12glocks

Those are pretty close I will check those out thanks!

You have helped me before as well, thank you!!

I have a couple of the FSL 8's and I still really like them. I kind of have my eye out for used ones since they are no longer made or supported, but I would like to add some new caddies similar in style. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!!

It looks like a good build. I would consider and aero precision ultra light mount as a weight saver. I run the 1-6 razor and love it but it is pretty heavy. I shoot 75's and they leave my bore at 2535 FPS, the JM reticle does not work for me but the MOA reticle is almost perfect. I run the SSA and love it. I want to try the SSA-E.

I use the Rydon's as well with prescription inserts. Make sure you check that feature out because I change between 5 different lenses,(red yellow clear dark and light) and keep the prescription insert behind it. If you have a big correction pony up for the good lenses. I believe it is high dispersion that will make the lenses thinner. That actual corrective lens does sit close to your face but I clean them about 3 times during a 3 gun match.

My wife has both and her G17 is a safe queen really. I would go G34.

I own the 2001 that you have and have the smaller Dillon too, I have had and used other brands. I am going to replace the motor if mine burns out. I think it is the finest tumbler made for competitive shooters types.

If you get in the competitive arena, the brass will come and (I find) I have to buy very little now. For 9mm, I am saving about $120 per thousand over Winchester white box and what I am shooting is far superior. I save a lot more on my 223 match rifle rounds per thousand. I bring this up because I kind of assuming you are talking about strictly loading pistol rounds. If your not shooting just pistol, there are some other things the progressive do well, like power trimming. And another point as to strictly cost is there are other benefits and it's one of those intangible things. The ammo you make can be bulk uber cheap blasting ammo or it can be custom made ammo to the specs you need. For example the 38 super Open guys can't buy that ammo, they have to make it, same for 9mm major (not advocating for that one), the cowboy action guys shoot really soft loads I think, I shoot 147 gr 9mm at 130 PF for 3 gun and you can't buy that either. Also (you seem intelligent) I hope you are looking at online prices for your components, if not the price reduction will be more marked. It is hard to match the price of bullets and propellant sourced from online vendors. I am sure whatever choice you make it will serve you well and it may turn into the first of many presses.

Asheville is a nice place to live. The traffic is getting bad though and you need a marketable skill to say the least. I think there is a weakness in the priming system too but you could have spare parts on hand. I have a 2 spare parts kit for my Dillon. As far as the dollar figure you quoted for a 650, do not even consider one without a case feeder. The reason I have a 650 is because a friend lent me one to try. I bought a case feeder for the borrowed press the ergos were so bad but I knew I would get a 650 after running one. I had some 550's and but have a 650 now. I like the 650 much better but I only use it to load my high volume competition rounds. Remember with the 550 you can load only one round at a time if you want until you have a complete grasp of the process (not long). I have no experience with the Lock and Load but have 2 friends that have them. They are cheaper and both owners that I know are happy. There are numerous threads about it of course. If you have gotten into competitive shooting I would definitely read the threads on which Dillon to buy. Not that you should not get the Lee, but it may give you something to think about perspective wise.

I have a freind who started 3 gunning 1.5 year ago and has been using a Lee Turret press to load his 9mm ammo for himself AND his two sons who also shoot 3 gun. He was loading his 223 on a Dillon and new, so he was afraid to alter the Dillon to load pistol. He has worn out the little plastic part that indexes the press and the priming system more than once. Lee would send the parts for free but it would take a couple of weeks so he orders the inexpensive parts and pays more for shipping than the parts. Long story short, he is switching over to all Dillon. Now I know that is more expensive, BUT, with the round count your talking about you will be buying a Dillon or a Lock n Load sooner or later. I also want to echo the previous posters that I run the Lee 4 Die sets on my tool heads also. Your going to spend $209 for a deluxe Lee kit at midway (Not bad) and need dies or $439 for the Dillon and need dies and a scale. I would save the $209 and invest in the better tool instead. Good luck with your decision either way, we have all been there

Oops did not see the steel challenge part. I voted 147 and cannot retract it...

If it were me I would put loads in the gun that are accurate in other rifles as a prognostic indicator. But again, me personally, I would put at least 20 rounds down the tube. One would think a very nicely finished match barrel would require less.

I don't think it is worth ditching the SDB. You have all the conversions and that would cost a lot to get conversions for the 650. I can by your post you underestimate the upgrade a case feeder represents. It's pretty nice just to set a bullet. I was pretty much opposed to the strong mount but with the bullet tray, I just rest my left hand on the bullet tray and set bullets. So I think the strong mounts are the cats meow now. I had a couple of 550's and I like the 650 for loading 223 much better.

Cycling by hand is not equivalent to shooting the gun. I don't necessarily think the gun will choke because of something that happened while cycling it by hand. I aim for 1.140 or 1.150 so no matter what I am not long, yet longish to hopefully not create any pressure issues. Chamber gauge > plunk test

Thanks guys. I will practice with my Vtac sling today and look at making some marks on it for quick reference.

That was a nice stage! Thanks:)

I have a stage this Saturday that will start with 12 or more shotgun targets. The rifle will be slung at the start. After finishing the shotgun targets the shotgun is grounded and we are going to run, climb a ladder (probably) onto a shipping container, and engage long range targets with the rifle. I am still pretty new to 3 gun. I have slung the rifle in front muzzle down (not good for a lot of movement) and behind the back muzzle up. I was watching some video from the Hard as Hell Match and a competitor had his rifle slung behind the back muzzle down. Is there any conventional wisdom on this issue? I believe the rifle will be unloaded. Thank you in advance!

The FCD does not bring the case or bullets below SAAMI specs. I think if you pulled some rounds run the a FCD you would find they were not swaged smaller. Every round is not affected by that carbide sizing ring on the die. In a round that headspaces on the case mouth, I don't see how this would be beneficial (to be too fat) for accuracy. I know when I was using Dillon dies and had one that would not drop in the case gauge I would run it through the FCD and it would fit, so something was out of spec. If you mic the cases the bottoms are technically to fat also in my experience. I can see how it would be a detriment with a deliberately oversized lead projectile. Having said that, I have seen no data demonstrating a degradation in accuracy from the FCD, but perhaps your right? How much there is a decrease in accuracy if there is one, I don't know? And just for the record, I hope I am not coming across as a argumentative. My goal is only to learn from the thread. I obviously advocate for the FCD based on my experience.

A case feeder will turn a press into a whole different animal. I hear that Hornady has excellent costumer service much like Dillon (they have to right). Unless you really do not like the LnL I would add a case feeder and see if you can get it running good. After a few thousand rounds and a couple of change overs you should know if you like it. I have 3 friends running them and nobody hates them that I know of. I have a 650 and I feel like I made a good choice. It is a pleasure to use. If you look in a blue press the price of the 650 as it sits in the pic is $1129. Add a couple of conversion kits and a power trimmer and you will be well north of $1500. I would like a 1050 dedicated to 223 but it's a lot of money to spend. Good luck with what ever you decide.

I really love mine for case prep, loading pistol or match grade 223. It's is a very satisfactory tool. I made a couple of stupid mistakes with mine I would call a learning curve. Dillon has sent me two or three parts for free now but I believe I know the machine well a few thousand rounds in. I think you will not regret your choice. When you compare a 650 with a case feeder to ANYTHING, it's hard to beat!

I googled it to see what they were. I am running the Rudy Project shooters kit with inserts and I really like them a lot. What you are using is very much like the Rudy Project glasses and lenses. Here is what cam up when I googled the product to which you refer. My local optometrist did my Rudy's btw. http://www.nyxsports.com/prescriptionoptions.htm#HOW

I tried Dillon pistol dies and switched back to the Lee. I have fewer defects. I like the Dillon rifle dies better fwiw.

I have the RT 1500 and am trimming on the 650 with a standard toolhead for 223/5.56 brass. i got a couple of vertical lines on the case necks so I took the cover off that the shop vac attaches to. There was a fair amount of brass shavings accumulated in there. There is not much of a gap between the die lock nut and the upper die lock nut ring for the shop vac to evacuate the shavings. I am assuming the vertical scratch is cosmetic and I can use the brass? Is there advantage to using the XL650 short trim die toolhead? Will it be easier to set up and evacuate the shavings better. I am not trimming 300 blackout. Thanks in advance!!

I don't have a 1050 though I would love to try one. I do have a 650 and it is really easy to load 700 to 900 rounds and hour of pistol. Your talking 3 hours work a month excluding any case gauging, boxing, tumbling, primer tube loading etc you do. I am told by people with bullet feeders on 650's they are much faster like 2000 per hour. The 1050 does not have the no BS warranty either since it is a commercial machine if that matter to you.

This is not a direct answer to your specific question per se but: I got my 650 last fall and have probably loaded 5-6000 rounds on it and processed a lot of 223 brass with the power trimmer. There is a learning curve for sure. My powder charges with Power Pistol flake powder and 748 ball powder were erratic at first like you are experiencing. But now they are .1 gr off max. I think it is because I am running the machine smoothly. I have stripped out the helicoil in the slide cam and broken/bent a primer indexing arm. Dillon was very helpful both times. You will get good at unjamming the case feeder quickly and easily as well. You will get there.