Mastiff

My LGSs have a decent supply of components (not everything you might want but they have some choices) and do a decent job of trying to keep some type of 9mm ammo in stock. When they have Blazer, it has been $17.99 per box for the aluminum case, $19.99 per box for brass for the past 10 months. I was there yesterday and they had Blazer brass for $17.99 but you were limited to 100 rounds. I placed a massive order of components with Midsouth months ago and I figured what the heck, if it comes it comes, and the prices were fair, like a brick of ssp at 26.50. Then, I forgot I placed the order. Guess what, I get a call Thursday. "Sir, you're order is here". What order? You back ordered this months ago, do you still want it? I said sure, and now I am poorer. Components are available, even Cabelas which is 2 miles away has a lot more. I try to drive by without stopping.

There could be a separate thread on the ".223 reloading phenomenon". You're right. Rifle brass prep in general is labor intensive no doubt. But think of all those folks that went out and bought AR's and couldn't get ammo and then decide to try their hand at reloading. I'm all for new people learning to reload, but .223 is challenging to start out with. But like I say, that's a whole other thread for another day. Dog

Ok, now there's a good response. Sounds reloading for you is more of a utility than a hobby. You could take it or leave it. The question is, if you could give up reloading easily, would the alternative use value of your time offset the savings of the reloads? From my point of view it would. The people who claim reloading is less than buying factory ammo may be right, but these days, it's close when you figure the cost of the equipment, dies, etc. But the real issue is time. Bottom line is, what's your time worth? The only thing I know is the older I get, the more it's worth

It's another Friday night where I get lazy and throw out questions that may have been discussed long before I ever found this great forum BE has for us. I was going to do a poll on this question, but polls are boring, besides, I like to hear everyone's take and commentary, so here's the question, and I want the truth... How many of you enjoy reloading more than shooting? It doesn't have to be a yes or no answer. For example, I like reloading 65% of the time and shooting 35%. Or, an extreme response would be: reloading is a complete waste of time. I stop at the store, buy the ammo and shoot it, and then I let the brass vultures get on their knees and take 'em. I shoot, I want nothing to do with reloading. So where do you stand on this question? If this has been asked before, I'll delete the thread. Dog

Sarge, I think you represent a large group of us here. I think we'd all be hard pressed to find someone on this forum who buys just enough stuff to maintain parity with their shooting. You don't sound like a collector or hoarder. You are simply staying ahead of your needs and maintain a nice back up inventory.

This is clearly a collection. This gentlemen certainly is using his inventory, but also many of the items have sentimental value. My dad was a WWII infantry vet and taught me how to shoot, I understand those memories, it's the great memories that make our lives so much richer.

This post is disqualified. He's in the business

Sir, you don't just have some Dillon equipment, you have what is called in the securities world a "long position" in extra stuff. You should be featured in the next Blue Press.

Silver nitride ceramic balls? C'mon Dillon, you just got to help me to understand how we need a set of balls like these to get the shell plate running smoother. Sarge, you can buy anything from McMaster Carr. I don't know if they still print their catalog, but the darn thing had to be 5" thick... Dog

And here's why: it's still fresh in the zip bag from Dillon. So, I have protected myself from myself. The 1200 and I have a love hate relationship. If I don't succeed this time, Dillon should hit me for a $50 penalty. I make the following pledge: 1. I will read the instructions 2. I will re-read the instructions 3. I will have a case in the die while adjusting 4. I will check my work before I flip the little red rocker switch on the box. I can do this, I just don't know why I find this darn thing so intimidating. I guess the weight and mass of the thing vs. the amount of tolerance we're trying to control is weird for me. Dog

I think the wet tumbler is a must have. But buy a good one, there's plenty of great threads on tumblers on the BE forum. You'll hate a cheap tumbler. And don't forget, the stainless tumbling media will be roughly 20% of the cost of your new machine. Again, I don't want to hi jack my thread, but a tumbler cleans primer pockets and I love it. For that reason, I'm in. Dog

I see where you find that. I would agree that mounting the casting directly to the bench is more rigid. But the advantage to the SM is the height and clearance I have below my bench top. I have always had the SM's for the SL900 and XL650 - never a problem. But, I do think dillon may want to consider dropping one gauge in thickness and consider some gussets or cross braces in areas which may add ridgity.lDog

If you want a faster way to case-gauge ammo, have you seen this? http://www.benstoegerproshop.com/100-Hole-9mm-Chamber-Checker-Cartridge-Case-Gauge-p/cg9-100.htm Yes, there is a 100-case Chamber Checker from EGW. But the one from Ben Stoeger fits cartridge boxes....so cartridge handling is cut dramatically. This is fairly close to World Peace, in my admittedly limited view. Chris I think if your doing some high output, it might make sense. But it's a $100 each. If he can sell some volume, if he can drive the price down, I'd think about it. I'd like to see all of the other comments. Dog

We do bleed Dillon blue because Dillon products work and they continue to provide us unprecedented service and no charge replacements year after year, But there are loads of threads attesting to that. Rarely do their products fail and many of the readers of this thread had probably not seen a strong mount behave like that before, so we assumed it had to be caused by something else. That's the great thing about the BE forums. We have some fun, but we are always anxious to help you or at least provide some ideas even though we can be wrong sometimes. For me, it's most of the time. Dog

Email Dillon the video. They'll know what's going on. I just can't imagine what would create that side load.

Are you loading anything that is near full of powder? And you are not spilling anything? I can load minor 9 OK but 9MAJOR is pretty much a no go without the bearing or some other snap mod. Cases are about 3/4-7/8 full. Sarge, I have loaded lots of 9mm and I admit I've thrown some powder, but it was very rarely. I played with the shellplate, bolt and grease a few times and when the planet, moon and the stars aligned, it seemed okay. I think a lot if may be that the operator smoothness helps too. Next time I swap out my .223 toolhead, I'll go for some 380 or 9 and see how I do. Will report results. If it's bad, I'll cop to it and throw the bearing back on and see if it helps. I just want to believe we can do without all these added doo-dads and the machines will work according to the book... Dog

I don't know. I use the machines bone stock. I just follow Dillion's instructions (except my RT1200 difficulties, but I will get that down). Okay, for 8 bux I ordered the McMaster Carr set up and after using it for awhile, I decided to yank it. I think if you place the correct amount of grease, tighten the bolt correctly so the shell plate is stable but rotates well enough AND tighten the ram set screw, the machine does fine. I lived without this bearing set up for many years, loaded thousand of rounds and never had problems. I trust that as soon as Dillon has enough valid changes they need to make, they will up rev the current model. Wishful thinking? Dog

This is the correct answer. The mount has to seat naturally on the bench all 8 holes 4 on the bench and the 4 on the base of the machine casting) must line up dead nuts. I realize there is some play, but less or none is best. Dog

This is one of those hobbies that if you're not into it, no one knows or appreciates what you're doing. It's not like looking at a beautiful classic car. So we all like this stuff I presume. Right now I consider my shop a mess, so please forgive me…here goes:

98sr, I like your solution. I don't experience the flex. But I'd like to see what that Strong Mount base is screwed down on, meaning the bench top. If that bench top or whole bench for that matter isn't rock solid, anything can throw you off your game... Dog

Just hit "ctrl C for one source and paste ctrl V in the thread. Not hard to find a good image out there... Dog

If we're talking about this part for the XL 650, it's been the part I have been using for 20 years. As long as the spring yields a full stroke with the nylon square forward and fully back, you should have a full charge. I could be wrong, did I miss the point of the thread. Just tighten up the blue wing nut with just enough spring left to get the stroke complete. Dog

Check out John's work - heirloom quality. I carefully used a drill fixture to hold a 90 degree hole and sharp wood bit. Patience is required to do this correctly. Measuring so the handles clear on the downstroke, your bolts will clear drawers, acro bins clear the sides, proper working space are all factors to think through before ever getting a drill near this workbench or should I say fine furniture: http://www.americanworkbench.com/files/newmapleconstsingle.jpg John's not the least expensive, but if you don't have the time to build it, or don't know how, it's a bargain and will outlast any of us! By the way, I don't work for John, he deserves the kudos, I love his work. Dog

I have asked the question, but really never admitted or discussed my obsession. First of all, before I buy anything I read, then I read some more and ask a lot of questions. I then deduce the info and do what I think will be right for me. And I ask the question, "will I really do it one day ?" If I say yes, I buy it, but may not set it up for a month or longer, but there is this sense of security knowing I have one. For example, I've been a Dillon progressive fanboy for nearly 2 decades. Then one day I started digging into the dangerously tempting Sinclair catalog. So rifle became interesting. Hey, I shoot rifles too, so why not reload cartridges for them too? Then I went crazy, bought all the tools, trimmers, reamers, champher/debur tools, Wilson products (I love) flash hole deburrer, primer pocket reamers well you know the drill. Redding became my best friend and fortunately it is a good friend because I like quality products. I don't buy calibers I don't shoot, but a I have a nice representation of most pistol competition dies from Redding as well as Dillon dies and common rifle like .223 and 22-250. I was very tempted to buy a set of Weatherby .300 because I inherited a gem Mark V from the 1960's. But I don't hunt, we just shoot target, but I'll take it out to the range just to say I shot it and made the ammo. But I'll still get a set of dies, just because. And then their is the tools, the workbenches, cleaning supplies, cases, mags, and you name it. I went out and ordered one of John's American Work benches, look him up by googling American Work Benches. This man makes the most beautiful benches for reloading you will ever see, and it takes an elephant to move it. I've got my 650, T-7, primer tubes, all 3 powder measures, and the SL900 in 12g and 20g, all there with shelves and acro bins lined up. I am so sick, I use a brother p-touch to label my bins. As far as components are concerned, well, let's say I'm fine there. I finally broke down and got set up with the Lortone tumbler and steel pins. That was a nice investment and recommend that highly. Summary, I stick with quality goods, no junk, but I love it all. There's nothing like receiving a fresh set of competition dies from Redding covered with cosmoline. Life is good. Just buy quality products, I'd rather have one great products than 3 crappy one. Dog

Here's when you begin to reach a turning point. Do I collect or enjoy owning extra stuff that I may use one day (or never), or do I sell it to the next guy for some money I could put towards something else? Oh, did you hang on to those sets of a Redding comp dies too? Dog