, though most guys never even mess with that).
IMO the RL1100 is just a small step up from the XL750, it's not a big jump. It may be the top of Dillon's line, but it's not on the same footing as the Mark7 due to it not really offering more stations to work with.
Having 10 stations available, there are lots of ways to skin a cat: you can do every single step separately without having to compromise or combine anything, and can even try doing things in multiple different orders of operation if you like. The RL1100 just doesn't accommodate all that.
That said, the knock against Mark7 being swamped and behind with their orders is probably a real thing one should consider... seemed like a year or so ago their customer service was getting better after getting dogged for them being too small to really look after their customers, but that was before covid and them coming out with the Apex, so these days, IDK...
Funny thing I think needs to be mentioned here while talking about this, directly concerning the Apex is: one of the first things I noticed the first time I saw an Evolution in the flesh was "Wow, even for a couple grand, how can they do this?" - the machines were/are just made incredibly well, no plastic or stamped/cast anything anywhere to be found really (which is exactly what you get with a Dillon).
But, since by all accounts I've seen, the Apex is Mark7's attempt at making a cheaper and easier to manufacture Evo, one has got to go into that being a little weary... because when companies try to cut costs in order to make a cheaper version of something, usually doesn't work out so well...
I agree with what your saying about cutting costs, they've added a few things in there too In my opinion to try and cover that up a little. I have never seen the Evo or Apex in person, but the Evo, from pictures I've seen looks like the nicer press.. I do wish the Dillon had more stations though, because I plan on running the bullet feeder and magnetic powder check and do like seating and crimping separately..
This is my real sticking point with the Dillon as well so far... I really want to have the exact same layout you are referring to.. I just have a bad feeling about that primer shuttle system on the Apex..
Hoser you have a really nice set up there! Down the road I'd like to have the auto drive as well, just not in the cards right now... Right now the hardest part about loading on these progressives is having enough components to keep em fed. Lol...I have two 110s and one 1050. The 1100 is a better machine with some well thought out changes here and there.
I tried an aftermarket toolhead a while back. It didnt do anything the Dillon didnt.
One day Mark 7 will send me the autodrive I ordered in Feb with a quoted 2 week wait.
There you go^^^ - that's why more stations is more better.
You have to seat and crimp separately IMO, both at the same time is a shitty compromise even with just 9mm blaster ammo, I wouldn't want that as my only option on my new top of the food chain press...
Something to think about with the MBF: you can run a Mr. Bulletfeeder on an XL750 without a powder check, just using your mark 1 eyeballs pretty safely IMO (that's what I do and have been doing for ~25000rds or so), but on a RL1100, the powder drop happens at the back of the press, so doing a manual "visual powder check" gets more sketchy because you can't really see into the cases, especially if the press is up on an Inline Fabrication mount (which you definitely want to do IMO).
To me, that really becomes a problem when/if one chooses to automate with a bullet feeder: if I add automation, even as a seasoned long-time "visual powder checker", I wouldn't dare go there without incorporating an automatic powder check of some type... Mark7 is clearly the choice if automation is something you're likely to move to down the road as even if you don't use the Mark7 sensors and stuff which their presses are already designed to integrate with, you'd still have stations to go your own way and make it happen.
Honestly, if automation is even "maybe" on the menu, the Dillon would be out of the running for me.
What are you planning to load? If it's mostly handgun stuff the XL750 + Case Feeder + MBF is probably the best answer for most (and I'm not saying that because that's what I have either).
I say that because when I bought mine I was looking at the RL1100 vs Mark7 Evo and got to talk to a few guys who had both, and paraphrasing what they said: seemed Evo over the RL1100 every time, but depending on what you load and how much... you know what's better than an RL1100? Two XL750's.
It's crazy how fast I can make a ton of ammo with an XL750/MBF setup, I wouldn't go bigger unless I got into loading a bunch or .556 or AR-10 ammo. To me, that's what the RL1100 is perfect for: .556 and AR-10 stuff.
Another factor is: what are you more familiar or more comfortable with? Dillon are Dillon, I don't regret my Dillon purchase and probably never will, dealing with them is the best (hope they never change). Mark7 hasn't built that rep yet.
I say that because when I bought mine I was looking at the RL1100 vs Mark7 Evo and got to talk to a few guys who had both, and paraphrasing what they said: seemed Evo over the RL1100 every time, but depending on what you load and how much... you know what's better than an RL1100? Two XL750's.
It's crazy how fast I can make a ton of ammo with an XL750/MBF setup, I wouldn't go bigger unless I got into loading a bunch or .556 or AR-10 ammo. To me, that's what the RL1100 is perfect for: .556 and AR-10 stuff.
Another factor is: what are you more familiar or more comfortable with? Dillon are Dillon, I don't regret my Dillon purchase and probably never will, dealing with them is the best (hope they never change). Mark7 hasn't built that rep yet.
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If you do anything that needs swaging, it's an important jump. I have a 750 and not having onpress swaging sucks. Been thinking about getting a Lee APP as a stop gap for this year for casefed swaging. I was not impressed with the SwageIt.
100 agree with this. I'm doing both together right now on a 750 for 9mm and it's suboptimal.
I'll be buying an Apex when things slow down. I do not like the priming system. I do not link the way they've cheaped out on things from the Evo for the same price. I do not like the high cost for caliber conversions. But at the end of the day, if you want the number of stations and automation, it's the way to go.
This is why I was asking about the aftermarket tool heads for the Dillon, because to me the only thing Dillon is missing here is the amount of stations. If the stations were equal, I'd take the Dillon every single time.. Im not sure though if the aftermarket heads have the extra station before or after the powder drop..
They call it an extra station, but they thread the hole above the primer seat station. Usually done so a hold down of some sort can be used to avoid upward pressure on the shell plate. Keeps the shell plate flatter and doesn't affect the remaining positions.
http://www.cncshooter.com/dillon-super-1050-toolhead.html
Then I'd say it's just a question of how large a volume of AR-stuff you'll be doing..? if it's a lot, then hell yes, you want on-press swagging like @BigPrince mentioned.
Interesting option, that it probably should have came with already
, cool.Agree with this, Dillon should have threaded this hole to begin with and also added an extra station after the powder drop..Then I'd say it's just a question of how large a volume of AR-stuff you'll be doing..? if it's a lot, then hell yes, you want on-press swagging like @BigPrince mentioned.
Interesting option, that it probably should have came with already
I hadn't really looked at one, but for what an Lee APP costs I might buy one just for leaving in the garage just for decapping... if it swages too, even if just halfway decently, that'd be a bonus.
Like I said above, the biggest selling point for me was that Dillon was across town.
I really wanted to like the Mark 7 products. But I also read about people having problems with the first generation powder drops, then if they had to be replaced, that Mark 7 was charging them for that. Those were $450 then. I'd hate to have spent the money on that machine and a short while later another $450 for a part they redesigned.
Dillon's powder drops have been the same for years, and if I break one on my 1100, I can swap it out with one off of my 550. Same powder drops. Even if I had to buy a new one, from Dillon only $100 or so now.
Add an auto drive and start moving 2500 rounds per hour and things can go sideways quickly.
I really wanted to like the Mark 7 products. But I also read about people having problems with the first generation powder drops, then if they had to be replaced, that Mark 7 was charging them for that. Those were $450 then. I'd hate to have spent the money on that machine and a short while later another $450 for a part they redesigned.
Dillon's powder drops have been the same for years, and if I break one on my 1100, I can swap it out with one off of my 550. Same powder drops. Even if I had to buy a new one, from Dillon only $100 or so now.
It only really became an issue when the auto drives started. Cranking out by hand and having properly swaged primer pockets and there were very few problems.Interesting option, that it probably should have came with already
Add an auto drive and start moving 2500 rounds per hour and things can go sideways quickly.
I'm a first batch M7 EVO owner.
I got the first release of M7 EVO. It was rocky at first. The machine had a lot of hiccups. Their support was slow and left a lot to be desired.
Moving forward, their customer service has stepped up BIG TIME. M7 became very responsive and quick to resolve issues with the press. On their dime, they ended up shipping the press back and rebuilding it from the ground up. They upgraded it with all the updates/changes that they developed over the course of the first year. So, in my experience their customer service has become top notch.
I got the first release of M7 EVO. It was rocky at first. The machine had a lot of hiccups. Their support was slow and left a lot to be desired.
Moving forward, their customer service has stepped up BIG TIME. M7 became very responsive and quick to resolve issues with the press. On their dime, they ended up shipping the press back and rebuilding it from the ground up. They upgraded it with all the updates/changes that they developed over the course of the first year. So, in my experience their customer service has become top notch.
Having additional stations only really helps if you plan to approach reloading something in one pass. This usually is a common pistol caliber like 9mm, .38SC, 40SW or .45ACP. In this use case, it helps to process in one pass (tumble, decap, size, prime, case mouth) and load on a second pass (powder, powder cop, bullet feed and seat, bullet crimp).
With rifle loading you will eventually need to trim the case necks. To do so on either of these presses in one pass would likely require you to buy a offset toolhead (at an extra cost), an on press trimmer (like the Dillon RT1500 or the Mark 7 Bosch) and even then you likely wouldnt be able to use a powder check and your loads will have limitations on powder drop consistency.
So in essence the main advantage of having 9 open stations is really not that great. Because you are more likely than not going to end having to go to a 2 pass approach in either scenario to ensure things run smoothly anyway. Unless of course you plan to buy a linear 11 station Camdex or Ammo Load.
With rifle loading you will eventually need to trim the case necks. To do so on either of these presses in one pass would likely require you to buy a offset toolhead (at an extra cost), an on press trimmer (like the Dillon RT1500 or the Mark 7 Bosch) and even then you likely wouldnt be able to use a powder check and your loads will have limitations on powder drop consistency.
So in essence the main advantage of having 9 open stations is really not that great. Because you are more likely than not going to end having to go to a 2 pass approach in either scenario to ensure things run smoothly anyway. Unless of course you plan to buy a linear 11 station Camdex or Ammo Load.
I read about guys all the time loading without the powder cop.. I know this probably isn't the best practice as far as safety is concerned, but alot of guys do it anyway after lots of checking behind their powder drops and finding no issues.. I am interested also in the differences between accuracy in the Mark 7 manual powder dropper and the dillons, I think the Mark 7's would work on the Dillon press as well if it yields better results.
What would make think that the Mark 7 powder drop would be consistent than the Dillon? Some users on Brian Enos forums have shared their opinion that the Dillon dropper is more consistent. You arent going to want to use the dropper on precision loads anyway if that is your use case. Powder through die is the best option there.
Alternatives would be the Mark 7 digital powder measure but that only works with a Mark 7 autodrive. Or the Mark L Rifle Loader from Ammobot which claims to have +-0.10 grain consistency with its digital three thrower system.
Pistol rounds? Either will work fine.
Just being anal is all, wanting the most precision possible between the two powder measures.. I have a V3 for precision stuff on match 223 and larger calibers.. Thanks..
The one neat thing about the Mark 7 Digital powder dispenser is it sort of double taps if you will its dropper motion to make sure none of the kernals stick. With the manual droppers really a function of how consistent your stroke is with the press.
That's interesting, I wonder how it knows when to drop the charge? Wonder If it operates off of say 24vac or 12vdc? Just gets the wheels turning..
Its connected to the tablet and has power off of the drive unit itself so the tablet basically tells it when to shake or how to shake. The amount of powder is still something you have to manually set with a set screw on the dispenser.
Ok, I'm going to try to resurrect this old thread, now that I've read every single post. I have only been reloading 9mm and .40S&W on a Dillon XL750. I use a Mr. Bullet Feeder, separate seat and crimp dies, and the "visual powder check system". I want to start reloading 5.56mm and 300BLK and was planning on purchasing either the Dillon XL1100 or the Mark 7 Apex 10. Having no experience with rifle reloading, I have some questions:
1. I know that military brass will need to be swaged. But how common do you find crimped primers in PMC, Federal, Winchester, etc. commercial ammo that you buy? If I'm picking up my own brass to reload, is swaging likely to be necessary? I must admit that I have picked up random range brass however.
2. If for safety or just smooth operation I need to include a swage step for all rifle cartridges, won't I need all 10 stations to also do a powder check and use Mr. Bullet Feeder? That would lead me to purchase the Mark 7.
3. Or would it be actually a better idea to get a Dillon CP2000 and XL1100 and split rifle reloading between two presses? That option may cost more than a single Apex 10 however.
Please advise! Thanks.
1. I know that military brass will need to be swaged. But how common do you find crimped primers in PMC, Federal, Winchester, etc. commercial ammo that you buy? If I'm picking up my own brass to reload, is swaging likely to be necessary? I must admit that I have picked up random range brass however.
2. If for safety or just smooth operation I need to include a swage step for all rifle cartridges, won't I need all 10 stations to also do a powder check and use Mr. Bullet Feeder? That would lead me to purchase the Mark 7.
3. Or would it be actually a better idea to get a Dillon CP2000 and XL1100 and split rifle reloading between two presses? That option may cost more than a single Apex 10 however.
Please advise! Thanks.
I don't have an 1100, but I have a 1050, CP2000 and Apex. All are very good machines. I think the Dillon is a better machine if you are not going to automate it, and the Apex is a better machine if you are. It mainly has to do with how the machines index, and what the leverage curve is on each. The Apex is kind of annoying to crank manually, and the Dillon works pretty badly as an automated machine.
Swaging isn't just about mil brass, both Mark 7 and Dillon will tell you to swage everything because it improves primer seating. Personally, I load 9, 45 and 9x23 on the Mark 7, and I load 223 and 300 BLK on the Dillon. Pistol reloading requires more steps, because with rifle you split the task into two parts, so the extra spaces on the toolhead help.
The rotary priming system is not like on the old 650. It is actually more similar to the Dillon linear priming system in that it is an out and back movement, but in a half circle so as to work effectively with the primer express piece. They work great in my opinion.
The powder check on the autodrive is great. The powder check on the manual crank is shitty, but if you replace the set screw with a brass screw, you get less funky magnetic shit going on.
Swaging isn't just about mil brass, both Mark 7 and Dillon will tell you to swage everything because it improves primer seating. Personally, I load 9, 45 and 9x23 on the Mark 7, and I load 223 and 300 BLK on the Dillon. Pistol reloading requires more steps, because with rifle you split the task into two parts, so the extra spaces on the toolhead help.
The rotary priming system is not like on the old 650. It is actually more similar to the Dillon linear priming system in that it is an out and back movement, but in a half circle so as to work effectively with the primer express piece. They work great in my opinion.
The powder check on the autodrive is great. The powder check on the manual crank is shitty, but if you replace the set screw with a brass screw, you get less funky magnetic shit going on.
This is.... not correct. It is connected to the autodrive, not the tablet, but it has a switch on the unit and its own control box. You set the height of the die just like on a Dillon, but the height is relative to when in the stroke it should start. You set the powder charge with a thumb bolt, not a set screw.
I believe you mean the rotary priming system of the Mark 7, correct? Did the priming system work great for you initially or only after you added the primer express option?
You present an entirely different approach to what I was considering. I was thinking that pistol reloading was easy (no need to swage or trim) and that rifle reloading made more sense on the Mark 7 with extra stations. But actually, my XL750 doesn't allow me to do a powder check, so an extra station or two would be great even for pistol work. But I don't know if I'll ever automate a Mark 7. This is the first I've heard that you prefer the manual pull on the Dillon better than manual work on the Mark 7. Did you ever try or consider reloading rifle on the Mark 7? Why did you decide against it?
The rotary on the Mark 7 Revolution and 650 are similar in that the rotor holds more than one primer. On the Apex it only holds one primer, and returns to pick up a new one for each round. It worked fine once I got the shellplate index perfect, which was after about an hour with the machine. That is the key with the Apex. There is a set screw that controls indexing and index has to be perfect. Dillon can under or over index, or do both, without problem. It's a system with much more slop in it.
I only don't use the Mark 7 for rifle because I am happy using my 1050 for rifle, and I have had it much longer, so it is all set up. I am sure the Mark 7 would work fine.
The other advantage of the Mark 7 that is purely for pistol is that you expand and drop powder in two separate steps, and that makes not only for better expanding, but for a cleaner press. I can run 5k rounds on my Mk7 without having any powder on my shellplate. Certainly cannot do that on the Dillon. You can buy accessories for the Dillon to lessen powder spill, but overall it is just a sloppier machine.
As far as manual vs automated. With the Dillon you pull down and then ease the handle up. It wants to go up on its own. On the Mk 7 you pull down and then push up. It isn't hard to do or anything, just I found it less intuitive. For the autodrive, though, it is easier because the sproket is just running the same back and forth.
I only don't use the Mark 7 for rifle because I am happy using my 1050 for rifle, and I have had it much longer, so it is all set up. I am sure the Mark 7 would work fine.
The other advantage of the Mark 7 that is purely for pistol is that you expand and drop powder in two separate steps, and that makes not only for better expanding, but for a cleaner press. I can run 5k rounds on my Mk7 without having any powder on my shellplate. Certainly cannot do that on the Dillon. You can buy accessories for the Dillon to lessen powder spill, but overall it is just a sloppier machine.
As far as manual vs automated. With the Dillon you pull down and then ease the handle up. It wants to go up on its own. On the Mk 7 you pull down and then push up. It isn't hard to do or anything, just I found it less intuitive. For the autodrive, though, it is easier because the sproket is just running the same back and forth.
I will say that on my Dillon RL1100 I do not have any powder spillage when running 9mm, my xl750 did this and I hated it. I only run 9mm at the moment though as I'm debating a whole new machine just for 223 so I can leave shit alone. Not sure what difference there is between the 1050 and 1100.. Op, I don't think you will go wrong with either press, it's all in what you can afford and who you trust, to me personally, Dillon is well known and been in the game for a long time and stand behind their product which means alot to me.. Im not saying Lyman/Mark7 won't do the same, just saying Dillon is top notch if needed.
Yeah, nobody should take my comments as saying the Dillon isn't a great machine, because it is. It is more of an if you want to do xyz, get Dillon, if you want to do pdq, get Mk7. I think the problem is that people look at them as direct replacements, and they really aren't.
Regarding powder spill, it can be very bad on 45 on the 1050. I actually use the TNT shellplates which have lessened powder spill on 223 a ton because the shellholder pockets are much tighter. That way the cases don't sway back and forth. Biggest issue with 223 with regular shellplates is that the swage rod will sometimes nick the casemouth and dent it, and you won't know until later. But that doesn't happen if you 1) use an FW Arms swage backer, or 2) use a TNT shellplate.
That's good information to know, thanks Choid.. Like I said, another press solely dedicated to 223 is in my future so this will help. I do seem to get alot of brass chavings though that seem to be coming from my Dillon F die/ hold down die which is a little annoying.
Do you mean the DAA magnetic powder check is bad? Do you have this on the Apex or the Dillon?
A little off topic, but I've never reloaded rifle cartridges. I'm trying to plan my progressive station steps.
For 5.56mm and 300 BLK do you typically use an expander die? Do they make combination expander/powder through dies like for 9mm? Thanks.
For 5.56mm and 300 BLK do you typically use an expander die? Do they make combination expander/powder through dies like for 9mm? Thanks.
Maybe a controversial topic?
They don't make a combination powder/expander die for rifles, though Uniquetek has something aftermarket that approximates it. That said, with rifle you are usually actually not using a lot of stations since you don't want to do sizing on the same toolhead as everything else. So, you could definitely use an expander die with AR type rifle cartridges, either at the end of the case prep toolhead, or at the first stage of the loading toolhead, but you want to use something like a Lyman m-die (or Mighty Armory expander, NOE expander.) The main reason to use an expander is that if you are using a bulletfeeder, it makes the process a bit smoother. The back side to using an expander is that you have to crimp as well to take out the belling.
I use a NOE expander for 223 and 300 BLK, but not for other cartridges. I use a Lee FCD after seating.
They don't make a combination powder/expander die for rifles, though Uniquetek has something aftermarket that approximates it. That said, with rifle you are usually actually not using a lot of stations since you don't want to do sizing on the same toolhead as everything else. So, you could definitely use an expander die with AR type rifle cartridges, either at the end of the case prep toolhead, or at the first stage of the loading toolhead, but you want to use something like a Lyman m-die (or Mighty Armory expander, NOE expander.) The main reason to use an expander is that if you are using a bulletfeeder, it makes the process a bit smoother. The back side to using an expander is that you have to crimp as well to take out the belling.
I use a NOE expander for 223 and 300 BLK, but not for other cartridges. I use a Lee FCD after seating.
Thanks for the replies. I understand you use two presses for rifle reloading, but if everything fits on the Apex, is there a reason to avoid that? I know you learn a lot about reloading from experience. But even with the Apex, I have run out of stations unless I skip the powder check. That's why I hoped you could combine expansion with powder:
1. Case Feed
2. Decap/Size
3. Swage
4. Primer Seat
5. Trim
6. Expand
7. Powder Dump
8. Powder Check
9. Mr. Bullet Feeder
10. Bullet Seat
11. Bullet Crimp
With pistol I currently actually decap first using a Lee hand press in front of the TV and then wet tumble. My second station will be size only.
1. Case Feed
2. Decap/Size
3. Swage
4. Primer Seat
5. Trim
6. Expand
7. Powder Dump
8. Powder Check
9. Mr. Bullet Feeder
10. Bullet Seat
11. Bullet Crimp
With pistol I currently actually decap first using a Lee hand press in front of the TV and then wet tumble. My second station will be size only.
Hey Choid, I have a question. What harm do you think removing the Dillon hold down die and replacing it with say a mighty armory expander die would do? I would think the 9mm expander would support the case enough for the swaging and expand at the same time so as to do less expansion on the powder die? Give me your take on this, good and bad. Thanks..
So the Dillon 9mm hold down die, in theory, expands the case. In reality it doesn't do a good job. An expander die isn't going to hold down the case enough to swage IMO, but my understanding is that Fast and Friendly Brass makes a really good replacement hold down die for the Dillon that both holds down and expands the mouth perfectly. I have not tried it, though. All of their products I have tried have been very good.
