78Staff

Hmm... Just bought the Dillon 9mm stuff online tonight, actually from Extreme - they aren't open today so I'm sure I could call first thing and cancel it. For non-automated use what do you gain with the F&F shellplate in real world use? Now that I think about it I could rob the powder funnel from my 550b 9mm conversion kit (I think) thus only needing to buy the 1050 case feed plunger, adapater, some locators and tabs, and swage/backup expander? But I'm confused on what is the difference between the actual powder funnel (9mm - #13806) and the "Powder Activator - Pistol" (#13005). Any of the primer catch tube replacements better than the other, I see them from $15 all the way up to $40... Picked up a few odds and ends - the clear primer tab, seemed like a good idea. Ergo handle, although I am already second guessing that one.

Just for a thread update, 1050 has been ordered... I was holding off watching one on ebay that had a bunch of extras including a trimmer, etc but decided to go ahead and purchase new. Bought in 45acp and may go ahead and order conversion bits for the 9mm as well, still mulling that over. Funny thing is, I have a 550 casefeeder NIB that I probably won't even use now...Never even got a chance to set it up. Going to see about returning it - would put a dent in the 9mm conversion cost :).

Unfortunately Brian is no longer a Dillon Dealer.

I think that's the plan - local LGS says he can get them so was waiting to see what he comes up with - he was having trouble finding distributor. Otherwise I guess I will just order from Dillon or Grafs. Also looking at one in the classified that has Forcht setup and Mr. bulletfeeder etc but it's setup for rifle so would have to get all the conversion parts to get started on 45acp. That and I wonder if going full out with Forcht and Mr. Bullet Feeder might be to much of a jump from the 550 - like going from a chevy to the starship enterprise lol. You're in Jax as well? Do you know of local Dillon anywhere? There's a small shop in Kingland, Ga over the state line that carries some stuff, but I don't know of anyone in Jax. Maybe St. Augustine/Daytona area? I wish Dillon had dealer listing on it's website.

I wound up buying/ordering the 6ft Maple Top with adjustable height... They had a 8ft with bamboo top also, but couldn't find out much about bamboo other than it was hard to drill though? Dang maybe I should have gotten that one instead... I wanted 8ft to be honest, but wasn't sure about the bamboo. I'm sure i could cancel and order the 8ft if there are no issues with bamboo tops

It's funny I was thinking I don't need the volume, but as I loaded 24 CMC & Wilson 45ACP mags today, plus 8 M&P 45ACP mags, I started to think maybe I do want the volume as well lol...

Well dang ran some numbers and I can get two complete 650 setups for less than a single 1050, and it's gets worse adding a second caliber, but we all knew that I guess... Maybe I should try the ERGO handle first lol - Ergo users do you see a noticeable benefit, especially on the upstroke seating primers?

Noticed my local Sears has Gladiator and their Craftsman line which I think are made by the same company on sale - I've read mixed reviews on these buy you never know what the person is actually using the bench for. How do these stand up for reloading? I take it they would need to be anchored to the wall, and they seem to have good tops, ie one is hardwood Butcher Block, and one is Maple Butcher Block (not sure what the difference is there) and they are adjustable.as well. Seems like these are a step above the typical big box workbenches.

Yep, this the plan, keeping the 550 for smaller runs of stuff... mostly revolver calibers I don't shoot up as fast :). NicoR - great post, thanks for the info. I think the decision is made. Wonder if Dillon is open tomorrow...

yep, this is sounding good... but not for my wallet lol. Thanks for the info

Ok,, dangit... made the decision to add 650 (over another 550) as a second press for Large Primer only... thanks all for the help in the previous threads. Then I start watching all those 1050 youtube vids,,, ie from socalprepper and xbxsolwind...some good stuff out there. It just makes me want a 1050 lol. I don't do the volume, I know that. But the upsides of ability to swage and primer on downstroke appeal to me. Cost is not main issue, but I ain't made of gold, either. However I am not overly concerned about conversion cost, as I would run only one or two calibers on the 1050 I would think, and run others in smaller batches on the 550 still. Two things jump out at me. and I don't see them discussed much: Ease of actual operation over the other 550/650 presses due to design - I have a somewhat degenerative right shoulder & elbow issue, and it's only going to get worse as I get older. I recall one thread (or vid) mentioned the 1050 was much less work, or effort, I guess for lack of a better term, on the press stroke over long sessions due to not having to seat the primer on the upstroke. I do know that anything but quick sessions on my 550 can aggravate it, if the 1050 could alleviate this that would be worth the cost difference alone almost :). brass in lots - also noted it was mentioned 1050 was better for processing specific lots of brass vs mixed, ie range pickup, etc. How accurate is this, and does it apply to pistol, or mainly rifle brass?

Right, but I want to buy the small pistol case feeder, since I already have the large feeder plate from my 550 CF and will just swap the plates - moving the small to the 550, and large to the 650 CF. Just want to be sure I don't need some other conversion part that is not included with the 650/45acp conversion kit.

So piggybacking on my other thread, where I have decided to add an XL650 and casefeeder and primarily setup it up for 45ACP, while running my 550B and existing casefeeder for 9mm Since I have the 550b and casefeeder, by looking at the part numbers I see the casefeed plates are the same part number for either. SInce I already have a Lrg Pistol casefeed plate with my existing 550b casefeeder, when I order the XL650 I can just order the small pistol version of the XL650 casefeeder, and just swap the plates, correct? Thus winding up with small pistol on the 550B and large pistol on the 650. I will be buying the xl650 with 45acp conversion kit - I won't need any other parts that would normally come with the xl650 large pistol casefeeder? All that comes in the conversion kit (unlike the 550B, where you have to buy CF conversion parts separately for each caliber conversion... Phew...that was hard to type lol...hope it made sense? I though I read something along these lines on the BE ordering pages, but I can't find them now.

Yeah, everybody echoing what I figured, no reason not to get the 650 as the 2nd press, opens up many options having it vs 2 550's... Thanks all.

Currently running a 550B and case feeder with multiple pistol calibers, and have decided to add a second press and basically run small primer on one/large primer on 2nd. Trying to decide whether to just get another 550B or move up to the 650 with case feeder. Basically will dedicate one to large primer 45acp, and that will be highest volume - 1000-1500 rd a month +/- - which is not really high volume I suppose. 1st press will be small primer and do smaller runs of 38spl, 9mm and 40, just because I don't shoot those calibers as much, but mostly 9mm and 38. *May* start doing 223/556 at a later date, which is small primer but figure I could setup decap/size/swage/trim etc on 650, then run rest of operations on 550 maybe with custom 223 case feeder setup..not sure. Common sense says ( I think) to get 650 as 2nd press for most flexibility, and not to worry about small primer 223/556 until later, and run that sucker locked down for 45acp :)... Then figure out best way to do 223/556 down the road

So, found an older model PM. In great shape, hardly used. Then I notice the bellcrank is different than mine. Not the current failsafe version, but an even older version than mine it appears. So apparently, there is the current "Failsafe" slotted bellcrank, the previous "Fail Safe 93" which I appear to have now, and previous to that one that is just a simple L shape, without the cube on the arm, with no apparent place for the rod. Zoinks! I thought I really screwed up. Then, in my spares, I just happened to find a "593" upgrade kit that upgrades the old-old version to just the old version lol. It includes the bellcrank arm with the wing for the rod to connect to, spacer/washer, cube, nut, etc... but no spare rod. I'll see if Dillon has the rods, or if I can just use the current rod. Worst case I can just move my rod between toolheads. Or ditch the rod, the springs seem to do fine as others have mentioned. Anyway, my effort to find an older model same as mine so they would feel/act the same, might have gone off the rails a bit after all.

Just to update the thread, talked to (well, emailed back and forth) with Jeff, took it all down once more and put it back together, and was able to get everything aligned normally. Hard to say for sure but it likely just plain old operator error, in that I think I must have had the bearing to tight up against the bar...

hmm sounds like maybe I should just look around for another old version Power Measure. Now that I think about it I already have a few spare toolheads and powder dies, plus I think I have a spare stand also. So all I really need is another powder measure.

So was thinking about picking up a Deluxe Quick Change kit for when I switch over from 45 to 9mm... I have the older style Powder Measure, without the newer "fail-safe" setup. Any issues switching between the old style and newer style setups on separate toolheads? Do I need to order any additional parts or change out /change the position of the return bracket that guides the rod? Thanks...

This is what I have also.. might not be as fancy as the new-fangled electronic stuff, but works just as well .

Yep thanks saw it posted elsewhere as well, picked one up tonight. Rare to see Clays 8lb'rs for sure...

Jeff contacted me via PM, I'm going to send him some more pics of the plate in normal and tilted positions, etc so he can see exactly what I'm referring to. Will update the thread when we have more info... Pretty impressed that he contact me directly so quickly. . Thanks, Mark

So I ordered the extended bearing plate/ball bearing upgrade deal that so many 550 users have been raving about, and installed it this weekend. The instructions stated to push the plate flush up against the frame, but on my press when I do that I get a slight rub from the pin the spring catches on when the bar slides back into position. I had to actually move the plate slightly out at an angle to prevent the pin from rubbing. Everything appears to be working fine, but not sure if I just got a plate that might out of spec/alignment, or if my press, being it's an older model, might not line up the same as the newer models, or other issue? The press runs and primes with no issue, so may be a non-issue - just wanted to be sure I'm not setting myself up for some other issue later... Thanks...

Had a set of dies in my cart and decided well let me just check ebay on the off chance... and what do you know there was a set of 45 stems listed, both RN and SWC. So I grabbed them right up and now have an extra SWC in case I want to do something custom with a stem .

Have an old-style Dillon Die set in 45acp, the ones that use the separate seating stem for flat nose vs round nose, but am missing the round nose stem. A call to Dillon wasn't much help, although I recall reading a post that they had a bunch of the stems and other old style die parts in the back room, but not inventoried as they don't have actual part numbers, so the phone staff isn't really aware of what's available. Of course I think that post was a few years old so they may be all gone. Anyway, Dillon advised to buy a set (or just the seating die, I suppose would be fine) of the newer style dies, but before I do that I figured I would look at other options... Would a similar size stem work from another caliber, or maybe an aftermarket option. I though about the epoxy/jbweld mold trick but don't want to give up my flat point stem either .