What Dillon prog. press for the manufacturing?

[Kulmage]

We been custom producing ammunition on demand, just using single stage presses but now as we gained exclusiveness on an american bullet here in Scandinavia, we´re about to enlarge the amount and develop loads in the most popular European rifle calibers - all between 6,5x55 Swedish and .460 Weath Mag.

1. I´m choosing from either the Dillon XL650 or the 1050. Maybe even the 550 according to my concern below:
-The very few possible rifle calibers. Especially with the 1050 if you look in the ordering forms.
Or is the optional calibers just a list over the available Dillon dies? Can i, for instance, not use my Redding dies – that I have for all the worlds calibers, and use in the 1050?
If I cannot - what’s the catch, not to load all calibers in this machine?

2. To get uniform loads - do you think the Ponsness-Warren automation would be a good choise?

I´m open to any better suggestions - even outside the brand menchoned. Thanks! /Tommy, Sweden

 

[mdmp5]

Re: What Dillon prog. press for the manufacturing?

First off, I wouldn't even consider the 1050 if you are loading exclusively for rifle. You should definitely go with the 550 in my opinion. It allows for so much more versatility than the 650, especially if you are gonna load quite a few different rifle calibers. Go to Brian enos's site and read his info on the presses.

Automation is not the answer for uniform rifle loads in a Dillon. Remember that although it is probably the best progressive press that money can buy, it is still a progressive, and is subject to variances inherent in them. You can make great loads in a 550 if you do a few minor mods with the press and use it like a single stage press; It will still be faster than a single stage, so don't worry.

 

[Kulmage]

Re: What Dillon prog. press for the manufacturing?

Thanks for this information!

 

[WRM]

Re: What Dillon prog. press for the manufacturing?

The 650 gets you a fifth station, for powder "checker"? RL550B seem to do everythig I need it to.

Caliber conversions include a shellplate, pins (so the case doesn't come out of shellhoder at a station), and powder funnel. 308/30-06 family cases (as well as 6.5X55, 45 ACP, etc.) all you use the same shellholder plate and pins. They can all use standard 7/8-14 dies, you don't have to use Dillon's dies.

I haven't used a 1050, but if I were doing "production", it would be on my short list, and have one of these installed....

Cheers,

Bill

 

[boomfab]

Re: What Dillon prog. press for the manufacturing?

I have a 1050 that I use for 9mm and .223. I use once fired military brass and the swager that the 1050 has makes it worth more than gold.

I use Redding dies and Dillon dies in my 1050. Both work well.

Your biggest time consumer will be the trimming of your brass. I use a Dillon trimmer on my 1050 for .223. It works flawlessly. I don't think Dillon offers trim dies for the calibers you mentioned.

Even with the press mounted Dillon trimmer, I have to run the .223 brass through twice...once to resize and trim...and again to prime/powder/seat the bullet. There is not enough space to do it all in one go due to the diameter of the trimmer and it hogging up space on the tool head.

The P/W autodrive is cool (I had one for a short time) but there are some things to consider when using it. I prefer to hand crank the machine. I can feel if something is out of whack right away and take care of it.

1) You still need to diligently watch the machine work. Take your eyes off of it and you can have a big mess pretty quickly.

2) You will need to have a bullet feeder when using the P/W. I use a Mr. Bulletfeeder but I don't think they offer options for oddball bullet sizes that you mentioned.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: What Dillon prog. press for the manufacturing?

I have a XL650 with all the "bells and whistles", that I load 45 acp and 223 on. I'll be going to 308 on it later this summer. I have no problems with it at all. The brass feeder and other little options, really make it a joy to load on.

I would at least consider the carbide dies for the Dillon. If you are going to be doing high volume work, they will last longer. Even though they are carbide dies, you still have to lube them. I like the Dillon spray as well for use on this machine.

Good luck in your choices.