I'm not looking to flame anyone here but why do Dillon presses and dies command such a premium? I make great quality ammo using a mix of Redding, Lee, RCBS, Hornady, and Forster stuff. There is not a single piece of Dillon equipment on my bench. Maybe I'm too stupid to know what I'm missing out on but man is that stuff pricey.

Progressive presses are more expensive than the single stage presses most of us use. A quick check, without sorting out features, shows that the RCBS 2000 costs more than the Dillon 550 and not much less than the Dillon 650. Another example, since I have both and they're from the same company and have some parts in common, are MECs. It's $200 between the Sizemaster and the Grabber, but I can load 3X faster with the Grabber.

Dillon's customer service is said to be even better than RCBS and I sure can't complain about RCBS.

Bye
Jack

When I reload for riffles I use it in a manor similar (but bassakwards) of a turret/single stage, you move the shell around not the tool head, it can be put in any station at any point without turning the shell plate, and then when I load for pistol rounds I run it as a progressive, and without distraction and paying close attention it's capable of dropping a loaded round every 7 seconds, I usually work a little slower than that.
I don't have to mess around with a "hand primmer", never used one, but the force required to push a primmer in with the press I don't see how you can do it and NOT!?? break those hand primers???, people say "you cant feel the primmer seat in a press", don't know about the others but you most CERTAINLY! can in the Dillon.
Don't know how the other presses work but all of my pistol belling dies are still new in the box, the Dillon bells the case with the powder funnel as it drops the powder charge.
They use standard dies, of the 15 calibers I'm set up for I own only one single Dillon crimp die.
Some people say that they are just about impossible to set up?, I will admit they can be a pain, but if you figure the time to do the setup on each individual step on other presses it's all done at the same time on the Dillon so it just seems like they take forever to set up.
I like mine!:D

Dillon presses are not much more than similer presses and less than some I`ve seen. Some have features others don`t. Dillon comes with expanders with each caliber conversion that works in the powder die. Dillon 3 die sets have sizing, seating, and crimping dies where most others have sizing, expanding, and seat & crimp at same time. Plus the no BS warranty is truly no BS! If the owner loses pieces or breaks anything, they will replace it free. If you have any trouble with the loader they will work with you over the phone to figure out any problems. That is worth a little to me. If you are happy with what you have, enjoy. If you are looking to upgrade to a progressive then Dillon makes a fine machine and backs it up. Some folks want a Hundai for everyday use. I have a 1 ton PU for what I need.

I have 2 Dillon presses, 1 550B, 1 SDB. (SDB BEING THE OLDEST) I reload ALOT of 223 & 308Win on the 550B as me and ALL my kids shoot NRA High Power. we go through 30,000+-2000 of 223 a year and 10,000+-1000 308. In all the 20+ years we have used the Dillon presses the original SDB is still on my bench and running 45acp, 44 mag, 41 mag, 40S&W, 10mm. Unknown amounts of rounds loaded on the SDB, Its 20 Years old so ALOT. In all those years Dillon has backed up all MY mistakes, and replaced all worn parts. and in doing, will always have my business.

Price is a relative thing. When I got my 550B it was only $275 which seemed like a lot back then.
You also have to take into consideration Dillon's service. It has been my experience that if anything breaks on their equipment, they will replace it no questions asked.

I was loading up some snake loads for my 357 once & was having trouble seating the plastic cup - the seating die insert was for a semi-wadcutter & was cracking the cup. I went over to Dillon, explained my problem to the guy at the counter & he said he would be right back. He took a wadcutter insert out of a machine in back & said "Here, it's yours. Have a good day"
I also had trouble getting my dies lining up relative to the press one time after disassembly for cleaning. Once again, went to Dillon, explained my problem, the guy hands me an alignment tool & says "Thanks for coming". You can't beat that.

BECAUSE THEY ARE WORTH IT! J.Michael

"why do Dillon presses and dies command such a premium? "

"You also have to take into consideration Dillon's service. It has been my experience that if anything breaks on their equipment, they will replace it no questions asked. "

In clear words, Dillion (et al) charges enough up front to provide a lifetime supply of spare parts for people to bend and break.

If you're ham fisted, that's a good thing. Otherwise...it looks pretty! ???

I have been thoroughly impressed with dillon since i can send my 650 back every few years for the 100,000 round rebuild. they go over entire press making sure it works with precision and any updated parts are put into machine. all this when nothing is wrong with machine.

"why do Dillon presses and dies command such a premium? "

"You also have to take into consideration Dillon's service. It has been my experience that if anything breaks on their equipment, they will replace it no questions asked. "

In clear words, Dillion (et al) charges enough up front to provide a lifetime supply of spare parts for people to bend and break.

If you're ham fisted, that's a good thing. Otherwise...it looks pretty! ???
Even if you buy it used the warrantee continues with parts and whatever!

"Even if you buy (Dillon) used the warrantee continues with parts and whatever!"

True enough. And, if it's a gift, it's "free"...at least to you. But none of that changes the fact that the original purchaser WILL PAY for the lifetime supply of "free" parts.

Not saying this to change anyone's mind one way or another, I don't care what or why people buy anything. I just wanted to inject a bit of reality into the erronous idea that any company can provide such great service at no cost. That simply isn't true!

Yugo's could have had a fantastic 200.000 mile warranty on all parts IF the origiinal prices had been high enough AND people were willing to buy them at those prices!

Don't forget that Dillon's 550, 650, and 1050 models maintain their resale value too. This is important if you consider getting a 550 to learn on and then some years later move up to a 650 with casefeeder. That's what I did and I priced my 5 yr old 550 at 80% of the then current price (more than what I paid for it) and sold it in 2 minutes on the internet!

Ive just purchased a 550 and the only thing I can complain about is the fact im a moron and didnt spend the time setting up the primer feeding system. I just didnt align the little metal rod like i should of and snapped the plastic clip(of which there was a spare) Called them up and they advised me how to resolve the issue by just TURNING the **** tube till it plonked into alignment and walla, all worked like a charm.

Also powder metering was pretty good, all were pretty much the same and I made over 100 rounds in a very very short period of time. Only problems I had once set up was between machine and seat. Oh and when the priming tube gets low the primers dont feed greatly, but they still feed none the less.

when the priming tube gets low the primers dont feed greatly, but they still feed none the less.


You do have the "follower rod" in the primmer magazine?, it make all the difference.

You do have the "follower rod" in the primmer magazine?, it make all the difference.

Yes I do. But does/can skew the primer onto an angle if you only have a few primers in the tube to begin with...

You may need to adjust the slid stop?, mine requires adjustment when I switch from the large slide to the small slide. other than that mine only gives me fits when I leave the follower out.

I know a couple guys who have them and Ive tinkered with them. Nice tool but it can't do anything other presses can do for enough money to supply myself with a year's supply of lead and brass for my revolvers.

Yes, I agree, their service is very good. The guys say they like having that backup. They've never used it yet they say, but it's nice insurance to have.

Thanks but I'll stick with what I have. Service is as good and I'm not paying up front for something I am not using.

I know they have excellent service and I've often thought about going to a progressive, but I do just fine on my Turret press. I prefer to change out calibers easily and not have to buy $200 toolhead (when you factor in dies and powder measure) for every caliber I load (21 for now).

...I prefer to ... not have to buy $200 toolhead (when you factor in dies and powder measure) ...

You don't have to buy a new powder measure or toolhead for every caliber unless you want to, same as with the equipment you use now. Or do you have 21 powder measures for your turret press? And aren't you buying dies for every caliber now?

My popularly loaded calibers each have their own toolheads and powder measures because it was worth it to me. I also have a toolhead and powder measure that I change out the dies on and readjust for the calibers I load infrequently.

Many calibers can share components of the conversion kits, so once you have a few, you usually only need to buy small parts, if any, to load another caliber.

But yes, it's more expensive overall, but not like you make it out to be. One thing to keep in mind also is that you can sometimes get a well-used machine for a significant savings and it is still backed by the same lifetime no-BS warranty that will keep it working like new.

I use Lee single stage equipment, too, and am satisfied. I just can't comment on their turrets and progressives as I've not used them, but I do hear good reports.

I started reloading borrowing a friends Rockchucker then was given a RS-2 press. Those presses along with some Lee handloaders is what I used to use in the barracks before I discovered Dillion. First help a few friends set up their Squar Deals. We broke a few parts or lost them and got free parts next day mail even across the Atlantic in Germany. I then bought a 550 and still have it. My reloading gear isn't set up at the moment since I moved in 07' since I don't stay home much because working in the sandboxes.

CD

You don't have to buy a new powder measure or toolhead for every caliber unless you want to, same as with the equipment you use now. Or do you have 21 powder measures for your turret press? And aren't you buying dies for every caliber now?

Many calibers can share components of the conversion kits, so once you have a few, you usually only need to buy small parts, if any, to load another caliber.

I only have one powder meashurer, and three of the four charge bars available for it, and I do mix and mach caliber conversion kit components.
I do have a tool head for each caliber I reload so the cost is $18-20 and even if you did get an individual meashurer it wouldn't top $100.

I'm not looking to flame anyone here but why do Dillon presses and dies command such a premium? I make great quality ammo using a mix of Redding, Lee, RCBS, Hornady, and Forster stuff. There is not a single piece of Dillon equipment on my bench. Maybe I'm too stupid to know what I'm missing out on but man is that stuff pricey.

Gun tests magazine (the one that doesn't accept bribes) tested a dillon progressive against the lee pro 100 and the lee beat it. They also tested an rcbs and another brand which beat the lee but the dillon came in dead last! I have that issue in my magazine rack somewhere but without looking i don't recall all the model numbers of the presses. Everyone has a favorite though and all that test may mean is that all those that tested the presses may have chose them in order of their personal favorite brands regardless of their motto.

I know they have excellent service and I've often thought about going to a progressive, but I do just fine on my Turret press. I prefer to change out calibers easily and not have to buy $200 toolhead (when you factor in dies and powder measure) for every caliber I load (21 for now).


*laughing*
Matt, I have two complete turrets for reloading .357 and .45 Colt. Yup, powder measures and risers and the whole four die set. I cant see doing that for many more and it's a good thing I dont have to as the wife would start looking at me even more funny than she does now. I'm guessing you dont mean 21 different turret set ups with the whole kit and kaboodle.. :eek:
I mean, yeah it's possible but think of the space!

$9.00 for a turret, $28 for dies, $8.00 for a riser and $20.00 for the powder measure, simple, inexpensive and effective, but storing them would drive me nuts. I'd need a lot more room.

Yup. The Dillon 550B is my less frequent handgun calibers press. I have a Square Deal that handles .45ACP and is never changed, but the 550 gets the rest unless I just want a few test loads. Then the Lee hand tool comes out.


Scott0016,

See if you can scan your article for posting? I dropped my subscription to Gun Tests long ago because they would test just one (a statistically insignificant number) of whatever they were examining, and it turned out my own experiences disagreed with theirs on a number of occasions, just because my sample wasn't the same one they had.

In this instance, the various Dillon's work differently enough and have different enough production rates that it would be very easy to wind up comparing apples to oranges. I would also be interested to know how long they kept running the machines? On this and other forums I've seen people so frustrated by stopages in the Lee Pro 1000 that they've switched to Dillon or someone else's progressive. I'm not trying to get on Lee's case or champion Dillon especially. I'm just figuring that unless their testing approach has changed, the look that Gun Tests took is probably not exhaustive or comprehensive. I applaud their trying to do something about the need for independent reviews, just not the lack of scientific execution. But again, it's been quite a number of years since I read a copy. Maybe they've changed?

Yes I do. But does/can skew the primer onto an angle if you only have a few primers in the tube to begin with...

Sounds to me like you might be running small primers through the large primer liner tube. The small primers will definately get canted (and can even turn upside down) if you forget to change the liner tube when going from large to small primers but I don't think they can get out of position when running small primers through the small tube. Of course large primers won't drop into the small tube so its not a problem remembering to change liner tubes when changing over from small to large.

Dillon presses are worth the $$ is the simple answer to the question. Some of their other items are a bit pricey for my wallet but most of their products are a cut above the others.

I figured out my problem. All issues resolved when brain is actually in gear.

Personally I bought the dillon as Im the sort of person that likes to buy something once and once only. Dillon offered what I needed to hear a no BS lifetime guarantee and so far they have lived up to that.

+ 1 one the Gun Tests testing metodologies. I have owned or used several items that they found fault with which fault was not evident on the examples I had used. The opposite is true as well - I've had or used several items that they gave high regards to that in my experience were less than satisfactory. I too applaud their mission statement, just not their execution of it. I'm sure Dillon has had a few lemons slip out the door just like everybody else has but when one does get by they make it right with a smile and in a hurry. Back to the GT dillon/Lee comparison - I've read what seems like 5 negative to each positive review of the pro 1000 - from people who own or have owned them. I don't often hear of complaints regarding Dillon equipment. Not downing Lee but the pro 1000 seems to be one of the more problematic items in their lineup.

Having owned a shotgun shell progressive loader I have enjoyed some of there benifits in addition to the headaches. Considering the quantities of rifle rounds I expend on varmits been considering getting a progressive press and setting it up for the varmit caliber. This thread piqued my interest on the subject and doing some surfing ended up totally confused and a little irritated at Dillion for there lack of a listing of components needed for a basic setup. What's so hard about listing everything needed to make a bare bones setup of there equipment in one caliber.

Having owned a shotgun shell progressive loader I have enjoyed some of there benifits in addition to the headaches. Considering the quantities of rifle rounds I expend on varmits been considering getting a progressive press and setting it up for the varmit caliber. This thread piqued my interest on the subject and doing some surfing ended up totally confused and a little irritated at Dillion for there lack of a listing of components needed for a basic setup. What's so hard about listing everything needed to make a bare bones setup of there equipment in one caliber.

If memory serves, Dillon presses will come set up for whichever caliber you like. If you call them, 800-223-4570, they will answer any questions you might have.

The Dillon comes with one conversion kit (caliber) of your choice, the only other components needed are dies for said caliber, they use standard 7/8" dies, I have only one single Dillon crimp die all the others are of other manufactures, and brass, bullets, powder and primers, you'll also need a scale to set the powder measurer.

There web site lists the three models as "bare bones" with dies extra. That's where the confusion starts. I've noticed many web sits today are vague about products which I believe is done purposefully to confuse the customer and get them to buy more than they really need. With the phone help of a former customer I muddled my way around there site and believe I know what a basic setup will cost. It still leaves a sour taste in my mouth despite there respected after the sale service.

Yup. The Dillon 550B is my less frequent handgun calibers press. I have a Square Deal that handles .45ACP and is never changed, but the 550 gets the rest unless I just want a few test loads. Then the Lee hand tool comes out.


Scott0016,

See if you can scan your article for posting? I dropped my subscription to Gun Tests long ago because they would test just one (a statistically insignificant number) of whatever they were examining, and it turned out my own experiences disagreed with theirs on a number of occasions, just because my sample wasn't the same one they had.

In this instance, the various Dillon's work differently enough and have different enough production rates that it would be very easy to wind up comparing apples to oranges. I would also be interested to know how long they kept running the machines? On this and other forums I've seen people so frustrated by stopages in the Lee Pro 1000 that they've switched to Dillon or someone else's progressive. I'm not trying to get on Lee's case or champion Dillon especially. I'm just figuring that unless their testing approach has changed, the look that Gun Tests took is probably not exhaustive or comprehensive. I applaud their trying to do something about the need for independent reviews, just not the lack of scientific execution. But again, it's been quite a number of years since I read a copy. Maybe they've changed?

I found the issue...wow it's an old one Feb 92 the presses they tested were the Hornady pro-jector rcbs auto 4x4 lee pro 1000 and the dillon rl550b i didn't re read it but flipping to the rating i noticed that they noted that the pro 1000 was the most automated press they tested but they rated it behind the hornady and rcbs which they gave a tie rating to. I don't have any way to scan it and the article is seven pages long so if you are interested in reading it just pm me and tell me where to send it and i would be glad to give it to you. ...Scott

I will check my old issues and if I have it can scan should anyone be interested.

If you can scan it and share it, please do that. Otherwise, I suspect the 650 is simply a more fair comparison to the other presses mentioned for automation level. I don't think it was around in '92? The Square deal was, and it at least has automatic indexing, so why they didn't use that, I don't know? I can scan Scott's copy if others want to see it, but now that I know it's '92, I should look and see if I was still subscribing myself back then? I might already have it?

The bare bones Dillon is something they must have started offering after I got my gear. The price always included a chambering setup then. They must have decided that people who already own dies wouldn't want to duplicate the purchase, or that there were enough conversion kits on eBay now that not everyone wanted the whole gorilla. It looks to me like you just scroll down the description to the bulleted points at the end of the product description and each of those is an option that you can choose from. You're correct that they could make it a little clearer, but if you simply look at a conversion kit description you'll have that list of parts, except for the powder measure itself.

I'll add to Wrenchman's comment that the Square Deal is an exception that uses a non-standard die thread. All the others use 7/8-14 thread standard dies.