Mastiff

Could this destruction have been the Holy Graile? I just bought the 1200 trimmer and haven't rigged it up, no less know how the thing works, I'll be searching the threads for info on how it all works. I have been trimming with a L.R. Wilson trimmer with the micrometer - just a ton of work because I give every case a twist for inside and outside chamfers and deburring after the trim. You gotta like to do it. If your looking for match quality cartridges and want to make 50 rounds at a time, you do it with a single stage press or a T7. A set of Redding dies won't hurt either. Getting back to the OP's disaster, he clearly qualifies for an HG award. The advice given above about when something locks stop working - that's good advice. I'm glad he's regrouped and back in business. When your after volume .223, the Dillon is great. Dog

Guns and Wammo!

Flat base is what I use. You got some good advice here. A staple in the tool box is the deburr/chamfer tool. A quick twist on I.d. will help the transition from the bullet to the case. Or if you're doing some volume, that RCBS case center looks like a real time saver. Dog

The die set has to be for a progressive press (like your 650). It's a bummer because Redding makes such beautiful dies for this caliber. When I am going for perfection (and never achieve it), I use a Redding T7 press and make 20 cartridges at a time. You can use Dillion's dies, although they don't have them on their website, I could swear they made the carbide set at one time. If not, I guess any other brand will work fine. Get the carbide, if available, regardless it will be a MUST to lube the cases. Then once dialed in, just take it slow, and remember this isn't 9mm where you knock down the 4 million rounds per hour. Because it's a straight walled case, you have to take it easy when lining up the bullet for seating. As an aside, check into the Hornady bullet seating depth tool (used to be Stoney Point). This tool will help you build a round that will chamber properly for your gun. I bought a Winchester Model 70 about 17 yrs ago for a couple reasons: 1. I like target shooting 2. I like the 22-250 round and 3. and most importantly, I was able to order another die set to add to my collection, and name one reloader who doesn't want another set on the shelf. And don't forget, it's fun to use the seating tool from Hornady. Since it is near the holidays, you quietly buy the gun you like (and a caliber you do not own), then when someone special wants to know what you'd like as a gift it will be easy. And tell them to get you the conversion kit while they're at it.

I don't know about these mods, a little lump of grease smushed underneath the station 1 locator ramp has been working fine for me for 16 yrs. Dog

Did someone forget to put the tube on the hopper before they poured in the shot? Of course.

How about a new gun for a caliber you don't have? Then you can put the die and conversion kit on the list! Or take a twist and request a new set of a competition pistol die set which includes the micrometer seating die from Redding. They work beautifully on progressives like the 650, I could be wrong, but Dillon offers them in their Blue Press. Dog

I guess in some ways it was a "shooting match" between the Chief's Len Dawson and Green Bay's Bart Starr. Coaches were Vince Lombardi and Hank Stram. Aside from an amazing game, during the halftime show they had a USAF pilot fly a Jet Pack around the Los Angeles Coliseum. I was just a "kid" in those days, January 1967. My Dad had only two seats on the 45 yd line and he chose me to go with him. Thank you Dad. Dog

Once you dial in an SL900 they are awesome. I only use AA hulls and winchester wads and they load and shoot great. Just make sure the hulls are in decent shape. I mentioned it before in another thread, one of the biggest bummers with setting up the machine is when you "accidentally" spill shot all of the floor. Ask me how I know.

Thanks, I saw a few on that auction site that had what looked like a die in the photos, with a chip ejection port, I was thinking that the unit came with that piece but it must be a trim die, I guess... Dog

I have two questions (did the search and couldn't find the information): 1. What parts does the RT1200 come with? My box, part no. 22080, contained the following parts: A. Motor B. Switch box and cable attached C. Two pc. Blue hose clamps D. Two Allen screws E. Large silver colored jam nut and two Allen wrenches. F. Instruction booklet Is the above correct? 2. There is an RT1200 and an RT1200B. Is there any difference between the two? Thanks, Dog

Great suggestion, thanks. The sellers who play the "not" game are, in my opinion, unethical and waste everyone's time. Dog

Steve, sorry, let's try that with your Winchestern 748 or H335 powders. Then we will see if the store brand is the same.

I'm going with scootertheshooter on this one. I'll go one step further, I want my rack to be made by Dillon, powder coated blue, packed in a sealed bag with mounting screws and an instruction sheet. Now, in my opinion that beats a coffee can, plastic cup or some other foreign object being used to hold an authentic Dillon primer tube. It's downright blasphemy to have anything like that near your relaoding bench. I mean, think about it. Would you put a Harbor Freight tool in your Snap On tool box? Scooter even has what looks like a Dillon cover on a tool head stand or RF-100, now that's professional, no less loyal. However, the scooter does need to tape and finish the wall. Dog

I hate it when a driver speeds up when I'm trying to change into his lane. Dog

Anyone old enough to remember the "Yellow Pages"? They had a great commercial on why Bob's Toy Store never advertised in the Yellow Pages. You see, Bob really didn't want anyone to buy his toys. When people would come in to the store he'd tell them that the toy they wanted wasn't for sale. Sounds to me like Bob may own this gun shop you're talking about. Dog TTBL

I don't bother cleaning it up, I just keep right on loading. It doesn't hurt a thing. The SL-900 will spill 20+ grains of powder through the BIG shotgun primer pocket. Not to mention the occasional 1 1/4 oz shot load F-Up. You can't even go get the vacuum without kicking it all over the room! One of my friends suggested using a magnet... The SL900, as I said earlier in the thread is a nightmare to set up correctly. However, once you get everything correct, she runs like a top. Spilling powder is not fun, but I can deal with that. Spilling shot, especially if happens a couple of times during set up is the ultimate bummer. Vacuums hate the stuff and if you don't clean it up fast, you'll feel like you're standing on roller skates. These are the kinds of problems that make reloading fun, but hardly catastrophic enough to warrant being a part of this thread. In today's environment every component is "rare" and expensive. I don't want to lose so much as a primer on the floor. Dog

I don't know. I had the same issues and Dillon told me about the orange cleaner. I wasn't happy with the result so I replaced them. By the time I got done horsing around with everything I figured I just buy them. I clear the powder tube after every session so it doesn't discolor. Dog

So let me make sure I get this: your 650 has a major meltdown. I mean, It's hard to snap a shell plate in half and break a ramp. Maybe it was your fault or was it Dillon's? After all, they did send you an alignment tool. So, it could be on Dillon. And what do you do? You turn right around and buy a 550BL. Now that's loyalty. I break stuff all the time on my 650, so you know what I did? I bought a SL900 as punishment. The SL900 puts out great shot shells and I love the machine, but in my opinion, setting one up correctly and knocking out 500 units without incident makes a 650 look like a walk in the park. Dog

The snapping of an indexer ring ranks high on the list of the Holly Grail of Breakage (I have done it a couple times). It qualifies, primarily because of the time required to replace it. For you to cast an aluminum replacement, although a brilliant and creative idea, I think the R&D folks at Dillon would probably need smelling salts as they read this remedy in your post. You were desperate. It is often said that desperate people do desperate things. And desperate actions usually carry a high degree of risk. I may be wrong, but the nylon or delrin (sp) material is designed to snap or crack if something gets hung up somewhere in the stroke. And you casted it using kitty litter. Then you filed it smooth and no doubt you gave that ram a good coat of new motor oil to boot. If you're going to mount that ring like a trophy, the least you could do is send it to Dillon. I'm sure they could find some wall space somewhere in their QC department or place it next to their VMC to use as a check piece. Or, if they sub out that ring, at least donate to their supplier. Gigs, we need you to stick around here, you are a tremendous resource. Dog

Sir, you are to be commended for your willingness to admit to breaking just about everything, I consider you a legend as it relates to this thread. You could be a self-styled guru of product testing, but with all due respect, I think you are giving yourself too much credit. If you're capable of cracking a frame or breaking a handle, you are a destroyer and not a tester. Regardless, I think you might do more good as an ongoing contributor to this thread and less harm by staying away from the machines, unless of course you are planning on conducting new product "testing". Dog

Things tend to break when they are the most needed. A broken decap pin is hardly catastrophic. However, the fact that it broke when you needed it the most qualifies your story for this thread. You should be proud of your creativity. Consider yourself living proof of the old adage "necessity is the mother of invention". Dog

But don't the losers still get some money? I think the second loser get $2000 and the third gets $1000. In Wheel of Fortune, everyone gets to take home whatever they win. Dog

Not really, it's good that you are working the equipment.. Sounds like normal wear and tear, even though I know nothing about the collets on Hornady feeder dies. You'll have to come up with another breakage incident to qualify, sorry. Dog

Aug1911, I see that's your first post, welcome aboard. I'm new around here too. I think of all the other forums I've read can be a bit harsh. This one is the most forgiving and friendliest of all. Everyone here is always willing to step up and help you with a question or problem you're having. Reloading is a serious hobby and being safe is our number one priority. But sometimes I think we need to take a few minutes to lighten up and share some of our mistakes. We can all stand to learn something. Dog