650?

[lincoln45]

I am using a XL650 and considering a bullet feeder

recommendations? and why

please

[liber]

I am using a XL650 and considering a bullet feeder

recommendations? and why

please

I can see the advantage, at a price of course. I just got done reloading 150 rounds of 308, and will do another 100 later after I get some more cases cleaned. From my perspective it is just one less thing to worry about when reloading.

I don't find the bullet placement that much of a hassle, but it is something to think about. As with everything, once you get into a rhythm, things get cranking. Most people that have bought the bullet feeder feel that once you've purchased one, you will never want to go back to manual bullet feed, and I can see that. It's quite an expensive upgrade though, and if you can afford it, I'm sure you would be happy with it.

I just added a UniqueTek micrometer to a powder bar a couple nights ago, and used it for the first time today. Amazing how much easier it was to dial in the powder, so while it was kinda pricey for a micrometer on the powder bar, I don't think I would want to go back to the factory nut/bolt. I have another one to put on my 223 powder bar.

Many of these added features are not as apparent until you have them, and my take is the bullet feeder is exactly that as well.

[MrElectric03]

I've always watched them but haven't bought one yet. When I do I'm fairly certain it will be a mr Bulletfeeder.mit seems to be the best built.

[Eljay]

If you get one, you want the Mr. Bulletfeeder, there's not really any competition.

Works great, you practically forget it's there other than to dump in more bullets occasionally. It does speed you up, and it does mean you're not doing any kind of repetitive motion with your left arm.

Is it worth the money? Hard to say. I got a deal on mine. You might be better off getting one of those adjustable two bin holders Inline Fabrication sells and just getting the bullets perfectly positioned for you.

I'm also loading primarily one caliber. One decision I'll have to make at some point is if I want to buy bulletfeeder conversions for the secondary calibers that I maybe shoot enough of to get a 650 conversion but might not be worth going whole hog, as it were. Because the 650 really is pretty darn fast without it and if I'm only loading a couple of thousand a year of something I'm not sure it's worth it...

I shoot about 10K/year of my primary caliber for comparison.

[Aidenpeacemaker]

xl 650 bullet feeder.

Bullet feeders are best for large production runs.. if you load 500 rounds between calibers. It becomes counterproductive .. I have one currently set up for 45 acp on one tool head and another for 9mm on another tool head..

[mjmagee67]

Call me crazy or Mr. Cautious but I'm not a fan of bullet feeders. I like to look at the powder level in every case before I put the boollet on top. I've know a few people that have blowed up guns with bullet feeder. I can comfortably do 400 to 500 an hour on my 550.

[BajaJames83]

Mr bulletfeeder and you can still look at the powder in the case.... you look after it drops.
I have one on my 1050 and I see the powder in the case before the bullet goes on

[Eljay]

Exactly, you just end up looking at the powder level a little earlier than usual.

I doubt that it would be worth it on a 550 where you have to index the shell holder anyway but on a 650 it really lets you get into a rhythm where you have your eyes on the powder and you can be super consistent with your right arm and get those primers set. With a 1050 you have enough stations that you can also run the powder check in addition to the visual inspection I believe.

[liber]

Mr bulletfeeder and you can still look at the powder in the case.... you look after it drops.

That's a good reason in itself.

Per Eljay, I got myself a light for my 650 so that I could see the powder easier. Several people mentioned, but Eljay was one, that having a light makes a huge difference.

Yesterday I was reloading 308, and with the light I can see when the case reaches station 3 if there is powder up near the shoulder. I was so entrenched in the process, that I could see a case with low powder instantly, I knew right away there was a bad powder drop...

When I looked up at the powder measure, it was empty.

For that reason I always check every load to make sure they look right, the primers are seated correctly and not upside down, and it looks like ammunition should.

I think having a bullet feeder would free up one more thing that doesn't need to be thought about, and that in itself would make a huge difference.

[stilly]

If you have a progressive and want to run as fast as possible, you need a caase feeder and a bullet feeder. Then all you gotta do is pull the handle.

When did you ever see any eco boost top fuel dragsters? Yeah, it was made to go fast so you best have the good go fast parts on it and not the cheap little 6 tube turret bullet feeder...

[Eljay]

I'm glad that light worked out for you!

And yeah, that's a good way to think about it. Automating the unimportant stuff lets you focus on the important stuff without distractions.

[liber]

I'm glad that light worked out for you!

That was a good investment.

And yeah, that's a good way to think about it. Automating the unimportant stuff lets you focus on the important stuff without distractions.

Most certainly, I couldn't agree more.

BTW, was on the phone with Ron Linder today as I got a spent primer replacement which is a plastic nipple and a hose, basically, but I would like to keep the spent primers off the floor and I've found a few so far. As it turns out, the newer 650s have short screw that hold the spent primer bracket and will not grab the threads when used through the plastic nipple plate. He said others have mentioned this recently.

So I called Dillon and they weren't sure what size the screws were, they don't have the size listed in the computer. I spoke with Tim, he's been helpful to me in the past. I measured them at .162" but couldn't get a thread reading as my screw gauge only goes up to 30 tpi and there wasn't enough thread to get a reading with 16. I mentioned to him I suspected they were 8-32 according to the .162" reading of the max thread size.

I brought home some 8-32 x 7/16" SHCSs from work with some M4 washers, which fit, and was able to figure out that a small 8-32 x 1/4" screw would be perfect. I sent him the info and a link to a local screw company. Mine is working with the washers and SHCSs, so no worries, but Ron said he would include the screws in the future.