What would YOU do ? second Dillon or swap calibers ?

[mikeyr]

I have an oportunity to buy a Square Deal locally for a ok price, I have seen cheaper but they were not local and of course I have seen more expensive.

I shoot 3 calibers, 9mm, .357 and 45LC. I have a Dillon 650 and quick change for 9mm and 45LC, its a pain to change since I also have to change the primer parts. I have been thinking of getting a 3rd quick change for .357 but with this SDB available with 45LC I would not have to change the primer parts in the 650, just the toolhead and shell plate for 9mm and .357.

I also see myself shooting more 45LC if I had the SDB since the 650 is almost always setup for 9mm and I don't change it over very often. I only have 200 or so 45 brass so its almost not worth changing the 650 over for that small amount.

The difference in price in only about $75 more if I buy the SDB...believe it or not I have been on the fence all weekend about it, I would rather have the $75 in my pocket but having a second press permanentaly set up for the caliber I have the least brass in might get me out more often.

[sargoodwin]

I am just getting into reloading, but I would say just go with the caliber change. I have a SDB with different tool heads set up for 9, 40, and 45. Changing the primer parts is not that big of a deal, under 5 minutes, and the 650 is faster to change out the tool heads than the SDB. I fall in line with your thinking, I'd rather have the $75 in hand for something else. But it's all up to you.

[9mmepiphany]

If you poll enough folks who have been reloading for a while, it is very common to have two Dillon presses...one for large and one for small primers. I even know a couple of people who have two 650s set up that way

[ParaLarry]

If you have room go for the SDB. I'm in a Home Depot shed barely enough room for a 550 and a single stage and a vise. Primer changes take the longest.


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[ExtremeX]

I would personally opt for a second press... You can keep the 650 setup in SPP and the SDB setup for LPP.

I like the convenience of multiple presses, and for a $75 premium in price isn't that bad for a 2nd machine as it affords you a different type of luxury in terms of time and setup.

[TAS]

Two presses, twice the fun!

Seriously though, if you have the room and shoot often enough, it is much more convenient to have one set up for SPP & the other for LPP. If not, I would suggest stocking up on more brass/components so that when you do have have to switch over, you can run larger batches.

[kouye]

I have a friend who doesn't even want to do the quick change and has a press for every caliber...lol

[CAL.BAR]

It only takes 10 minutes to change the primer set up on a 650. You'd have to be changing calibers an awful lot to justify the cost of a second 650.

[Heretodaygonetomorrow]

I'd probably go for the SDB. My previous neighbor and I had SDBs set up for 9mm and 45acp. He loaded 1000s of 9mm for the local sheriff to burn up on the range.

The SDB loading 45acp seemed to be a lot easier to operate. The 9mm SDB went back to Dillon several times because it had the tendency to spill powder when advancing the shellplate. Wasn't a problem with 45acp. I always suspected that it had something to do with the size of the base of the brass. 9mm brass casings always seem to wobble a bit more than 45 casings (may have had something to do with the mixed headstamps he was reloading).

In 45LC the SDB should work fine. If my ex-wife hadn't insisted in taking it in the divorce, I'd still be loading on it.

[RayB]

I'd get the sdb.

Yes, $75.00 is a lot of money but I but you wouldn't be out a dime if you were to ever sell it....

[Rule .308]

I have a 550 and 3 SDB's, 38/357, 40, and 45mm. I use the 550 for 556, 7.62, and other rifle rounds I shoot in bulk. If you can pick up the SDB cheap enough I would go for it.

While the 75 bucks is 75 bucks, it is still only money and you will make more but this opportunity will not be there forever and then next time it comes around chances are outstanding it will cost more. Spend the money and get what you want.

[mikeyr]

OP here... Wifey approved getting the SDB so I don't have to "hide" it for a while

I was going to get a quick change setup for the 650 AND also get a second primer "thing" for the 650 so switching primers would not be a major pain, that all brought the price to very close to the SDB and wifey said do whichever I prefer. I think I prefer SDB set up for 45LC and the 650 for 9mm and .357 that is a easy swap that way since I don't have to touch the primer setup. Thanks for the ideas/suggestions...calling the SDB guy now.

[milotrain]

One trick to the primer switching is to use the set screw on the primer cup and pin, not the whole slide assembly. Then you don't have to play with timing at all.

[Lead Waster]

I have two 550bs. one has the case feeder, one doesn't. I just swapped one for large primers and reset it for .45 ACP. It took some time to adjust the dies (I hadn't reloaded .45 in a long time and changed bullets anyway). The primer swap was pretty easy.

Some people actually just buy another primer assembly so they have one with small, and one with large and swap like that. I'm not so lazy that I wouldn't just swap out that one primer magazine and primer bar. But if you switch a lot either 1) it's worth having to full primer assemblies or 2) you can do it so quickly it's not worth having two primer assemblies!

If you are reloading to save money, don't buy the other press, if you reload to make a lot of ammo and shoot alot, then get the other press so you don't have to fiddle. BUt ... doesn't the SDB use different dies than the other presses?

[Revoman]

SDB's a really cool presses, yes they take a proprietary die, but that's no big, they cost less than a standard set of Dillon bought.

I happen to have 4 SDB's set up in a large vise that has a swivel base. I can access any of the 4 different calibers by simply loosening the swivel base and moving it into the front position.

Also gives great parts backup should anything break, never a true down for reloading.

3 are set up for SPP and 1 is for LPP. Easy Peazy. Haven't used the single stage RCBS in 30 years....but still have it.