jim thompson

I like the idea of the press being raised up above the bench. I've had too many presses that interfer with drawers being pulled out, or getting stored items from below. I also like the fact that you can add things like that wonderful tray to your press making the distance you have to carry bullets closer to the shell plate. Great idea by Dillon.

Brian, I was wondering if you or any others of you have had this problem. I have a 650 for about a year or so. I havn't loaded too much on it because of the winter being too cold in my garage. On a few occasions, I have seen 9mm cases coming down the plastic tubing upside down. This happened when the machine was brand new and I wondered if I were doing something wrong? I read that it can be caused by too many cases in the case feed. How many should I put in? I also heard it could be caused by the top part of the case feeder being too lose. Seems to be tight to me. Any suggestions.

I asked CCI that very question. They told me it was fine if you dropped off your powder charge a couple of grains or so.

I heard many years ago that the larger the reloading bench, the more clutter it collects. On the other hand this does not have to be the case if your tidy about putting your stuff away. That being said, I have a workbench that supports a 650 at one end, and a 550 at the other end. I like enough room in the middle to clean my firearms if I choose. I even have cabinets above my 650 case feeder. I had to remove the doors on it since the doors would not open.

I as wondering how the Wolf primers perform in Dillon presses? I was thinking about loading 223s and using wolf primers in my 550

I put my powder and primers in an old freezer that insulated and store most of it there in an outbuilding. I bring some in from time to time in my garage that has a dehumidifier in it. I've never lost anything and some of it is over 20 years old.

I bought a 550 last year. I do like it a lot since it's easy. Last week I bought a 650 and wish I had bought it last year. I have an RCBS Ammomaster and have had a Hornady Projector. The 650 it far superior in its design. I plan on using the 550 for Rifle 223 and any other calibers dthat I don'e shoot a boat load of ammo. I'm using the 650 for 9MM

Do you see a possibility of Dillon ever making some rifle calibers like 223 available for the 550 case feeder? Jim Thompson, Tulsa

Linotype is the best stuff out there but it's a little too expensive and should be used sparingly. I mix it with 50/50 wheel weight metal and get very nice bullets that don't lead up your barrel. Linotype is a little hard to find but it's still around. I have about 800 lbs of the stuff.

One of he values of pouring your own is making the bullets hard enough that you don't have a leading problem. Use 1/2 Lynotype to 1/2 WW metal and you won't see much leading at all. I used straight lynotype for 44 Mags and encounter little if any leading. The first load works better with 9MM

I find that there are a lot more places to buy cast bullets than there used to be when I first started loading. I've got about 800 pounds of lynotype to use up so I pour my own. One of the best loads I ever loaded was for the 629 in 44 Mag. There's a lot of personal satisfaction in making your own. WW metal is not enough. You'll need to harden it up a bit using lynotype or something else with anomony in it. I pour now for 9MM. TDhe Lee gang mould makes sense to me but I don't own one. I use an RCBS melt pot and RCBS sizer. I also use hot lube since it is a lot less messy. Flux with Marvelux from Brownells. Less stink and smoke. It's cheap and your wife will be a lot happier. Nevr use her kitchen if you know what's good for you.