ray1

I agree also with the 650, I purchased my 550 in 1995 to load 38's and 45 ACP'S. But now the USPSA and IDPA bug bit me I purchased a 650 to provide the much needed practice ammo and now I wished I had originally bought the 650 full progressive years ago. I still have my 550 and use it for 38 special loads.

Well I have been practicing with an old Quick Draw safariland competition holster #008 D89 and a Velcro lined belt No. G89, with 4 - Safariland 1911 Competition Mag. Pouches, Black Basket Weave Leather, fully adjustable. {I know this is outdated equipment but it's what I can afford right now}. I now have many blood blisters and several sores on my hands but I guess that is expected. Although with the blisters and pinches I think I have improved on my draw time and my reload time. I have ordered a timer to help, if you guys have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them. I practice 4 times a week dry firing and get to the range 3 times a week.

Just wanted to say hello and thank everyone for all the helpful information that I have been reading on this forum. I have just joined USPSA and IDPA and will start shooting my first matches this March. I haven’t even shot my first match and I get nervous just thinking about shooting my first match although I have shot and reloaded for the last 10 years. I live in south central Virginia area. Again thanks to all the good information you guys give out each day.

That looks like a pretty nice setup, but there are a few ways I can see to save a few dollars and not compromise quality noticably. First, I'd step down from the electronic scale to a balance scale. You won't give up anything in accuracy, but you will spend a bit more time if you're weighing lots of charges (which really isn't all that necessary as you're not loading benchrest ammo. Pick a charge, get the measure throwing what you want and spot check a few here and there and you're fine. Figure you can save $75 if you get a $50 balance scale. I'd also suggest that a bullet puller isn't really necessary. They're handy sometimes, but for the cost of a cheap puller ($18 last time I saw them in the store) you could buy a bunch of cases, powder and bullets....how many saved cases, bullets and powder does it take to make the puller cost-effective? I don't know, but it's a bunch. Save another $18 here. The electronic calipers are nice, but I would get the standard dial calipers and save the $20+ dollars. They'll be more than accurate enough. Heck, I'm still using dial calipers and I started reloading when I was in my very early teens...never had a problem with them. Save another $20 here. The Redding competition seater die is great, but it's really more than necessary. I use them for match rifle ammo/sniper rifle practice ammo, and they make a huge difference there. If I were saving a couple of bucks I'd go with a normal seating die and upgrade later if you really, really think you need it. My match guns shoot better than I can hold them with ammo made without a competition seating die so I don't worry about it. Save $40 here. Is there a specific reason why you want the EGW U-die? I haven't kept close track of what people are doing with .45 match ammo these days but I haven't had a problem with bulged brass etc. With .40 I can understand it because there's so much once-fired brass that has gone through Glocks that won't work in a lot of guns without using the U-die, but I'm not sure it's totally necessary in .45. Save $22 here. Those changes would save you $175 give or take. That's enough for about 1500 more rounds of ammo you could load at your expected price...more practice is good What is supposed to be wrong with Dillon dies? I have a set of 45 ACP that I have used for years with out any problem with them.

Thanks for the information, I have started shooting USPSA and IDPA. I have only shot in a few local matches here in south central Virginia, but the bug has bit me and I really enjoy it. I have been shooting 45 1911's for many years but just now have the opportunity to compete a little. I've had a Dillon 550 for about 8 years and just recently acquired a 650 and I'm trying to get use to it....

Hello, I am new to this forum and have just started competition shooting. I have reloaded for several years on Dillon equipment. I recently started checking the OAL on 45 ACP brass {WW} that I have been reloading, it ranges from .888 to .899, the trim to length is .895 and max is .898. The reason I started checking is to get my reloads to be the same length, I was told that the closer you can get each load to being the same you could expect the same accuracy. Also would this affect the tapper crimp if the OAL is not the same? Do I need to worry about the difference in OAL for competition reloading? Any help would be greatly appreciated.