Moving to a Dillon -- What Would I Need?
- Thread starter mtncwru
- Start date
mtncwru
Gold $$ Contributor
I have about 1,250 pieces of Lake City .223 that came to me from one of those, so good to know they'll be right at home
NZ_Fclass
Silver $$ Contributor
I do most of my loading on a 550. Except for seating - the Dillon is OK, and have used it a lot and made made good ammo - but I do most of my seating on a Lyman Ideal, or with Wilson dies on an arbour press. It's a workflow thing. I have a spare 550- I'm planning a new relaoding set up soon and the extra press, together with a spare Rockchucker will give me another "cell" for different calibres. I keep all my dies on Dillon toolholders, except the Wilson's obviously. The Dillon is a good move - you may find some limitations - but there are work arounds. BTW - I bought a replacement bearing for the shell plate on Amazon - it came with an extended bolt. Well worth the money to smooth out the shell plate.
Checking & trimming brass length, after full length sizing, slows a progressive press.
If using 1 rifle, the chamber length can be measured. Most chambers are longer then trim length by .010" or more. I call this the safety zone, for when an untrimmed brass slips thru.
What is the RCBS X die?
The X-Sizer die is a uniquely designed full length resizing die for bottleneck rifle cases. This die not only full length resizes the case, it also limits the growth of the case. This eliminates the need for repeated trimming after an initial trim is done to stan- dardize the case.
But brass needs trimmed back .020" to start. To much for my taste.
Some reloaders use a single stage press to fl size & trim.
i did everything on my OLD Dillon RL-450 after a 1 time trim of .010" under maximum for M16A1. Then spot check trim length after fl sizing, each loading.
Most important, using brass of same lot, brand. Mixed brass may grow at different rates.
LC of different years produce good groups after benchrest prep of the brass in a Savage Axis bolt action factory barrel. . Sorting by weight.
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@padom
I've loaded and formed 10's of thousands of PD brass on a 550 and now 650 but I've never checked run-out.
I plan to take up LRBR again next season after a 15 year hiatus. I've always decapped and sized on a single stage or T7 for comp rounds.
I'll give the 650 with case feeder a go for sizing and decapping but continue to hand prime and seat on an arbor for feel.
Thanks for the vid.....I just always thought the Dillons would result in excessive run-out for competitive shooting .....your results have proved otherwise.
I've loaded and formed 10's of thousands of PD brass on a 550 and now 650 but I've never checked run-out.
I plan to take up LRBR again next season after a 15 year hiatus. I've always decapped and sized on a single stage or T7 for comp rounds.
I'll give the 650 with case feeder a go for sizing and decapping but continue to hand prime and seat on an arbor for feel.
Thanks for the vid.....I just always thought the Dillons would result in excessive run-out for competitive shooting .....your results have proved otherwise.
BearBio
Silver $$ Contributor
Probably the best starting point is Brian Enos' website on what's what!
"Brian Enos (born in Park Layne, Ohio) is an American sport shooter who took silver in the Standard division at the 1993 IPSC Handgun World Shoot and has two silver medals from the IPSC US Handgun Championship. He also has two silver medals from the World Steel Challenge Championship and has won the U.S. National Steel Challenge Championship two times in the Limited division. He retired from active competition in 2000 and started building the Brian Enos forum. While he considers himself "an IPSC shooter at heart", he has also performed well at shooting matches such as The Masters, winner 1989, and the Sportsman's Team Challenge, five-time member of winning team, and won the 1983 and 1984 Bianchi Cup."
brianenos.com
Also, keep you RCBS basic set up=I use mine for big magnums, BP cartridge, other seldom-used calibers. My Dillon set-ups are one each for 45 Colt, 38 Spl (those were for when wife and I shot SASS), 45 acp & 9mm.)
"Brian Enos (born in Park Layne, Ohio) is an American sport shooter who took silver in the Standard division at the 1993 IPSC Handgun World Shoot and has two silver medals from the IPSC US Handgun Championship. He also has two silver medals from the World Steel Challenge Championship and has won the U.S. National Steel Challenge Championship two times in the Limited division. He retired from active competition in 2000 and started building the Brian Enos forum. While he considers himself "an IPSC shooter at heart", he has also performed well at shooting matches such as The Masters, winner 1989, and the Sportsman's Team Challenge, five-time member of winning team, and won the 1983 and 1984 Bianchi Cup."
Dillon Precision Reloading Press Reviews for all presses
Which Dillon Precision press is for you? Read my reviews and comparisons for Dillon Precision's Reloading Presses: Square Deal B, RL 550B, XL 650, & Super 1050 B.
Also, keep you RCBS basic set up=I use mine for big magnums, BP cartridge, other seldom-used calibers. My Dillon set-ups are one each for 45 Colt, 38 Spl (those were for when wife and I shot SASS), 45 acp & 9mm.)
dc.fireman
Sling & Irons!
I learned about reloading on a Dillon Super 1050.
When I began, I wanted to be able to load for 45 ACP, and 5.56 NATO. The 1050 has a primer crimp removal punch set at Station No. 2.
The learning curve was a little steep at first, but not insurmountable. When I run large batches of 5.56 now for matches, I do it in two separate 'runs':
1. First run - resize, decap, and primer crimp removal. Tumble to remove lube. Dump brass back into the casefeeder hopper.
2. Second run - back the resizing die out, prime, charge case, seat and crimp.
I like the 750, and the 1050. I don't have much experience with the other Dillon products. Gary @ Dillon literally is the human user manual for them - he answered many, many of my rookie reloader questions.
Good luck!
-tc
When I began, I wanted to be able to load for 45 ACP, and 5.56 NATO. The 1050 has a primer crimp removal punch set at Station No. 2.
The learning curve was a little steep at first, but not insurmountable. When I run large batches of 5.56 now for matches, I do it in two separate 'runs':
1. First run - resize, decap, and primer crimp removal. Tumble to remove lube. Dump brass back into the casefeeder hopper.
2. Second run - back the resizing die out, prime, charge case, seat and crimp.
I like the 750, and the 1050. I don't have much experience with the other Dillon products. Gary @ Dillon literally is the human user manual for them - he answered many, many of my rookie reloader questions.
Good luck!
-tc
mtncwru
Gold $$ Contributor
Update!
I talked this over with some of the more experienced Service Rifle shooters at my club; they shared what's worked for them over the years, as well as some things to consider besides moving to a progressive. I also took a close look at my current process, including what my rate limiting steps are and what it would take to make those better. They also pointed out that with my current powder, the Dillon powder measure won't be ideal (as others here have pointed out too), and I'm still liable to want to trickle up my match rifle loads -- certainly for the times that I go out to 600+.
Based on that I decided to deprioritize the Dillon: I already have the Case Ejector setup from Inline for my Rockchucker, and between that and still needing to trim (or at least chamfer/deburr) a progressive isn't likely to save me a lot of time. Instead, I'm planning on getting a trimmer that fits my needs/volumes, and I went ahead and sprang for an Autotrickler (there was one left in stock so I jumped on it). If/when I do plan to move to a progressive, then I'll very much be planning on "one toolhead to size, one toolhead to seat" workflow that so many here have described. And I'll have the other tools in place to get the most out of what the Dillon has to offer.
Sincere thanks to everyone who shared their process and experiences!
I talked this over with some of the more experienced Service Rifle shooters at my club; they shared what's worked for them over the years, as well as some things to consider besides moving to a progressive. I also took a close look at my current process, including what my rate limiting steps are and what it would take to make those better. They also pointed out that with my current powder, the Dillon powder measure won't be ideal (as others here have pointed out too), and I'm still liable to want to trickle up my match rifle loads -- certainly for the times that I go out to 600+.
Based on that I decided to deprioritize the Dillon: I already have the Case Ejector setup from Inline for my Rockchucker, and between that and still needing to trim (or at least chamfer/deburr) a progressive isn't likely to save me a lot of time. Instead, I'm planning on getting a trimmer that fits my needs/volumes, and I went ahead and sprang for an Autotrickler (there was one left in stock so I jumped on it). If/when I do plan to move to a progressive, then I'll very much be planning on "one toolhead to size, one toolhead to seat" workflow that so many here have described. And I'll have the other tools in place to get the most out of what the Dillon has to offer.
Sincere thanks to everyone who shared their process and experiences!
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