Sader72

I had a similar dilemea about 1 1/2 years ago. I decided to go with the 550b largely because of the cost factor. I also got into competitive shooting at the same time. The first year I had the 550 I loaded around 10K rounds thru it. I don't think the cost difference warrants a 650 when someone is on a budget, the 550 is a great work of art/machinery. It will do everything the 650 will all be it slightly slower. I can load 400 rounds an hour EASY at a slow pace and I can do 600 rounds for 1 hour pushing hard. I think the way I have the 550 set up is ideal. Buy 550b with strong mount Buy at least 4 blue bins (1 holds 200 45 acp rounds) Buy the empty shell holder/ loaded bullet thingy that uses the blue bins Take extra piece of metal left over and mount it on left of machine, cut with hacksaw so it will hold a blue bin to hold bullets in (somewhere there is a picture of this) Buy 4 extra primer pickup tubes for the caliber you are loading, load before you start a session Buy a desk swing boom lamp to place over station 3, bullet seating die Buy roller handle when funds permit As you load: 1. pick up and insert brass 2. pick up bullet, look in station 3 for powder, seat bullet 3. pull handle 4. push handle to seat primer 5. repeat The 550 does everything I need it to. I had 1 squib load with my first batch. After that I added the light over station 3 and now I check EVERY round visually for powder. It works great. Do I want a 650 with casefeeder? YEP!!! but for now the 550 works and it is quick to change calibers with the extra tool head. Hope this helps......

I just joined as well. I really enjoy the style of shooting and the people have been great. I've been shooting Action Pistol Steel for a while at a local club and I wanted to branch out to, IDPA fit the bill well. BE's book is a must have, great read and it helped alot. Dennis

Well, I cleaned the tubes with a degreaser and the primers still hangup in the pu tubes. This only happens with Winchester primers. I'm guessing that they are a little "ruffer" than their "silver" CCI counterparts and this is causing some problems. Easy fix ---- use CCI primers Dennis

I'll try cleaning them out tomorrow with a patch and see if it helps. Thee CCI's run fine though. Perhaps it's because they are "silver" and "more slick"? I don't know..... Dennis

How many of you have noticed problems with certain primer brands sticking in your primer pickup tubes. I only reload .45 on my 550 so I only use the large pu tubes. I usually use CCI, but bought 2k of winchester. The Winchester primers stick in the pu tubes and sometimes stick in the primer tube on the 550. Anybody else notice these problems as well? Dennis

At a state or regional match I would like to see as many of the stages as possible that are hidden from general view. This prevents guys from gaming the stage and keeps it a "little" more "realistic." The shooter should be given a wide lattitude in how to engage targets and when a reload is needed. This makes the shooter think on his feet and results in a wider spread of scores. Close movers (5 - 15 yards) also keep things interesting. 1 or 2 stages that include steel and reactives make it interseting for spectators to watch, and hopefully encourage them to try IDPA. FWIW..... D

Here's a reply that I got today: "We are in partial production at this time and have the 45-200&230 RN in stock and working on the 40's at this time.What bullets do you need?" Dave Now, why don't they update their website????? D

carinabmPosted on Mar 1 2005, 09:05 PM I know what you mean, but I ran out of bullets 2 months ago and have been using Rucker (Yep, I know) since. I also contacted them via e-mail 2-3 weeks ago and was told up and running by the end of February. A simple explanation on the website would go a long way here.......... I am at the point where the season will be getting warmer and stay light longer, which means more shooting (up to 2k a month). That means I need to place a big order again and can't wait for a company who will not explain to it's customers what the delay is. I really want to use Precision, he's practically in my back yard and I want to support Texas businesses. D

AAAARRRRGHHHHH...... You know I really like Precision, and they are in my back yard so it's nice to support the local guy, but COME ON PEOPLE!!!! Only one update from the begining of January saying bullets and prices will be online by Februaury. HMMM........ It's MARCH!!! No updates, No new website, No new bullets. What's the deal??? I emailed them 2 weeks ago and they said they were almost online, ya right. I am now at the point where I need to place an order for 5k more bullets and my supplier is ignoring my business. I guess that it's time to go somewhere else. I don't want to, but I am being forced to because of a companies bad business policies. OH WELL............ D

As to the Main Shaft, is it as simple as removing part #13923 screw and pumping in 10w-30 oil?

I may be sticking my foot in my mouth here but......why do you need to use the case lube? Is this 45 acp you're loading. If so, I use the cardbide dies and no lube what so ever and I've never had a problem. I think I am missing something here. YMMV D

On a 3 yard target 1.1 - 1911 govt, leather owb holster On a 10 yard target 1.3 Going full out not caring where I hit, <1.0 I am new at IDPA shooting and I am realizing that a 1.5 draw time with hitting your target will get you in the top of the scores. It's those misses that tear you up. D

Well I ran the IDPA Qualifier on my own yesterday and came out with a 128.44 using my Govt. SA 1911. That puts me into the middle of the SS in CDP class. Not too bad, but man 10+ yards killed me. Stage 3, String 1 ran a slow 24.4 with many non-A hits and 1 miss. Stage 2, String 1 and 2.........yah right, needs work. Reloads were slow. And my average draw ran about 1.35, slower than when I am just doing it for fun. Something about Competition (even when it's against the clock).......... I can easily see how some work in several areas could easily drop 15 to 25 seconds. My new 550 will be getting a work out this year. Tomorrow's the real test, I am shooting in a local unsanctioned IDPA event. D

Thanks for the reply guys, I shot my first IDPA match last month and had a great time. I've been doing the dryfire drills from my computer at home almost every day. I've got it down to a 1.2 sec time to draw and fire with almost all A hits at 7 yards, and 75% As at 10 yards. Haven't stretched out past that distance yet. On the course when I have those 15+ yard shots I just take my time. After doing lots of reading I am finding that 1.0-1.2 sec time is fairly good. So now I guess I need to start putting my time into mag drills and transitions from target to target. I'm having a great time with it. Thanks for the replies and thankes to BE and Matt Burkett for their sites. Any suggestions for that 1 must have book, funds are alittle tight after buying a 550 from BE and a seems to be new SA 1911-A1 Gov't. (had been using my only 1911 a Kimber Officer model). D

Matt, Awesome training tool, thanks for sharing. I use it every night. D