400,000 to 500,000 rounds loaded with just those dies...mind boggling for us noobies. Thank you for making these videos and letting us know you're staying safe.
Being able to use my Dillon 45ACP dies for 45 Colt is a great tip o never knew about. Im really leaning towards 45Colt for my next caliber. Great video F.C. 👍
Your videos are very, very informative and always enjoyable. Thank you for taking the time and effort with this....and thank you for sharing with those of us returning to reloading and getting back into the swing of things.,
You have always been one of my favorite TH-camrs, and I thank God for folks like you. I have a Dillon 650XL that I pump out 9mm's with. My dies never leave their assigned spot. I do have a Redding set and a Lee set for 9mm also. I load many different cartridges, so that means I have been quite busy. With all the craziness going on, people are arming up. God bless you!
Yet another great instruction video from you Steve! Although I’ve been reloading with a single stage press for over 15 years, I still pick up a nugget of information from your fine videos when I view them! The overview of these popular die sets was outstanding. You’re very thorough and detailed and I appreciate your videos!
What a great video Steve! Thank you for sharing and helping out all of us who are moving towards progressive reloading for the very first time! I've only loaded single stage now for many years, but have a DILLON RL500 I purchased second hand. The DILLON dies are so expensive that I was able to get LEE dies (I'm told that LEE makes the DILLON dies) for about 55% less! My order is on it's way and I hope to have this up and running next week!
The bulge at 18:10 comes from using .45 ACP sizing die for .45 Colt. According to specs, there is a difference of case diameter (through brass thickness) - .473" vs .480". While the flaring die restores some of the neck diameter and the solid base prevents the rounds from wiggling in the chamber, .45 ACP sized .45 Colt brass will be overworked and will last shorter. So it comes down to economy - a die set cost vs the brass we lose to cracking prematurely. If we use soft lead bullets, it would be also good to pull a bullet from a dummy round to check the bullet diameter. An overtight case may size it down a bit at the base. I tried once to size a .45 Colt case using Lee .45 ACP FC body with its larger (than that of a sizing die) diameter carbide ring. I stopped at the neck because it looked too much like a bottleneck case.
misiomor - I tried to order a Dilllon die set in 45 Colt (to do this video) and also 38 Spl, but Dillon did not return my call twice as they said they would do - obviously, at the time, they were swamped with orders. That is why I had to resort to using the 45 ACP Dillon dies - but they did the job just fine. Of course, the use of ACP dies to load 45 Colt is not recommended. But in a pinch, it's nice to know that there is some versatility there. Thanks for your comment, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours, Steve
The accuracy and ease of adjustment of the Dillon powder measure is why I kept my original RL 450 manual powder measure when I upgraded to the 550 automatic powder drop version...it works fine for single stage reloading...they pop up on eBay from time and all the case expander insets work with an RL 450 powder die which is available from Dillon if it isn’t included...great video FC 👍👍👍
Excellent information as usual. Thank you so much for putting this information out there. Like me, there are now tens of thousands of new reloaders out there and we crave information on anything reloading
So I just spent money on a dillon die set for 45 colt and I could have used my 45 acp dies? Now I know! I will keep them so I can leave them in the tool head of my 550. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Great versatility there, FC. Getting the most out of our expensive equipment. Thanks again for this series and, especially, posting it on YT. Stay safe and I hope your fires are out.
I bought a 550 B used many years ago , it came with some Dillon dies and I've bought a couple sets but mostly the tool heads take all makes of reloading dies and crimping dies. I was using their dies in a single stage till I got all the missing parts to make the press operational As far as the powder measure some of the ones I got had a spring around the base of the measure to the pin on the powder slide so as the bullet moves up it stretches' the spring and as the bullet moves down the spring pulls the slide back for another charge, look ma no hands. the spring is a Dillon part also. As one of the commenter mentioned the rifle dies by Dillon have a stuck case feature with the decapping pin you just screw the pin down that will push out the stuck case.
I just bought a Dillon 45 colt kit. Resizer, powder funnel/bell, bullet seater, Taper crimp. Their is no roll crimp. Maybe in 2022 they don't feel you need a roll crimp die because they don't even offer one with the kit.
Bob - Taper crimps have been found to be all that is needed for most applications. However, the common thought is that with magnum loads, the roll crimp is still superior. In your shooting, I'm almost certain that you will find this to be true. Have a great day, Steve
I had 45 ACP dies for years and bought the 45 Colt not realizing I could have used the 45 ACP. But at least now I do not have to change the die settings with one for each caliber. Can you use the 45 ACP dies for the rimmed 45 ACP cases? Can they be chambered in a 45 Colt?
I have Dillon, Lee, Redding, RCBC and Hornady dies. For presses I have a Dillon RL-550B, Dillon XL-750, RCBS Rock Chucker, Lee Basic Breech "open C", MEC 9000GN 12 gauge. My trimmer is a RCBS Trim Pro 120 volt, RCBS Case Prep Center 120 volt, Dillon CV-2001 case tumbler, Dillon CV-2000 media separator, 2 Frankfort Arsenal Platinum Wet tumblers with a extra third drum. My wet tumbler media separator is a Frankfort Arsenal Platinum Wet/Dry separator. Bullet Molds are MP Molds, RCBS, Lee, Arsenal, Accurate and Lyman. My pots are a Magma Engineering Master Pot 40 pounds, Lee Mk IV 20 pound pot. I build my own PID controllers for them. I use a Lee push through sizer die to size my bullets after powder coating. My regular bullet sizer and lube press is a RCBS Lube-A -Matic. I use a 20 quart, 7 quart and 2 quart cast iron dutch ovens to melt down scrap lead and to cast into ingots. I have a 80,000 BTU turbo burner and a 40 pound LP tank that feeds it. I like to use steel mini loaf pans for ingot molds. I also have four of the Lyman 1 pound ingot molds and a steel 2 1/2 angle iron one that I made and welded up. I reload for about 25 calibers currently and have what is needed to make that happen. My experience level is a little over 30 years reloading if anybody was curious.
John - You've not only got the equipment, the know how and the systems, but also the wealth of experience of finding what works well for you. We can all take from your systems and learn from them... Thanks for sharing...a lot there in one paragraph spanning those 30 years. Best Regards to ya, Steve
@@FortuneCookie45LC Thanks Steve! I have since added a RCBS Pro Melt 2 pot since I wrote that comment. Optics Planet was running a sale on them I couldn't refuse. I ended up getting it for like $279 with free shipping at the time. I think I about broke my keyboard typing so fast to order it. Lol I haven't got to use it very much yet but really like it so far. Take care!
After noon sir. A question for you off the subject of dies. If you have a lot of ranch scrap lead obviously it is soft what do you use to up the BHN. Ty
@FortuneCookie45LC Can you confirm what die internal stems are inter manufacturer compatible? I was wondering if a dillon decap assembly would fit in my rcbs cowboy carbide dies
I have a patented 357 and 44 mag speed loader that I would like to send you for your opinion. What is the best to contact you? Facebook maybe? I am in Leonardtown, MD. Thanks for your videos.
Hi! Thanks for your videos I have learned a lot from you! I have a question about ovens for powder coating, mine gets so hot that it has melted my bullets a couple of times! What oven do you use?
My XL650 runs great other than some small powder spillage when loading for pistol if I run the press to fast! Never had any issues with Dillon dies. The Dillon dies size all my brass rifle or pistol to near minimum SAMMI specs and I have never had any chamber issues in any of my semi or bolt action rifles. The Dillon dies also stretch my brass about .002" to .004" less than my RCBS dies when full sizing. I often use my Dillon dies for single stage on my Rock Chucker too. Based on some other negative comments here about Dillon maybe I just got lucky? Wouldn't know about Dillon customer service because I've never had to call them.
Thanks for taking the time to do these comparative videos! Summarizing, I think you can't go really wrong with any of them, it's a matter of personal preference which one you buy, right? I've only got RCBS and Lee dies and they do the job fine (once adjusted properly and used according to the design/instructions, of course).
I had no idea Dillon made seat & crimp dies ever. I thought they invented " Seat & Crimp " in (2) steps not (1) step. Have you used your Dillon 550 exclusively for 4-500k of your 45 ACP or have you loaded other large primer cartridges on that press ?
Which powder did you use and what method, those are some very nice reloads FC! As always excellent video and information! Ive been gifted a xl650 and Im going to Dillon TH-cam university on them!
Perks of being an American. If you totalled up the sum of money spent by anyone one whatever hobby or vice the pursue for a few decades you'd be lucky if it was only that much time/money investment. No matter if its hotrod cars or being a drunk on the corner, people find a way to finance it.
Shooting used to be much cheaper than it is today. When you reload your own ammunition, it can really save money in the long run. Factory ammo is quite expensive when you shoot in volume. Reloading doesn’t make it “cheaper”, but it allows you to simply shoot more for the same money! When you start casting, you can extend those savings even further. I know competition shooters who shoot 89-100k rounds of pistol per year. They reload their own match ammo, as the savings really add up. Neither of them have “degrees” to their name, but they do have money to spend on the hobbies, one being a commercial plumber and the other running a concrete business. They both invested heavily into Dillon and other brass prep equipment, but after a year or two of reloading, plus some cash purses of wins amassed, theyre close to even, cost-wise.
I love Dillon pistol dies. Ran thousands and thousands of rounds through them over the years. Their rifle dies? Not so much. My first rifle loads were .308. After sizing they wouldn't chamber in any .308. Sent it back and they removed about .030 off the bottom. Same problem. Sent it back and went with a Redding sizing die. Problem solved.
Case mouth belling is about the only thing I don’t like in all of my Dillon equipment. The belling is way to aggressive. Over work hardens brass and causes problems with bullet drop dies. Especially my RCBS bullet drop die. Chews up the plastic insert. This is the one thing I would like Dillon to change. Use Lee powder drop and expanding die in my XL650 for calibers I use bullet drop (bullet feeder) dies.
If I had to say there is no reason to purchase any other powder dispenser Dillon made the best powder dispenser in my mind I have them on all my progressive press one on my Less load master and of course one on my square deal B press I don’t think you can get a finer tool thanks cookie
Great video Steve! I didn't know you could load both the 45 Long Colt and the 45 ACP with the same Dillion die sets! Also, I have a Dillion 5500 and both the auto primer feed and the auto powder system, but my reloading bench is temporarily in storage as we go through an extensive home construction project. Looks like it'll be another 9 months before I can return to the reloading bench. Thank you for this very good video instruction. studio.th-cam.com/users/videoHlh9I6IQkbg/edit/basic
I am not a fan of Lee dies for the 357 sig they are like Hornady in primer pin hold not a good idea they should make them like the old rcbs the squeeze nut just don't work good
I have a set of dillon 308 win dies. They can't size brass to minimum, so the cases won't fit in bolt action rifles. 0 stars out 5 I have a Dillon 650 that can't get primers in a 223 case. Negative 5 stars out of 5 I have a Dillon primer swager that ruins brass before it begins to remove the crimp. 0 stars out of 5 Dillon sucks.
I have a set of Dillon 30-06 die that I use also for my Remington 700 and the M1 Garand. I use the same die set for both and NO PROBLEMS. I have a Dillon 550C since 2010 and reload 45acp, 223, 30-06 and 30-30 and I absolutely love the press and Dillon Dies. Dillon does not make a die set for 30-30 so I use a RCBS resize die, Dillon powder charge system , Lee seat and crimp FCD for 30-30. All other die sets are Dillon. Love them all. As far as 308 Dillon die not fitting in your bolt gun, call Dillon and speak with Tech Support. I know they are extremely overtaxed due to the current political environment, but normally you would be hard pressed find better customer service anywhere else. Of course it helps to live in the Phoenix area where I can drive to Dillon and speak in person to them but I have on many occasion called them as well so avoid a 45 min drive. Sorry for those who aren't but still they will take care of you.
I've been to Dillon several times since I am also in central AZ. They keep my stuff for a week or two, tell me to come pick it up, admit it's faulty when I show up, and do nothing for me. The best one was when I told them I had to modify the chute on my father's 650 years ago and I had to modify the one on mine I had just purchased to let them know something is wrong. They told me there's nothing wrong with them and they'd never heard of the issue with anyone's 650. I had been polite the whole time, so I politely showed the tech that their 650 in their demonstration area was 100% nonfunctional because their chute had the same problem. The chute doesn't clear the central platform, so when the handle is lowered to raise the platform, the chute springs out under it. Now that it is out there, the platform cannot be lowered, the handle cannot be raised. They acted like they never noticed it before. They somehow never noticed that you cannot make a single cycle of the handle of a 650. You have to take a wrench or something and bend the chute out of the way. But it'll do it again the next time you try to use the press. Dillon makes garbage product, they lie about it, and their customer service is beyond awful. They don't even try to help. For my 650 primer issue, he told me, "I don't want to tell you it doesn't work, but..." and then he shrugged. Top notch. Worthless.
@@spraynpray dam your not the first person I have heard about nightmare issues with the 650. The primers system on that press is a bad design apparently. I guess with the way the 650 loads the primer it’s possible to crush the primer and cause a chain detonation. However with that being said the 650 is the ONLY press that I have heard of Dillon having issues with. Apparently the 550 is a proven design the 750 and 1050 are also very good press designs. Never mind the square deal apparently that’s a dam good press also. Me personally I love my 550 however the 223 dies I can’t seem to figure out how to push back the shoulder of the case 2 thousand. No matter how I adjust the Dillon 223 die it will only push back the shoulder 1.5 thousand.
Dillon has great service and NO BS warranty. For example, my 40 year old SDB was showing lots of wear and a few problems. I called Dillon and spoke to the rep about what was going on with it. He told me what I needed to check and sent me the replacement parts, NO CHARGE. Again, I found another issue due to lots of use so I called and asked what it would cost to send the unit back to Dillon to rebuild it. He said about $100 to bring it back to new condition but instead he recommended I just replace the parts since I am competent in doing so. The Dillon rep sent everything I needed to rebuild the SDB NO-CHARGE. I will also say that I have had similar luck with RCBS and Hornady regarding replacement parts for their dies. This was before the current situation with COVID. Everyone in the gun industry is swamped and may not get back to you as quickly as they have in the past. That said, I contacted Hornady last week via email and they sent me the die parts I needed within a three day turn around. Great company service from all of them.
@@spraynpray I know Dillon is extremely overtaxed due to the current political environment (this too shall pass), but normally you would be hard pressed find better customer service anywhere else. IT IS TOP NOTCH. Of course it helps to live in the Phoenix area where I can drive to Dillon, speak to them in person and purchase what I need but I have on many occasion called them as well to avoid a 45 min drive. Sorry for those who aren't but still they will take care of you. CallawawayKen IS CORRECT and I don't know any Dillon customers who will say otherwise as well. The warranty follows the press and not the buyer as long as the press is in existence.
Jeez Louise who has time for 3 hours of videos? Do you get paid by the word? BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT. How about a TL;DR summary version that lasts 2 minutes?
400,000 to 500,000 rounds loaded with just those dies...mind boggling for us noobies.
Thank you for making these videos and letting us know you're staying safe.
Being able to use my Dillon 45ACP dies for 45 Colt is a great tip o never knew about. Im really leaning towards 45Colt for my next caliber. Great video F.C. 👍
Your videos are very, very informative and always enjoyable. Thank you for taking the time and effort with this....and thank you for sharing with those of us returning to reloading and getting back into the swing of things.,
You have always been one of my favorite TH-camrs, and I thank God for folks like you. I have a Dillon 650XL that I pump out 9mm's with. My dies never leave their assigned spot. I do have a Redding set and a Lee set for 9mm also. I load many different cartridges, so that means I have been quite busy. With all the craziness going on, people are arming up. God bless you!
Yet another great instruction video from you Steve! Although I’ve been reloading with a single stage press for over 15 years, I still pick up a nugget of information from your fine videos when I view them! The overview of these popular die sets was outstanding. You’re very thorough and detailed and I appreciate your videos!
What a great video Steve! Thank you for sharing and helping out all of us who are moving towards progressive reloading for the very first time! I've only loaded single stage now for many years, but have a DILLON RL500 I purchased second hand. The DILLON dies are so expensive that I was able to get LEE dies (I'm told that LEE makes the DILLON dies) for about 55% less! My order is on it's way and I hope to have this up and running next week!
I really enjoy your videos! They are very informative and you have a very friendly style
The bulge at 18:10 comes from using .45 ACP sizing die for .45 Colt. According to specs, there is a difference of case diameter (through brass thickness) - .473" vs .480". While the flaring die restores some of the neck diameter and the solid base prevents the rounds from wiggling in the chamber, .45 ACP sized .45 Colt brass will be overworked and will last shorter. So it comes down to economy - a die set cost vs the brass we lose to cracking prematurely. If we use soft lead bullets, it would be also good to pull a bullet from a dummy round to check the bullet diameter. An overtight case may size it down a bit at the base.
I tried once to size a .45 Colt case using Lee .45 ACP FC body with its larger (than that of a sizing die) diameter carbide ring. I stopped at the neck because it looked too much like a bottleneck case.
misiomor - I tried to order a Dilllon die set in 45 Colt (to do this video) and also 38 Spl, but Dillon did not return my call twice as they said they would do - obviously, at the time, they were swamped with orders. That is why I had to resort to using the 45 ACP Dillon dies - but they did the job just fine. Of course, the use of ACP dies to load 45 Colt is not recommended. But in a pinch, it's nice to know that there is some versatility there. Thanks for your comment, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours, Steve
Very good info in the series. Thank You. Keep em coming please.
The accuracy and ease of adjustment of the Dillon powder measure is why I kept my original RL 450 manual powder measure when I upgraded to the 550 automatic powder drop version...it works fine for single stage reloading...they pop up on eBay from time and all the case expander insets work with an RL 450 powder die which is available from Dillon if it isn’t included...great video FC 👍👍👍
Excellent information as usual. Thank you so much for putting this information out there. Like me, there are now tens of thousands of new reloaders out there and we crave information on anything reloading
So I just spent money on a dillon die set for 45 colt and I could have used my 45 acp dies? Now I know! I will keep them so I can leave them in the tool head of my 550. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Awesome info FC a wealth of knowledge & very informative.
Mike - Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for posting. Have a fine Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Steve
Great versatility there, FC. Getting the most out of our expensive equipment. Thanks again for this series and, especially, posting it on YT. Stay safe and I hope your fires are out.
@9:08 you had a bunch of 40 s&w cases inside the 44lc cases. I hate when that happens.
I bought a 550 B used many years ago , it came with some Dillon dies and I've bought a couple sets but mostly the tool heads take all makes of reloading dies and crimping dies. I was using their dies in a single stage till I got all the missing parts to make the press operational As far as the powder measure some of the ones I got had a spring around the base of the measure to the pin on the powder slide so as the bullet moves up it stretches' the spring and as the bullet moves down the spring pulls the slide back for another charge, look ma no hands. the spring is a Dillon part also. As one of the commenter mentioned the rifle dies by Dillon have a stuck case feature with the decapping pin you just screw the pin down that will push out the stuck case.
Great reloading die series FortuneCookie45LC well done . Congratulations on 50k subscribers.
You always do a great job
I just bought a Dillon 45 colt kit. Resizer, powder funnel/bell, bullet seater, Taper crimp. Their is no roll crimp. Maybe in 2022 they don't feel you need a roll crimp die because they don't even offer one with the kit.
Bob - Taper crimps have been found to be all that is needed for most applications. However, the common thought is that with magnum loads, the roll crimp is still superior. In your shooting, I'm almost certain that you will find this to be true. Have a great day, Steve
I had 45 ACP dies for years and bought the 45 Colt not realizing I could have used the 45 ACP. But at least now I do not have to change the die settings with one for each caliber.
Can you use the 45 ACP dies for the rimmed 45 ACP cases? Can they be chambered in a 45 Colt?
Dillon sizing dies tends to resize cases leaving it shaped like an hourglass. I doubt it adversely impacts the round, but it does look kind of weird.
As long as it passes the plunk test, fire away!
I have Dillon, Lee, Redding, RCBC and Hornady dies.
For presses I have a Dillon RL-550B, Dillon XL-750, RCBS Rock Chucker, Lee Basic Breech "open C", MEC 9000GN 12 gauge. My trimmer is a RCBS Trim Pro 120 volt, RCBS Case Prep Center 120 volt, Dillon CV-2001 case tumbler, Dillon CV-2000 media separator, 2 Frankfort Arsenal Platinum Wet tumblers with a extra third drum. My wet tumbler media separator is a Frankfort Arsenal Platinum Wet/Dry separator. Bullet Molds are MP Molds, RCBS, Lee, Arsenal, Accurate and Lyman. My pots are a Magma Engineering Master Pot 40 pounds, Lee Mk IV 20 pound pot. I build my own PID controllers for them. I use a Lee push through sizer die to size my bullets after powder coating. My regular bullet sizer and lube press is a RCBS Lube-A -Matic. I use a 20 quart, 7 quart and 2 quart cast iron dutch ovens to melt down scrap lead and to cast into ingots. I have a 80,000 BTU turbo burner and a 40 pound LP tank that feeds it. I like to use steel mini loaf pans for ingot molds. I also have four of the Lyman 1 pound ingot molds and a steel 2 1/2 angle iron one that I made and welded up. I reload for about 25 calibers currently and have what is needed to make that happen. My experience level is a little over 30 years reloading if anybody was curious.
John - You've not only got the equipment, the know how and the systems, but also the wealth of experience of finding what works well for you. We can all take from your systems and learn from them... Thanks for sharing...a lot there in one paragraph spanning those 30 years. Best Regards to ya, Steve
@@FortuneCookie45LC
Thanks Steve!
I have since added a RCBS Pro Melt 2 pot since I wrote that comment. Optics Planet was running a sale on them I couldn't refuse. I ended up getting it for like $279 with free shipping at the time. I think I about broke my keyboard typing so fast to order it. Lol I haven't got to use it very much yet but really like it so far.
Take care!
Excellent man, excellent. Enough said.
Hay Steve. Hi from the Cold Lead Zone in cold north woods
Passes the snick test! It’s gotta be good!! Nice job.
After noon sir. A question for you off the subject of dies. If you have a lot of ranch scrap lead obviously it is soft what do you use to up the BHN. Ty
@FortuneCookie45LC
Can you confirm what die internal stems are inter manufacturer compatible?
I was wondering if a dillon decap assembly would fit in my rcbs cowboy carbide dies
I have a patented 357 and 44 mag speed loader that I would like to send you for your opinion. What is the best to contact you? Facebook maybe? I am in Leonardtown, MD. Thanks for your videos.
Hi! Thanks for your videos I have learned a lot from you! I have a question about ovens for powder coating, mine gets so hot that it has melted my bullets a couple of times! What oven do you use?
My XL650 runs great other than some small powder spillage when loading for pistol if I run the press to fast! Never had any issues with Dillon dies. The Dillon dies size all my brass rifle or pistol to near minimum SAMMI specs and I have never had any chamber issues in any of my semi or bolt action rifles. The Dillon dies also stretch my brass about .002" to .004" less than my RCBS dies when full sizing. I often use my Dillon dies for single stage on my Rock Chucker too. Based on some other negative comments here about Dillon maybe I just got lucky? Wouldn't know about Dillon customer service because I've never had to call them.
Thanks for taking the time to do these comparative videos! Summarizing, I think you can't go really wrong with any of them, it's a matter of personal preference which one you buy, right? I've only got RCBS and Lee dies and they do the job fine (once adjusted properly and used according to the design/instructions, of course).
I had no idea Dillon made seat & crimp dies ever.
I thought they invented " Seat & Crimp " in (2) steps not (1) step.
Have you used your Dillon 550 exclusively for 4-500k of your 45 ACP or have you loaded other large primer cartridges on that press ?
Shit i was hoping you would show that spring loaded decapping pin they come with now
Which powder did you use and what method, those are some very nice reloads FC! As always excellent video and information! Ive been gifted a xl650 and Im going to Dillon TH-cam university on them!
I didn't know Bullwinkle was into reloading.
Where the fandango do you find the time to shoot half a million rounds of ANY caliber? Prosperity must be nice!
Perks of being an American. If you totalled up the sum of money spent by anyone one whatever hobby or vice the pursue for a few decades you'd be lucky if it was only that much time/money investment. No matter if its hotrod cars or being a drunk on the corner, people find a way to finance it.
Shooting used to be much cheaper than it is today. When you reload your own ammunition, it can really save money in the long run. Factory ammo is quite expensive when you shoot in volume. Reloading doesn’t make it “cheaper”, but it allows you to simply shoot more for the same money! When you start casting, you can extend those savings even further. I know competition shooters who shoot 89-100k rounds of pistol per year. They reload their own match ammo, as the savings really add up. Neither of them have “degrees” to their name, but they do have money to spend on the hobbies, one being a commercial plumber and the other running a concrete business. They both invested heavily into Dillon and other brass prep equipment, but after a year or two of reloading, plus some cash purses of wins amassed, theyre close to even, cost-wise.
I love Dillon pistol dies. Ran thousands and thousands of rounds through them over the years. Their rifle dies? Not so much. My first rifle loads were .308. After sizing they wouldn't chamber in any .308. Sent it back and they removed about .030 off the bottom. Same problem. Sent it back and went with a Redding sizing die. Problem solved.
Case mouth belling is about the only thing I don’t like in all of my Dillon equipment. The belling is way to aggressive. Over work hardens brass and causes problems with bullet drop dies. Especially my RCBS bullet drop die. Chews up the plastic insert. This is the one thing I would like Dillon to change. Use Lee powder drop and expanding die in my XL650 for calibers I use bullet drop (bullet feeder) dies.
2020 FC make history.
Holy Moses fortune cookie! A half a million rounds? I can't even get my wife to let go of me for 3 hours to go to the range😂
Take her along!
Nice
If I had to say there is no reason to purchase any other powder dispenser Dillon made the best powder dispenser in my mind I have them on all my progressive press one on my Less load master and of course one on my square deal B press I don’t think you can get a finer tool thanks cookie
Hey there fortune cookie take a little super glue put on the press light strip glue it backup to the press I've done it works pretty good.
Bet they ain’t as robust now... the 70’s a lot of tools/things were designed to last. I have to wait 24 weeks for 9mm Dillion dies.
Dillon equipment is still made in the USA with a lifetime warranty. They didn't cheap out like Craftsman and other companies did.
Great video Steve! I didn't know you could load both the 45 Long Colt and the 45 ACP with the same Dillion die sets! Also, I have a Dillion 5500 and both the auto primer feed and the auto powder system, but my reloading bench is temporarily in storage as we go through an extensive home construction project. Looks like it'll be another 9 months before I can return to the reloading bench. Thank you for this very good video instruction. studio.th-cam.com/users/videoHlh9I6IQkbg/edit/basic
👍💯
I am not a fan of Lee dies for the 357 sig they are like Hornady in primer pin hold not a good idea they should make them like the old rcbs the squeeze nut just don't work good
Sean - Thanks for your comment. Have a fine Holiday Season to you and yours, Steve
I have a set of dillon 308 win dies. They can't size brass to minimum, so the cases won't fit in bolt action rifles.
0 stars out 5
I have a Dillon 650 that can't get primers in a 223 case.
Negative 5 stars out of 5
I have a Dillon primer swager that ruins brass before it begins to remove the crimp.
0 stars out of 5
Dillon sucks.
I have a set of Dillon 30-06 die that I use also for my Remington 700 and the M1 Garand. I use the same die set for both and NO PROBLEMS. I have a Dillon 550C since 2010 and reload 45acp, 223, 30-06 and 30-30 and I absolutely love the press and Dillon Dies. Dillon does not make a die set for 30-30 so I use a RCBS resize die, Dillon powder charge system , Lee seat and crimp FCD for 30-30. All other die sets are Dillon. Love them all. As far as 308 Dillon die not fitting in your bolt gun, call Dillon and speak with Tech Support. I know they are extremely overtaxed due to the current political environment, but normally you would be hard pressed find better customer service anywhere else. Of course it helps to live in the Phoenix area where I can drive to Dillon and speak in person to them but I have on many occasion called them as well so avoid a 45 min drive. Sorry for those who aren't but still they will take care of you.
I've been to Dillon several times since I am also in central AZ. They keep my stuff for a week or two, tell me to come pick it up, admit it's faulty when I show up, and do nothing for me.
The best one was when I told them I had to modify the chute on my father's 650 years ago and I had to modify the one on mine I had just purchased to let them know something is wrong. They told me there's nothing wrong with them and they'd never heard of the issue with anyone's 650. I had been polite the whole time, so I politely showed the tech that their 650 in their demonstration area was 100% nonfunctional because their chute had the same problem. The chute doesn't clear the central platform, so when the handle is lowered to raise the platform, the chute springs out under it. Now that it is out there, the platform cannot be lowered, the handle cannot be raised. They acted like they never noticed it before. They somehow never noticed that you cannot make a single cycle of the handle of a 650. You have to take a wrench or something and bend the chute out of the way. But it'll do it again the next time you try to use the press.
Dillon makes garbage product, they lie about it, and their customer service is beyond awful. They don't even try to help.
For my 650 primer issue, he told me, "I don't want to tell you it doesn't work, but..." and then he shrugged.
Top notch. Worthless.
@@spraynpray dam your not the first person I have heard about nightmare issues with the 650. The primers system on that press is a bad design apparently. I guess with the way the 650 loads the primer it’s possible to crush the primer and cause a chain detonation. However with that being said the 650 is the ONLY press that I have heard of Dillon having issues with. Apparently the 550 is a proven design the 750 and 1050 are also very good press designs. Never mind the square deal apparently that’s a dam good press also. Me personally I love my 550 however the 223 dies I can’t seem to figure out how to push back the shoulder of the case 2 thousand. No matter how I adjust the Dillon 223 die it will only push back the shoulder 1.5 thousand.
So dillon has bad customer service!
It's very bad, but has a good reputation somehow. They've told me several times their products don't work and there's nothing they'll do about it.
Dillon has great service and NO BS warranty. For example, my 40 year old SDB was showing lots of wear and a few problems. I called Dillon and spoke to the rep about what was going on with it. He told me what I needed to check and sent me the replacement parts, NO CHARGE. Again, I found another issue due to lots of use so I called and asked what it would cost to send the unit back to Dillon to rebuild it. He said about $100 to bring it back to new condition but instead he recommended I just replace the parts since I am competent in doing so. The Dillon rep sent everything I needed to rebuild the SDB NO-CHARGE. I will also say that I have had similar luck with RCBS and Hornady regarding replacement parts for their dies. This was before the current situation with COVID. Everyone in the gun industry is swamped and may not get back to you as quickly as they have in the past. That said, I contacted Hornady last week via email and they sent me the die parts I needed within a three day turn around. Great company service from all of them.
@@spraynpray I know Dillon is extremely overtaxed due to the current political environment (this too shall pass), but normally you would be hard pressed find better customer service anywhere else. IT IS TOP NOTCH. Of course it helps to live in the Phoenix area where I can drive to Dillon, speak to them in person and purchase what I need but I have on many occasion called them as well to avoid a 45 min drive. Sorry for those who aren't but still they will take care of you. CallawawayKen IS CORRECT and I don't know any Dillon customers who will say otherwise as well. The warranty follows the press and not the buyer as long as the press is in existence.
Jeez Louise who has time for 3 hours of videos? Do you get paid by the word? BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT. How about a TL;DR summary version that lasts 2 minutes?